Last Chance Marie has been making music in the Bay of Quinte region since 2007. After a temporary pause for post secondary education in New Brunswick, the group has reassembled with a tweaked roster and a new rehearsal space: a Church that Tayson Ingersoll, the band’s lead singer attends. I met with them there to get their perspective on how the region has evolved, and to find out where bands go to eat on the Bay.
M: Having the experience of leaving this region and playing music out East, how did the music communities differ from here?
LCM: There’s not a huge music scene out east at all, in general. They’re pretty appreciative of anything that comes out there. At the same time, they have no frame of reference and people don’t know how to act. Halifax is the only really vibrant place with a music scene , and we never got a chance to play there.
M: Do you find the music scene here has changed at all since you’ve been back? Is there a specific sound to the area?
Its always changing and morphing, but I’d say definitely there’s big difference from when I was playing here in 2007 from 2017. I never felt like our type of music has been representative of what the Bay of Quinte sounds like, even when there was a lot of local alternative acts. It’s a lot harder to find places to play and find people to play with.
M: What are some of your favourite venues past or present?
LCM: I’m not sure that we have a favourite venue. I’m sure after Thursday that will change though… I guess just wherever there are people if that makes sense. It’s interesting when they’re sort of inaccessible or out of the way. We played The Old Church Theatre in Trenton and it wasn’t necessarily set up for a loud band, but I guess it’s not a specific “these four walls” or “those four walls.”
M: Your band seems like the perfect fit for Sum41, are you big fans?
LCM: The majority of us grew up listening to them. If you told us one day we’d open for them we wouldn’t believe you. It’s come full circle in a way.
M: What are some of your pre-show rituals?
LCM: Our pre-show rituals vary. Dan has to drink coffee before a show. Even though it’s supposed to be bad for your voice it relaxes him. Noah listens to AFI’s “…But Home is Nowhere” before shows. It’s just something he’s always done, and we’ve even joined in on it before.
M: Are there any spots around the Bay of Quinte you like to hang out at before or after a show to grab some food?
LCM: It’s been like this weird tradition that we started, for a while after every band practice we’d go to Slapshots to get wings. Before that it was Brenda’s Pizza, we sometimes trek out to Napanee to get our fix, but for the most part, our band hangout place to get food is Slapshots.
M: What’s next for you guys?
LCM: We recorded a five song EP last year with our friend Todd who owns a studio in Wooler. We just released that a few weeks ago. In November we plan to record a full album, with him again.
Last Chance Marie kicks off Rockfest this Thursday at 7:00 pm.
Check out their Bandcamp page at https://lastchancemarie.bandcamp.com
