08-19-2004, 05:03 PM
Watchmen vocalist bounces back with new Doctor duo
Doctor is in.
Less than a year after the demise of local heroes The Watchmen, vocalist Danny Greaves has returned with a new band, a new outlook and a new collaborator in Rob Higgins, formerly of Change of Heart and The Royals.
"I find we can say stuff to each other that's harder to say to people we've been playing with for 15 years," Greaves says from his Toronto home. "We're not thinking about it; it's not four guys in a room over-thinking stuff -- it's two guys in a room not thinking too much."
The Winnipeg-based Watchmen released five albums in 15 years and were staples on the radio and touring circuit, with hits such as Run and Hide, Boneyard Tree, Stereo and Absolutely Anytime. All four of their major-label albums went gold or platinum.
But during their last few years as a band, all four members undertook solo projects that eventually eclipsed the group, sparking the decision to call it quits.
"We were concentrating more on things out of those boundaries, and it seemed that everyone was enjoying those things more, so for me it was liberating," says the 33-year-old Greaves, whose extracurricular activities included film scores.
Doctor's debut album, High is as High Gets, was recorded in February and will be released nationally Tuesday on Maple Music, distributed by Universal.
Stylistically, the album is similar to The Watchmen -- thanks in no small part to Greaves' front-and-centre vocals -- although first single, What Makes You Think He's Lucky?, is heavier than The Watchmen's later material.
"Watchmen fans that have followed from our message board seem to be taking to it, but it's hard to say if they'll like it or not," Greaves admits. "It depends on what part of the Watchmen they like.
"If they like the singing, they'll like the singing on this record. If all they liked was everything else, maybe they won't. There's lots of music on this record for lots of different people."
Doctor will hold some CD release parties in the Toronto area his month and work on setting up a cross-country tour for the fall.
Doctor is in.
Less than a year after the demise of local heroes The Watchmen, vocalist Danny Greaves has returned with a new band, a new outlook and a new collaborator in Rob Higgins, formerly of Change of Heart and The Royals.
"I find we can say stuff to each other that's harder to say to people we've been playing with for 15 years," Greaves says from his Toronto home. "We're not thinking about it; it's not four guys in a room over-thinking stuff -- it's two guys in a room not thinking too much."
The Winnipeg-based Watchmen released five albums in 15 years and were staples on the radio and touring circuit, with hits such as Run and Hide, Boneyard Tree, Stereo and Absolutely Anytime. All four of their major-label albums went gold or platinum.
But during their last few years as a band, all four members undertook solo projects that eventually eclipsed the group, sparking the decision to call it quits.
"We were concentrating more on things out of those boundaries, and it seemed that everyone was enjoying those things more, so for me it was liberating," says the 33-year-old Greaves, whose extracurricular activities included film scores.
Doctor's debut album, High is as High Gets, was recorded in February and will be released nationally Tuesday on Maple Music, distributed by Universal.
Stylistically, the album is similar to The Watchmen -- thanks in no small part to Greaves' front-and-centre vocals -- although first single, What Makes You Think He's Lucky?, is heavier than The Watchmen's later material.
"Watchmen fans that have followed from our message board seem to be taking to it, but it's hard to say if they'll like it or not," Greaves admits. "It depends on what part of the Watchmen they like.
"If they like the singing, they'll like the singing on this record. If all they liked was everything else, maybe they won't. There's lots of music on this record for lots of different people."
Doctor will hold some CD release parties in the Toronto area his month and work on setting up a cross-country tour for the fall.
