the beatles, reverb, california, birds, van breakdowns, mellotron, childhood, the holy grail, nuggets, ex-girlfriends, fostex 4-tracks, bliss, fairy tales, delay, motown, regrets, clouds, odessey and oracle, whiskey, cliffs, yeats, dub, 1966, death, montreal, can, love madness, freakbeat, donegal, donovan, kerouac, anxiety, lock-ins, drunk dialing, G, Em and D, backwards guitar, lack of sound checks, catholicism, the sun, plastic ono band, jung, AM radio, dawn, winter, pills, the shetland islands, crap day jobs, time travel, stone roses, tequila, heartache, the brian jonestown massacre, dreams, the bible, memories, dylan, revelations, science fiction, old friends, new pedals, sf sorrow, the apocalypse, leonard cohen, cubase, sleeping on floors, unfounded beliefs, flying burrito brothers, forgiveness, jangle, the buzzcocks, the unconscious, long eye contact, empty beaches, the creation, last call, 3-part harmony, highways, thin lizzy, red deer, the flaming lips, insomnia, romance, melodrama, the byrds, sligo, ageing, goodbyes, embassy suites, feedback, the kinks, outer space, lust, per diem poverty, distance, disappointment, live at leeds, spinal tap, depression, the lower east side, joy, love.
The High Dials emerged out of the Montreal scene in 2003. Locals of long memory may remember singer-songwriter Trevor Anderson as founder of sharp-suited rock n roll trio The Datsons, later Datson Four. A name conflict with an Aussie band, new members and an overall identity crisis led to a changed moniker and sound. An old-fashioned demo tape got them a deal with Rainbow Quartz Records, an indie label based in NYC. In those early days, the boys had a strong mod bent and their first record, “A New Devotion” was a blast of jangling guitars, three-part harmonies and frantic RnB grooves. It also had a storyline; something to do with a young man trapped in a domed city full of spies and mechanical birds. Only Trevor knows for sure. The draft for the comic book insert lies unfinished in his bedroom somewhere. In the domed world of this story, feelings of loss and urban anxiety are relieved by sudden revelations brought by messengers from other worlds. It’s a hymn to lost childhood. It’s also a party record piled high with danceable Beatlesque rave-ups. The album got the band on the road and they made it all the way to California and England, with many, many pit stops in rural garages along the way. They even got to play on and break the rotating stage at Little Steven’s Underground Garage Festival and hobknob with some of their 60s heroes, like the Creation and Iggy Pop!
Their second album, “War of the Wakening Phantoms” (2005) was a surprise for many. Gone were the overt nods to the 60s, with a far dreamier, lusher sound backing up songs about that endless source of pop inspiration: the soaring highs of love and the crushing lows of heartbreak. Featuring acoustic ballads, electronic campfire folk, and pounding power pop anthems propelled into outer space by Robbie MacArthur’s reverbed guitar licks, the album got the band a lot of attention in the media and it would wind up topping the Canadian college charts.
The High Dials hit the road hard and made many beautiful friendships touring this record in their beloved/despised purple van, Bernadette. Stylish Eric Dougherty signed on for keyboards, harmonies and cocktails. Sold out tours opening for the Brian Jonestown Massacre and Neko Case across the USA and UK won them new fans. They got to collaborate with Rod Argent of the Zombies on a track for an EP belatedly released in 2007 (The Holy Ground). It was also at this time that the founding rhythm section of drummer Robb Surridge and bassist/sitarist Rishi Dhir departed the band amicably. Various musicians have filled in when needed, with moustached Max Hebert winning the permanent spot on drums with his incredible rythmic ability and knowledge of the Montreal Canadiens hockey club.
Amidst all the touring and comings and goings, Trevor secluded himself in a damp cottage in Sligo, Ireland, to the deafening buzz of bees, with a laptop, drum machine and several bottles of fortified monkish wine. The result was the beginnings of "Moon Country", a two-sided LP of droning dance grooves, spaced-out rock anthems and wistful psych folk. They released the album independently in Canada in the fall of 2008. A tour of the west coast followed and a memorable opening for jangle pop heroes Echo & the Bunnymen at SXSW 2009!
"Moon Country" and all the High Dials albums are available via the banner links on this page, as well as through iTunes.
Some press selections:
Moon Country (2008):
“Country-tinged '60s-ish psych-rock, with great harmonies and occasional doses of druggy drone…They are fantastic live.” Top 10 albums of 2008 - Brooklyn Vegan
"Clever but heartfelt lyrics and gorgeous pop melodies" Top 10 albums of 2008 - Montreal Mirror
"Gorgeous, dazzling...These guys slay me again" The Globe and Mail
"(The High Dials) erect psychedelic pillars on a strong 60s pop foundation, from acid-soaked melodies to Madchester grooves to shoegazer resound-sound" - Exclaim
War of the Wakening Phantoms (2005):
Psych pop perfection" 8/10 - NME (UK)
"The golden era of Canadian cool continues apace" The Sun (UK)
"(Songs) breathe new life into pops tired romantic lexicon" 4 stars - The
Independent (UK)
"Dazzling second album" 4 stars- UNCUT
"An entire pop album of psychedelic superhits: instantly hummable, easily digestible, completely candy-coated and totally fucking sweet." 20 best albums of 2005 - MAGNET
"The sound of a band discovering its soul and creating something beautiful and big... this album will blow you away" 4 ½ stars - ALL MUSIC GUIDE
"Close breathy harmonies, dreamy pop collages and intelligent wordplay deceptively beautiful psychedelia: ALBUM OF THE WEEK - Rough Trade Website
"An immaculate, narcotic pop record" The Globe and Mail (Canada)
"Captivating, border-line hypnotic and downright cinematic" Canadian Music Network
"This music is for right here, right now and all-time - classic rock in the greatest sense of the term." 5 stars, Top ten albums of 2005 - Montreal Gazette
"If you're not already in love, this album approximates its euphoric stupor. Hell, Montreals High Dials may change your life." 4 Stars - NOW Magazine (Toronto)
"Everything that great rock and roll was meant to be: euphoric, pained, sweet, dark, dangerous, passionate, surprising and wholly addictive." 4 ½ Stars - Ottawa Citizen
hi guys, been awhile, we met outside your groovy van when we played a show together at shubas many moons ago...come play toronto sometime soon and tell me you still have that rockin mobile! colleen
