What do you get when three of the most prominent and creative Canadian musicians band together and form a supergroup? You get Mounties, the exciting project created by Hawksley Workman, Hot Hot Heat frontman Steve Bays, and Ryan Dahle of Age of Electric and Limblifter. The group’s debut album, Thrash Rock Legacy was released this past March, and was immediately showered with praise that resulted in a nomination for the Polaris Music Prize, and the group being named SIRIUS XM Emerging Artist of the Year at the SIRIUS XM Independent Radio Awards. Not bad for an album that was recorded in two weeks.
Mounties was conceived after Workman, Bays, and Dahle met at the 2009 Junos in Vancouver. While each musician had their own projects, the mutual appreciation of each other’s work, and the instant chemistry between the three led to plans of creating their own project in the future.
“It kind of blind sided all of us”, explained Dahle in an email interview. “None of us were looking for another project, and all of a sudden we had all committed to being in a band together.” While being at the right place at the right time has a lot to do with Mounties’ creation, Workman’s musical restlessness fuelled his enthusiasm for the project. “I knew I was looking to find new energy, and I was definitely feeling a bit of a malaise”, he stated. “I’m naturally locked into a state of searching for that ‘next’ fire.”
Sparks certainly flew during the recording process, which took place approximately three years after the initial meeting. While coming into the studio with three uniquely different backgrounds and experiences could have ended up in chaos, Workman described their connection as “natural and pure”. “There wasn’t a lot of chin stroking or analyzing going on, just one idea after another”, Dahle added. “It was idea after idea, like a waterfall of inspired originality like I have never witnessed”.
Despite having had a lengthy break between meeting and finally recording, Thrash Rock Legacy was not a premeditated record. “I was adamant that we arrive empty handed”, explains Dahle. “We did not want to get bogged down by past ideas; we wanted the music to be a result of our combination”.
Thrash Rock Legacy’s eclectic and fresh sound proves that Mounties is a combination that works. The album has an overwhelmingly carefree and feelgood vibe, perhaps because of how its members view the overall supergroup experience. “I think we love Mounties because it is entirely free”, wrote Workman. “Not that we don’t have that in our other projects, but the extreme ‘freeness” is really the central element for me”.
Certainly, that attitude translates to live performances as well. “It’s very exciting to play together. At first we were all maybe a little over-excited”, explained Dahle. “It’s just as exciting for me to watch as a fan of all the guys I am playing with”. So, what do you get when three of the most prominent and creative Canadian musicians band together and form a supergroup? One hell of a show.
We’re giving away two tickets for Thursday night’s performace PLUS the Thrash Rock Legacy LP + Mounties t-shirt. To enter, send an email to apartment613 [at] gmail [dot] com by noon on Thursday, October 30 with “Mounties” in the subject header. A winner will be selected by random draw.
Mounties embarked on their second cross-Canada tour this past Fall, and are playing Mavericks (221 Rideau St) on October 30th, with Gay Nineties. Doors at 8pm, tickets are $18.50 and are available at Vertigo Records and online.
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