Thrush Hermit
Encyclopedia
History
Thrush Hermit was formed in Halifax, Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in 1992 by Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now resides across the harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...
(vocals, guitar), Rob Benvie
Rob Benvie
Rob Benvie is a Canadian musician and writer who has performed with alternative rock acts Thrush Hermit, Camouflage Nights, The Tennis Injury, and The Dears. He also records and occasionally performs live as Tigre Benvie....
(vocals, guitar), Ian McGettigan
Ian McGettigan
Ian McGettigan is a Canadian rock musician and producer.As bassist, singer and songwriter for Thrush Hermit, McGettigan gained indie rock notoriety. Thrush Hermit also included Joel Plaskett, Rob Benvie and Cliff Gibb. Touring extensively through Canada and the United States, Thrush Hermit released...
(vocals, bass), and Michael Catano (drums). Catano was replaced by Cliff Gibb in 1994; Gibb in turn left the band in 1999 and was replaced by Benn Ross.
They signed with Murderecords
Murderecords
Murderecords is an independent record label that releases the music of the Canadian rock band Sloan. Originally formed in 1992 to produce just the records of that band, it later released work of other bands including Eric's Trip, The Hardship Post, Al Tuck, Stinkin' Rich, Hip Club Groove, The...
, the label of fellow Haligonians Sloan
Sloan (band)
Sloan is a Toronto-based alternative rock quartet from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Throughout their 20-year tenure Sloan has released 10 LPs , two EPs, a live album, a "best of" collection and no less than thirty singles...
, in 1994 in time to release their Smart Bomb EP, which featured songs such as Benvie's "French Inhale" and Plaskett's "Hated It". The former would get some rotation on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
, which then held a reputation for more alternative programming, while the latter would end up in the Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
film Mallrats
Mallrats
Mallrats is a 1995 film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the second to be set in Smith's View Askewniverse series of interlocking films set mostly in New Jersey, although the movie was filmed in Eden Prairie Center and Osowski's Flea Market which are located in Minnesota...
.
Following the release of the band's second EP, The Great Pacific Ocean, the group signed in 1996 with Elektra Entertainment which released their first full-length album, Sweet Homewrecker
Sweet Homewrecker
Sweet Homewrecker is the first full-length album by Canadian rock band Thrush Hermit. It was released on Elektra Records in 1997.-Track listing:# Skip the Life – 3:23# North Dakota – 3:48# Noosed and Haloed Swear Words – 3:32# Without You? – 2:04...
, in 1997. The Memphis-recorded album features tracks showcasing the songwriting of Plaskett, Benvie and McGettigan. The album proved a disappointment from Elektra's standpoint however, and Thrush Hermit was bought out of their contract.
After their foray into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market, Thrush Hermit returned north to release their final album, Clayton Park
Clayton Park (album)
Clayton Park is the second full-length album by Canadian rock band Thrush Hermit. It was released on Sonic Unyon in 1999, and is the last recording they released as a band...
, on Sonic Unyon
Sonic Unyon
Sonic Unyon Recording Company is an independent record label based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The retail store is located on Wilson Street near James Street North)...
in 1999. Despite the critical success of the record, Thrush Hermit announced their split on September 21, 1999, following Benvie's growing disillusionment with his declining front man presence and the direction of the band, which he perceived to be "boring, old-fashioned". However, they would do one more tour before permanently breaking up, the triple-headliner "Front Man War Tour" alongside The Flashing Lights
The Flashing Lights
The Flashing Lights were a Canadian alternative rock band, active in the late 1990s and early 2000s.Originally a side project that primarily played as a cover band when Matt Murphy wasn't occupied with his primary band The Super Friendz, the band consisted of Murphy on guitar and lead vocals, Gavin...
and Local Rabbits
Local Rabbits
Local Rabbits were a Canadian alternative rock band, active in the 1990s and early 2000s.-Background:Based in Montreal, the band consisted of vocalists and guitarists Peter Elkas and Ben Gunning, bassist Ryan Myshrall and drummer Jay Tustin...
. Shortly before the tour, however, Thrush Hermit had to back out due to Plaskett's health. Once back to normal, the band embarked on their own farewell tour of Canada, in December 1999. Plaskett's medical problems inspired his first solo album In Need of Medical Attention
In Need of Medical Attention
In Need of Medical Attention is the debut solo album by Joel Plaskett, released in 1999 concurrently with Thrush Hermit's Clayton Park.-Track listing:# "The News of Your Son"# "When I Have My Vision"# "Forever in Debt"# "Weigh It Down"...
, though the album was recorded prior to Clayton Park and these final tours.
The band was known to have highly energetic, humorous, and unpredictable performances. They were featured on the mainstage at Edgefest
Edgefest
Edgefest, a yearly outdoor rock concert festival that primarily promotes Canadian rock music, began in 1987 as a thank-you gesture to the listeners of Toronto radio station 102.1 the Edge and as a birthday party to commemorate both the station's tenth birthday, and the coinciding Canada Day...
in 1995, but rather than playing their own material they played exclusively Steve Miller Band
Steve Miller Band
The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California. The band is managed by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals, and is known for a string of mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock radio format.-History:In 1965, Steve Miller and...
covers instead. Similarly, for their first national TV appearance on MuchMusic they played a Nazareth
Nazareth (band)
Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock band, founded in 1968, that had several hits in the UK in the early 1970s, and established an international audience with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog. Perhaps their best-known hit single was a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts", in 1975...
cover instead of highlighting any songs from their album.
Plaskett went on to begin a fruitful recording career with his band The Joel Plaskett Emergency. Benvie released a solo record under the moniker "Tigre Benvie", and subsequently joined The Dears
The Dears
-History:The band formed in 1995 and released their first album, End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story, in 2000. Their orchestral, dark pop sound and dramatic live shows cemented The Dears at the foundation of the then-emerging Canadian indie renaissance...
, while McGettigan began producing
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
records by Canadian rock acts such as The Flashing Lights
The Flashing Lights
The Flashing Lights were a Canadian alternative rock band, active in the late 1990s and early 2000s.Originally a side project that primarily played as a cover band when Matt Murphy wasn't occupied with his primary band The Super Friendz, the band consisted of Murphy on guitar and lead vocals, Gavin...
. McGettigan also produced records for Plaskett, and later became a member of The Joel Plaskett Emergency. Benvie and McGettigan are now the main members of Camouflage Nights
Camouflage Nights
Camouflage Nights is an electro-rock band from Toronto headed by Rob Benvie and Ian McGettigan, former members of the defunct Halifax indie band Thrush Hermit....
, which features a revolving door cast of musicians.
Thrush Hermit reunited for a brief set following a Joel Plaskett Emergency show at the Marquee Club in Halifax on December 31, 2005.
The band also reunited for a brief tour of eastern Canada in March 2010. Locations included Moncton, two nights in Halifax at the Paragon (originally the Marquee), Ottawa, Peterborough, Waterloo, two nights and one afternoon all-ages show in Toronto.
Tribute record
In 2008 a tribute album was released, featuring Thrush Hermit songs by Canadian artists including The Meligrove BandThe Meligrove Band
The Meligrove Band is a Canadian indie rock band, based in Toronto, and consisting of Jason Nunes on vocals, guitar and piano, Darcy Rego on vocals and drums, Brian O'Reilly on guitar and synthesizer, and Michael Small on bass guitar.-History:...
and Junior Pantherz
Junior pantherz
Junior Pantherz are a band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada. Formed in 1999, they are named after a lesser known Sloan song . The Pantherz have shared the stage with The Pixies, Modest Mouse, The Dears, Joel Plaskett, Fiery Furnaces, Ben Kweller, Bionic, Blurtonia and Whitey Houston...
. The album was issued by Gooseberry Records on CD and digital download via Zunior.
Discography
- 1993: Ammo (EP - Cinnamon Toast RecordsCinnamon Toast RecordsCinnamon Toast Records was a record label, inspired by the American label Simple Machines, from Halifax, Nova Scotia and run by Walter Forsyth, Lee Ann Gillan, Shawn Duggan, Colin MacKenzie, Robert Jeans and Miroslav Wiesner. They released a number of limited release 7" singles, each in a different...
) - 1993: Marya (EP)
- 1994: Smart BombSmart Bomb (EP)Smart Bomb is the debut EP by Canadian rock band Thrush Hermit, released in 1994 on Murderecords.-Track listing:# Hated It # French Inhale # All Dressed Up # Pink Is the Colour # Cott...
(EP) - 1995: The Great Pacific OceanThe Great Pacific OceanThe Great Pacific Ocean is the second EP by Canadian rock band Thrush Hermit, released in 1995 on CD and 12" picture disc by Murderecords. The EP was recorded and mixed by Steve Albini.-Track listing:# The Great Pacific Ocean...
(EP) - 1997: Rock and Roll Detective (promo-only EP)
- 1997: Sweet HomewreckerSweet HomewreckerSweet Homewrecker is the first full-length album by Canadian rock band Thrush Hermit. It was released on Elektra Records in 1997.-Track listing:# Skip the Life – 3:23# North Dakota – 3:48# Noosed and Haloed Swear Words – 3:32# Without You? – 2:04...
- 1999: Clayton ParkClayton Park (album)Clayton Park is the second full-length album by Canadian rock band Thrush Hermit. It was released on Sonic Unyon in 1999, and is the last recording they released as a band...
- 2010: The Complete Recordings Box Set (New Scotland Records)
Singles
- 1994: French Inhale (double 7")
- 1995: Take Another Drag (7" - Bong LoadBong Load Custom RecordsBong Load Custom Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles which was founded by producers Tom Rothrock, Rob Schnapf and partner Bradshaw Lambert. One of their biggest signings was Beck in 1991. Other notable bands from the original Bong Load Custom Records include Fu Manchu, Wool,...
) - 1997: Giddy with the Drugs (7" - MurderecordsMurderecordsMurderecords is an independent record label that releases the music of the Canadian rock band Sloan. Originally formed in 1992 to produce just the records of that band, it later released work of other bands including Eric's Trip, The Hardship Post, Al Tuck, Stinkin' Rich, Hip Club Groove, The...
)