The Gentlemen's Club

The G.C’s sound is founded around songwriters’ Passmore and Johnston’s differing yet complimentary styles. Passmore brings a withdrawn melancholy to his writing, whereas Johnston is more likely to let loose with tongue-in-cheek bravado. The two got their start playing together with Mclachlin in the late 90s in Ottawa when they formed the group the No Shirts. This 80s inspired post-punk group released one record in 2000 called “Damn American Cars” before calling it quits. After the split Johnston moved to Montreal to study music and play in the short-lived garage rock sensation the Model Children. The Children broke up, but not before a mini tour with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and opening dates for Interpol and Hot Hot Heat. Meanwhile, McLachlin was studying composition in Ottawa with renowned composer Steven Gellman, whilst Passmore wrote the songs that would make up the first G.C album, “The Servant.”

“The Servant” is a concept album of sorts. All of the songs were written by Passmore and it chronicles his yearlong struggle with a physical illness that was overcome with the help of a therapeutic treatment called the Alexander Technique. Musically, the album mixes together Passmore’s tragic balladry, Mclachlin’s baroque arrangements, and Johnston’s tendency towards country music. The result is rooted in the past and yet manages to be forward looking. Though the band acknowledges a debt to 60s groups like the Left Banke and the Association, one inquisitive fan was apt to query: “Is this the first baroque alt-country rock band?”

Taking advantage of the boom in affordable high end recording gear, the G.C decided to finance and record much of the record themselves. Drum tracking was handled by the G.C’s friends at Bova Sound in Ottawa, and many of the overdubs were completed at the G.C’s very own studio The Red Room located in Montreal. The group then added sound tech Al Isler, whom Johnston had met while studying at Concordia. Isler is studio tech at RedRoom, in-house photographer, and contributes processing and mixing touches to the Servant.

The Gentlemen’s Club view themselves as a musical family and 5 of the 6 core members live under the same roof. Though primarily focused on their own material the band hopes to venture further into production and soundtrack work. Already the group has helped to produce a number of the tracks off of the new WaxMannequin album, “The Price.” Also, they have been involved in scoring several animated films for The National Film Board.

Presently, the G.C are happy to be taking care of their dog Jasper, and are excited about wrapping recording on their first album.