When Gilbert Switzer broke up in October 2007, they left in their wake a prolific body of work (including releases on mini-disc, floppy disc, cassette and vinyl) and lots of very disappointed fans. But please donÂ’t completely blow your wad over the fact that theyÂ’re playing again this Thursday, February 7, at GusÂ’ Pub (with The Fantods, Le Coque et les Phoques and The Visitation), because itÂ’s only a one-night stand. “WeÂ’re not reforming, itÂ’s Lindsay AllainÂ’s (Le Coque et les Phoques) birthday,” says Meghan Merrigan (drums and guitar). “SheÂ’s our biggest fan and she begged us.” Merrigan, Derrick Hiltz and Troy Richter make up the trio and are planning on playing some new-esque songs at the show. “The songs arenÂ’t new per se, but we havenÂ’t performed them before, maybe a couple of times, and they arenÂ’t recorded,” says Merrigan. “We do have all our songs ever recorded on a zip file. WeÂ’re maybe going to make that available on the Divorce site, or make a data disc to sell for 50 cents. But I donÂ’t know who would buy it. Lindsay maybe.” As hard as I have prayed that Gilbert Switzer would reform and stay in Halifax forever, playing weekly shows in my living room, it looks like that prayer will never be answered. IÂ’ll have to be satisfied with the energetic antics at this bittersweet reunion. “Troy has something up his sleeve
—heÂ’s sending these cryptic emails,” says Merrigan. “I look forward to giving him that space to be such an awesome frontman. HeÂ’s so real.”
This article appears in Feb 7-13, 2008.
