24 Hours With: The Sunparlour Players
By: Jason Sherritt
In Guelph? What for? Where wild-haired and wild-eyed ladies walk the streets hollering to all who hear (she’s missed the bus). Where a balding man crosses an intersection with patches of gray hair so strangely arranged as to appear like ghostly aviator sunglass eyes on the back of his head. So strange, this town. A downtown like most others save for the feeling of being in an oasis of the desert or clearing of the rainforest. There’s no waterfall here, but the feeling of seclusion from the city is a wonder all its own. And most amazing of all, the core is littered with beautifully atmospheric and somehow relaxing bars.
In Guelph, what for? For a bit of live music at The Albion Hotel, where Toronto’s Sunparlour Players have had a residency every Tuesday for a month.
In fact, it’s their last show of the residency and a lot of people have shown up. The buzz buzz buzz of voices soaking up drink speaks of excitement and anticipation, and creates, in turn, even more excitement and anticipation for the rest of those fortunate enough to stumble onto the second floor of the refurbished hotel. The walls are stone, dimly lit, and when you throw in the pool table, the room has the air of one of those seedy arcades that steal students from their studies. In fact, come to think of it, there are a lot of students here; ones who care about what really matters — good times and good music — and not about studying for exams. (You can understand why. Here they’re not being put to the test and on a night like this, the only person concerned about the future, or at least should be, is a drunken bachelorette, party in tow.)
Closer to show time, the Albion is packed with all manner of people, and still more arriving. Word must have spread about how fun and entertaining these Players are – they seem to be the hot ticket tonight.
Cheers and claps declare that Andrew Penner, Dennis Van Dine and Michael “Rosie” Rosenthal are about to take the stage. These three, the Sunparlour Players, started playing live together in 2005 after Andrew released a small EP titled Mersea. More recently, their 2006 self-released debut, Hymns For the Happy, was re-released through Toronto label Baudelaire (host to bands such as Tangiers, Jewish Legend and The Diableros).
On the Sunparlour Players’ MySpace they state that their repertoire of sounds includes not only the usual suspects, but banjo, glockenspiel, bells, whistles, a clarinet and loads of bass drum as well. And indeed the first thing I notice in the stage set-up is the fact there are three kick drums set up so that each member of the band can drive the rhythm of the tune if they feel so inclined. All three members sit side-by-side as if to say no one is any more important than the other.
As the set begins, the energy is full and vibrant despite some slower-paced numbers and subject matter. Penner grasps a raspiness with his voice, drawing the crowd in with a grit befitting his mad scientist stage presence. Meanwhile, Van Dine nonchalantly but determinedly makes sure the music is felt as well as heard (you could be forgiven for feeling that never before has there been someone so genuine and passionate with what they’re doing). Rosenthal makes a ruckus, funneling so much energy that by the end of the set his drum kit is a foot away from where it started.
After the set, it’s off at high speed in pitch-black backcountry roads. A turn to the left, a turn to the right, and there it is appearing like a ghost ship from foggy calm water. The entourage heads in and meets this strange, wonderful country house, known as Shelter From The Storm, which in the summer is an amazing bed and breakfast diamond-in-the-rough.
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