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Falls Apart came together in the fall of 2000. Starting when singer/guitarist Graeme Danko and singer Nathan Jackson began compiling songs in their Toronto basement apartment, continuing when guitarist Sandy Waugh fled the city of Guelph to contribute, and culminating when bassist Roger McDougall and drummer Darryl Stevenson were recruited to fully realize those songs, Falls Apart was slowly pieced together. The songs they formed were acoustically based, in the vein of Neil Young, Wilco and Palace, but the lo-fi rock n' roll backgrounds that each member brought to the group could not help but shine through, incorporating the influence of bands like Guided By Voices, Eric's Trip and Pavement into their sound. In these initial stages the group resembled more of a musical storage house than a band, providing an outlet for the varied songs created individually by each band member. From this melange, 10 songs emerged over the fall and winter of 2000 to form the first album, Sundays, completed in the spring of 2001. In addition to the raw mix between acoustic and electric guitars, the album's songs used vocal harmonies, accordion, piano, and violin in an attempt to direct the sound towards something more distinct. Upon completion of Sundays the band was ready to take it to the streets, as they say, and a cd release show was organized in Orillia, Ontario, the stomping ground for Graeme and several other members. The show was held at the Moose Lodge Hall with local acts and friends Nate Mills and The Golden Section opening up. Despite having played only one house party show previously, the band managed to hold it together, some more than others, and the show was relatively successful, if only for the reason that many friends and family were able to experience what the band had been secretly crafting over the previous year or so. But something in the air that evening suggested a friction within the band, that if not already there, was about to develop. It’s hard to tell when it appeared, or if it was always there just below the surface, but once the direction that recording Sundays provided had passed, the band seemed to slowly divide. Each member continued writing new songs, which had started before the completion of the first album, and semi-regular rehearsals were held, but before any more shows or recording could happen, Nathan and Sandy left the Falls Apart group, leaving a trio of Graeme, Roger and Darryl to continue on. The three did not allow the split to slow their pace. New songs continued to develop from both Graeme and Darryl, and live shows were finally booked in Toronto at Kensington Market’s quaint music establishment, Graffiti’s, as well as an interesting one-off show in Montreal where they performed in a bedroom at an apartment party. They continued as a three-piece throughout the summer and fall of 2001, rehearsing and fine-tuning the large collection of new songs that had developed and preparing to record a second album. Although the condensed version of Falls Apart seemed to fit well and share a direction for where they were headed, the group would lose a third member just after recording had begun when Roger parted ways, choosing to join friends and contemporaries in The Golden Section. Despite the minor setback, Darryl and Graeme viewed the change in a positive light. The loss of their bass player would temporarily impede live shows, but it allowed the two, who were the songwriters for the group, to record their songs in a way they knew they wanted them to sound. In addition, a digital 16-track recorder had been purchased so that the recording process was completely within their control. And so they continued, with a shared goal to create an album that was not simply a collection of their songs thrown together, but something of more substance, with a cohesive flow, recorded in a distinct style that truly represented the Falls Apart sound. During the late winter and spring months of 2002 the remaining duo did just that, creating their second album titled The Distance Between Us. Although the songs were not written altogether differently than those on the Sundays album, when they were finally recorded they truly represented the intelligent pop sensibilities that both members shared, combining alt-country, mellow pop and just enough rock in a lo-fi way that could only be Falls Apart. The two used the same combination of electric and acoustic guitars that had appeared on their first album, although with a cleaner sound, and further developed their use of Beach Boys-esque vocal harmonies to enhance the songs. Piano, both Rhodes and upright, was used liberally, as well as trumpet, handclaps and other varying percussion to fill out each song in just the right way. During the recording process, the group invited two former members of long-time Toronto band, Alvy, who also shared the same rehearsal space, to assist on two of the songs for the album. Bassist Steve Barber and lead guitarist Ruben Salazar quickly adapted to the Falls Apart sound and later agreed to perform with the group at their cd release, which had been scheduled for early August. The newly recruited help quickly learned the 15 new songs with a professionalism and respect for the music that both Graeme and Darryl appreciated, especially after their previous woes experienced working with former bandmates. The group chose Graffiti’s once again to hold the cd release show, and together with opening act Reid Jamieson they played a solid show that well represented the new album’s songs and were excitedly received by a full house audience. Throughout the rest of August 2002, the Falls Apart duo remained busy. They played several shows, including a fundraising benefit in Orillia, as well as a barn party just outside Guelph, accompanied by Steve on bass. Also, while in Orillia, friend and artist Travis Shilling shot a video for “Songs About You” from the newly released album. And to add to their productivity, the duo, along with both Ruben and Steve, began recording demos for new songs, not even a month after celebrating the release of their second album. But when the summer finally came to a close, Falls Apart would face change once again. The month of September found Graeme leaving Toronto for his new home in Montreal. Although it may temporarily slow down the band’s pace, this new change is not expected to really harm the band at all. Quite oppositely, the band, along with their newest live members, intend to use the opportunity to expand their audience, playing shows in Toronto, Montreal and everywhere in between and hopefully use their unique situation to create some intrigue in being a Toronto-via-Montreal group. For now, this is how the Falls Apart story will be left, but by no means is it an end.... |