From The North Side Benches

Ottawa troubadour Jim Bryson delivers strong sophomore record

When we track down Ottawa singer/songwriter Jim Bryson for his Tandem interview, he's admiring the scenery from his hotel room in Victoria.
"It is gorgeous here," he says. The view matches his cheery demeanour, as his national tour has been proving a fun experience. "We've been opening for The Weakerthans, and virtually every venue has been full."
Bryson is no stranger to the cross-Canada trek. As a member of '90s punk-pop band Punchbuggy, he was often on the road, and he also did some touring in support of his 2000 solo debut, The Occasionals. "With the first album, I toured with Luther Wright and The Wrongs and Oh Susanna. I would use portions of their bands, so it was kind of makeshift. Now I've got my own band in the van, and it's great. They're all good friends and we're having a wonderful time."
Jim is out to promote his just-released sophomore disc, The North Side Benches. It is a superb work that deserves to bring the songsmith a much larger audience. He has long been a favourite of both critics and his musical peers, but occasionally seemed to lack the self-confidence and drive necessary to build a career.
He is typically candid about this observation. "My problem in the past was a general laziness in my life. Music has been a good life force for me, for it has made me face head to head organisational skills. Music has been the thing I haven't f**** d up! Now I feel real lucky to go play music instead of going to a day job. I appreciate the time I get to do this very much."
It is not easy to pigeonhole Bryson's style. He is often linked with the roots/alt-country scene, but there is a real melodic pop sensibility to his work. That element is nicely captured on The North Side Benches, thanks in part to the production (by Bryson and Starling's Ian LeFeuvre) and the extensive use of synths, organ, Mellotron samples and even glockenspiel (all played by the versatile Bryson).
Jim is pleased the record is finally out. "So much of music is waiting. When a record comes out, it is weird, because you're already further down the road. Your feelings have changed."
The gap between records came for a good reason. "The first record got a second life in the U.K. I visited there three times, spending over six months there. England really has a thing for people that write songs right now. You go over and they sit perfectly quiet and listen to every word you say. It makes you very aware of every lyric you write!"
Fortunately, his words can stand the scrutiny. Bryson's songs are often introspective and melancholy, and he views them as "a way to document feelings. It is interesting over a period of time to watch how you evolve and how you view things. It is like letters from ex-girlfriends. Writing songs mean you won't lose it in the move! Listening to the first record, there is that overall brooding, negative, complaining thing. That is something I'm trying to work at in my life. Some of these new songs seem more outward. I call them the bridge between my past, my present and my future."
As well as concentrating on his own music, Jim worked quite extensively as guitarist for Ottawa alt-country siren Kathleen Edwards. Her recent rise to major prominence delights him.
"There is something about her music that just strikes a chord. I couldn't be happier for her. We stay very much in touch and she has been a real big booster of my work. It is a mutual respect thing."
Does he covet that degree of success? "I would welcome and fear it, but I don't think it will ever happen. I'd always be more comfortable having a big following in a place like England, and be rather anonymous here, to almost live a double life."

The North Side Benches is out on The Orange Record Label/Universal. Jim Bryson plays The Horseshoe Tavern on September 20.

Publication Date: 2003-09-21
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3172