The Pelts

If you get the chance to catch The Pelts, make sure you jump at the opportunity. This band, made up first and foremost of a bunch of buddies, knows how to throw a party and because of their carefree approach to shaking out danceable feel-good music to the delight of their audiences, it doesn’t look like the bash is ending any time soon. The guys bring a certain magic to the local music scene with their brand of eclectic music.
“I like to think of our sound as what would happen if Tarantino got a hold of your prom,” Pelts guitarist Billy SLiM laughs about their blend of mod-rockabilly-doowop-ska — an infectious and swinging live boogie that unites the young, old, musically oblivious and very clued in.
Pelts music is a blend of mod-rockabilly-doowop-ska — an infectious and swinging live boogie that unites the young, old, musically oblivious and very clued in.
In writing their own ditties and mixing B-side covers with anything they pull from their funky back pockets, the Ottawa-based live band admits there is often no rhyme or reason to how the unique melange of fresh-meets-throwback concepts are born (admittedly, their distinctive assortment of sounds doesn’t always come instantly), but according to drummer Sam Menard, so long as their boppity set gets a rise out of the audience, they’ve done their job.
“We’ll morph a Robert Johnson song into a Vanilla Ice cover. Of course, it will always sound like The Pelts in the end – but to see people’s faces when they hear a song they recognize, and weren’t expecting it? For us, that’s it — just playing music that creates something joyful.”
The Reverend, the charismatic frontman whose suave steps and youthful vocals sweet talk the audience into movement from the tip of the stage, agrees on the energizing benefits of playing non-traditional covers at their local gigs. “Mixed with our own spins, the covers we play make for a kind of music that really anyone can sink their teeth into.”
Having randomly met through friends at The Manx, the institutional Elgin Street basement bar, their laid-back beginnings speak to their still casual approach to being a band. Over a few beers one night in December of 2008, they realized there was a singer, bass player, drummer and guitarist present, marvelled at the convenience of unanimously wide open schedules to “jam” that next day — and three years later are still jamming, kicking and making moves around the city.
Pinning down their first gig shortly after conception at Ottawa’s Promdemonium, a hip, wild and wacky prom fundraiser — the tone was set for The Pelts moving forward. Their music would be offbeat and like a prom, it would evoke memories of yesteryear, but their contemporary twists would make it a little more challenging than snowballs and two-steps. And it would be very, very fun.
“What people don’t realize about Ottawa is that there might not be a mainstream cultural scene here in that there are always things of a certain magnitude happening, but from fringe to theatre to music — there’s a real vibrancy to the scene. People support some very off-the-wall stuff,” says Blazer Mack, their accomplished bassist who hailed from Toronto before joining the band.
Although they claim to be popular with a varied demographic of Ottawans, by accident — not design harking back to the classics might be one of the secrets to their bumping live shindigs, says Billy SLiM.
“For what people consider to be a conservative sleepy town, we just so happen to play music that reaches back into an older era certain ages identify with.”
The Pelts don’t try to be anything they’re not. What they do is bring a certain something to the music scene; something, old, new, borrowed and something very cool.
With their presence in Ottawa widely known along the party circuit, the band admits to an interest in testing the waters outside of the Capital if opportunities arose, but are honest about their real intentions as musicians. Leaving their pelt pins, fedoras and dapper suits at home during the day, all four musicians lead lives and other careers outside of their buoyant jam sessions — and appreciate the relaxed enjoyment of simply playing for their own pleasure and pastime, as well as the enjoyment of their fun-seeking follower.
Despite plans to press tracks within the next six months, a musical career without demanding benchmarks, deadlines and nasty industry pressure is ideal for this group of buddies – and they plan to play until it isn’t fun anymore. That doesn’t seem like a likely conclusion to this ongoing party, but as drummer Sam Menard says calmly, The Pelts’ beat will go on.
“A the end of the day, we really have a great time together. So, we were friends first and we’ll be friends last.”
Written by: Jessica Huddleston on March 23, 2012. - Ottawa Life Magazine

by Allan Wigney
The students milling about at Café Nostalgica can be forgiven for not recognizing local hepcats Billy SLIM and Rev. Dr. D Spanx. Though, as ever, dressed sharply, The Pelts’ frontman and saxophonist’s secret identities — by day, they are respectively Scott Lofquist-Morgan and Daniel Spence — are safe with this University of Ottawa midday crowd. And, despite having beer for lunch, the older gentlemen are unlikely to be mistaken for undergrads.

Come nightfall, though, Lofquist-Morgan, Spence and bandmates Ben “Blazer Mack” Lazerson and Tom “Sam Menard” McSorley will be partying like it’s 1966. Or, more specifically, “1956-1966,” according to Lofquist-Morgan.

Not a bad thing. For, as The Pelts demonstrated as early as the band’s first gig — a prom-themed event that found the lads tearing it up through covers of everyone from Stevie Wonder to The Beach Boys to The Shangri-Las — that 10-year stretch offers a lot of room to move.

And movement, SLIM and the Reverend stress, is what a Pelts show is all about.

“Our goal,” Spence declares, “is to be that band in Ottawa that gets everybody dancing at every show.” He pauses as he considers his words. “We know that’s a challenge,” he says with a smile.

But coming armed with foot-stomping originals in the style of that target decade, a passion for fashion and no less towering a model for live performance than the legendary T.A.M.I. Show, The Pelts certainly have the right idea. Hence, the boys maintain, at a Pelts show you can’t sit down.

Chalk it up to experience.

“We’re in a position to be able to play purely for the fun of it,” Lofquist-Morgan says of what a few years and a steady job can provide for a rock and roll band. “And the crowd picks up on that, and they do dance. Really, we’ve never lost that prom side of things.” - The WIG

It’s a big musical night on Thursday…For those who are feeling nostalgic, there’s Thrush Hermit. For those that are in a party mood, head on over to the Black Sheep Inn to check out Glenn Nuotio, The Pelts and Brasstronaut. I got to chat with the boys from The Pelts about Promdemonium, the folks they’ll be sharing the stage with in Wakefield and playing for a cause.

Apt613: The Pelts is a relatively new band, were you folks involved in the Ottawa music scene before the formation of the band? If so, what were you doing?

Pelts: Most of us were involved in the music scenes of Canada’s finest rock’n'roll cities- particularly Montreal, Vancouver and Peterborough. But this is a first foray for all of us in Ottawa’s music scene. Appropriately enough, the band itself formed over late-night pints in a tiny booth at the Manx.

Apt613: You said the group played its first show at least year’s Promdemonium – what a strange (yet awesome) event to begin a live career. What prompted that? Planning on playing Promdemonium 2010?

Pelts: First off, Promdemonium is brilliant. It’s been superbly organized by friends, and friends-of-friends, for a couple of years now. Anyone reading this needs to look for tickets as soon as they go on sale. It will sell out.

The timing of last year’s Prom was perfect. When asked, there was no way we could resist the idea of performing a first gig in front two or three hundred brightly coloured prom-goers. There’s something about dressing up that makes people sexier, sillier, and basically creates a carnivalesque feel that made last year’s party something to remember.

Because it was our first show, Prom really helped forge our musical direction. With a room full of skinny ties, pointy shoes, and lots of chiffon, we played music to get people moving — a lot of Phil Spector pop, rockabilly, ska and R&B. Throwing in something slow enough to remind people of their crushes or perhaps teen angst. All these styles are now Pelts staples.

Without a doubt, we are looking forward to this year’s Prom (May 1) – but this time as spectators. Each Promdemonium is unique, and we know the gang organizing Prom this year has something special in store for everyone; we’ve heard “rumours” of what’s coming… but our lips are sealed.
Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better gig to get started. It gave us that first burst of energy that we were able to carry forward. Mostly in the form of a great gang of friends and fans who have brought the party to each of our shows.

After all, you always remember your first time, especially when it’s on Prom night!

Apt613: You shared with me that the Pelts ultimate goal is to rock the crowd. Where do you like to play?

Pelts: Wherever people like to get down.


Apt613: Are there plans for recording in the near future?

Pelts: We’ve recorded a few tracks, which people can check out on myspace.com/thepelts. Currently there are three songs, but we’ll be putting more shortly. As per the future, we’re going to focus on our live shows, while we wait for the massive, record-contract, bidding war to start…

Apt613: Can you tell us a bit about the two other bands you are playing with: Glenn Nuotio and Brasstronaut?

Pelts: Glenn is one of the gems of the Ottawa music scene. He’s starting off the show with a beautifully understated setup (Glenn on piano with just a uke and a harpist who sings back-up) and is probably going to be more political than pretty this time around — which will be quite something because he is rather pretty.

Brasstronaut is a superb six-piece from Vancouver, and they’re making some serious waves across Canada and the US. We’re quite humbled to be sharing the stage with them. They spent February recording live sessions for CBC radio, and they’ve toured with Bell Orchestre and Woodhands. They’re currently touring North America promoting their new album, Mt Chimaera. It’s easy to go on… last week they were showcased at the annual SXSW Festival, and their hit Slow Knots is now sitting in the top-ten of CBC Radio’s R3 30. Nice.

Apt613: So there will be good music, fun dancing – what else can convince the folks to make it to Wakefield? I hear rumours that Sierra Club is involved somehow…

Pelts: Even though we are totally apolitical musically, we do like to help out. If we can help raise some money and awareness for something worthwhile, we’re more than happy to share the stage. This time we’re turning the spotlight on an important grassroots campaign based right in Wakefield — a perfect tie-in for the Black Sheep Inn. We recently heard that a great project — the Eco Echo Outaouais Environmental Campus — has suddenly come under threat of expropriation by the surrounding municipality. Basically, the mayor wants to build an industrial park on the front of their land, right at the gateway to Wakefield. Sierra Club figures a cool community project – with organic orchards and education programs for kids – fits the whole Wakefield vibe - Apt613.ca

Opening night at 9pm of a 5 day long music festival can be hit and miss when it comes to crowds. This year for Toronto’s North By North East (NXNE) music festival the Cameron House was a hit as the back room was surprisingly packed for the band, The Pelts.

Hailing from Ottawa Ontario, and dressed to the nine’s in skinny suits and two-toned Oxford shoes The Pelts brought their arsenal of original tracks and cover songs to delight the audience. Within a matter of minutes the dance floor was bustling and it was clear that The Pelts were having as much fun as the patrons.

Their style of early 60’s rock and R&B is smooth with traditional instruments such as guitar and bass, but punctuated with saxophone and harmonica that lends a dynamic playfulness to the act.

Several of their original tracks, such as “Rosie Loves Mickey” have been picked up by local Ottawa radio stations. This is no surprise as their catchy clean tracks are highly contagious. Wednesday night of NXNE, The Pelts performed several covers of songs that go beyond doing justice to the original, including a surprisingly great rendition of Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby”.

The Pelts set was an excellent way to fill up a bar and begin a busy week of NXNE. They’ve no doubt gone back their hometown, but hopefully will return to Toronto before too long.

For more info, links and tracks, check out their website: http://thepelts.com/ - MizRebelRecords

By Kevin Jones
(7/10)
This year may feel a lot closer to flying cars than it does to clean-cut love songs about runaway dream girls, but the latter was on full display last night as the Pelts laid out some classic rock, rhythm and blues for a receptive Cameron House crowd. Dressed in matching suits and long, Kool-Aid blue ties, the Ottawa-based four-piece peppered their time-warp sound with full-bellied four-part harmonies, chugging rhythms, rocking sax lines and a sprinkle of harmonica as they grooved through upbeat tales of fractured love and wasted youth, feeling tighter and more authentic with each song. An odd, slightly reggae-fied rendition of Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" broke that spell momentarily and probably should have been left back in their rehearsal space, but the Pelt's light-hearted charm and tight, way-back aesthetic made that one little misstep a distant memory by show's end. - Exclaim! Magazine

If you get the chance to catch The Pelts, make sure you jump at the opportunity. This band, made up first and foremost of a bunch of buddies, knows how to throw a party and because of their carefree approach to shaking out danceable feel-good music to the delight of their audiences, it doesn’t look like the bash is ending any time soon. The guys bring a certain magic to the local music scene with their brand of eclectic music.
“I like to think of our sound as what would happen if Tarantino got a hold of your prom,” Pelts guitarist Billy SLiM laughs about their blend of mod-rockabilly-doowop-ska — an infectious and swinging live boogie that unites the young, old, musically oblivious and very clued in.
Pelts music is a blend of mod-rockabilly-doowop-ska — an infectious and swinging live boogie that unites the young, old, musically oblivious and very clued in.
In writing their own ditties and mixing B-side covers with anything they pull from their funky back pockets, the Ottawa-based live band admits there is often no rhyme or reason to how the unique melange of fresh-meets-throwback concepts are born (admittedly, their distinctive assortment of sounds doesn’t always come instantly), but according to drummer Sam Menard, so long as their boppity set gets a rise out of the audience, they’ve done their job.
“We’ll morph a Robert Johnson song into a Vanilla Ice cover. Of course, it will always sound like The Pelts in the end – but to see people’s faces when they hear a song they recognize, and weren’t expecting it? For us, that’s it — just playing music that creates something joyful.”
The Reverend, the charismatic frontman whose suave steps and youthful vocals sweet talk the audience into movement from the tip of the stage, agrees on the energizing benefits of playing non-traditional covers at their local gigs. “Mixed with our own spins, the covers we play make for a kind of music that really anyone can sink their teeth into.”
Having randomly met through friends at The Manx, the institutional Elgin Street basement bar, their laid-back beginnings speak to their still casual approach to being a band. Over a few beers one night in December of 2008, they realized there was a singer, bass player, drummer and guitarist present, marvelled at the convenience of unanimously wide open schedules to “jam” that next day — and three years later are still jamming, kicking and making moves around the city.
Pinning down their first gig shortly after conception at Ottawa’s Promdemonium, a hip, wild and wacky prom fundraiser — the tone was set for The Pelts moving forward. Their music would be offbeat and like a prom, it would evoke memories of yesteryear, but their contemporary twists would make it a little more challenging than snowballs and two-steps. And it would be very, very fun.
“What people don’t realize about Ottawa is that there might not be a mainstream cultural scene here in that there are always things of a certain magnitude happening, but from fringe to theatre to music — there’s a real vibrancy to the scene. People support some very off-the-wall stuff,” says Blazer Mack, their accomplished bassist who hailed from Toronto before joining the band.
Although they claim to be popular with a varied demographic of Ottawans, by accident — not design harking back to the classics might be one of the secrets to their bumping live shindigs, says Billy SLiM.
“For what people consider to be a conservative sleepy town, we just so happen to play music that reaches back into an older era certain ages identify with.”
The Pelts don’t try to be anything they’re not. What they do is bring a certain something to the music scene; something, old, new, borrowed and something very cool.
With their presence in Ottawa widely known along the party circuit, the band admits to an interest in testing the waters outside of the Capital if opportunities arose, but are honest about their real intentions as musicians. Leaving their pelt pins, fedoras and dapper suits at home during the day, all four musicians lead lives and other careers outside of their buoyant jam sessions — and appreciate the relaxed enjoyment of simply playing for their own pleasure and pastime, as well as the enjoyment of their fun-seeking follower.
Despite plans to press tracks within the next six months, a musical career without demanding benchmarks, deadlines and nasty industry pressure is ideal for this group of buddies – and they plan to play until it isn’t fun anymore. That doesn’t seem like a likely conclusion to this ongoing party, but as drummer Sam Menard says calmly, The Pelts’ beat will go on.
“A the end of the day, we really have a great time together. So, we were friends first and we’ll be friends last.”
Written by: Jessica Huddleston on March 23, 2012. - Ottawa Life Magazine

by Allan Wigney
The students milling about at Café Nostalgica can be forgiven for not recognizing local hepcats Billy SLIM and Rev. Dr. D Spanx. Though, as ever, dressed sharply, The Pelts’ frontman and saxophonist’s secret identities — by day, they are respectively Scott Lofquist-Morgan and Daniel Spence — are safe with this University of Ottawa midday crowd. And, despite having beer for lunch, the older gentlemen are unlikely to be mistaken for undergrads.

Come nightfall, though, Lofquist-Morgan, Spence and bandmates Ben “Blazer Mack” Lazerson and Tom “Sam Menard” McSorley will be partying like it’s 1966. Or, more specifically, “1956-1966,” according to Lofquist-Morgan.

Not a bad thing. For, as The Pelts demonstrated as early as the band’s first gig — a prom-themed event that found the lads tearing it up through covers of everyone from Stevie Wonder to The Beach Boys to The Shangri-Las — that 10-year stretch offers a lot of room to move.

And movement, SLIM and the Reverend stress, is what a Pelts show is all about.

“Our goal,” Spence declares, “is to be that band in Ottawa that gets everybody dancing at every show.” He pauses as he considers his words. “We know that’s a challenge,” he says with a smile.

But coming armed with foot-stomping originals in the style of that target decade, a passion for fashion and no less towering a model for live performance than the legendary T.A.M.I. Show, The Pelts certainly have the right idea. Hence, the boys maintain, at a Pelts show you can’t sit down.

Chalk it up to experience.

“We’re in a position to be able to play purely for the fun of it,” Lofquist-Morgan says of what a few years and a steady job can provide for a rock and roll band. “And the crowd picks up on that, and they do dance. Really, we’ve never lost that prom side of things.” - The WIG

It’s a big musical night on Thursday…For those who are feeling nostalgic, there’s Thrush Hermit. For those that are in a party mood, head on over to the Black Sheep Inn to check out Glenn Nuotio, The Pelts and Brasstronaut. I got to chat with the boys from The Pelts about Promdemonium, the folks they’ll be sharing the stage with in Wakefield and playing for a cause.

Apt613: The Pelts is a relatively new band, were you folks involved in the Ottawa music scene before the formation of the band? If so, what were you doing?

Pelts: Most of us were involved in the music scenes of Canada’s finest rock’n'roll cities- particularly Montreal, Vancouver and Peterborough. But this is a first foray for all of us in Ottawa’s music scene. Appropriately enough, the band itself formed over late-night pints in a tiny booth at the Manx.

Apt613: You said the group played its first show at least year’s Promdemonium – what a strange (yet awesome) event to begin a live career. What prompted that? Planning on playing Promdemonium 2010?

Pelts: First off, Promdemonium is brilliant. It’s been superbly organized by friends, and friends-of-friends, for a couple of years now. Anyone reading this needs to look for tickets as soon as they go on sale. It will sell out.

The timing of last year’s Prom was perfect. When asked, there was no way we could resist the idea of performing a first gig in front two or three hundred brightly coloured prom-goers. There’s something about dressing up that makes people sexier, sillier, and basically creates a carnivalesque feel that made last year’s party something to remember.

Because it was our first show, Prom really helped forge our musical direction. With a room full of skinny ties, pointy shoes, and lots of chiffon, we played music to get people moving — a lot of Phil Spector pop, rockabilly, ska and R&B. Throwing in something slow enough to remind people of their crushes or perhaps teen angst. All these styles are now Pelts staples.

Without a doubt, we are looking forward to this year’s Prom (May 1) – but this time as spectators. Each Promdemonium is unique, and we know the gang organizing Prom this year has something special in store for everyone; we’ve heard “rumours” of what’s coming… but our lips are sealed.
Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better gig to get started. It gave us that first burst of energy that we were able to carry forward. Mostly in the form of a great gang of friends and fans who have brought the party to each of our shows.

After all, you always remember your first time, especially when it’s on Prom night!

Apt613: You shared with me that the Pelts ultimate goal is to rock the crowd. Where do you like to play?

Pelts: Wherever people like to get down.


Apt613: Are there plans for recording in the near future?

Pelts: We’ve recorded a few tracks, which people can check out on myspace.com/thepelts. Currently there are three songs, but we’ll be putting more shortly. As per the future, we’re going to focus on our live shows, while we wait for the massive, record-contract, bidding war to start…

Apt613: Can you tell us a bit about the two other bands you are playing with: Glenn Nuotio and Brasstronaut?

Pelts: Glenn is one of the gems of the Ottawa music scene. He’s starting off the show with a beautifully understated setup (Glenn on piano with just a uke and a harpist who sings back-up) and is probably going to be more political than pretty this time around — which will be quite something because he is rather pretty.

Brasstronaut is a superb six-piece from Vancouver, and they’re making some serious waves across Canada and the US. We’re quite humbled to be sharing the stage with them. They spent February recording live sessions for CBC radio, and they’ve toured with Bell Orchestre and Woodhands. They’re currently touring North America promoting their new album, Mt Chimaera. It’s easy to go on… last week they were showcased at the annual SXSW Festival, and their hit Slow Knots is now sitting in the top-ten of CBC Radio’s R3 30. Nice.

Apt613: So there will be good music, fun dancing – what else can convince the folks to make it to Wakefield? I hear rumours that Sierra Club is involved somehow…

Pelts: Even though we are totally apolitical musically, we do like to help out. If we can help raise some money and awareness for something worthwhile, we’re more than happy to share the stage. This time we’re turning the spotlight on an important grassroots campaign based right in Wakefield — a perfect tie-in for the Black Sheep Inn. We recently heard that a great project — the Eco Echo Outaouais Environmental Campus — has suddenly come under threat of expropriation by the surrounding municipality. Basically, the mayor wants to build an industrial park on the front of their land, right at the gateway to Wakefield. Sierra Club figures a cool community project – with organic orchards and education programs for kids – fits the whole Wakefield vibe - Apt613.ca

Ottawa – “Your prom turns into a Tarantino soundtrack” is the intriguing description I read of The Pelts which drew me to The Rainbow Bistro on Saturday. Having never heard anything from this rockabilly/ garage/Mersey beat four-piece, from the moment they appeared on stage in skinny suits, with a little pompadour hair and two-toned shoes, I knew we were in for a good time. And boy, I was right. By the end of the night, there wasn’t a person left in a seat as we were all up giggling at their witty lyrics, and cutting a rug to their infectious tunes.

The band played a combination of their own great songs (such as ‘San Tarantino’, ‘Earnestly’ and ‘You Really Got a Hold on Me’) as well as a huge variety of covers (everything from Smokey Robinson to Vanilla Ice) that they clearly made their own. The success of their sound lies in the obvious skill of each of the members, and how much they enjoy putting on a great show together. Each of the three vocalists had a great solo tone, but even better were their spot-on vocal harmonies. Full of panache, Sam Menard on drums set the beat that got the Rainbow jumping. The Rev. Dr. D. Spanx alternated between lead vocal, a perfectly placed sax (too often overdone), and one mean harmonica. With Billy SLiM rocking out on lead guitar, even he couldn’t suppress the urge to dance that only some taps on his white shoes would top. Finally, Blazer Mack, on a beautifully grooving 6-string base tried to keep a cool front, which only made him more endearing when he would break out in a beaming ear-to-ear smile, clearly showing what a great time these guys have putting on a show.

Although unconfirmed, word on the street is that The Pelts are planning a tour in the not-so-distant future, so dust off your dancing shoes and plan to go when they make a stop in your town. - The Panic Manual