artist The Orange Alabaster Mushroom

For years, The Orange Alabaster Mushroom existed in band form (more or less) only on recordings; I'd only played live as The OAM by myself or with a couple of friends, usually with acoustic and/or electric guitar, some effects pedals and junk percussion. Then, in September of 2000, it finally happened -- I gathered together some musician friends (Gord Mylks, Ryan Bol, Mark "Fuzzy" Fraser and Shawn Savoie), some of the most creative and talented freaks that I know. I wouldn't have it any other way. After a number of well-received shows in Kingston and Ottawa, the band took a year-and-a-half hiatus, but we just couldn't stay away. Once again, in the fall of 2002, I regrouped with the other guys (with Andy Shurvell taking over bass guitar duties) and we've continued to blow minds in Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston and Port Burwell (!) since then. As well as sharing the stage with Detroit's The Sights and Victoria's Hot Hot Heat, we've also played gigs with a number of bands on the Rainbow Quartz label. In February of 2003, we did a mini-tour with RQ bands The Gripweeds, Outrageous Cherry and Asteroid 4; when it warmed up a bit in Ottawa, we also got the chance to play with Winnipeg's The Telepathic Butterflies, also on Rainbow Quartz. More recent highlights include performing alongside The Gruesomes, The Sights, Les Sequelles, The Chains, Duotang, The High Dials and others, at the Wilderbeat Festival in the summer of '03, and opening for The Sadies NYE '04.

Greg Watson Vocals/ Guitar/ Organ/ Guru
Gord Mylks Guitar/ Vocals
Ryan Bol Organ/ Guitar/ Vocals
Andy Shurvell Bass
Mark "Fuzzy" Fraser Drums