NOVEMBER 2007 - OTTAWA SUN - FEATURE

"Don't you think it's kind of ridiculous that a band could have 'buzz' after fewer than 20 shows?"

The question is posed by Neil Haverty of Toronto's Bruce Peninsula, a confounding collective that takes as its starting point the raw roots-productions of late folklorist Alan Lomax -- and, in particular, the spirit of old-time gospel music. The band has been at the centre of much buzz during its short time as a performing unit.

While the group's first CD is months away from completion, numerous bloggers and critics have declared Bruce Peninsula to be hot.

A reality that troubles Haverty.

"Our band is still a baby," he cautions, "and there are a lot of bands out there that have been at it a lot longer, that deserve to be buzzed about. We'd prefer it if buzz didn't rear its ugly head just yet. Buzz is bad news for the longevity and sanity of a new band."

Fortunately, the band's determination to release no CD before its time is likely to stall any such threats. Once it arrives, the debut release will be worth the wait.

"I guess you could call it perfectionism," Haverty concedes, "but we just think of it as doing things right. We've spent a lot of time writing these songs; we're going to take as long as we need to record them. The record will hold the definitive versions of these songs we've been playing, so we have to make sure what we're hearing in the speakers matches up with what we hear in our heads.

"We have that luxury, I think, because nobody is expecting anything from us yet -- and those who are expecting something seem to be willing to wait for the fully formed thought."