Charming...to the last

In early June my old band Tarkin released it's second CD on June 6th. This post details the making of the record and the band's final three shows

When I arrived back in Vancouver, Heidi got me at the airport and drove me directly to DMA Discs where I picked up the new Tarkin CD. It had arrived one business day late for the Northwest Folklife spot…So we lost a chance to sell a bunch of discs but we did get them in time to promote our CD release shows in Vancouver and Victoria. (At Right: The Stage at Troy's. Halloween '06)

I had really pushed to make a second CD even after it became apparent that the band’s end was near. Two couples were now married (one couple expecting) and moving to Montreal (coincidentally but for different reasons). I even briefly considered doing an education masters degree at McGill to keep the band going but when I looked it up I only had a week to get a month’s worth of documents together…So the band wasn’t going to continue in Montreal and the CD would be its swansong.

Tarkin always had a cautious group dynamic born of the three female members’, Vanessa Kay, Amanda Ruel and Rachael Young, previous experience living together and knowing when to push and when to pull back. When couples formed and marriages ensued this became even more pronounced and it made getting the CD project off the ground a slow build. There was concern about cost and whether we could do the songs justice by making a product we could be proud of. (The back seat of 'The Gerbil'--Vancouver Island/Galiano Island tour Summer '06: l-r Amanda, Rachael and Vanessa)

These concerns weren’t without some merit. Every one in the band has a full time job with the exception of Ben (who was trying to finish his PhD--He did it. Congrats Dr. Young!) and Amanda who are/were full time students working to pay tuition. In addition to that Rachael and Ben were expecting a child. However, everyone made sacrifices from their busy lives to make it work. In my case I had to scale back my extra-curricular coaching at school but this allowed me to take some guitar lessons and practice more.

Ben took the executive producer’s role, I took on the booklet design process, CD pressing, and organizing the release party. Vanessa went sleuthing on the internet for authors of the BC folk songs we would record on the album. The girls worked together to chart the arrangements and Rachael began liaising with Tim Readman, our first CD’s producer who consulted on our new arrangements and Victor Smith, who engineered the first CD, The Ghost of that Whisky, and who would put grace the new record with his personal stamp, polishing it into gem in the process.

We were better prepared for the studio the second time around and everyone was more comfortable working with Victor’s suggestions which made us more efficient in the use of our studio time. Ben was instrumental here, prioritizing the recording sessions and sending people and Rachael made sure everyone showed up when they were supposed to.

I enlisted my friend Paul Krueger to design the CD album art. He used a picture he took at Finn Slough (up the Fraser River from the Steveston national historic site) and a line sketch Amanda had made of the band. He gave us an amazing product. On the recommendation of Matt Bryant of one of my favourite Vancouver bands, Headwater, I chose DMA (Digital Media Alliance) for our CD pressing and I didn’t regret it. They turned the product around quickly and we very helpful in dealing with all the legal paperwork.

So the CD sounded great, looked great and arrived in time for the release shows (always a good thing!). Now, it was time to put together a party. Oops I had to move the weekend before. Good thing I didn't have to get my final marks into the office (I AM a teacher remember!) the day before the move.

We had rented The St. James’ Hall, home to the Rouge Folk Club, and Vanessa had convinced national alt-folk stars Dyad, to play the show with us. My friend Len Dejulius agreed to run the bar and the usual team of Tarkin volunteers helped us set up and run the show. Troy and Nina Spreeuw ran their respective merchandise and concession tables and Matt Ellis handled the door. I opened up for Jay the sound man at 5pm, set up tables, chairs and posters, stocked the bar and even spoke to a few people before sound check.

When Dyad went on the house lights weren't on as they were locked up and the key wasn't provided by the hall. After trying vallinatly to find a solution we settled on the house lights and I worked the bar for Len so he could enjoy the set. I sat there ripping tickets and pouring DUDE beer into plastic cups worried about my ability to perform. I was pretty worn out by marking, the move, doing radio shows and putting the party together during a regular work week and I was worried about my ability to perform. I looked tired and I felt really empty.

But when the lights came up (our friend and special guest bass clarinet player Mike Dowler had picked the lock during intermission) and we stepped through the curtains all pain and fatigue drained away. I have never had a better performance with the band. All the guitar playing I had been doing with Damanta had sharpened my skills, the work with Amanda I did on vocals was showing through and I was really proud of the new CD and revelling in the chance to showcase the new songs for an appreciative audience. I think the whole band was. It really was a magical evening.

It was an unfortunate allegory for the band that we had to end earlier than we and the crowd wanted due to St. James’ rental policy of being out of the building by 11pm. We only did one encore and a bit of schmoozing (as a band) before the takedown was on. I actually did very little packing up as more people that I know came to this show than any other I’ve done. It was a bit surreal. Many people commented that we were really coming into our own as a band and how unfortunate it was that we were wrapping up.

We would play two more shows as after the CD release and they were both memorable. The Victoria Folk Song Society hosted us that Sunday (June 8th) and we got a really great crowd response and more comments about how we’d improved since our last visit. The audience included my friend Wendy Lesard and two of her French Immersion teacher friends who really enjoyed our rendition of "Chasse aux Perdreaux" from the new CD.

It was really nice to get one more visit with Ben’s parents, Joe and Maralin, who are the whole band’s Victoria mom and dad. They’ve treated us so well during the life of the band. They are true fans of acoustic folk music and I am glad they got to enjoy our final Victoria show. I and, we as a band, will always be grateful for all the rides, meals and the use of their house as a base when we were in Victoria. (Right: Tarkin at the VFSS in August '06--Back row l-r: Ben, Rachael, Marc and Vanessa. Front: Amanda)

The final gig for Tarkin was at Trees Organic Coffee house on Granville street in Vancouver. It is a Friday night, local artist showcase event run by songwriter Jon Pippus. We brought in a decent crowd of friends who missed the release show or just wanted to be there for the final one and the other performers were really great. We went on first and really had a blast. When we played Run both Marc, who wrote and sings the song, and I did the “running man” dance step and he did his trademark run outside during the final instrumental. The crowd ate it up. I was having so much fun that I was stunned when it was over.

We sold a bunch of CDs (including one to a couple who’d heard us on the radio!) before Ghost Brothers took the stage. I really enjoyed their set. They are brothers who’ve been all around the world learning and playing music together and it shows. Their vocals and instrumentals were so connected to each other and the variety of their sound was impressive. They’ve just finished their own CD and I was stoked to trade one with them.

Some of our oldest fans showed up during the GB set and were sad to have missed our set. After thanking them for being so supportive of them band from the beginning—we played house parties for the whole gang when we were starting out—one of them said they couldn’t believe it was our last show. Neither could I.

I was consumed in that moment by a sense of loss. I’d learned so much about music, performing and myself from the band that I never could have learned on my own. I’ve done things for them and had things done for me that I’d never have expected of mere friends. It was more than that. It was a band--my first. Tarkin was really special for me and I hope everyone else feels the same way.

(Above: Performing as the Canadian Village People at Troy's Halloween Party '06. l-r Amanda: The Cowboy, Marc: The Biker, Rachael: The Sailor, Vanessa: The Logger, The Author: The Mountie, Ben: THe Construction Worker)


Amanda, Ben, Marc, Rachael and Vanessa: Thank you for all the incredible memories and all the times (both the good and the trying ones) that we spent together. I’ve grown immensely from the experience. I know that I am not the easiest person to work with so you probably deserve some kind of medal. I truly hope we get to hit the stage again together in the future.

May the Force be with you…always,

JO