Band rocks hometown stage with The Hip
Big night for Cobourg’s Gentleman Husbands
COBOURG — Opening for The Tragically Hip might be one of the Gentlemen Husbands’ biggest gigs.
“I don't know if it's the biggest, but it feels like the biggest,” says Ryan Hutcheson, guitarist for the Cobourg band. “We've played shows in front of more people at places the Sound Academy and EdgeFest, but this one is different because it's here (in Cobourg) and with the Hip.”
Gentlemen Husbands will open for Kingston rock legends at their sold-out concert Thursday night at the Cobourg Community Centre.
“It's something where you feel you've reached a certainly level and we've worked hard and now we're a point where we're ready to open for the Hip,” Hutcheson said. “It's an honour and privilege to open up for them. Hopefully this is the first of many with them.”
Joining Hucheson in the band are Derrick Ballard, Jed Atkinson and Dan Farrell.
They already have a connection with the Internationally renowned band. GH have recorded part of the album they're working on at the Hip's studio in Bath, Ontario near Kingston. Members of the Hip have also come out to watch GH during shows in Toronto, Hutcheson noted.
GH signed a record deal with Universal last fall and spent a good amount of time writing – about 50 songs to narrow down to 10 – and then recording for the album that is expected to be released this fall. That hasn't left a lot of time for live performances, which was such a big part of the band in its early years.
“Technically, Jed, Dan and I have been playing music together for 10 years,” Hutcheson said. “Derrick came into the fold after high school and we've worked hard at this band for five years. We did a few years of just hammering away and playing over 100 shows a year.”
They caught a break a couple of years ago, Hutcheson noted, when the music industry took notice and led to meetings with potential managers and record labels.
“We changed our focused from just playing for the sake of playing to songwriting and when we did play the shows were a lot better,” Hutcheson said.
“We're looking forward to getting back on the road, but doing it in a much bigger way than before.”
In fact, GH had a big announcement on Monday that this fall they will embark on their first cross-Canada tour opening for Matthew Good.
First, though, on Thursday evening they look forward to their big night with The Tragically Hip.
For those not familiar with Gentlemen Husbands, Hutcheson offered an explanation about what to expect.
“We're definitely a rock ’n’ roll band,” he said. “It's not an old or classic rock revival but it's not new and crazy either. We like to think Tom Petty meets Counting Crows, brought into 2013.”