Pickle Barrel
THIRTEEN YEARS AGO, one of Toronto’s best-known and beloved party bands, Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, hung up their groove machines. Or so their legions of fans were led to believe. Now, with former members leading successful endeavours elsewhere, the Choir is getting back up on those risers and preaching their unique brand of funkified gospel one last time.
The Bourbons are a uniquely Toronto product. They formed in Grades 9 and 10, when they weren’t even old enough to drink, mostly at Toronto’s Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute.
“It was one of those things, like everybody else who’s 14 or 15. But our band just happened to stick together,” says Chris Brown, whose Hammond organ gave the band its first shot of musical soul food.
After winning a high school battle of the bands, they earned enough money to buy their first mics and PA, which Brown says solidified the band.
He describes the Toronto music scene as a “fertile environment” in which to grow up. The band had opportunities to open for big acts, like Bo Didley, and was instilled with what Brown calls, “Canadian band ethic.”
“It was a very different time for live music in Canada,” says Brown. The band was able to play 200 shows a year, with the luxury of picking between popular Toronto venues like Lee’s Palace and the El Mocambo regularly, something which he says was later obliterated by dance clubs.
During their run, the Bourbons packed small and large venues and were renowned for their infectious blend of soul, funk and pop. In their decade together, the band released five albums and a “best of” compilation in 2000. And, although they never achieved mainstream success, they remain one of the iconic bands from what is considered the heyday of Canada’s independent music scene.
All these years later, their work ethic remains.
“The other night the core of us got together for the first time in 13 years,” Brown explains. “It felt really good to realize that kind of brain trust we all grew up in and how much we kind of shared in turning each other on to different kinds of music and books. Just like everybody else in their high school gang — our difference, we just kind of took it on the road.”
The 1995 breakup happened after the band moved from Toronto to New York City. The intention had been to spread their wings, but the big city made the group realize they had been “static,” and it was time to branch out. New York fosters individualism and the bug bit them hard, Brown says.
He and vocalist Kate Fenner remained in New York City and formed their own duo. The pair has recorded five LPs, including privately commissioned projects as well as a number of solo recordings.
Vocalist Andrew Whiteman remained in the Toronto indie scene becoming Apostle of Hustle’s frontman and Broken Social Scene’s lead guitarist.
Dave Wall, on vocals, joined Canadian folk group Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, currently working on their 20th anniversary album.
Saxophonists and vocalists Gene Hardy and Chris Plock have played on numerous Canadian rock and jazz albums. Original drummer Gregor Beresford joined Dave Wilcox’s band, and guitarist Chris Miller took a different route, ending up in film post-production.
“It feels like we can kind of get back into this thing wholeheartedly without there being any question about what it is,” says Brown.
The reunion came about due to the persistence of Hillside Festival art director Sam Baijal. The festival, an annual musical event on Guelph Island that helped launch the Bourbons, is celebrating its 25th year, and Baijal couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate.
“We thought if there’s one band that would be really great to see if they were willing to get back together for our 25th year, this would be a great thing,” says Baijal. “It’s a chance for people from different demographics to experience a band that really was one of the premier independent artists.”
Baijal’s enthusiasm for the anticipated set is obvious. “They actually do have an historic fan base that’s always kind of been hoping they play together again but never really thinking it would happen.”
Catch Bourbon Tabernacle Choir’s only scheduled performance on July 26 at the Hillside Festival in Guelph. 
Karen Bliss has interviewed everyone from Kurt Cobain to Britney Spears. Her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Billboard and dozens of other publications.
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