Bourbon Tabernacle Choir
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The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir were a Canadian alternative rock band that formed in 1985 in Toronto, Ontario. Their R&B-flavoured rock made them a mainstay on Canadian campus radio in the early 1990s, but the band never quite broke through to the mainstream.
The band consisted of vocalist Kate Fenner, vocalist and organist Chris Brown, vocalist and guitarist Andrew Whiteman, guitarist Chris Miller, saxophone and vocals Chris Plock, bassist Jason Mercer and drummer Gregor Beresford. Vocalist Dave Wall joined the band in 1988, and vocalist and saxophonist Gene Hardy joined in 1989.
They released three independent cassettes -- First Taste of Bourbon in 1987, If Hell Had A Houseband in 1989 and Sister Anthony in 1990. A song from Sister Anthony, "Put Your Head On", attracted the attention of film director Bruce McDonald, who included it on the soundtrack to his 1991 film Highway 61.
With the exposure they gained from "Put Your Head On", the band signed to the independent label Yonder Records, and released Superior Cackling Hen in 1992. The singles "Make Amends", "Afterglow" and "Original Grin" were all hits on campus and modern rock radio stations in the next year.
Following that album, Whiteman left the band in 1993. After leaving the Bourbons, Whiteman recorded as a solo artist, and subsequently became a member of the bands Que Vida, Broken Social Scene and Apostle of Hustle. Beresford left the band in 1994, and performed drum tracks on Tom Cochrane's 1995 album Ragged Ass Road.
In 1995, the band released Shy Folk, which featured contributions from Ani DiFranco and was produced by Michael Phillip Wojewoda. The singles from Shy Folk, "All Peace" and "Be My Witness", kept the band successful in alternative rock circles. A CD reissue of Sister Anthony was also released the same year.
Following Shy Folk, the band relocated to New York City to make its bid for stardom, but instead the band soon broke up.
After the breakup, Brown and Fenner continued to record and perform as a duo, Mercer played with DiFranco's band, Wall recorded an album, Lozenge, as a solo artist and as a member of the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, and Miller worked in film postproduction. Hardy and Plock became session musicians who have played on albums by a wide variety of Canadian rock, pop, jazz and blues musicians, and Beresford joined David Wilcox's band.
A retrospective album, Simply the Best 1985-1995, was released in 2000.
Band Members
(Info from 1995 BTC FAQ)
Past members include: Howie Beck (drums) 1994-1995 Daniel Barnes (drums & percussion) 1994 Sean James (saxophone) 1988-1989 Christopher Plock (saxophone & vocals) 1986-1988 John Buck (trumpet) 1986-1988 Graham King (drums, electric, mandolin, bicycle) 1986 Derek Sinclair (saxophone) 1985-1986 Peter Mercier (guitar & vocals) 1985-1989 Anderew MacEacran (percussion) 1985-1987 Brian Figaro (guitar) 1985-1986 Michael Rosenitsch (dancer) 1985 Colin Dundar (dancer) 1985 Paul Swayze (drums)1985 Mark Perkins (drums) 1985 Curtis Lamey (dancer, bass for 1/2 a song) 1985
Performing in the first ever gig were: Brown (organ), Mercer (bass), Miller (guitar), Kate (vocals) Whitey (preaching & tambourine) Peter (guitar) Figaro (guitar) Curtis (bass) Graham (mandolin & rumored cyclist) Perkins (drums) Swyze (drums) Anderew MacEacran (percussion) Sinclair (sax) Colin (dancing) Mike Rosenitsch (dancing) Lydia Wagerer was baptised with real bourbon. The Show was opened by Miller, Mercer and Perkins performing a blues number entitled RUBBER DUCKY with Miller on vocals. Mercer then took a seat on the RED COUCH and began playing The SERMON. During the song Mercer passed the bass off to Curtis.
Discography
(Info from 1995 BTC FAQ)
A First Taste of Bourbon (independent 1985) deleted
Bad Destruction Work If Hell Had a Houseband (independent 1987) deleted
Decomposition Blues Ain't It Better To Ignite Than To Explode Just Can't Seem To Get My Poor Self Together Stanley (Make 'Em Laugh) When Dave Wall joined in 1988; his voice & one of his songs, entitled Do You Believe were added to the tracks. Sister Anthony (Applaud The Potato 1990 / re-issued on CD by Yonder Records 1995)
Worms The Down Defy My Love Death is the Great Awakener Nothing Now That We Have Your Attention I'd Like To Point Out A Couple Of Things Solitude Mama The Little Vagabond remastered CD reissue bonus tracks: Put Your Head On This track enjoyed considerable video play upon it's inital release and a second life when it appeared in Bruce McDonald's film "Highway 61". Other than a small run of 'cassingles' and the film soundtrack, this song has never been commercially available. This track was produced by Bob Wiseman. As Right As They Want to Be (Truth Groove) A live recording from The Pheonix Concert Theatre 1993 with Ani and Andy on percussion. Superiour Cackling Hen (SONY Music Canada 1992 / YONDER Records 1994)
Grow Ain't It Better To Ignite Than to Explode? Waiting in a Hurry Asleep at the Wheel My New Thing Afterglow Original Grin Make Amends Build Me A Box You Can Come From Here Two Clowns Rude Groove Song for Sam and Richard (Oh, The Beauty) Shy Folk (Yonder Records 1995)
Love Like Nothing Be My Witness One More Time Lose the Apple/In a Salient Way Decomposition Blues Simple All Peace Overjoyed Bring it On When all the Shy Folk Finally Get it On By The Time Lost track
We Can't Wait was dropped from album during mastering
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