By Keith Parry
Special to the Record
One could make the argument that Toronto鈥檚 Constantines were the most important Canadian band of the 2000s.
Their four albums released on the likes of Sub Pop and Arts and Crafts were unanimously celebrated internationally by both critics and fans; topping the Canadian and U.S. indie and college charts along the way , and amassing a dedicated fan base enchanted by the band鈥檚 angular and passionate art-punk.
The Constantines have been on official hiatus since 2010, reuniting for brief tours and festival appearances while singer, guitarist, and leader Bry (Bryan) Webb has released three introspective solo albums on Toronto鈥檚 Id茅e Fix Records.
Local music and art collective CVGBs is thrilled to bring Bry Webb, with special guest from Montreal, Cots, to the Comox Valley Curling Centre Friday, May 24 for the penultimate stop on their BC tour of mostly smaller communities. The tour began May 10 with the first of two shows at Haida Gwaii.
鈥淪teph Yates (Cots) and I have been touring together as a duo for the last year, each playing a set of our songs with the other accompanying,鈥� said Webb. 鈥淚鈥檝e never enjoyed singing with another person as much as I love singing with her. We鈥檝e gotten into playing more remote or smaller towns across Ontario, playing backyards, community centres, cafes - any space that was willing to host- and it鈥檚 been some of the best touring I鈥檝e ever done. We posted about wanting to do something similar across B.C., and folks came through with wonderful offers. With music-making I figure it鈥檚 a healthier approach to look for interesting experiences and remote places to go, over making as much money as possible. It鈥檚 led to many of the most important experiences of my life. Most of the places on this two-week tour, I鈥檝e never been to before, including the Comox Valley. We鈥檙e grateful to everyone who has helped make it happen.鈥�
The tour will feature music from Webb鈥檚 recently released Run With Me album, his first new music after a long break. The album, and these performances, are all about death, transition, asking for help and looking for hope.
鈥淎bout six or seven years ago I stopped playing music because I just felt like with all of the other responsibilities in my life, it was the thing I could let go of without letting anybody down. For years I didn鈥檛 think I would sing again. But at the beginning of 2024, I dealt with some heavy personal stuff that turned my life upside down. I started singing alone again as a way to deal with what I was going through. With the encouragement of Steph, and the help of a few dozen musician friends who I hadn鈥檛 seen in years, it became a record of new songs. The record was a way of asking for help - which is something I鈥檓 not historically good at. Turns out there were many good people who wanted to help. And I鈥檝e remembered how good it feels to sing in different spaces for kind people. I鈥檓 grateful all around.鈥�
The concert will take place at the Comox Valley Curling Centre in the recently renovated upstairs Rotary Banquet Room and adjacent Extra End Lounge and will be the new venue鈥檚 first original music event.
In addition to Bry Webb and Cots, Cumberland鈥檚 Pink Plagues and Happy For You will open the show. The concert is licensed, but all ages are welcome, doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at
