Who What Where

Three Hearts Beat as One
a fan’s perspective
by Stephen Wright

Who What Where– a curious name for a band consisting of three talented Toronto-scene veterans and a tap-like revolving door of manic beat-keepers...The “when” is now. The “why” is self-explanatory. “How” remains a beautiful mystery... For example: How does a modern-day Queen Street band find itself transported through time and space to the northern UK circa 1980-1983? Quantum leap? Flux capacitor? Dr. Who’s police box? Science can’t explain it but the resulting sounds are pure magic. Fletcher Mason (ex-Woodshed), Terry Lankstead (ex-Woodshed and Warehouse), and Willy Choi (ex-Norda) are the three beating hearts behind Who What Where and they need to know what’s happened to their heroes, and all the ‘Shakespearoes.’ Instead of watching Rome burn, they’ve taken a purposeful step into the past with twelve Mason originals and they’re not leaving until they get a reasonable answer. While Mason (vocals/guitar) is the voice of Who What Where, Lankstead (bass/vocals) provides the mathematically anchored low-frequency grooves and does so with ample soul. Reminiscent of the best Simple Minds had to offer, Choi’s emotional keyboard lines are the pastel-hued putty that leaves none of the small cracks unfilled. And to his credit, recently replaced drummer Shaun Murphy has vacated a mighty pair of size-twelve brogues for new man Anthony D’Angela to fill. The best of Liverpool, Scotland and Ireland are on offer courtesy of Who What Where. Not many bands can conjure shades of War-era U2, pre-arena Simple Minds, and subtle elements of Echo and the Bunnymen in such a convincing and unselfconscious way. If you’re from London, you’d better cross the street. Things are tough up north.