The Ottawa Sun
Hippie Campfire keeps light burning
Wed Jul 20 2011
Page: 27
Section: Entertainment
Byline: DENIS ARMSTRONG, OTTAWA SUN
Illustrations: Photo Mike herffernan ; Hippie Campfire
Hippie Campfire have the makings of an identity
crisis.
What began as a pickup band of Ottawa players
jamming in a florist's warehouse has grown into an
ambitious progressive band playing an unique blend
of funk, rock, power-folk and even jazz. Categories
and genres be damned, this band goes wherever an
interesting musical notion takes them.
"At the heart of it, we're a hippy jam band, the same
way The Grateful Dead and Phish are hippie," said
bassist Louis Rankin.
"We may not look like hippies now, but we did in the
1990s when life hit. We got married, had kids and
started settling down, but that's bound to happen if
you stay together long enough."
Yes, life hit them. Hard. Blame it on adult
responsibility.
Still, these six men -- self-professed eccentrics,
drummer Rick Gajdecki, guitarist Andy Ladouceur,
singers Eric MacIntyre and Richard Rankin.
keyboard player David McKnight and bass-player
Rankin -- find their freedom every time they play.
"Our techniques are pretty hippie," Rankin added.
"We all have ADD -- attention deficit disorder. Every
time we chase one song idea, we get distracted by
another tune. What we thought was a dead end often
leads to something different."
Loud mix
It's the serendipitous methodology that's behind
Hippie Campfire's second album Chasing Shiny
Objects, which was released in June online at iTunes
and at CD Baby. A layered and loud mix of electric
progressive music, they describe the music as "a mix
of Sam and Dave meets Yes."
They think it's the album that will take the band to the
next level.
" Chasing Shiny Objects, It's more than the album's
title, it's the band's mission statement. Chasing shiny
objects is what we're about these days," Rankin said
proudly.
"Our goal is to get as viral as possible," he added.
"At this point, it's unlikely that we going to jump into
a van and tour and leave our families behind."
And the band thinks the new music is what new fans
are looking for.
"Our album sounds more natural and organic, more
like us when we rehearse.
More spontaneous and exciting. We're often
criticized for being too loud because we want to
convert listeners into fans of the band."
denis.armstrong@sunmedia.ca
- - -
Hippie Campfire
* Where: Elmdale Tavern, 1084 Wellington St. W.
* When: Saturday, 9:30 p.m., $10.
© 2011 Sun Media Corporation. All rights reserved.
