The Cutmen

Cutman (kut’mahn) mn: a person responsible for preventing and treating physical damage to a fighter during the breaks between rounds of full contact boxing, kickboxing or martial arts. Often an experienced former boxer, the cutman is therefore essential to the fighter, and can be a decisive factor in the outcome of the match.

Jeff Tanguay.

Mike Carpenter.

Ian Cook.

Sound familiar?

They should be to anyone who’s paid attention to the Ottawa music scene in the past 20 years. Like the Cutmen they’re named for, Jeff, Mike and Ian are some of the most experienced performers in Ottawa and have the kind of time on the mat that young musicians dream about.

Formerly of the ’80s power/pop band, The Town Cryers, as well as some of the most iconic indie bands from the ’80s and ’90s, like Jr Gone Wild, the Mercy Miners, Sawdogs, Rustbucket and legendary rockabilly punks, The Wild Ones, the dirty little trio bring together the high energy of covers by The New York Dolls, Social Distortion and National Velvet combined with bright, hook-driven original songs and the kind of tight performance that years of experience delivers.

Currently recording demos at the studio of Dave Dudley (formerly of Furnace Face), the band are prefacing the anticipated December launch with a few live shows. The demo will feature the hard driving nonsensical “What’s the What Not?” and “This Isn’t That”, a quirky autobiographical tune featuring a thumping bass line.

“I want to get the songs recorded because they’re worth it,” remarks bass player Mike Carpenter (ex-Town Cryers, Rustbucket, Sawdogs). “Everything musicians do, we’re trying to leave a legacy. The difference for us is that we’ve lost the sense of anxiety and pressure. We’re very relaxed with each other.”

Lead singer and guitarist Jeff Tanguay (ex-Town Cryers, Mercy Miners and former stand up comic), agrees.

“It’s so much easier. It takes minutes to get a song down. We understand why some songs work and others don’t. It’s raised the bar for us.”

But between recording, practices and performances with other bands, the guys don’t have a lot of down time, admits drummer Ian Cook (ex - Town Cryers, Rustbucket, Jr. Gone Wild).

“I think it may be a mid-life crisis thing.....none of us can afford expensive sports cars so we are throwing our energy back into music,” he chuckles. “I'm playing in three bands now, and soon to be four, not to mention subbing in with Lonesome Paul when he's in need. Jeff plays in two bands. It's getting so bad that we refer to ourselves as band sluts. It's not about the money, because no one's making any...”

Not yet, anyway. Watch this space.

What the tastemakers think:

“The Cutmen's raw energy combined with tight writing remind us that the traditional three-piece is alive and well - and definitely kicking.”

Ben Watson, renowned social media commentator better known as bitpakkit, vice president of advertising for Overlay.TV

“Listening to the Cutmen, you can close your eyes and smell the oil on the floor of the garage that spawned this outfit. The songs are tight, direct and played so you can tell these guys mean every note, in the way that the bands "really mean it, man" wish they could mean it.”

Brendan Best, drummer for The Holy Fathers, former lead guitar and singer for 80s punk outfit, Flag of Truce. - © 2008 Julie Beun-Chown All rights reserved.