Although separated by a twenty-minute ferry ride, the connection between Kingston and Wolfe Island’s music scene is more apparent than some may think.
While the island provides an isolated environment for musicians to flourish, and the downtown area offers a lively center for performances, both are equally as important to the larger music scene in Kingston.
Signed to artist-run label Wolfe Island Records, Hollow Body brings together longtime friends, former The Gertrudes band members, and even two brothers-in-law, Greg Tilson (guitar), Jay Middaugh (drums & guitar), and Paul Clifford (bass).
With the release of their new EP, Live at the Hotel Wolfe Island, the band Hollow Body sat down with The Journal for an interview about their formation and upcoming projects.
Hollow Body is a relatively new Kingston-based band. In December of last year, they began playing shows in the downtown area, eventually becoming a “house band” at the Hotel Wolfe Island.
“We are very green,” Clifford joked in an interview with The Journal. In reality, all members have a prolific background in music that dates back to the ’90s.
After graduating from the University of Toronto’s music program for jazz double bass, Clifford has been active in the Kingston music scene for over thirty years, appearing on CFRC in 1994 for a live session, and generally being a “bassist for hire,” as he put it.
Similarly, Middaugh was active in the Queen’s band scene, playing with a student band in the ’90s, and even performing at Clark Hall Pub.
When it comes to the quintessential band experience, Tilson seems to be the black sheep of the group.
“I knew some chords but I was mainly helping behind the scenes,” Tilson said. “I did not have any musical background before coming to Kingston [in the 90s]. I knew some chords, but I was mainly helping in other areas.”
This gap of past experiences between members has led to an interesting lineup for Hollow Body, who rely on Clifford’s bass as the lead instrument, with Tilson mainly sticking to rhythm guitar.
“We’re still seeking [our genre],” Tilson said. While they settled on rock as the “general” genre they tend to play, they see it as a rather vague term these days.
“It’s almost easier to say what we’re not,” Clifford added. “We don’t use electronics, all the instruments are played live at the same time. We’re kind of a power trio.”
Hollow Body is more of a collaborative project for these longtime musicians. “We’re all bringing similar sensibilities of music and eras we listen to. We’re each writing songs and contributing,” Tilson said.
While Tilson sings most of the songs, there is a lot of vocal harmonies in their work, something all members seem to enjoy.
Their debut EP, Live at the Hotel Wolfe Island, is a live recording at the hotel. Stripped down and raw, their performance feels fresh for a group that are no strangers to the scene.
The decision to make their first release a live album seems to be almost a statement of their appreciation for the acoustic sound, and the hotel itself. Their connection to the hotel, and Wolfe Island, will forever be cemented in this first release.
With the release of their EP in August, the future of the band seems incredibly bright. Upcoming shows at Musiikki, Something Else Records, a garden party festival on Hotel Wolfe Island, and their monthly stint at The Toucan on Sundays are sure to help make their presence known to the local and student population.
Tags
Hollow Body, kingston bands, local music, Wolfe Island
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