The Crossroads (1996 – 2000)

cranium

Dungeon Studios Manager & THE doorZ founder:
(Richard Baxter III / Orleans, Ont. / 1996)
Original Band Members (left to right):
Drums – Richard Baxter III
Bass – Bob Boucher
Keys – Mike Poulin
Vocals & Harp – Mo Jo
Guitar – Luc Poulin
Photos by Roger Lachaine
Recording Engineer Mike DesMarais

Even during the early Dungeon Studio days (1996), it was clear that The Spanish Caravan leaned towards the artsy side, making room in rehearsals for a fair bit of interpretive and innovative twists and turns. Given the creative backdrop, moulding in different arrangements and bits and pieces of original material was not unusual and naturally added to the ambiance of the show. Having extras and fillers meant that performances were never carved in stone. There was an outline and a familiar catalog, but there was always an element of improvisation and spontaneity that brought a hidden dimension to the stage. Expecting the unexpected was par for the course…and by the time this Kruktown circus hit the road (1997), every concert was its own whirlwind escapade, which translated into a fun and engaging Classic Rock experience.

Date: March 28, 1998 Location: Riptides Roadhouse; London, Ontario

With little in the way of promo or predestination, THE doorZ were a charming quintessential performance-based group – the underdogs of the underground. It was all in the mix, in the off-the-cuff poetic moments, in the subtle musical arrangements, and in the on-stage melodrama; and as the crow flies, it just kind of spread word of mouth (the triumph of the spirit). Coming from the outskirts of town and hardly “in vogue” is never an easy ride, but by partnering with a local agency (Centre Stage Productions) from August 1997 to September 1998, bookings started to trickle in at an ever-quickening pace, culminating with an Eastern Tour and a few summer festivals. From the get-go, it was a magical journey and far and wide, an enlivening roadhouse adventure. That said, while never a dull moment, becoming a working band was a big adjustment for everyone. The Crystal Ship was headed for stormy waters. There were the usual pitfalls and struggles with priorities and expectations,…and eventually a parting of the ways.

Artwork by: Fiona Hammond & Guylaine Theriault

Ian Card (the early days)
Dungeon Studios (main stage)
Ottawa, Ontario
(Road organ purchased at Retrotown Music – September 1998)

The Book of Changes

By Autumn of ’98, everything was up in the air at the Hyacinth House and hanging by a thread. It was a time of quiet uncertainty in all quarters. The Spanish Caravan had stumbled down to the crossroads, and there was a lot of moving pieces and shifting sand behind the scenes. Yet in spite of the day to day clouds and struggles, the vague consensus was that a humble reformation was, at least, worth exploring, even though Mike had left some rather big boots to fill. To that end, a few ads were put up around town with slim to no expectations. They say life happens when you’re making other plans; case in point, how a prodigious music award winning University of Regina graduate came to audition for the band, is quite the story in itself – A strange twist of fate by any reckoning. Nevertheless, however unlikely and unforeseen, the windows of time were vanquished and as indescribable as it was in those days (September ’98), with the arrival of Ian Card, THE doorZ were poised to begin a second chapter sewing new seeds for even more memorable performances to come. A chance tale of rebirth in the wilderness.

Lessons on Becoming

Wayward and wainscot wallowing in the dungeon, it was at least nice to have a bit of a life outside of town; and ironically, the plan on the drawing board was to arrange for a Western Canada tour. That notwithstanding, the Crystal Ship was far from ready to set sail. Rehearsals with Ian Card began in earnest in mid-September 1998 with the added feature that Dungeon Studios (recording facility) was up and running and in the capable hands of Mike Desmarais, a recent grad of the Recording Engineer program at Raven Street Studios (Ottawa West). As to be expected, early on, it was tough sledding. There is nothing straightforward about a shadowy impressionistic jazz/rock unconformity. Secondly, cutting teeth on the road organ is not something that happens overnight. There was the material and the dreamscape. There was the show and the on-stage drama. There was not a stone unturned and needless to say the reformation was all hands on deck. On the other side of the outstretched perplexity, it was a good fit. Ian was easy going, easy to work with, and a quick study of the subtle nuances behind the hallucinated acid rock underpinnings of THE doors. One jam to the next, the musical chemistry started taking shape. And strangely enough, the vision elusively settled in on the drowsy charms of stoned streets in the pale dawn.

It is a testament to Ian’s gifts, adaptability, and professionalism that despite the many challenges, by the end of October 1998, the first set was pretty tight. Things were coming together remarkably well. Everyone got along (on and off) the stage, which is “essential” for a touring act. Nevertheless, weaving and working through THE doors catelog was painstaking. There are many layers to get through, one of which is finding yourself; and while there will always be slight differences in style and technique,…the magic always gives way to the inner doors of perception – a semi-detached psychodynamic “group soul”. Intuition, intensity, and interconnection are all part of the form and modality beneath the surface. It’s a never-ending adventure and Ian’s vast repertoire and experience served him well to handle things on his own with a bit of direction from Luc and Richard. Bass guitar was not a requirement, but nice to have for a variety of songs; and the addition of Rob Niman was a solid component to the rhythm section. All in all, it was, no doubt, Ian’s laid-back approach that contributed to the steady progress, and as the days drifted haphazardly into November, things were rounding into conformation. Such were the high stakes of the ceremony. Yet, in spite of the odds, the first show took place at Café du Palais in Sherbrooke, Quebec on November 25th, 1998.

 

via GIPHY

“The longest journey is the journey within.”
Dag Hammarskjöld

“All things must come to pass
Yet art alone endures,
To outlive the throne,
And the coin.”
H.A. Dobson (1840-1921)
Ars Victrix, st. 8

“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Twilight of the Idols

Band sketch by Guylaine Theriault

Mo Jo 20 · THE doorZ Demo / Light My Fire

Mo Jo 20THE doorZ Demo / Light My Fire

Mo Jo 20 · THE doorZ Demo / Light My Fire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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