GUH
is a musical ensemble which began in the fall of 1992. It is
a vehicle by which the members can regularly compose, perform and
record their
experiments. The membership has changed alot over the years, and minutes. It's always a suprise to
see who's going to show up to a gig, recording session, or video shoot. Performers you might
see, include, Henry Muth on bagpipe, Jason Clarke on guitar and bass fiddle, Brian Cram on
trumpet and euphonium, Jason Baird on saxophone, Blake Howard and Jesse Baird on drums, and
Julian Brown on bass.
In the summer of 1993, Guh released Fanky Baby Madstar, an independent cassette recorded by
Brenndan McGuire at Palid Bat Studio. Andrew Henry was drumming, and Ruben Hizinga was playing
guitar.
In the summer of 1994, Henry, Blake, Brian, and Jason went to Europe. They slept outdoors,
ate bread and cheese in the park, rested
in the Cathedrals, washed in Art Gallery washrooms, and drank beer. In Germany, people said
they would be big in Prague. In Prague, they also knew how to drink.
Four months
later, GUH returned to Canada, recordings what would be released
as a tipple CD package by Unmanageable, an independent record company run by
Craig Barnes. The CD's were self titled GUH.
GUH took their music to The Knitting Factory
in New York and The Empty Bottle, and Lounge Axe in Chicago. With the help of the
Ontario Arts Council, they released recordings of their new compositions and called
it FLOG. Brenndan McGuire recorded the album on two figure
8 microphones which supplied the stereo image. On the title track,
Flog, the group swelled to 21 performers, threatening to
burst the Gas Station at the seams.
In the summer of 1999, GUH toured the coast of British Columbia, Canada, promoting their
latest release We Are Sunburning. Salt Spring, Hornby, and
Gabriola are some of the Islands they visited. Two months later, GUH was back in Toronto,
quietly releasing LIVE GUH, a show that went down at Pender Island
Community Church. Two Island residents joined the band and the audience sang and played
percussion. It records GUH on a religious journy.
Gigging is a phenomenon that continues,
with the help and labour of manager Craig Barnes. He has also organized the release
of Guh's fifth CD entitled, "We Are Sunburning". With new compositions coming from
Dan Salvendy, Jason Baird, and Jesse Baird, it is very interesting.