Canadian blend country

New Country Rehab mixes a little rye into its American-style mash

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“It’s just as easy as swallowing a pill.”

John Showman sings that line on “Luxury Motel”, the second track on Ghost of Your Charms, the new/sophomore album from Toronto-based band New Country Rehab.

Its music effortlessly takes the fiddle tunes of the American South north of the 49th parallel, giving the listener a Canadian country high.

“One of the big advantages of being a Canadian band playing this kind of music is the perspective we can bring to the table,” Showman, 42, says. 

“Not having grown up surrounded by the sounds of American country and folk music, but rather having been drawn to it as adults, imparts a certain critical sense of distance, where we as outsiders can identify the things that make the music vital to us without the bias of being too accustomed to it.”

New Country Rehab’s lead singer and fiddle player started off on classical violin at age six. At 20, Showman started getting into Irish and bluegrass fiddling. 

Vocally, Showman sounds like a barroom brawl narrated by a smooth MC. 

“I’ve admired many vocalists over the years that I’m likely trying to emulate on a subconscious level; Neil Young, Jello Biafra, Keith Whitley, Chuck D, Layne Staley, from all kinds of musical styles.

“I treat singing like telling a story.”

New Country Rehab – which also features drummer Roman Tomé, double bassist Alastair Whitehead and guitarist Michael Tuyp – released Ghost of Your Charms a year ago this month via Ottawa-based label Kelp Records.

“They are a natural fit, a small label with an excellent and selective roster,” says Showman, citing The Falcon Lake Incident album from Jim Bryson and The Weakerthans as a great example of Kelp’s quality. 

“For the recording, we are very involved in the entire process. We had Chris Stringer [Timber Timbre, Ohbijou] produce the album. He likes working with experienced people and knows how to make the right kinds of suggestions to get the best performances from everyone.”

The band recorded the album at Casa Wroxton Studio, run by Canadian roots musician Ken Whiteley. Showman says the studio has one of the best collections of high-end gear and microphones, which helps ensure listeners get as close as possible to the band’s essential sound, which he describes as echoing classic country themes.

“We’re suckers for ballads, songs about criminals, love lost and won, songs about people seeking redemption and coming to terms with tough life choices,” Showman says. 

“So, artists like Hank Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Townes Van Zandt, Dolly Parton, Timber Timbre, Jonathan Byrd, Corin Raymond, Ralph Stanley, Jason Molina and others of their ilk become beacons of light for us.”

Published in Volume 68, Number 24 of The Uniter (March 19, 2014)

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