by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
What: The Duhks
When: May 9th @ 8 pm
Where: Freebird
Listen to the Duhks and you might think you’ve stumbled upon an American roots band that draws on such traditional music as old-time bluegrass, with hints of Celtic coming through. But they aren’t American. They’re Canadian and they’re drawing on a parallel tradition that has spawned excellent Celtic artists out of Nova Scotia and music that comes from a mixed French culture which can sound very New Orleans. It’s tinged with blues and gospel, with a coloring of World music.
Each of the musicians in this five-person band brings their own musical preferences to the table for a unique blend of music that defines the Duhks. The percussionist, Scott Senior, brings a Brazilian and world percussion sound to the Duhks. On the fiddle, Tania Elizabeth brings in a country-pop sensibility. Jordan McConnell, guitarist, wanted to play Celtic style tunes. At the heart of the band, Leonard Podolak, who had brought them all together, wanted to play old-time music on the banjo. They all got their wish and put it together to became the Duhks.
If I had to define their music, I’d say that it is an American blend: Ameriblend. All of the traditions they pick up on are part of what has poured into the Americas from other cultures, which has come together to form this beautiful Ameriblend.
When I spoke with Leonard Poodolak in an interview for EU, he liked to call it traditional music, but it just doesn’t feel entirely traditional because it draws from so many different places. But, as he says, “It’s a tradition that’s handed down, generation after generation. It’s not as in your face in Canada as it is in the States…in the U.S. you find it everywhere.” Still, Canada has had more than its fair share of smoking fiddle players and traditional artists that we’re just beginning to hear about in the U.S.
“As far as Canada goes and the traditional music, I really credit the festival scene because that brings in so many people from all over the place.”
The Canadians don’t just borrow from the U.S. when it comes to musical tradition; they’ve got their own unique musical cultures to draw on.
“There’s a really cool culture [in Canada] called the Métis …They’re half aboriginal Canadian and half French and Scottish…people don’t really know…they just kind of picked up and crafted this whole fiddle style that’s pretty much almost disappeared…most of the players are really old…The thing about the musical style is that it’s really crooked. It’s…hard to catch on to so it hasn’t been swept into this whole new wave of traditional music.”
The Duhks have had a recent shake-up, with singer Jessica Havey leaving the band early this year.
“The media wants to focus on just the singer, but the reality kind of dictates the actual story that a band is a band and as long as a band is together, if someone doesn’t want to be there and removes themselves, it’s always greater than one person. It’s people as a whole making music together…We’ve got Sarah Dugas with us right now, and she’s this wonderful, profound, exciting, beautiful singer…She’s one of the most well-known singers in Winnipeg and has one of the best reps, but, you know we love her, and that’s all that really matters…We’re trying to get her to stay…We’re trying to figure out a way to make it work for her and for us.”
Jessica Havey left the band in order to pursue her own projects and she’s currently working on an acting project. “We wish her the best,” Podolak says, but he seems happy with the band’s current singer.
“Sarah is coming up with bunches of new ideas all the time and we have a vibe now that I think will send the Duhks flying into the future.”
Take at gander at the Duhks on May 9th for a live performance at Freebird Live.
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