Mastermind of By Divine Right marks 25 years with a top 5
By Divine Right turns 25 this year and to celebrate, guitarist and vocalist Jose Miguel Contreras, the group’s mastermind, is gathering multiple iterations of the band — whose ranks have included musicians who are now members of Broken Social Scene, Wintersleep, Meligrove Band and Dusted — for a big Canada Day blowout.
“It’s been a really happy time,” he says as he runs between rehearsals with the 20 or so musicians who will join him onstage. They include Leslie Feist (of Broken Social Scene and, well, Feist), Brendan Canning (BSS) and Brian Borcherdt (of Holy F--- and Dusted).
In honour of the occasion, Contreras offered up his five favourite BDR tracks. “LDSC” — All Hail Discordia (1997) https:// bydivineright.bandcamp.com/ track/l-d-s-c
Pretty much a fave amongst all BDR nerds. It’s super-simple, it’s deep and non-linear, yet it’s a two-chord song with a riff. It’s barely a song. But when I play it and I look at my band, it’s just love between us. “5 Bucks” — Bless This Mess (1999) https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Onn4J3czYXw This song came to me when I was on top of the world and totally broke. I had figured myself out; I’d figured my band out; I’d finally made a record I felt good about. No one in my camp liked it. “Que Paso” — Mutant Message (2009) https:// bydivineright.bandcamp.com/ track/que-paso
Enter Stewart Heyduk (of the Golden Dogs). A great collaborator. Why did I never sing in Spanish before? I sing in Spanish all the time now. “I Will Hook You Up” — Mutant Message (2009) https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=IIR0HUoHK-Q
It (started as) a big, epic song that was about a breakup, then it was a really cool rock song about getting it on, but it never kind of worked out. When I finally caught it, it was a nice little song about running away with someone. (Since then) my wife and I separated, who I mention in the song, so the song takes on an even bigger meaning. “Past the Stars” — Organized Accidents (2013) https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GtDrZTaYdrk The moment me, Geordie (Dynes) and ’Lysh (Alysha Haugen) coalesced the new lineup of BDR (the longest ever to date, five years in November). Divine @ 25: By Divine Right’s 25th anniversary is at the WestJet Stage, Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., Wednesday, 9 to 11 p.m.