North by East West

MUSIC ON THE ROCK
by Rozalind MacPhail

It's a winter wonderland out there today and the perfect day to post!

I’ve been entertaining many friends from the mainland lately. It seems to happen a lot when one is living in downtown St. John’s. Newfoundland is definitely one of those spots that every Canadian should visit at least once in their lifetime. Many musicians who have toured through here often say that St. John’s is one of their favourite spots to perform in all of Canada. I felt it was time to ask a ‘Come From Away’ what it is about St. John’s that keeps them coming back, time and time again.

Interview with 'Come From Away' Mike Duguay

It’s rather fitting to interview Peterborough’s musical pride and joy, Mike Duguay who stole many hearts a few weeks back as he performed 6 stellar shows throughout town. Michael has just released a fantastic 3 song EP called Lion’s Share and I encourage you all to download it on Zunior. Fair warning: It is highly addictive and will leave you wishing you could hear more from this talented songwriter, right now. Whether you catch Mike Duguay live or listen to his recordings, you will discover a multifaceted musician who shines in every role he takes. He writes the perfect pop song, plays a mean drumset, captivates you with his catchy hooks and soothes you with genuine vocals. I was excited to ask Mike about his impressions of St. John’s and what keeps him coming back to the rock.

1. You recently performed 6 fantastic shows in St. John's, to celebrate the release of your fantastic new EP, Lion's Share. Why was St. John's so lucky to have you?

Well, in fact, I more or less released Lion's Share to celebrate my trip to St. Johns. I had been planning on making a solo trip to St. John's for a while. and once I had this series of shows booked, I realized I wanted to record something that would better represent what I would be doing on this trip - my old(er) ep's date back a few years and represent a more experimental/lo-fi style I used to be really engaged with. Stylistically, my songwriting has changed a great deal, as well as my recording ethics, and I really wanted people to hear some of my newer material (however, one of these dates back 3 years, and one I wrote a few days before it was recorded, so they're from all over) and this ep represents what I'm doing now. This trip was really a catalyst for the new recording, yet another reason I'm eternally thankful for St. Johns.

2. Having performed in St. John's a number of times already, what are some reasons for the regular trips back?

In the past I have always traveled to St John's alongside The Burning Hell, both as a member of the band and as an opening act. As a group, we all instantly fell in love with St. John's upon our first trip there. I remember my first day in St. John's as one of the best days of my entire life. In fact, this may make the other hellians blush, but when we reentered Peterborough (where most of us resided at the time) after our first trip to Newfoundland most of us started to cry! To go to a place so far from home and to be treated with such hospitality, respect and admiration is a really special thing, and it was the first time that I, for one, really encountered it on the road so strongly.

I had made plans to temporarily move to St. John's in September, and when these plans fell through I realized I couldn't wait much longer to return, so I booked myself this tour.

3. Thanks for doing that! We were lucky to have you. Do you find that St. John's audiences are different from mainland audiences?

They're different from Ontario audiences. Everybody just always seems to be having a lot of fun. Mind you, this does, of course, happen in Ontario as well, but the consistency with wich St. John's audiences come out and have what seems to be a genuinely really fun time is much more similar to mainland Europe than, say, Toronto. Don't get me wrong, I like playing in every city in Canada, for the most part, but St. John's audiences really do stand out. I mean, where else in Canada can you go and play 6 shows in one week and still draw a crowd? There doesn't seem to be any such thing as over saturation in St. Johns, people just love live music.

4. 6 shows eh? Awesome! What are your favourite live music venues in St. John's?

CBTG's, without a doubt - one of my favourite venues in the world. The staff makes the place. So do the apple pie shots. And the decimated bathrooms. I like nice, big, clean clubs on occasion, but at CBTG's I feel right at home. I've had some of the funnest/funniest nights of my life there, I was 'screeched in' there. However, I like every venue I've played in St. John's - I remember playing on the stage at the Rose & Thistle once as a 9 piece. I think every member of the band was touching every other member of the band. The Ship is always a blast as well. Once again, the staff there are incredibly kind people. On our first trip to St John's with the BH, at our last show we played something like a 40 song set, and at the end everybody (the band, the audience, the bartender) were in tears. It was so emotional. Now I'm really making the Hell sound like a bunch of wimps. I played a really fun show at the Eastern Edge Gallery on my two last trips too. I suppose you stick me in a room with a bunch of St. Johners and I have a fun time regardless. Short answer: every venue.

5. I like your attitude Mr. : ) Got any favourite spots you like to regularly visit while you're in Newfoundland? Places you'd like to check out in future visits?

There aren't many places I've got to visit regularly, but some highlights in the past have certainly been Gross Morne, Cape Spear, Quidi Vidi (where I got to see icebergs for the first time in my life!) and of course Signal Hill. On this last trip some friends took me on a hike to La Manche. Wow. The hike destroyed my loafers, but it was well worth it - one of the most beautiful and serene places I have ever been.

In The future I'd like to see more of the eastern trail and investigate Gross Morne more thoroughly.

6. Favourite Newfoundland food/drink?

Every time I go to Newfoundland I promise my old man that I'll bring him back some island beer. Every time I have drank the six pack of India before I get back to the mainland. Poor guy. I like that beer.

As far as restaurants go, this is my culinary dream day in St. John's: cafe au lait & a bagel at Hava Java for breakfast, fish & chips at The Ship for lunch and the veggie poutine at The Sprout for dinner. The Sprout is one of my favourite restaurants I have ever been to. I've ate there three times in one day before.

I'm yet to try seal flipper pie, though I've always wanted to. I'm a bit of a foody, and am very attracted to more far out foods that you don't see at home.
I do, however, think that St. John's needs some more late-night dining. I'm a big fan of the 4 am poutine.

7. Next time you need a bite late at night, check out Folly. I've always enjoyed that place after a gig. Now what's the most wacky slang you've heard here so far?

I'm still yet to wrap my mind around 'now the once'. I was waiting for my friend Darren Browne to make it to rehearsal, and he sent me a message saying 'I'll be there now the once' and I really had no idea what he was getting at. I thought he was drunk. I've adopted a bit of the slang to my own vocabulary. I don't 'love it' anymore, i "loves it'. sometimes i even 'dies for it'.

Some friends back home mentioned I had returned with a slight Newfoundlander accent after this last trip, and it made me very happy. I also got mad at some friends when they used the term 'newfie'.

8. Awesome. : ) Favourite Newfoundland artists/bands?

This isn't a tough one, but the list is long I know I'll leave some folks out. I have so many musician friends in St. John's who astound me like Mark Bragg, Alison Corbett, The Idlers and Matt Hornell. I really like the progression the Mountains & The Trees have made, I played an acoustic show with Jon on this last trip and he really impressed me. I was introduced to the Mudflowers on this last trip and they're fantastic, especially late at night. The Dardenelles really blew me away with the ones song I heard and Ben Rigby as well. I'd really recommend checking out the Screamin' Deacons, if you've never seen them, amazing rockabilly stuff. Danielle Trouble was really unique and cool.

I'd say my new favourite Canadian band is The Hunter Gatherers. They're all Ontario transplants to St. John's, but they are just incredible - some of the finest songwriting I've heard in a while, not to mention their great playing and multi-instrumentalism. I'd drop everything I have going on to join that band.

9. Wow, time to check those folks out...Now getting back to your new EP, Lion's Share...I am really loving the full instrumentation of what I am hearing in your songs. I appreciate it even more now that I discover that you are performing each and every instrument! Wow, bravo. Do you have a favourite instrument in the mix? Is there anything you can't play yet but wish you could? What instrument do you find most challenging?

I must admit, I really enjoyed playing the drums on this record. Typically when I'm on a kit I have people asking me to play ofter, but in the studio I could just bang it out as hard as I wanted, especially on 'Not My Party'. The guitar is still a relatively new instrument to me, so it was fun to use it as the foundation for the songs and build on it. The one instrument I can't yet play but think about all the time is the trumpet. I really regret playing vibes, an instrument I already new, in highschool. I really wish I had have picked up the trumpet. Or the soprano sax.
I found playing lead guitar quite challenging, but the more I did it, the more I got into it. I'm really happy with the way the lead guitar on the title track turned out. It was a challenge though.

10. Could you share some of the musical inspiration for the songs on Lion's Share?

Believe it or not, this was originally going to be an electro record. I dropped that idea pretty quickly though. Each song came about very organically in the studio. Because I played every instrument myself, the songs kind of formed their identity with each additional instrument. Originally, the last two songs were going to be just guitar and vocals, but once I'm in the studio I go a little crazy. Beau kept me in check though!

As far as the writing process goes, 'Not My Party' was my attempt at writing a more cliche 'indie rock' style tune. Lyrically, it's about me feeling a little out of place in indie rock circles (as I think a lot of Peterborough musicians do - there's something in the water there that makes it difficult to be hip!), but I think I accomplished what I was going for musically - big four to the floor drums, gang vocals, heavy piano, bouncy bass. I really had no idea how the title track, 'Lion's Share' would turn out. Initially, when I started adding additional instruments, I was going to go for a Bonnie Prince Billy sort of thing, but it turned out sounding more like a Steve Earle tune. Which is strange, because I'm not a Steve Earle fan. Again, the drums really pulled that song together, and the bouncy country-style bass line formed it into how it sounds now. I like how heavy it turned out.

'The Kettle Black' was my attempt at being a little more of storyteller. Lyrically, its about three different experiences I've had in Peterborough with people, including family & friends, who really surprised me with actions I thought they were incapable of - both good and bad. Musically, I really wanted to keep this one simple. The simple piano part added a lot harmonically, and once I had added it I realized it was done. It was generally inspired by the songwriting of my friend and musical inspirer Dave Tough, formerly of Peterborough.

11. Any neat moments you care to share with us about your recording experience with Beau Dixon at Sound Kitchen Studio?

The whole process was really neat. Beau is a very busy guy, and he essentially dropped everything to help me out. I love that man deeply, and he has really proven himself to be a true friend and an incredibly talented individual. I went in to the sound kitchen planning to record an electro record. He was totally patient with me when I dropped this idea and moved in a different direction, although we had already lay down two whole tracks. The one incident that really encapsulates his generosity and patience is when I called him up the night before I released the e.p., frantically asking to re-record the vocals on 'Not My Party'. I had sang them an octave higher initially and was really unhappy with my performance. Sure enough, he had me over for a last-minute late-night session and it turned out great. Beau is an incredible musician and added some great vocals to the title track. He's a very pop-minded producer, and his approach really helped move my songs in a more radio-friendly direction. I really don't know what I would have done without his talent and expertise.

12. With only three songs on your EP, I am left feeling like I've been teased in a really big way. I want to hear more, now. When can we expect to hear your full-length? Is Lion's Share a taste of what's to come or will you be venturing into different territory?

I'm glad you like it! Sorry for being a tease. My full-length should be available by the summer. I really don't know how it's going to turn out. I want to work with both Peterborough and Toronto musicians, and get some of my favourite players involved. I like doing everything myself, but I really appreciate how other players can transform a recording. Honestly, though, I imagine it will be as big of a surprise for me as everybody else! The songs I'll be recording are a little different then the songs on this ep, a little more epic, a little less folky.

13. You'll be recording your full-length in the new year with producer James Bunton (Ohbijou, Friends in Bellwoods, Evening Hymns). What are you looking forward to the most in working with him?

Jamie is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. I worked with him on the latest Evening Hymns record and it was a sincere pleasure - he really knows how to make you feel special! Honestly, I'm most looking forward to just being around the guy. He has great ears, an excellent approach and knows what he wants out of a session, a true professional. I'm excited to venture outside of Peterborough for this recording. I love working there, of course, but change is good.

14. Any guest instrumentalists on the album that you are excited to work with or will you be recording all the parts on your own again?

I'm absolutely going to involve a lot of other players. Again, listening to the new Evening Hymns record, I find a huge change in Jonas' music sonically, and though of course a lot of this has to do with him being such a super-talented guy, bringing in other players certainly added a ton. I figure, I know all of these lovely and talented people, I might as well get them involved. I would also really like to have a full band backing me up live again. You can expect to hear some of The Burning Hell on it, and I know that without a doubt I will be bringing in my dear friends Bryar Gray and Ben Rough - two of my favourite people to make music with. I'm also excited to have a lot of my Peterborough friends meet my Toronto friends in a musical environment.

15. And one last question because us Newfoundlanders want to know! When will we be hearing your lovely music on the rock once again?

As soon as possible by's!

Labels: cfa, lion's share, mike duguay, newfoundland, peterborough, st. john's, the Burning Hell, zunior