Flashback to this summer. Do any of you remember the rollicking performances by Miss Quincy and the Ramblers? You know, the band with the honey harmonies, off-the-wall upright bassist, and tap-dancing percussionist?
Now flash forward to the present. Have any of you had the eerie feeling that you've been seeing Miss Quincy herself (also known by her daytime alter-ego Jody Peck) around town? Perhaps performing at Open Mic, the Rolla Pub, or JD Fitzgerald's? Perhaps furiously working at her laptop at Whole Wheat and Honey or the library? Well, it turns out those eerie feelings have a factual basis because Miss Quincy is indeed back in the Peace Region for the winter.
After the summer tour with the Ramblers, Miss Quincy took a time out to spend two months in the wilderness writing and recharging. After 60 days in a tent, without telephones, internet, or running water, and only a harmonica for company, she came away with a fresh and focused vision. Since the wilderness break, she has returned home to the Peace Region to spend some time with her family, reconnect with her roots, and work on her new material. Digging for her roots lead to an amazing opportunity to record the new collection of songs in a little cabin on the banks of the Peace River.
“I’m going to my cabin and I’m not coming out until I’ve recorded an album!” Miss Quincy declared to me one frosty afternoon. And for two weeks in December 2009 Miss Quincy did just that – she holed up in that little cabin and didn’t come out until she had an album recorded.
Miss Quincy wasn’t lonely in her cabin, however, as it was filled with musical folks from across the Peace and province. Ben Nixon, Nelson BC’s sound engineer extraordinaire, and Peter Mynett, upright bassist for Victoria BC’s Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra, both made a 29 hour bus journey to lend a hand with the album. Although these Southern boys (who arrived on a minus 40 day only to discover Greyhound had lost all of their luggage and recording equipment) played an essential role in the album, Miss Quincy says that the album would not be possible if not for all the generous local support she has received. Numerous local musicians light up the album – the mad mandolin master Reno Fitch, the bearded violin virtuoso Josh Giesbrecht, the tap-dancing percussionist Joel Lahaye, and the bluegrass bandits Nick Baccante and Don Gothard. In addition, many folks lent various instruments and recording equipment – Jason Butler, Systems By Trail, and once again Josh Giesbrecht and Don Gothard (in fact it’s Don’s upright bass that Peter plays on the album).
This is Miss Quincy’s second album, but her first solo effort. With this album she’s working on defining her own style and genre, which is something she calls “grass roots gypsy blues”. Now, what that means exactly is that she plays bluegrass infused early blues and folk with an undeniable gypsy flair and penchant for the roving lifestyle.
Even though this is a solo album, don’t expect just another pretty face with a guitar. Although she does have a pretty face, you won’t find any over-produced female droning going on here. Instead what you’ll find is the raw and biting character of Miss Quincy, who has a voice that would make any tough cowboy turn in his boots. Miss Quincy was born from a song, The Ballad of Miss Quincy, and has somehow stuck around and evolved into part edgy frontier woman and part risqué saloon madam. And as you would expect any frontier woman/saloon madam to sing about, Miss Quincy’s new album is woven with stories of whiskey, dead horses, and lyin’ cheatin’ men.
As for what’s on Miss Quincy’s horizon, she’s laying low for the winter, soaking up the local music scene, and preparing for the spring when the album will be unleashed. The album will hit the streets just in time for her to embark on her first solo tour, which is a European tour, no less! Then, when the summer heat sets in she’ll be packing up the caravan again and hitting the road with the full band for a cross-Canada tour.
So, keep your eyes and ears peeled for the new album to emerge out of the melting springtime snow, and if you can find Miss Quincy’s cabin, make sure you stop by to say howdy!
For the latest scoop on Miss Quincy and to listen to some old tasty tracks visit her website: www.missquincy.net
Photos by Jodie Ponto Photo 1: Willamina the Wolf overlooks Miss Quincy and Ben Nixon as they listen to tracks recorded that day.
Photo 2: Nick Baccante, Miss Quincy, Peter Mynett, and Don Gothard lay down some bluegrass on the album.
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