The Indefinable Duhks

Sept. 6, 2006

Legend has it that to survive the long Canadian winters a person must resort to beer drinking, taking up an instrument and playing hockey. But that is just a stereotype and we certainly don’t want to stereotype the good people of Canada.
“No that isn’t a stereotype it is the truth especially the beer drinking part,” laughs Jordan McConnell guitarist for The Duhks.
The Duhks (pronounced Ducks) are one of Canada’s hottest musical offerings. They will come to Northern Michigan with a “Let’s kick genre defining in the ass and just play some great frickin’ music” philosophy. Appearing four times, the first on Labor Day at Short’s Brewery in Bellaire then Thursday night September 7 in Traverse City at the Opera House and over the weekend they perform twice at the Wheatland Festival in Remus.
Defining The Duhks, who have musical roots in almost every genre, is impossible. Just when you think you have them cornered into the contemporary folk scene they come back with a song that has pop elements.
In reality The Duhks are modernistic-traditionalists. The traditional arts (oral storytelling/poetry, dancing, folk and Celtic music to name a few) are handed down from generation to generation. While The Duhks have embraced their traditional roots, they have taken what has been handed down and added modern elements.
 
TRY ANYTHING
“Our philosophy is nothing is eliminated, there isn’t a style or type of music that we won’t look at,” said McConnell. “We have experimented with all styles, including rap and hip hop. Now sometimes we bring things to the table that doesn’t work for us as a band. But as a band we are open to trying anything.”
That “exploratative” attitude has allowed The Duhks to develop a large following not only in their native Canada but internationally as well. In four short years they have found themselves as one of the most sought-after bands on the folk circuit.
A recent example of their music reaching outside of North America was during a trip to Australia. The band had no idea what to expect last December when they took the stage at Woodford (near Brisbane, Australia) the continent’s most famous folk festival. Before playing one note as they walked out on stage the 20,000-plus in attendance gave them a standing ovation. Their rise to international fame has members in a state of shock.
“I am surprised when we go to a town or festival where we have never played before and people know who we are and they know what we do,” said The Duhk’s founder, clawhammer banjoist and lead singer Leonard Podolak. “What excites us that even after they know what we do they are pumped about it.”
The band’s fan base is wide and diverse and includes several musicians ranging from David Crosby to Dolly Parton; even the iconic Bob Dylan calls himself an admirer of the group.
SPICED UP
The group’s music is magnetic, drawing from elements of soul, gospel, zydeco, North American folk, Irish dance, samba, old time fiddle and a host of other traditional styles, attracting fans who appreciate The Duhk’s ability to spice things up and still to pay homage to the traditions of each style.
 The Duhk’s got their start when Leonard Podolak’s band Scrüj MacDuhk broke up in 2001 after six years of success. Not wanting to lose the momentum he had established, Podlak began seeking out other musicians, creating The Duhks.
The current line-up in addition to Podolak and McConnell includes fiddler Tania Elizabeth, vocalist Jessee Havey and percussionist Scott “Senor” Senior.
So where did the name come from?
“It’s the Canadian spelling of ducks,” said Podolak.
Hmm, didn’t know that Canada had its own language.
“Okay that’s what we like to tell people and you would be surprised at the number of people who believe it,” said Podolak. “The name is actually inspired by a bluegrass guitarist Donald Duckworth.”
Still sounds a little ducky?
“It’s true that was the guy’s name,” said Podolak. Originally I wanted to call ourselves The Ducks, but apparently there is this little American company called Disney that owns the merchandising rights to that name ‘The Ducks’ and we felt in fairness to them we should change our name.”
 
FAMILY TIES
All kidding aside, Leonard Podolak grew up in a musical family. His father Mitch was a successful banjo player in the 1960s and 70s and is best known for starting two of Canada’s largest music festivals.
“I grew up with music all around me,” said Podolak. “There were always musicians in our kitchen. My dad wanted me to learn the clawhammer banjo, but I resisted until I saw Bela Fleck at one of the festivals. So at the age of 10, I took it up but I told my dad that I wanted to play it the ‘newgrass’ way like Bela. What I learned was to get to ‘newgrass’ you have to know ‘oldgrass.’ Understanding that gave me an appreciation for tradition and the roots of each style is where we start when we create our music.”
Hailing from Winnipeg, The Duhks are rooted in the region’s musical heritage, which includes Neil Young and The Guess Who. McConnell, who has supported himself as a successful guitar builder, says Winnepeg is loaded with talent.
“Winnipeg is very culturally oriented and there is a strong music scene that is supported by the community. It is very diverse and eclectic. Beside traditional music we have a strong punk and rock scene; the community is quite progressive. It is a very creative environment.”
The Duhks will come to Northern Michigan to kick off a new tour in support of their September 12 release of their third album, “Migrations,” on the Sugar Hill label. Their success has not only attracted a major label deal but international powerhouse agency CAA is booking the band and having no trouble keeping them on the road including 31 dates over the next six weeks.
 
For the Shorts Brewery performance Labor Day at 7 pm call 231-533-6622. Tickets for the Sept. 7 show at the TC Opera House may be purchased by calling the box office at 231-941-8082 or at the door for the 8 pm concert. For their performances at Wheatland visit www.wheatlandmusic.org