Black Cabbage Now
Black Cabbage used to call themselves "soulfolkpunk."
The "soul" was and is a primary influence, as is groove-based
music whether it's American hiphop or Colombian percussion.
The "folk" explained the presence of acoustic guitar,
violin and accordion (and for those whose Celtic antennas
perk up immediately, back up - you're way off!). The"punk"
was a shameless attempt to fit into the restraining
hipster
world of people who consider themselves alternative
(to something), as well as a way to politely explain
that they're not as boring as other "soul-inflected
folk" acts. What they left out of the equation last
time 'round was the "rock." As they've grown and developed,
their group dynamic has coalesced into an intensity
that doesn't sound like seven loose ends anymore. And
if you're going to describe yourself with a meaningless
word that's been bashed into irrelevance and ambiguity
... it might as well be rock'n'roll. And speaking of
meaningless terms, here's another: eclectic. Yeah, I
know you've heard it all before, but it's true. With
five different singer/songwriters
in the band, your expectations will be challenged, your
interest piqued, and you'll no longer wonder question
why so many talented people in one band make Black Cabbage
the Wu-Tang Clan of Canadian folk rock. But we'll
discuss the sum of its parts later.
First we should let you in on this media-friendly soundbite:
A distinct Guelph gumbo that falls somewhere between
f!@#ed-up Cdn Shield rock, Albertan country,
Detroit River soul, Laurentian folk, and Kensington
Market groove.
Black Cabbage Then
Black Cabbage are seven musicians who formed in the
town of Guelph, Ontario in early 1993. They've toured
from Victoria to Sydney - and burned a hole in Ontario's
401 highway - on a shoestring budget and reasonably
good hygiene, becoming known to small circles throughout
the land for being an entertaining, dynamic and passionate
live band. Their self-titled debut album was released
in September, 1995. The video for "Wallflower" was released
in February 1997, a stop-motion animation mini-epic
entirely written, directed, and funded by the band.
(Director Nick Craine went on to helm the kaleidoscopic
video for Stephen Fearing's "Home" in 1998). The Black
Cabbage contributions to three commissioned compilations
(Guelph Happens, Truck Songs, Stomp On Wood: A Tribute
to Stompin' Tom Connors) were nationally acclaimed.
Black Cabbage the whole
or the sum of its parts?
Dave Withers (e. guitar, vocals, bass, perc.) has survived
new wave, hippie folk, and punk rock in his fabled music
career. His first splash came with local Guelph favorites
the Monkey Wrench Gang, who were later reduced to the
power trio Billy But. He also has extensive theatrical
experience and founded the environmental theater group
Ruckus in the Rainforest in the early '90s. His solo
debut as a somber
singer/songwriter is slated for a 1998 release. Tristan
O'Malley (bass, vocals, guitars) crawled out of suburban
basement punk rock bands, went through a brief Celtic
phase (from which he's entirely recovered), and used
his theater degree to practice his rock moves. He was
also a founding member of punk/rock/ska combo Flashlight;
their debut album is on Stomp! Records. Michael O'Connell
(ac. guitar,vocals, bass, perc.) recently completed
his debut solo album (Brand Spankin' on DROG), the culmination
of years spent bringing his unique acoustic playing
and bell-clear voice to audiences across the country.
Rescued from classic rock purgatory following his St.
Catharines days as a child prodigy, O'Connell now hangs
around a lot of jazzbos.
Sheila Gruner (violin, bass, vocals, ehru, accordion)
may be a student of Quebecois and East European fiddle
music, but she also plays a mean "Crazy Train"
on her violin. Her work in and South America has brought
a strong Latin influence to the band. She also performs
with folk duo Crows Feet, with songwriter Vicki Fraser
and ex-Bird Sister Tannis Slimmon. Nick Craine (e. guitar,
vocals) founded his own publishing empire shortly after
leaving high school, created The Cheeseheads comic book
series, and authored the graphic novel adaptations of
Bruce McDonald's Hard Core Logo and Dance Me Outside.
Musically speaking, he sat in the producer's chair for
the new Aaron Riches record and plans to release a solo
soul album next year. Michael Barclay (accordion, organ,
saxophone) is a product of thrash polka bands and cheeseball
rock'n'roll. In order to redeem himself, he pursued
a surprisingly successful career in rock journalism,
where he passes himself off as an arbiter of taste (!).
He gets session work (Aaron Riches, Vicki Fraser, Lewis
Melville, Flashlight, and the Dissemblers) through a
lot of nepotism. Mark Agnew (drums) is a soul survivor
from the tough streets of Elora. The newest member of
the band, he got the job in April, 1997 when he left
the audition by telling the band that he hoped everyone
else sucked.
- Billy Shears, May
1998
