Montreal’s FELICITY HAMER & BLACK LEATHER ROSE pay tribute to George Chuvalo on debut single “Heavy Hitter”
Felicity Hamer & Black Leather Rose brings together three of the most prominent names on Montreal’s alt-country and garage rock scenes to create a new sound that combines classic honky tonk with modern indie in ways only Montreal musicians can.
That sense of adventure is palpable on the group’s self-titled five-song debut EP (six if you get it from Bandcamp), that will officially arrive on July 24. It presents surprises at every turn, with melodies drawn from icons such as Tammy Wynette and Emmylou Harris blending with ambient soundscapes and psychedelic overtones inspired by contemporary Americana heroes like Neko Case.
Along with Felicity Hamer, whose CV contains stints with United Steelworkers of Montreal, the Slowinks, Filly & The Flops and other projects, the trio is comprised of guitarist Roy Vucino, a staple of Montreal’s punk and experimental scenes who has worked with Evan Dando, Mac DeMarco and Mike Watt, and engineer/multi-instrumentalist Sebastien Perry whose studio experience includes David Usher, Nikki Yanofsky, Florence K, and a host of other beloved Quebec artists. Tracks also feature Berlin native Omri Gondor (Saba Lou, Hellshovel) on drums as well as appearances by various Montreal musicians.
Today they share the EP’s first single “Heavy Hitter,” a tribute to Canada’s greatest boxer, George Chuvalo. Felicity explains, “Roy had this idea for a song about a boxer who never gave up, and he shared a melody with a few lines: ‘He won’t throw in the towel, when he’s on the ropes.’ I didn’t know any boxing lingo, but I know how to conduct research!
“I happened upon George Chuvalo’s story as I was trying to familiarize myself with the terms. I was floored. Though I had always been aware of him, I had not grasped the enormity of the challenges he faced and of his accomplishments. All the lyrics are inspired by things he said and did. You can’t make this stuff up: Sending Muhammad Ali to the hospital then taking his wife out dancing. George was a remarkable man who overcame a lot of loss that would break most of us. And he wasn’t afraid to confront or share this publicly: ‘I am always in mourning. I am not made of stone.’”
In all, Felicity Hamer & Black Leather Rose is a compelling offering by some of Montreal’s finest – a collaboration that seems destined to make its mark. Although it’s convenient to classify their sound as country, that label is merely the foundation of what appears to be a musical vision with unlimited possibilities (with more already in the works).
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