Polaris!

Polaris! are the proud heirs to a long line of Canadian instrumental groups that includes Wes Dakus' Rebels, The Gemtones, Les Jaguars, The Rockatones, Les Versatiles, The Pharaohs (8), Les Megatones, The Esquires (11), The S'quires, and The Squires (2). Also, more recently Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, Sharkskin (2), The Surfdusters and Huevos Rancheros, for example. Paul Hogan (guitar) had wanted to put together an instrumental group for quite some time, to create the kind of music he had enjoyed as a kid, by the likes of The Ventures and The Shadows - moody, danceable, mysterious, fun! So, in the Spring of 1995, he called on his old pals Pat Lawlor (guitar) and Rob Porter (4) (drums) to start the perfect combo. Pat had helped Paul out when his previous group, Les Gluetones, were recording their E.P., and Rob had been with Paul in local Ottawa bands before that. They asked their guitarist friend Mark McGreevy (8) to step in on bass, which he gladly accepted. Another friend, Don Cummings (2), occasionally added a touch of organ, as on the CD. Later that year, Polaris! made their first public appearance in Wakefield, Quebec, with Furnaceface. Since then, they have shared stages with Dick Dale, Laika & The Cosmonauts, Friends Of Dean Martinez, Huevos Rancheros, The Royal Crowns, Resin Scraper, Phono-Comb and many others. Their sound has been described as young, fast and scientific. "Polaris are amazing... a completely gorgeous, gorgeous band" Brian Connelly (Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, Atomic 7, Heatseekers (2), Neko Case & Her Boyfriends, etc.), Toronto Star, February 1996.