Cathy Dobson The theft of two guitars after a gig in Sarnia last fall was disheartening but ultimately proved the resilience of The Rapids, says drummer Mason Stewart.
Cathy Dobson
The theft of two guitars after a gig in Sarnia last fall was disheartening but ultimately proved the resilience of The Rapids, says drummer Mason Stewart.
“It had been a great show, a lot of fun, and all our friends were out for it,” he recalls.
But when the guys walked out to the parking lot behind The Station Music Hall they found a vehicle window smashed and a Fender Telecaster and Fender Stratocaster gone.
“It really put a damper on the night,” said Stewart. “Obviously, that’s a really crappy experience but we didn’t let it get us too bummed.”
Police were called and in the days that followed each band member did what they could to locate the guitars.
“For some bands, that would have been it. The frustration would have been too much but we didn’t let it get to us,” Stewart said.
“At the end of the day, the guitars are tools and our love for music isn’t going to let something crappy like that change things.
“We all pulled together and proved we are thick skinned.”
The instruments have never been recovered. But insurance covered the cost of two new ones and The Rapids continue to perform regularly, mostly in Sarnia.
The band’s next gig is the Feb. 3 First Friday at The Trinity Lounge.
Members include Matt Weed on vocals and guitar, Matt Bailey on lead guitar, Tyler Andersen on bass and Stewart on drums.
Three are from Sarnia and know each other from their high school days at St. Christopher’s. Weed is from Wyoming.
They began playing out about 18 months ago and are booking one to three gigs a month.
The sound tends to rock ‘n’ roll, strong on melody with a driving rhythm, said Stewart.
Influences include the Arkells, The Sheepdogs, Blink 182, The Black Keys and others, but the band is writing a lot of its own music and has released three singles.
You can check The Rapids out at The Trinity Lounge Feb. 3. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. with a $5 cover. For details, see The Rapids’ Facebook page.
EMOTIONAL DRAMA NEXT UP AT THEATRE SARNIA
Theatre Sarnia’s first production of the year is a drama called Willow Quartet by Burlington writer Joan Burrows.
Director Jay Peckham says friend Henri Canino gave him the script after asking her to find a show outside his comfort zone.
“On first read, I fell in love,” says Peckham, who tends to do comedies.
Willow Quartet is about a couple that splits in the aftermath of a tragedy.
“The subject matter (of Willow Quartet) connects with me personally on so many levels,” says Peckham. “The themes resonate with me and I feel like it is something that will echo with most audience members as well.
“We have all struggled with grief and hope in our lives.”
Willow Quartet features Jeff Winter, Karissa Teskey, Richard Teskey and Elizabeth Walton on stage.
It opens at The Imperial Theatre on Jan. 27 and runs over two weekends with a matinee Jan. 29.
For tickets, call the box office at 519-344-7469 or visit www.imperialtheatre.net.
If you have a story idea for the Arts Journal, contact Cathy at [email protected]. Please note this column will take a break for two weeks while Cathy does the same.
