In Remembrance-PQ-Jan.21.2010

CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE SONG It’s Not Dark Yet, sung by Porkbelly Futures featuring Paul Quarrington with Rebecca Campbell and Chas Elliott, Stuart Laughton, Martin Worthy.

In Sept. 2008 Chas Elliott and I wended our way up to his cottage in the Kawarthas. Chas is the resident “Bon Vivant” in our band Porkbelly Futures and apart from playing the bass, he advises on all the finer things in life. Specifically, food and drink. The menu had been planned, so the talk on the way up was about wine. We were the advance team for the rest of the Porkbellys who were due to arrive the next day.

Adjacent to his cottage is a storage shed. It may have once been a garage of some kind but now it’s where they store the sort of things one finds put aside at a lakeside cottage. Children’s size cross country ski’s, a weightlifting bench with various weights, a rug, two slabs of drywall, a slalom water ski, a chainsaw and couple of old tires, an odd number of snow shoes and a table saw. We emptied out the shed and put its contents outside under the trees and covered it all with tarps and plastic sheets. Inside the now empty shed, we rolled out the carpet and proceeded to set up my drums, his bass gear and our portable recording equipment. Mics, stands, computers and cables were all connected. We did some level checks and waited for everyone to arrive.

The next day Paul Quarrington, Rebecca Campbell and Stuart Laughton rolled in with instruments, groceries and just the right amount of wine. You know how much that is… For the next four days we would be playing, writing, recording and experimenting. These recordings were going to be for our ears only. No one but ourselves would hear them and with that in mind we could truly let our guard down and be as bad or as brilliant as providence would allow. Not much thought was given to what we’d actually play on each song, although often there was at least a short discussion about song structure. I guess you could say that these sessions could be called “pre-production” sessions that would eventually lead to a new record. But truthfully we were just hoping to have some fun, find out more about each other musically and perhaps take Porkbelly Futures to places we didn’t think was possible.

We had done this a few times before and each time we had discovered something remarkable. On this occasion we had an assemblage of new songs, half finished songs and a notion to try a couple of cover tunes. We had talked before about doing some covers and it seemed to make sense that we should do at least one Dylan tune. Paul had chosen “It’s Not Dark Yet.”

At the end of the recording, as the strains of the final chord faded, I remember looking up and into the eyes of my bandmates. It felt, as the spell melted away, like we were slowly surfacing from some deep immersion. I can clearly recall turning and looking out the window to my left, through the trees and out onto the lake. There was a sense of calm and gratitude for the privilege of sharing such a moment with these gifted musicians and friends.

Dylan’s lyric “It’s not dark yet…but it’s getting there” hung in the air. And as Paul had sung those words, no one in that shed was aware that he was already gravely ill. Eight months later our dear friend would be given a fatal cancer diagnosis. Inspired by his courage and lust for life, we would climb aboard his bandwagon and go careening through the next eight months, at an ever frenzied pace. Straight at the precipice that lay ahead, January 21,2010, without letting up.

I believe there was only one take of this song. There’s only one on the hard drive and I think that if we had done another, we would have at least fashioned a proper ending for it. Oh well…

When I listen to this, I am transported back to that precious moment and at the same time, I find myself looking ahead. Looking ahead wistfully to what might have been. But also looking forward, as Paul would’ve done, to what might be. Oh the possibilities! But most of all, I feel love and gratitude.

So as you listen to this, if you find yourself dwelling on the past, cherish it. And if your eye sets upon the future, run headlong into it. And if you’re near someone you care for, tell them you love them.

MW

It’s Not Dark Yet, a Paul Quarrington story from Martin Worthy – coming January 21, 2011

Maple Blues Lauds The Crooked Road

The December issue of Maple Blues Magazine had this to say about PBF’s latest recording…..
This quirkily named supergroup was formed by four close friends: Canadian Brass trumpeter Stuart Laughton, novelist Paul Quarrington, veteran drummer Martin Worthy & classically trained bassist Chas Elliott. Hanging out at the yet-to-be-renovated Gladstone Hotel, they performed songs that drew on their diverse backgrounds, calling themselves ‘a thinking person’s bar band’. Rebecca Campbell joined as a vocalist for the self-titled second CD. Meanwhile, Quarrington had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and, as was his fashion, went into overdrive mode, recording his solo CD among his diverse other projects. Many of his new songs were too personal for a Porkbellys album and most of them are outside the scope of this column as well, although you’ ll enjoy the fishing song, “Big Ol’ Bass”, with Colin Linden on dobro and “Hey Hollywood” will stay with you for days. Quarrington had been the lead vocalist for the band and wrote many of their songs. One gap has been filled by Worthy & Campbell, who now share vocal duties. As for the writing, Quarrington and his passing dominate the disc. Three songs were written by him, three were written with Worthy and another about him. The CD opens with Worthy’s rollicking tribute. He had been with Quarrington on the day the diagnosis was delivered. They were sitting in the back yard and Quarrington brought out a lot of wine. The song is “I Ain’t
10 MapleBlues December 2010
Leaving (‘Til The Wine Is Gone)”. Two of Quarrington’s are excellent rockers, “Nothing Costs A Nickel” had been on the set list for a long time but never recorded and “It Deals With You”, which came to him after watching a game show. Martin Worthy and longtime producer/ collaborator David Gray contributed “BooCatDo”, which all cat lovers will relate to. It and the opening song point to Worthy as the one picking up the torch. He has big shoes to fill. He does have help, though, and that includes the full band: Teddy Leonard continues on lead guitar and Chris Brown replaces the late Richard Bell on keyboards. The concluding song is by Quarrington & Worthy. “The Crooked Road” is the route to the journey’s end, gently & beautifully sung by Worthy & Campbell over a couple of acoustic guitars. No other song would have sufficed. There’s lots more at www. porkbellys.com.