The dying leaves of you and me
It appears The Wheat Pool was not long for this world.
After seven years of cathartically-beautiful songwriting and numerous cross-country tours the group has decided to call it quits.
From the beginning The Wheat Pool was a relationship; it was the convergence of two brothers, and the uniting of four guys who cared as much about each other as they did the music. It was a really really good thing. So who can explain how a relationship changes? When it began it was compelling and sweet; it was four guys coming together to find something special. In seven years we have had the best times and the worst times of our lives, on and off the road. That particular “something special” which bound us together and moved us forward appears to be gone, and we aren’t the types to try and force it, manufacture it, or fake it. We would rather burn bright and burn out. We have admitted that we aren’t four guys in the same place anymore, and that makes it really hard to be a great band. So we are moving on.
Obviously I would disagree on that last statement. The Wheat Pool absolutely were a great band. From the moment I first heard the song “Right Arm” I was convinced. Their artwork is keenly appropriate, the images on every cover of their releases washed in a particular tone of colour while darkness creeps in at the edges. That darkness permeates their songs as well: lovers getting older, lovers separated by distance, lovers betraying one another, lovers leaving, lovers drunkenly staggering towards self-harm, lovers dying, passionate men on the brink of war, and a cover of perhaps the most desperate song Neil Young ever recorded. They did it with sometimes-lovely, albeit haunting, imagery and metaphor that grabs you by your ears and doesn’t let go. The Angus brothers found their muse in that darkness and they embraced it. We should thank them for that.
The group’s total recorded output numbers fewer than 30 songs but each moment of their discography is memorable. They’ll play their last show ever in Edmonton on the 23rd of this month and I hope the crowd doesn’t let them leave until they play every single one. They deserve at least that much.
I’m heartbroken that I won’t be able to make the long trek to see it. The only thing that gives me succor in this moment is the fact that I’m confident we haven’t heard the last of the band’s members.
The Wheat Pool - This Is It: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download The Wheat Pool - Right Arm: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download The Wheat Pool - Italy: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download The Wheat Pool - Helpless: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download The Wheat Pool - Evangeline: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download The Wheat Pool - Peniel, SK: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadCheck out the boys’ web site for music purchase links and go here to buy tickets if you’re able to make the trek to Edmonton to see the final show. Someone live tweet that shit for me!
