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Here Magazine (Moncton, NB)- September 7, 2006
Dust Poets are true travelling band
Geographically displaced band touring for album, Lovesick Town
Have you ever tried driving through northern Ontario?" asks Corey Ticknor of The Dust Poets, when asked why his band hasn't toured the Maritimes before. "It's a bitch," he says, laughing. He admits it's been a long time coming, and the band is happy to finally make its way here.
The members of The Dust Poets have toured Western Canada plenty, so now it's our turn. But to be fair, it's been a challenge for the band to tour at all. While its members were all based in Manitoba when the band formed, it's been a few years since the members of the Dust Poets all lived in the same area.
The band's press release describes them as "one of Manitoba's hottest and most geographically challenged folk-pop groups." Here's why: mandolin, trumpet and trombone player Ticknor actually lives in Sackville, N.B. now (after a stint in Phoenix, Ariz.) where his wife "got a real job" as a faculty advisor at Mount Allison University. Other band members Sean McManus (drums, clarinet, sax), Karla Ferguson (accordion, piano) and Gord Mowat (upright bass) all live in Ontario. And frontman Murray Evans (guitar, harmonica) remains in Manitoba. The Dust Poets will play three New Brunswick dates over the next few weeks - Wednesday, September 13, at Sessions Café in Rothesay, Friday, September 15, at Convocation Hall in Sackville as part of the Performing Arts Series, and Thursday, September 21, at St. James Gate in Moncton.
The band is touring in support of Lovesick Town, its third album. Their first, One Night In Berlin, was released in 2001 when the band was still known as das macht SHOW! The band's sophomore effort, Four Legs Good, was released in 2003 after the band changed names. Their press release says the new album Lovesick Town is "edgy," and Ticknor agrees, it might be a little "edgier" than their other releases. "Maybe. It's a little more use of the drum kit, I guess. Bigger instrumentation." He says it wasn't a planned move. The band members were simply, "taking the song to its logical conclusion. If it had this edgier feel, whether it was the melody or the lyrics or whatever, we took it that direction. "It was great," he continues. "We've been slagged actually for not really sticking to a sound. There's a piano ballad, a bluegrass tune, there's kind of a swing thing all on the album." Murray Evans is the band's sole songwriter, but Ticknor says each band mate adds their own flavour to the songs.
"There are a lot of different influences in this band." The Dust Poets have their Maritime tour to look forward to. Afterwards, the band is considering a tour of Australia if time and money permit. "There are a lot of similarities between their music scene and ours here. They've got some massive, fantastic folk festivals that we would fit on. It's just airfare. It's $10,000 to fly us all there." But hey, the Dust Poets' members haven't let a little travel get in their way yet.
Check out the Dust Poets on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Sessions Café in Rothesay. There is no cost, but artist appreciation is accepted. On Friday, Sept. 15, the band will play at Convocation Hall in Sackville as part of the Performing Arts Series. Tickets are $25, or $13 for students. On Thursday, Sept. 21, the band will play at St. James Gate in Moncton. There is no cover. For more information, check out www.dustpoets.com