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One-Eyed Uncle works on gigs and a new CD

Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 12, 2007

IQALUIT - In Iqaluit, where Todd Slaney said the music scene has died down, his band One-Eyed Uncle is still playing regularly.

When Slaney moved to Iqaluit 12 years ago, he was used to playing with a few bands in his home in Newfoundland.

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Jeff Maurice was one of the original members of One-Eyed Uncle in the '90s and still plays guitar for the group. - photo courtesy of Jeff Maurice

It wasn't long before he met Jeff Maurice and Luke Wilimam, two Iqaluit-born musicians who have been playing together since high school.

"We got together jammin' and took it from there," said Slaney.

Having gone through a series of drummers and bassists (including Jimmie Inch), the band began playing around town fairly regularly as a cover band at places like the Elks Lodge and the Legion.

In 2002, Slaney's brother Tim moved to town and joined in the jams with his guitar. The most recent addition to the group was the acquisition of Pierre Lecombe on drums five months ago.

Though the band has produced some original music, the group started out catering to its audience with cover songs ranging in styles from country to heavy metal.

"We're primarily a cover band and we don't actually play a whole lot of originals," said Maurice. "We got a really wide variety of music that we really like playing."

"We kind of feel out the crowd, and sometimes they look a CCR crowd and sometimes they like the heavier stuff," said Slaney.

But the band has done more than your average show or jam night. A couple of their biggest shows include their gigs opening for the Northern Pikes and for Matt Minglewood. More recently, they opened for Tanya Tagaq Gillis last month.

The five-man band is now working on its first CD, though the content of the recording - whether it will be originals or covers - has not yet been confirmed.

"We got the idea and we got what we need to do. We just need to get the time to do it," said Slaney.

The hope is that the CD will be finished by the summer, when Slaney said he'd like to have the band travel to Yellowknife to play at Folk on the Rocks.

In the meantime, the band has a few shows planned for the upcoming weeks in Iqaluit, including the city's staff Christmas party. But first up, the band is taking part in the Nov. 28 jam at the Legion. One-Eyed Uncle will set up their gear, play a few songs and then let musicians take the stage with their equipment.

"There's lots of good musicians here, but band wise it's pretty quiet," said Slaney. "It's a good night to come out and sing a couple of songs if you want, with a band backing you up."

The jam starts at about 8:30 p.m. The band will follow up with another show at the Legion Dec. 1.