Jay Gavin and the Tired Sunday Choir
By Maddy Cristall
In the contemporary musical sea of Ableton and mumble rap, it is particularly refreshing to find genuine music. I am talking about that kind of music that rattles your bones, ignites an internal fire, makes your eyes swell up, breaks your heart then sews it back together again. Jay Gavin and his band -The Tired Sunday Choir remind us that this kind of music doesn't only still exist but it is alive and well and in this case, in the heart Vancouver.
Jay Gavin originally derives from the tiny town Tignish in P.E.I, where he often fell asleep listening to the comforting sounds of guitar and fiddle infused kitchen parties. Music lives deeply in his DNA, it moves through his body. He reflects fondly on the childhood memories of his folks going to see a slew of local concerts. One particular time that resonated with him was when his parents went to see a blind musician named Smiling Bill McCormick. Gavin said “at the end of the night he ended up coming back to our place and partied with my dad and his friends and they played music and drank for like 6 months! Iʼm not kidding! He cancelled all his shows and just stayed!” He grew up not only playing music but was surrounded by it, and it’s naturally rambunctious essence. “That's where it all started for me,” says Jay.
Jay Gavin’s music is often described by the tagline “salty folk rock, barrel aged with a taste of country”. His music is a fully fleshed celebration of sound that derives from the foundation of folk and embodies the outlaw attitude of the country, think Johnny Cash not Carrie Underwood. He is inspired by all kinds of musicians from Pink Floyd To John Prine. His lyrics are emotionally driven, nostalgic, romantic and poetic. His band elevates his graceful lyricism into a wall of raucous folk-rock that ignites a tapestry of feelings.
Their latest album Boat on a Whale is the ideal soundtrack for driving down the highway at sunset with one hand out the window while reflecting on the good times, the bad times and everything in between. There is so much heart, soul and thought in it while remaining wildly fun. The Tired Sunday Choir consists of a bouquet of local talent, which includes: Sam Balson on lead Guitar and harmony vocals, Anthony “Iced T” Boughen on keys, Rye Lundy on drums, Guy “Work Truck” McDonald on bass, James Rees on banjo and Cassidy Waring on harmony vocals.
It is clear that this music comes from the sheer place of not only wanting but needing to make it. The album is incredibly intimate, sincere and relatable. Jay describes one of his favourite part about music as “seeing somebody singing along to the words, it just doesn't get much better than that”. We often remember lyrics that mean something profound to us and every single word on Boat on a Whale is worthy of that feeling. Jay is constantly writing and working on new material. He wants to put out albums as much as he possibly can and I certainly hope he does.
Jay Gavin and The Tired Sunday Choir just had their album release party for the album. The iconic musician Brian O’Brien said “Jay immediately found the human in all of us. Told us stories we’ve all lived and handed those stories back to us like an ice cold beer. We truly came together as one in the light of his songwriting.” It is clear that Jay Gavin is not only a “musician’s musician” but a music lovers’ musician. He is a bonafide, full-blooded artist who drips with genuine talent that could never be contained. We need people like Jay now more than ever.
Boat on a Whale is available on Itunes. This record deserves all of your attention and once you hear it that’s exactly what you will give it.