GREAT NEW BAND WITH CALGARY ROOTS
July 11, 2009 by Markham Hislop

Jody Peck, aka Miss Quincy, and bandmates at The District Thursday night
Miss Quincy and the Ramblers rolled into town last night for a gig at The District at 607-11 Avenue SW. What a pleasant surprise, indeed.

Jody, the Miss Quincy in question, describes the band’s music as “contemporary folk music meets appalachian, old-time country and bluegrass.” From that description I was expecting anything from the Carter family to Emmy Lou Harris. Instead, Miss Quincy turns out to be a Canadian original.

What impressed me most was the quality of the original tunes, which made made up almost all of the first set, the only one I could stay for. It’s not often one hears a young group with catchy, well-constructed melodies, interesting and relevant lyrics, and a real stage presence. That’s Miss Quincy and the Ramblers.

They hail from Nelson, B.C. Miss Quincy says she grew up much further north, near Fort Nelson, and lived her childhood in the outdoors, close to nature, experience which now suffuses her roots-oriented music.

The Ramblers are comprised of Ty Toews, Benjamin Porter and Aylissa, last name unknown.

Alyissa sings back up and also is the band percussionist. She tap dances. That’s right, she stands on a little plywood stage, a la Stompin’ Tom Conner, and knocks out the rhythm with her tap shoes. Even more odd is that Miss Quincy says she got the idea for a tap dancing percussionist in a dream.

Miss Quincy ain’t just another pretty face with a guitar. Did I mention she can sing? Her voice is a welcome change from the over-produced, synthesized female drones filling commercial airwaves these days. It has character and bite, like a good cigar.

The band knows how to party, too. They certainly had customers of The District tapping their toes and slapping their knees. Darren Gurr, owner of the recently re-launched gastro-pub (formerly Red Door Bistro), says Miss Quincy and her band are exactly what he was looking for during Stampede.

“The District is all about quirky up-scale food and drink, where you can kick back and have fun. Miss Quincy certainly had the joint hopping Thursday night,” he said. “My customers all loved the band.”

With any luck Miss Quincy and the Ramblers will be traipsing through Calgary again real soon and you can take in a show. I heartily recommend it.

07
Jul 09
MISS QUINCY KICKING UP HER HEELS AT THE DISTRICT JULY 9
Miss Quincy, her banjo and her jug appear at The District Thursday, July 9

Miss Quincy, her banjo and her jug appear at The District Thursday, July 9

If you’re looking for a little different vibe than the usual Stampede entertainment, c’mon down to The District Thursday for Miss Quincy and the Ramblers. The show starts at 7 p.m and your toes’ll be tapping long into the night.

Miss Quincy describes her music as contemporary folk music meets appalachian, then has a sordid, twisted affair with old-time country and western, followed by a wild fling with bluegrass on the side, before settling down to a happy life with roots music.

To get a taste of the unique sound that is Miss Quincy, visit her web site and listen to a couple of the streaming tunes from her new CD, Miss Quincy and the Ramblers. CDs will be available at the show.

Miss Quincy was raised in the deepest, darkest woods of northern B.C. She says her family were cowboys and she grew up close to the land. These themes infuse the songs she writes and the way she sings them.

“A lot of my influences are not musical so much as my surroundings. I grew up in the mountains. That really comes through in our music, it’s very rootsy,” she said in an exclusive interview for The District’s blog.

The interviewer suggests that in a way Miss Quincy is the musical embodiment of The District – organic, natural, lots of flavour, and a damn good party. She chuckles and agrees the two are a great fit.

Did we mention her percussionist is a tap dancer? It’s hard to imagine how that would even work. Does the tap dancer play other instruments while she’s dancing?

Folks, that alone is worth the price of admission…if there was an admission charge, which there isn’t.

After some classical music training and a jaunt or two around the world to broaden her mind, Miss Quincy now resides in the picturesque Nelson, B.C., Canada’s answer to Austin, TX.

“Nelson is a hotbed of musical talent. I just met some of the right people and we started playing together, and that’s how our band got started.”

But she points out that several of her band members are from Calgary, so Thursday’s gig is a bit of a home-coming.

And let’s not forget the lady is still a cowgirl. She’s at home on a horse and doesn’t mind getting a little poop on her boots.

Sounds like our kinda gal.

Grass roots gypsy folk act to play Gitter’s Pub
Kevin Rushworth Times Reporter


Miss Quincy & the Ramblers will be bringing their lively and infectious grass roots gypsy folk show to Gitter’s Pub for a free show on June 19.

Jody Peck, who plays harmonica, acoustic guitar and sings on stage as Miss Quincy, has been singing for her entire life and started the band after being inspired by country artists Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.

The High River Times contacted Miss Quincy when she was in Calgary and talked about her life, her music and how there is a tap dancer for percussion purposes in the group.

Miss Quincy explained that she grew up in the Peace River Valley around horses and cowboys and that her upbringing in the “bush” dramatically affected her traditional roots music.

She said, “My music is connected to the earth, my surroundings and the people I meet.”

The jazz that she loves comes across in her music and she labels it as “North America’s classical music” due to its rich vibrant history and the sheer soul of the music. She added, “I want to take and honour that tradition and make it relevant today.”

The band plays in many different venues including bars, small towns, restaurants, dances and even house parties. Miss Quincy calls house parties “the way of the future for acoustic music.”

To Miss Quincy, lyrics are very important to both her and the music that she plays. She explained that traditional music is often known as story music. “Music is definitely a way of connecting with people, with everybody.”

People who have enjoyed her group’s music appreciate the variety in the music, the special four part harmonies, vocal and instrumental improvisation, as well as the tap dancer for percussion. She said, “It is really interesting to watch any one of the four of us because we are so connected.”

The group is promoting their album self titled as Miss Quincy & the Ramblers. Miss Quincy and her band members hand sew each CD cover and silk screen each T-shirt for public sale. To her, grass roots music is a way of life. Other members of the group include Alyssa Jean Klazek on harmony vocals and tap dancing, Tyler Toews on the banjo and electric guitar and Brin Porter on stand up base.

The band has played at Gitter’s Pub before and they are very excited about returning for tonight’s show which starts at 8:30 p.m.

Rolla, BC is a tiny farming hamlet about 20km north of Dawson Creek. Within the community is one of the Peace Region's best kept secrets - the Rolla Pub.

The Rolla Pub is a magical place and is everything a pub should be - historic, cozy, and overflowing with friendly folks.

"It doesn't look like much when you drive up -- just a run-down square box of a building with a sign out front. But open the door and suddenly you know you are no longer in Kansas, Dorothy!

The walls of the Rolla Pub -- heck every available square inch -- is covered with photographs, plaques, pictures, pennants, antiques, knick knacks, and more. It's an explosion of kitsch.

Check out the photos on the wall. They're of local families, their kids, and friends. Trophies and plaques commemorate events and accomplishments that you would expect to see in someone's living room. In fact, the Rolla Pub feels like someone's living room -- a cosy, cluttered, well-loved living room." - www.hellobc.com

One of the most magical things about the pub is the impromtu shows and jam sessions that always end up occuring there. The Rolla Pub has become a hub for musical exchange and music lovin' folks come from all over the Peace to play and listen. This past weekend was no exception, and on Saturday I hitched a ride down there with a crew of foxy local ladies for a rollicking night of beer and music. One of the highlights of the evening was witnessing Jody Peck (of Miss Quincy and the Ramblers) belt out some brand new tunes with the help of the mad bearded masters, Josh Giesbrecht (violin) and Reno Fitch (mandolin).

In honour of this lovely pub and all the fantastic music it inspires I have created an album of photos featuring images taken at the pub this year (including this past weekend). Check out the photos by clicking on the link below and if you haven't ever been do yourself a favour one weekend and bring your instruments and ears down to the Rolla Pub.

-Jodie Ponto
Northern Groove