Bourbon Tabernacle Choir
Encyclopedia
The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir were a Canadian
alternative rock
band that formed in 1985 in Toronto, Ontario. Their R&B-flavoured rock made them a mainstay on Canadian campus radio in the early 1990s, but the band never quite broke through to the mainstream.
, vocalist and organist Chris Brown, vocalist and guitarist Andrew Whiteman, guitarist Chris Miller, saxophone and vocalist Chris Plock, bassist Jason Mercer
and drummer Gregor Beresford. Vocalist Dave Wall joined the band in 1988, and vocalist and saxophonist Gene Hardy
joined in 1989.
They released three independent cassettes: First Taste of Bourbon in 1987, If Hell Had a Houseband in 1989 and Sister Anthony in 1990. The single "Put Your Head On" b/w "As Right as They Want to Be" (1990), attracted the attention of film director Bruce McDonald, who included it on the soundtrack
to his 1991 film Highway 61. Both songs were later available on the CD reissue of Sister Anthony in 1995, although the original version of "As Right as They Want to Be" was replaced with a live version.
With the exposure they gained from "Put Your Head On", the band signed to the independent label Yonder Records, and released Superior Cackling Hen in 1992. The singles "Make Amends", "Afterglow" and "Original Grin" were all hits on campus and modern rock radio stations in the next year.
Following the release of Superior Cackling Hen, Whiteman left the band in 1993. After leaving the Bourbons, Whiteman recorded as a solo artist, and subsequently became a member of the bands Que Vida, Broken Social Scene
and Apostle of Hustle
. Beresford left the band in 1994, and performed drum tracks on Tom Cochrane
's 1995 album, Ragged Ass Road
. Tom Bona joined in 1995 as the drummer for the band.
Howie Beck
and Daniel Barnes played with the band during this era.
In 1995, the band released Shy Folk, which featured contributions from Ani DiFranco
and was produced by Michael Phillip Wojewoda
. The singles from Shy Folk, "All Peace" and "Be My Witness", kept the band successful in alternative rock circles. A CD reissue of Sister Anthony was also released the same year.
Following Shy Folk, the band relocated to New York City
to make its bid for stardom, but instead the band soon broke up.
After the breakup, Brown and Fenner
continued to record and perform as a duo. Jason Mercer played with DiFranco's band and continues to tour with Ron Sexsmith
as his bass player. He lives in Brooklyn, NY and works as a producer.
Dave Wall recorded two albums (Lozenge and The Spell I Was Under) as a solo artist, performed in a duo with Marilyn Lerner and performed as a member of the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band
and Both Ends of the Earth
Chris Miller worked in film post-production.
Hardy
, Bona and Plock became session musicians who have played on albums by a wide variety of Canadian rock, pop, jazz and blues musicians, and Beresford joined David Wilcox
's band.
A retrospective album, Simply the Best 1985–1995, was released in 2000.
In 2008, the band played a reunion show at the Hillside Festival in Guelph
on July 26, 2008 at the insistence of the festival's director Sam Baijal. He felt it was important that they headline the festival's 25th anniversary. The reunion lineup consisted of Brown, Fenner, Miller, Mercer, Wall, Hardy, Whiteman and Bona. The concert was extremely well received but unfortunately their set was cut short due to time constraints making them cut 4 songs from their intended set list
While the band claimed Hillside would be a one shot deal, there are rumors of a fall show.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band that formed in 1985 in Toronto, Ontario. Their R&B-flavoured rock made them a mainstay on Canadian campus radio in the early 1990s, but the band never quite broke through to the mainstream.
History
The band consisted of vocalist Kate FennerKate Fenner
Kate Fenner is a Canadian musician, currently based in New York City. She was one of the primary singers and songwriters for the Canadian alternative rock band Bourbon Tabernacle Choir in the 1980s and 1990s. When that band broke up, Fenner continued performing as a duo with her Bourbon bandmate...
, vocalist and organist Chris Brown, vocalist and guitarist Andrew Whiteman, guitarist Chris Miller, saxophone and vocalist Chris Plock, bassist Jason Mercer
Jason Mercer
Jason Mercer is a multi-instrumental Canadian musician playing double bass, electric bass, banjo and guitar.He was a member of the alternative rock band Bourbon Tabernacle Choir in the 1980s and 1990s...
and drummer Gregor Beresford. Vocalist Dave Wall joined the band in 1988, and vocalist and saxophonist Gene Hardy
Gene Hardy
Gene Hardy is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. He performs on saxophone, violin, musical saw and theremin.-Career:Hardy's early music training began in Victoria, British Columbia—first on violin at age 9, then on saxophone a year later. After studies at the Victoria Conservatory of...
joined in 1989.
They released three independent cassettes: First Taste of Bourbon in 1987, If Hell Had a Houseband in 1989 and Sister Anthony in 1990. The single "Put Your Head On" b/w "As Right as They Want to Be" (1990), attracted the attention of film director Bruce McDonald, who included it on the soundtrack
Highway 61 (soundtrack)
Highway 61 is a soundtrack album to the Canadian film Highway 61, released in 1991.The album produced the first chart hit for Canadian alternative band Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, "Put Your Head On"...
to his 1991 film Highway 61. Both songs were later available on the CD reissue of Sister Anthony in 1995, although the original version of "As Right as They Want to Be" was replaced with a live version.
With the exposure they gained from "Put Your Head On", the band signed to the independent label Yonder Records, and released Superior Cackling Hen in 1992. The singles "Make Amends", "Afterglow" and "Original Grin" were all hits on campus and modern rock radio stations in the next year.
Following the release of Superior Cackling Hen, Whiteman left the band in 1993. After leaving the Bourbons, Whiteman recorded as a solo artist, and subsequently became a member of the bands Que Vida, Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
and Apostle of Hustle
Apostle of Hustle
Apostle of Hustle is a Canadian indie rock group, formed in 2001 by Andrew Whiteman.-History:The band is more or less the brainchild of Andrew Whiteman, who has been in such groups as Bourbon Tabernacle Choir and Que Vida. He released a solo effort titled Fear of Zen in 1995. He is also the lead...
. Beresford left the band in 1994, and performed drum tracks on Tom Cochrane
Tom Cochrane
Tom Cochrane, OC Canadian musician and humanitarian, best known for his hit songs "Life Is a Highway", "Lunatic Fringe", "Human Race" and "I Wish You Well". Cochrane fronted the Canadian rock band Red Rider and has won seven Juno Awards...
's 1995 album, Ragged Ass Road
Ragged Ass Road
Ragged Ass Road is the second solo album album by former Red Rider frontman Tom Cochrane, released in October of 1995. The album was named for Ragged Ass Road, a street in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories...
. Tom Bona joined in 1995 as the drummer for the band.
Howie Beck
Howie Beck
Howie Beck is a Canadian singer-songwriter and producer based in Toronto. His debut album, 1997's Pop and Crash, was recorded at home while Beck recovered from mononucleosis.Beck began to attract attention outside of Canada with 1999's Hollow...
and Daniel Barnes played with the band during this era.
In 1995, the band released Shy Folk, which featured contributions from Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
and was produced by Michael Phillip Wojewoda
Michael Phillip Wojewoda
-External links:*...
. The singles from Shy Folk, "All Peace" and "Be My Witness", kept the band successful in alternative rock circles. A CD reissue of Sister Anthony was also released the same year.
Following Shy Folk, the band relocated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to make its bid for stardom, but instead the band soon broke up.
After the breakup, Brown and Fenner
Chris Brown and Kate Fenner
Chris Brown and Kate Fenner are a Canadian folk rock duo, consisting of singer-songwriters Chris Brown and Kate Fenner.-History:Brown and Fenner were founding members of the Canadian alternative rock group Bourbon Tabernacle Choir in the 1980s...
continued to record and perform as a duo. Jason Mercer played with DiFranco's band and continues to tour with Ron Sexsmith
Ron Sexsmith
Ronald Eldon "Ron" Sexsmith is a Canadian singer-songwriter from St. Catharines, Ontario, currently based in Toronto. He started his own band when he was fourteen years old, and released the first recordings of his own material seven years later, in 1985...
as his bass player. He lives in Brooklyn, NY and works as a producer.
Dave Wall recorded two albums (Lozenge and The Spell I Was Under) as a solo artist, performed in a duo with Marilyn Lerner and performed as a member of the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band
Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band
The Flying Bulgars is a Canadian folk music band, who play original music rooted in the folk and celebration music of Jews originating in Eastern Europe. The band's music adds elements of rock, jazz and salsa....
and Both Ends of the Earth
Chris Miller worked in film post-production.
Hardy
Gene Hardy
Gene Hardy is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. He performs on saxophone, violin, musical saw and theremin.-Career:Hardy's early music training began in Victoria, British Columbia—first on violin at age 9, then on saxophone a year later. After studies at the Victoria Conservatory of...
, Bona and Plock became session musicians who have played on albums by a wide variety of Canadian rock, pop, jazz and blues musicians, and Beresford joined David Wilcox
David Wilcox
David Wilcox may refer to:*David Wilcox , Canadian rock musician*David Wilcox , American folk musician*David Wilcox , member of band Triple 8...
's band.
A retrospective album, Simply the Best 1985–1995, was released in 2000.
In 2008, the band played a reunion show at the Hillside Festival in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
on July 26, 2008 at the insistence of the festival's director Sam Baijal. He felt it was important that they headline the festival's 25th anniversary. The reunion lineup consisted of Brown, Fenner, Miller, Mercer, Wall, Hardy, Whiteman and Bona. The concert was extremely well received but unfortunately their set was cut short due to time constraints making them cut 4 songs from their intended set list
While the band claimed Hillside would be a one shot deal, there are rumors of a fall show.
Discography
- A First Taste of Bourbon (1985)
- If Hell Had a Houseband (1987)
- Sister Anthony (1990)
- Superior Cackling Hen (1992)
- Shy Folk (1995)
- Simply the Best 1985–1995 (2000)