A Collingwood area band celebrated the release of its second EP, Drive, on Oct. 12.
The local band, The High Road, consists of members Don Scott, Ron Fathers, Rick Fathers and Tommi Korhonen. The band’s first EP, Renaissance Man, debuted in 2018.
“Drive itself is about what it will be like to finally come out of this pandemic,” said Scott, who plays guitar and shares vocals with the three other members. “Basically it says, let’s get out of here and drive!”
The idea for the EP started with a short clip called 2020, which is a brief account of the crazy year it has been for all of the members. Scott said all of the songs on the EP can be equated to an aspect of this year in some way.
“Having this band really helped through all the COVID stuff. It was great to have an outlet,” said Scott. “Writing is incredibly therapeutic. Especially lyrics. Even if it is a fast rocking tune, there is no reason why the lyrics can’t have some good substance and have a message or paint a picture.”
Scott attended Collingwood Collegiate Institute (CCI) with Rick and Ron, where Scott and Ron, who plays bass, were in a band together called Anthem. Four years ago, after 40 odd years apart, Scott and Ron had a reunion for their old high school band and “hit it off.”
“We realized how well we still played together,” said Scott.
Korhonen, on drums, came aboard three years ago, and then Ron’s brother Rick joined last year, adding another guitar player to the mix, after the band had a personnel change.
Prior to COVID, The High Road was playing all over Barrie and Toronto, and five of their original songs from Renaissance Man still stream on Stingray Music. They were in the midst of writing and rehearsing new songs when COVID came, but after several months of lockdown, they shifted their focus to producing Drive.
“Music is a big part of our lives,” said Scott. “Luckily, with technology today, we could start recording our own parts and bit by bit everything started coming together.”
As restrictions eased, the band was able to get into a few studios (including Red Room in Thornbury) and pull the final pieces together. The whole process took about five months.
The genre of the music is best described as southern rock influenced — with a country twist on one of their new tracks, Sending a Letter. The band members are looking forward to performing again once restrictions ease.
“We are not the kind of band that can really play on a patio or in a pub, because we have a big sound,” said Scott.
So in the meantime, the members are focused on recording and rehearsing more original material, hoping to secure some opening acts for bigger bands in the future.
“Performing is an absolute buzz,” said Scott. “There is a lot of energy, especially as a unit, when you’re tight and your vocals are tight and you know you sound good and people are enjoying it… Especially when people start singing along to your original music. That’s really cool.”
You can find the EP on the band's website here.
