Alt-country trio Deerfield have started a new matinee series at Jacob’s Lounge in Dartmouth (106 Portland Street), performing every Saturday afternoon at 3-8pm, providing you with tunes to salt your draft to. The group also added Katherine McQueen (formerly of Skank Williams) on vocals, to get some of that sweet, sweet lady harmony in there. Guitarist and vocalist Roger Nelson talks about the Deerfield developments
Scene & Heard: What’s up next for you guys?
Roger Nelson: I personally feel that the album format is dead, so currently we’re squirreling away our cash from shows to pay for the pressing of our first 45. We recorded it in my home studio ourselves with myself as the engineer and Aaron Wallace (Sleepless Nights) as the producer and mixer. The record will feature one of my songs at the a-side and our rendition of a Christina Martin song as the b-side. I intend to put it out under “Ray & Louise Presents” as soon as we reach our financial goal. In the future I plan to do more 45s featuring Deerfield as a backing band for songs by my friends as well as my own song. Touring outside of the Maritimes, though something we would all like to do, is not currently realistic with out having more of a developed catalog and greater financial support.
S&H: Do you see your band carrying on the grand tradition of country matinees in the city?
RN: I don’t really SEE us carrying on the tradition of country matinees, I’d have to say that we’re beyond that at this point, we ARE carrying on the tradition of country matinees. We’ve been playing three and four set private events and gigs most of the summer and fall, so with the onset of winter, the natural thing was to seek out a home where we could continue to develop and grow our repertoire and sound.
S&H: Are you stoked about the new line up?
RN: I’m absolutely delighted with the current line-up. Matthew Duncanson and Nick Lawrence have been singing and holding down the rhythm section with me for close to two years. Now the band has really found it’s voice. Though we weren’t particularly looking for an addition to the band, I’d been spending a lot of time with Katherine McQueen, and she seems to fit right in with everyone. Once her previous band Skank Williams went on hiatus I pounced on the opportunity to have her join us in a more permanent capacity. Though we still have a lot of material to work out with her, we’re all excited about the results so far, the added dynamics of a lady to the group, and the prospect of creating some really good country rock.
This article appears in Dec 17-23, 2009.
