Bruce Peninsula is one of Ontario's oldest gems--a sprawling section of forests, lakes and limestones cliffs northwest of Toronto.
It's also the name of one of Ontario's newest treasures--a group of up to 15 musicians with a penchant for sprawling old-time gospel/roots arrangements. The band's first album, A Mountain is a Mouth, stars Neil Haverty's bluesy rasp, honed by cigarettes and backed by a ghostly choir, conjuring images of southern tent revivals of the 1930s.
In today's climate of mounting job losses, it's no wonder more and more listeners are turning to Bruce Peninsula for salvation--or sheer escape. The band is touring with only seven musicians as it makes its first trek across Canada, including tonight's stop at the Brixx Bar and Grill.
A Mountain is a Mouth was one of 40 albums long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize, which is judged by journalists and broadcasters. While it didn't make the short list of 10 finalists, Haverty says earning any Polaris recognition was a minor miracle. With so many musicians in the band, Bruce Peninsula needed more than a year-- and several studios--to finish its epic.
"We didn't know what we were setting out to make when we started to make the record," he admits. "So the idea of us being one of 40 records... I wouldn't put us up that high. It's very flattering and our parents are all very proud of us. It legitimizes us a little bit."
Bruce Peninsula offers Haverty his own salvation of sorts. He used to play guitar in a technical math-rock band, where precision was valued over passion. "I came from a background of wanting to be super rehearsed--you played the same thing over and over again for four hours until you got it right. With this band, because of our schedules, we have never been allowed that kind of practice and it's really unpredictable. Personally speaking, I've developed as a musician because I've had to sort of wing it sometimes.
"There have been some shows where honestly, a new member has been introduced and certain other members haven't even met until they get onstage. You never know what's going to happen but I think that's a testament to the musicians that we surround ourselves with. We haven't had any train wrecks."
Haverty says his bandmates are always thinking of downsizing--in terms of musical scope and personnel-- though their next effort is a 15-minute suite inspired by minimalist composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass.
"With the first record, we wanted to make a very loud statement. In subsequent recordings, we can branch out a little bit, go in different directions. We're definitely a band that doesn't want to rest on our laurels.... We want to make drastically different records."
Whether Haverty's gruff vocals will undergo drastic change is yet to be seen--he recently kicked his nicotine habit.
"When I quit, I was really worried I was going to lose this voice, but it's been a few months now and I seem to still possess it."