Low Sixes, The
The Oshawa Tree
THE LOW SIXES ARE A POWER POP BAND! Got it, Poindexter? Really, that's the only thing you need to know here but for those pesky trainspotters who want to dig a bit deeper, here's your typical band bio fodder. Future Low Sixers Jonathan Cummins (DOUGHBOYS) and Brendan Drouillard (USA OUT OF VIETNAM) were saddled up to the bar at Montreal's best watering hole (Barfly, natch) after returning from a European tour with their decidedly heavy, epic psych band USA OUT OF VIETNAM. Hitting the humble stage that night were bands featuring indie rockers decked out in v neck sweaters, myopic experimental nerds roughhousing pawnshop prize guitar pedals and crust punks hopped up on household solvents while dry humping for the glory days of UK82. In between these uninspired sets the P.A. blasted power pop pearls from The Kinks, Slade, Kiss, The Buzzcocks, Rocket From the Crypt, Redd Kross, The Nerves, Cheap Trick, The Exploding Hearts, Guided By Voices, Bad Nerves etc. It was obvious that these between set blasters was tickling the heart of Cummins and Drouillard whose shared love of catchy a.f. punk fueled pop was indeed how they chose to butter their bread. The two hatched a plan to form the band they always wanted to see to play at their hallowed Barfly. Cummins perhaps reaching back to his days in DOUGHBOYS began to write at a furious pace but this time brought BIG STAR's complex chords, XTC's hairpin arrangements to the table and sneaking in lyrical pearls while Drouillard kept it grounded and hammered it all down with HOT SNAKES/RAMONES downstroked ballast. Cummins ex garage rock DJ partner John "Milchey" Milchem was picked to get behind the tubs as he was already well versed in all things T. REX and UNDERTONES. With a back beat now in place the newly christened THE LOW SIXES quickly got a set together and added a heaping amount of British Invasion styled vocal harmonies piled on top of their signature jangle bash. They did indeed play their beloved Barfly and actually beat their bar record for most beers sold in a night (true fact and no easy feat if you know the Barfly). With their songs now finely honed they entered the studio to record their debut The Oshawa Tree with producer Ryan Battistuzzi. The outcome is easily the catchiest thing you are likely to hear until Papa Pollard probably releases a record next week. Rounding out the band is new member Alan Hildebrandt (Priors) as THE LOW SIXES sets its sights on touring as much as possible in 2024 and beyond. Did I also mention they shoehorned the verb "rollerblading" in a song?