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 dont completely blow your wad over the fact that theyre playing again this Thursday, February 7, at Gus Pub (with The Fantods, Le Coque et les Phoques and The Visitation), because its only a one-night stand. Were not reforming, its Lindsay Allains (Le Coque et les Phoques) birthday, says Meghan Merrigan (drums and guitar). Shes 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 arent new per se, but we havent performed them before, maybe a couple of times, and they arent recorded, says Merrigan. We do have all our songs ever recorded on a zip file. Were maybe going to make that available on the Divorce site, or make a data disc to sell for 50 cents. But I dont 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. Ill have to be satisfied with the energetic antics at this bittersweet reunion. Troy has something up his sleeve —hes sending these cryptic emails, says Merrigan. I look forward to giving him that space to be such an awesome frontman. Hes so real.
This article appears in Feb 7-13, 2008.
