DEREK O'CONNOR
Derek O'Connor is a force of nature. Just one listen and you know that you're in the presence of great talent. If his guitar wizardry is not known now, it certainly will be. He is undeniably one of the finest musicians in the Moncton area, if not the province. He came to the MotherFeedback project through drummer Ken Killam. One day, Ken and he jammed with Roland Savoie and Roland was so impressed with his skill as a guitarist that he asked him if he would record a few tracks for him. Derek said yes and the rest, as some say, is history.
At the age of 17, he played drums for a punk band but, as he says, "I migrated to the guitar." His biggest influence at the time was The Ramones. "I may have never picked up a guitar if it wasn't for The Ramones," he says. "They taught everyone that you don't have to be fluent to enjoy playing." Nowadays, his main interest is in Piedmont Blues, ragtime and other forms of roots music but he still plays his Ramones records on and cranks them up to play along, to kick up the jams, so to speak.
His influences are eclectic. "In my playing," he says, " you're likely to hear a lot of Freddy King, Albert King, a bit of Johnny Winter and, of course, Stevie." He's young and has his whole life ahead of him but even at this point, it's obvious that he has the chops to surpass his peers due to his tenacious search for the next new sound. He fills his entire life with music. "It consumes a good majority of my spare time," he says. And if you asked him what he would do if he won the lottery, he would answer: "Build a studio and live in it." "When I first started playing, I focussed on playing live," he says, "now my main interest is in the recording area." He has produced many demos and has one full length record to his credit but, "I have yet to reach the pinnacle of my ambitions."
His top priority right now, though, is to have some job security; like most other musicians, it's important for him to keep himself fed with a roof over his head. Meanwhile, he intends to release a variety of projects in the future. There's no doubt that he is capable of earning good money exclusively making music. This remains to be seen but he certainly deserves to do well without the restrictions of a day job. We all wish him great success.
His contribution to the MotherFeedback project is his wonderful rhythm and lead guitar in the songs "Night City Dreams" and "Strange Paradise." Everyone at Decent Studios is proud to have had him make magic in the studio for them. If there's anyone out there who would like to hire someone for session work, you can't get any better than Derek O'Connor. Keep your ears open: you're likely to hear his work someday and just listening will be its own reward.
ROY GOULD
Roy Gould is a serious guy. He takes almost everything seriously but, thankfully for us, he takes his music that way, too. He has a great voice and plays fine rhythm guitar. And when he's on a roll, he can surprise you with flute and harmonica. He got his first guitar at the age of 16 and never looked back. He's a true journeyman; his resume is too long for this venue but the highlights are more than impressive: he's done television, he had a co-writer and performance relationship with the likes of John Jabalee and Richard McFadden, formed the band "Sass" with John and Paul Boudreau (later of Glamour Puss), began a solo career and played the club scene, hosted a local TV show ("Railroad City Music"), then played in bands like Cumulus and Bad Angus, was a regular at Spanky's (Monday Night Jam), performed with his two younger sons, age 9 and 11 and his daughter, who was 16, and played harmonica on an ECMA winning project. Whew. And that's only half of his credentials.
"I've met so many wonderful people through music," he says, "it seems to magically open doors." In his teens, he just wanted to be noticed and he probably still does. "I wanted to be on the big stage," he says, "do recording projects and generally have a great time. I still want some of that; I love to perform and I'm slowly progressing in my writing, especially lyrics." He regrets not having developed his writing and recording and business skills. "Music is a business, " he says, "and can tend to lure musicians into fitting into a box rather than supporting the creative act."
"I can't imagine not having music in my life," he admits. "However, I tend to be creative in all aspects of my life, so I guess I would have found some way to express myself."
If you want to engage in a discussion with him about politics, religion and world events, he just says, "No comment." He chooses to focus on his present activity, whatever that happens to be and be aware of his effect on others. That makes sense; he has a degree in counselling, which he practices nowadays.
Some of his dreams have come true throughout his life. "I performed for large audiences on a number of occasions," he says, "and felt a powerful connection to listeners and fellow musicians." Watching him perform only underscores his desire to get it right. Still, he jams with others, usually with great results but.....don't tell him that. He might not believe you. One suspects that deep inside, he's pleased with having been able to move you with his music.
What does he do for fun? "I enjoy Tai Chi," he says, "and reading... and music, of course." He played a long stint at St. James Gate, Church Street, Moncton not long ago and would often generously let other musicians take the stage between sets. When he performs, you'll hear a lot of Paul McCartney, Beatles, James Taylor, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. He's even been known to slip in a few original songs for good measure. He's a consummate professional, for sure, a delight to watch and listen to.
For the MotherFeedback project, his sense of drama was put to good use. He contributed harmonica to "You're the Cure" and lead vocals to "Sweet Taste of Rose" and the voice of the villain in "Satellite Eye". Thanks, Roy.
PHIL McNALLY
Phil McNally is a musician and a businessman, an unusual combination. He played teen dances at the age of 14 and he says he's played in about 30 bands over the following years, travelling across Canada three or four times and even opening for Great Big Sea 3 months before they recorded their first album. He's jammed with the likes of Roy Gould, Vonnie Mann, Richard Savoie and many other notable musicians in the Moncton local area and continues to do so.
His business side has nothing to do with music at all. He owns Air Cab in Moncton, one of the city's major taxi services. But he can't seem to give up music. It's hard to imagine that someone told him years ago: "Don't sing. You sound terrible and you'll never be good at it." Whoever said it sure got it wrong. Phil's still around and he's still singing, fortunately for the audiences that come to see him perform at the Triangle every Wednesday.
Phil's influences are varied: Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull, Simon and Garfunkel, John Prine, Tommy Makem, the Clancey Brothers, Neil Young, Stan Rogers, Moody Blues and Monet. If you ask him what he would have done if there were no music in his life, though, his answer would surprise you: "I'd be an inventor. Still might. We'll see."
"Didn't have any ambitions, don't have any," he says. "Whatever happens happens. I'll take the good if it comes my way." He does have one thing that he regrets, though. "(I wish) I would have moved to Moncton earlier in life," he says. "The people and the mindset of Moncton were much more suited to my style and personality and many doors opened for me musically and otherwise that just weren't available in my home town." Well, I think that many people in the Moncton area are mighty glad that he made this his home, where his presence is an asset to the community, musical and otherwise.
He did have a dream and it came true. "I dreamed that I would own my own house," he says. "I accomplished that. It felt good!" So now, he leads a quiet life in that house with his lady. You know he's a musician as soon as you walk into his living room: you might see a mandolin and a guitar on stands sitting next to the stereo and he has a collection of Stan Rogers recordings and books that you're sure to see there. And that house has been the scene of many musical get-togethers where some magic nights have come and gone, never to be heard again. Phil might play or he might just put his guitar down, sit in his chair and simply enjoy the show, smiling broadly, with a cold beer in his hand. Thus, when you ask him what it's like to be a musician / songwriter in his world, he just says, "It suits me fine."
Phil's contribution to the MotherFeedback project was the mandolin in "You Can't Pray a Lie" and as co-writer on "With All Its Faults" with John E. Ellis, Danny Greene and Richard Savoie. And if you happen to be at the Triangle next Wednesday night, shout "Jethro Tull!" and you might hear Phil and Carey Beck do a mean version of "Locomotive Breath"! Enjoy!!
KEN KILLAM
Ken Killam hails from Moncton, New Brunswick. He began playing drums shortly after trying out an old parade snare while visiting his cousin in Maine. He hasn't looked back since. He got his first drum kit as a Christmas gift from his parents, blue sparkle Stewart drums from Eaton's for about $200. That kit has been handed down to other beginning drummers; where they are now is anybody's guess.
His most inspiring influence was a gentleman by the name of Wayne Thompson. "I watched in awe as he performed with his band", he says "I just couldn't take my eyes off what he was doing on his drum kit. I was floored. I had to do this for the rest of my life." Other influences were drummers like Carmine Appice, Ed Shaugnessy, Neil Peart, Buddy Rich, all of whom he has met and shared thoughts and ideas with. Other influences include the Police (Stewart Copeland), Pink Floyd (Nick Mason), the Rolling Stones (Charlie Watts) and (of course) the Beatles, whom he saw at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1966, front row.
Ken had gone on to perform in a number of popular bands over the years: Salamalakum (well known in the Moncton area in the early '70's, Tovanar (a Calgary based classic rock band in the early '80's), the Brownie Band out of Sussex, New Brunswick, Rendezvous (covering the whole Beatles thing in the early '80's, often mistaken for Beatlemania), Jim Dooly and Motion (R&B variety dance band), Clockwork (well known in southeast New Brunswick in the late '80's), the Bluesueders (a local Moncton 6 piece band featuring some of Moncton's prominent musicians of today), the Hollowbodies (a Tragically Hip cover band), and from 1999 to 2006, has been extremely dedicated to the Streamliners (a well known and extremely popular mainstream blues act). He had also filled in for gigs with the likes of Dutch Mason, Lee Marlow & Dakota, Isaac, Blewett and Cooper and more. He has even been involved with original projects that he's helped to produce and manage.
He found his way to the MotherFeedback Project through brothers Roland and Gilles Savoie, who were fomer members of Rendezvous. His contribution is his work in the songs "Am I There Yet?" and "You're the Cure". His contributions are more than greatly appreciated. It's an honor to have been helped by such a journeyman!
GILLES SAVOIE
Gilles Savoie's introduction to the piano was due to a trade off. In the '60's, he had decided that he wanted to learn the guitar to emulate his heroes, of which there were many, who were shaping the sound of the emerging UK artists. His brother, Richard, was monopolizing the family piano at the time and he asked his parents if they would get him a guitar for Christmas. Richard was eyeing it as it sat under the tree and took it over, to Gilles's chagrin. But, inevitably, Gilles took over the piano and through this change, discovered his love for the keyboard.
Thus started the career of one of the most inventive keyboard players in recent memory. He's a veritable storehouse of ideas which pour out of him like a fresh spring with mind-boggling speed. Coming from a musical family, his love for music continued to grow; from the jazz masters of the past to the ever expanding music of the '60's and '70's, his influences grew as he honed his craft. The Savoie family was raised on music from and early age, singing in front of audiences, singing songs arranged by their father, Nazaire (an accomplished pianist in his own right) and backed by the love and support of their mother, Bertha. (Bertha, a fine singer, had done auditions in her youth backed by such notables as Oscar Peterson and Jose Iturbi.)
Then the Beatles happened and there was no looking back. His influences were varied and eclectic, the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan and Edgar Winter, to name a few. He also found inspiration in art rock bands like King Crimson, Yes and Gentle Giant. At the age of 15, he played in a band called Smack, with great local musicians like Eldon Cormier and David Leger. In the years that followed, he worked in other bands such as Merge and Rocklyn. These bands played interesting covers as well as quality originals written by him and his brothers Robert, Richard and Roland.
After that, he left the music scene to raise a family with his wife, Rosa. He connected with a very musical group and played contemporary Christian music with his sister Charmaine, his son Craig and friends Kent and Rhonda Bulmer. The original songs were outstanding, showing Gilles to be an emerging songwriter in his own right, following in the footsteps of his brothers Robert, Richard and Roland.
Now, Gilles is playing with the Watermen, Marc Little, Tom Thompson, Paul Boudreau (late of the Glamour Puss Band), and Dennis Mongrain, a group of musical geniuses on the verge of releasing an album on Universal. He has also formed a studio called Decent Studios with his brothers Robert and Roland.
His contribution to the MotherFeedback Project are his keyboard work and arrangements as well as lead vocals on "Cajun Radio, "Satellite Eye" and "Midnight In Munich" and backing vocals on "Strange Paradise" and "Am I There Yet?". Special mention should be made for his work on "Satellite Eye", along with his brother Roland, he brought the song into the world of "Star Trek"! I'm sure the crew of the Enterprise would be proud! He is also the co-writer
CHARMAINE SAVOIE
Charmaine Savoie is the singer of the family. Being an instrumentalist didn't seem to interest her the way it did her brothers but there was never any question that she had a great singing voice. Her mother, Bertha, gave her some good advice when she was young. "She would say that when we sing, we are telling a story", says Charmaine, "so make sure you believe the story you are singing."
She started singing with her brothers Richard and Gilles, doing songs that their father arranged. It was an unusual act in that they sang songs from the '30's and '40's at the ages of 10, 8 and 7. She wanted to be a famous singer and to sing with her brothers in their band. "I love singing in groups," she says. "(I) don't like the solo aspect. I enjoy what others bring to the table and how it affects me." Unfortunately, her brothers were too busy with their own thing to pay attention to her, an oversight on their part. Still, she was listening to the music of the Beatles and the Byrds as well as singers like Marilyn McCoo, Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight. "My greatest influence," she says, "was, by far, my mother and my father. Their amazing gifts were inspirational to me, even if they were a bit unattainable."
"I expect that I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for music," she adds. "I am still singing. I sing in Church and sometimes travel with a choir or some music group. It will always be a part of my life. I have sung to every one of my neices and nephews to put them to sleep and now I sing to my great-nephews."
She had one dream come true in her life. "Once, a guy from a really good black group from Amherst called to ask if I would sing with their band," she says, "after they heard me jamming with my brothers in a tavern in Sackville (New Brunswick). It felt great. I refused because I was heading in another direction by then but I never forgot the compliment." When asked what she would have done without music in her life, her answer is: "That's impossible to imagine. Impossible." Her top priorities in her life? "God, family and friends".
Besides her obvious singing gifts, she is also a talented artist. One look around her apartment and you will see some shining examples of her watercolors. You might find her surrounded by friends and family now and then, watching old movies or simply doing crafts.
Her contribution to the MotherFeedback Project is her lead vocals on "Fascinatin' Lies" and "Midnight In Munich" and backing vocals on "Cajun Radio".
