http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2258397
By BRANDI CRAMER
1/18/2010
The Prophets are back and on a mission.
After selling out two reunion shows in January 2008, the group of
retro-lovin' hippies return Saturday and Sunday.
Retro is still in with us baby boomers," Andy Parisien said in a
telephone interview from Toronto.
Parisien, who plays organ and sings lead vocals, will take the stage
at Cecil's Eatery and Beer Society for two nights with band members
Brian McDowell on guitar, Breen LeBoeuf on bass and lead vocals and
Steve Clarke on drums.
The bar's usual crowd will be bolstered by hundreds of like-minded
people experiencing flashbacks--and not necessarily induced by young
indulgences.
We turned into our parents," Parisien said. We think back to the '60s
and think those were the good ol' days."
Having rocked high school gymnasiums, church basements and locales
outside the Gateway City back in the day, the 2008 performance
attracted many members of the old crowd.
It was an opportunity for a lot of old classmates, neighbours and
friends to come together at the same time," Parisien said.
We get to reconnect with old cronies. And for those that weren't a
part of that, maybe it's just fun to come and people watch. The
younger crowd will probably wonder 'Who are these old hippies having
a good time and trying to dance?'"
Clarke can't wait to get on stage again. He has been a musician for
more than 40 years, but has never had as much fun performing as he
did the last reunion.
That was the highlight of my musical career," he said.
The band will take the stage for three sets, performing more than 30
songs each night.
We're old guys. Three sets . . . that is something else," LeBoeuf
said from his home in Trois-Rivieres, Que. And that's three sets of
stuff that we haven't played together. This is an entire repertoire
we are learning for one or two nights."
That repertoire will feature old favourites from the Beatles, Rolling
Stones, Bob Dylan, Cream, Otis Redding, Rascals, Offenbach, Ray
Charles, Three Dog Night and Dire Straits.
There are a few tunes that we haven't done as a group," said
McDowell. They are tunes we would have done had we been together when
they came out."
Saturday's show is sold out and tickets are moving quickly for
Sunday's performance, to McDowell's delight.
The band discussed getting back together in September 2008, shortly
after McDowell's daughter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
We wanted to do it again, we really enjoyed doing the first show," he
said. The only problem for me was that if it wasn't for something
special I felt it would be self-indulgent if there wasn't a greater
purpose other than getting together and having fun."
McDowell's daughter, Tina Lisa Marie Skerrett, a graduate of Ecole
Secondaire Catholique Algonquin, lived in Guelph and was head of the
languages department at Westside Secondary School in Orangeville. Her
nine-month battle with cancer ended May 19, 2009, at the age of 39.
She is survived by her husband Brian, and six-year-old son, Alexander
At the time we thought it would be nice to fundraise in view of her
struggle. Of course, when she passed away, it gave it a whole
different meaning for us," McDowell said.
Kids are supposed to survive you . . . (My wife and I) were visiting,
hoping-and so was she-that the whole process of dying would be
longer. But as the pain became more and more unmanageable, we
realized-as did she-that life like this was impossible."
Skerrett had an impact on her students. A Facebook page created in
her memory still hosts messages from many she taught.
One message reads: Thanks Mrs. Skerrett for being the one to start me
on my writing path. You never gave up on me, even when others did.
You will forever be in the hearts that you touched,"
Back Together Again
The Prophets will perform at Cecil's Eatery and Beer Society,
Saturday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 8 p.m.. Tickets, at $15 are
available at Cecil's, Music City, Brava Music Studios, or by calling
Brian McDowell at 472-8153 or Steve Clarke at 476-1678.
Carly Smith.
The Prophets will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Queen
Elizabeth II Foundation to fund pancreatic cancer research.
As well, Al Faucon, a teacher in the audio visual department at
Algonquin, will film Saturday night's performance which will be
available on DVD for $20 with all proceeds going to the foundation.
Knowing they can get up and perform for people and at the same time
contribute to something worthwhile is something LeBoeuf is familiar with.
He's the bass player with April Wine, which raises funds for the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation each time it plays.
It feels good," he said. The Prophets hold a special place in
LeBoeuf's heart. Quite often, bands that have been together for years
don't want to talk again. But the context here is different. We were
growing up at that time. It was cool to be in a band, not
professional. We were doing it as part of our apprenticeship. That
period, when you are taking shape, (developing) your personality and
preferences and the way you behave was all settling in. It makes us a
very special band."
On the web: www.theprophets.ca
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