Interview with JUNO Award-Nominees Durham County Poets
Interview with JUNO Award-Nominees Durham County Poets
Today on What On What's Good with Jovin Tardif, I am here with Durham County Poets (DCP). Durham County Poets is a Canadian blues band. DCP members include Kevin Harvey (lead vocalist and songwriter), David Whyte (guitar and backing vocals), Neil Elsmore (guitar and backing vocals), and Carl Rufh (bass and backing vocals), and Rob Couture (drums). In 2020, the group was nominated for a JUNO award for Best Blues Album of the Year for their fourth record, "Hand Me Down Blues". Their latest and fifth album is "Out of the Woods". In our #cinqque5tion interview, we discuss the members of the group, their new album "Out of the Woods", musical influences, and much more.
1. Can you tell us about the different members of the group. How did you all meet?
Neil Elsmore and I first met probably when he was around 15 years old at church over 30 years ago. He took up the guitar, and I was singing in a band at the time called Blind Lemon Pie. Neil would come out and listen to the band. It was the only blues band in the area at the time. He had a ferocious appetite to learn and to listen to various blues artists. And he was a quick learner on the guitar. We became good friends, and that relationship has lasted ever since. Then we started playing a church together, writing songs, and playing at the local “Canada Day festivities“ in our hometown of Chateauguay Qc. He has a lovely family and is a great chef and artist as well. He’s the one that did the cover on our last album. Hand me down Blues.
David Whyte and Carl Rufh are the two residents of Ormstown, The two of them have been performing together and with others for decades. David was in many different bands over the years. Playing clubs, dance halls, and bars. David has always been a very prolific songwriter and a fine musician. The two of them also performed in the local Ormstown marching band as well. David and his girlfriend opened a music school in the same community. Carl has been playing bass and performing at festivals and clubs for decades with Montréal’s Jimmy James band. It was a power trio. I remember seeing them at the Jazz Festival opening up for Steve Ray Vaughn back in the 80s. Drumming for that band was John McColgan, he produced our first three albums. I guess in many ways it was Carl that was the catalyst to start us off as recording artists.
Rob Couture and I first met I guess through Carl. They both performed in a band called, The Echo Hunters. That band was beyond a doubt one of my favourite bands... Period. They had incredible songwriting, harmonizing, and musicianship that really impressed me. Rob is a fine percussionist that truly understands dynamics in the music. He recently retired from working at the CLSC in NDG Montreal. He was one of those healthcare workers on the front lines. He joined the band about five years ago. He has brought a lot of soulfulness into the overall sound of the Durham County Poets.
As for myself, I just always loved music. I was not by any means an “accomplished “musician“ I fiddled with an acoustic guitar. But listening to music and having a song in my heart, trying to find my voice, was and has always been a part of my being. Some of you may know, as a young man at the age of 19 I had a stupid accident rolling down the hill in an innertube in 1981. I broke my neck and became permanently paralyzed. It was shortly after that that I started performing in Blind Lemon Pie. I still cherish that relationship and get together with those band members and perform in our hometown of Chateauguay a few times a year. It’s always a blast. I am married to my wife Darlene; we live on the outskirts of Ormstown in the lovely hamlet of Dewittville on the picturesque Chateauguay river.
2. How would you describe your music to others?
Trying to describe our music to others is often an exercise in frustration. At least for those that you’re trying to convey it to because it’s often left vague and undefined. I think it’s fair to say that with each album and with each performance our sound changes and evolves. we seek to write, record, and perform songs that first speak to us sonically and lyrically, and therefore hopefully the natural consequence is that it speaks likewise to the listeners as well. Having said that. It is fair to say that we are fairly grounded in the roots traditions…
3. If you can only pick one, what is your favourite song from the new album ‘Out of the Woods’ and why?
I feel like saying, I refuse to answer that on the grounds that it may incriminate me. lol. But I guess I will answer and say it is the title track. Out Of The Woods. Why? It is the song that was the driving force behind everything. Neil came up with that title, and it was perfect, it gave us a clear direction. That picture, that metaphor, and the place where we all were collectively on this planet and where we all wanted to be was the driving force of the whole project. And it was that song that we all contributed to Musically. To me, it started with the idea of that big fat bass sound in the introduction. Carl, I said, “Lay it down heavy“. Then we all worked collectively to slowly and consistently build the song so that it could live! Because that style of song, if not done correctly, if it doesn’t build incrementally, slowly. It makes no sense and can quickly get away from you and become this repetitive Sonic Monster.
4. Do you have any tips for future songwriters?
Think about what you want to say! By that I mean lyrically and sonically. It’s all about finding your voice. For some of us it takes longer than others, many of us never do. Surround yourself with people who are like-minded. And don’t be a jerk!
In the songwriting world, when it comes to matters of the heart. Unlike a surgeon, our job is to touch and to enrich people's hearts with art. Leave the heavy stuff to the doctors…
5. Do you have a favourite festival to perform at? Please describe.
The funny thing is we have not performed at a huge amount of festivals. Each one of them has been a wonderful experience. I was totally blown away by the Little hidden gem of a festival called, Blue Skies in Ontario. We enjoyed that very much. We met Karen Morand and her husband Charlie there. She sang on and elevated this album and we love working with her.
But I always tell people that we have a special place in our hearts for the Rochester jazz festival in Rochester New York. And I can’t really describe why except to say that when we performed there, we were just so well received. We were invited back to perform at the Little Theatre A year later and do a concert there. And it was sold out and packed, and everyone that had seen us at the jazz festival was there and brought people and made us feel like we were international stars. And this is a peculiar experience. Everyone of us in the band said. “Wow!“ What’s going on?
6. Who are some of your musical influences and why?
The Band... because of who they are the way they write the way they sound the way they touch people.
Muddy Waters... because he was a legend and commanded the stage and he was the first “real blues artist”. I saw Live.
James Taylor... because of his beautiful songwriting, and the way he surrounds himself with impeccable musicians.
Ray Charles... because he’s Ray Charles!
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