Most family trees are firmly rooted, built on eras of rings, binding each generation to the next. Some stand tall and strong, like oak. These trees have strong bloodlines – fierce and proud and rich. They boast the best stories and even better storytellers. They hold many secrets and carry their own unique emblem, emblazoned upon a torchbearer every new generation forward.
The year is 1973 - the last model year for "vintage" White Falcons. CSNY have reunited for the Human Highway tour. Shortly after the release of Randy Newman’s “Sail Away”, Luke Doucet is born in Halifax, NS. They say a good writer writes what he knows. Some people spend years on the road collecting tales and trading licks enough to give their words weight and their music depth, but Luke need not look further than to his own family for inspiration and for all the notes to tell the tales. He is a master of stories because he knows all the good ones like the back of his hand. His palm is his family tree, and his fingers, spread wide as a web, are the means for his storytelling. The hand that holds the White Falcon. The hand that masterfully takes the instrument to emotionally uncharted waters. The hand that all the passing eyes fix their gaze upon, note for note, lick for lick, pick by pick. Nothing gets past this hand. Between pen and paper, nylon or steel strings, it will be written, remembered, repeated. And it will sound better than anything you’ve ever heard. Born into his footsteps, while others take years to find their shoes - let alone grow into them enough to make a stand – here, planted firmly, is the champion storyteller: a man raised in many parts who proudly carries his family’s history, unique in itself, from one place to another, wears it on his breast as his armour, his emblazoned emblem. He’s better for it because it’s what he knows – it’s all he knows. It’s in his blood.
Produced by Luke himself, Blood’s Too Rich features his band, The White Falcon, starring Rich Levesque on bass, Melissa McClelland on guitar/vocals, and a star-studded cast of characters including Paul Brennan, John Dinsmore, Chris Brown, Todor Kobakov, Bryden Baird, Lindy, Steve O’Connor, Glenn Milchem, Bazil Donovan, Jim Cuddy, Chris Stringer, Neville Quinlan, Chang, and Luke’s daughter Chloe Doucet-Winkelman. Additional production was provided by Ian Blurton and Colin Cripps, and the album was mixed by David Travers-Smith and Andre Wahl. Artwork by Lyle Bell of Whitey Houston and Shout Out Out Out Out.
DISCOGRAPHY
Blood’s Too Rich is the seventh album from Juno-nominated Doucet, whose discography includes three
Veal albums, a live record, and three solo works. Luke also has a score of production credits under his
belt, including, among others, three NQ Arbuckle albums and two Melissa McClelland albums.
Blood’s Too Rich, 2008 • Broken (and other rogue states), 2005 • Outlaws [live + unreleased], 2004
The Embattled Hearts, 2003 (Veal) • Aloha Manitoba, 2001 • Tilt O’Whirl, 1999 (Veal) • Hot Loser, 1997 (Veal)
As usual, one of the best parts of North by Northeast Music Festival weekend in Toronto is the Saturday afternoon backyard BBQ that Six Shooter Records. It was great to see you performing there.
I've put together a collective photo album and video collection for the whole thing. I'm sure you'll recognize yourself in the mix! LOL
Hey – just a reminder to listen in FRIDAY afternoon at 4:30-6 pm CST to hear LUKE DOUCET on “This Great White North” an ALL CANADIAN music show from Austin, Texas It’s on 91. 7 KOOP-FM Listen here
Hello , Thank you for your friendship and support, it's greatly appreciated! Your invited to come by and sign our new G.R.I.T.S. World Guest Book. It is a rectangle under our calendar of events on the upper righthand side. Upload a picture and say 'Hi!' Please come through anytime. Have a plum pleasing, fantastic day! -The Sledge G.R.I.T.S. Band Keiko and Kariel, Mimi and Bo-pah Sledge!
Great to meet you and Melissa on Thursday night at the Hotel Cafe (from Blue Rodeo's music journalist friend). Your CD has me absolutely hooked right now - it's a truly powerful collection of songs and is terrifically produced and sequenced! I'll definitely add it to my freelance lists for potential reviews and feature stories!
I just wanted to say it was great to meet a fellow Maritimer (as well as your lovely and talented wife) and that I look forward to talking with you again as that book project goes forward.
Great show - and great talking with you afterwards! Look forward to talking with you and Melissa again soon! All the best to you both, Tom
Hey – just a reminder to listen in FRIDAY afternoon at 4:30-6 pm CST to hear LUKE DOUCET on “This Great White North” an ALL CANADIAN music show from Austin, Texas It’s on 91. 7 KOOP-FM Listen here
I'm absolutely thrilled you're coming to New York. I just bought four tickets for Joe's Pub on June 19th. I enjoyed your performance last year with Blue Rodeo so much that I'm bringing some friends to see you this time. How come there are no June dates listed on your MySpace page?
So after playing and replaying your recent show on The Verge over and over and over, I decided the time had come for me to purchase Blood's Too Rich. I'm loving it! You mentioned on that show the difficulty in attracting American fans. Please consider me one Yank who's on the bandwagon and I'm spreading the word!
To all the fans of Luke and his band, plse see more than 40 of my PHOTOS of Luke LIVE IN MONTREAL on my page on My Space. Just click on the photos to enlarge. Here is the link:
Hello Luke, thanks for becoming a new friend and taking the time to listen to my music. Your support means a great deal to me. WOW what a great sound and love your voice. My favourite is "Broken One". Keep creating music and stay in touch. Danielle "All I want to do is sing!"
cheers for the add, love the music, managed to win 'blood's too rich' album at a charity gig we did via WagonWheelMedia promotions, bought all your albums after hearing it. the gretsch rocks.
