- Gentleman Reg
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Gentleman Reg Birth name Reg Vermue Origin Trenton, Ontario, Canada Genres Indie rock, folk rock, lo-fi Instruments Guitar
Vocals
PianoYears active 2000–present Labels Three Gut Records
Arts & CraftsAssociated acts The Hidden Cameras
Broken Social Scene
Owen Pallett
Royal City
ConstantinesWebsite Gentleman Reg Reg Vermue is a Canadian indie rock singer from Guelph, Ontario. Born in Trenton, Ontario, he records as Gentleman Reg. His musical style has been compared to Elliott Smith, Aimee Mann, The Smiths and Cat Power. He had a cameo role in the 2006 film Shortbus. Most recently he began performing with a new band called Light Fires with James Bunton from the band Ohbijou debuting songs in October 2010, at Pop Montreal.[1]
Contents
Career
His first album, The Theoretical Girl, was released in 2000 on Three Gut Records. He released two more albums, Make Me Pretty in 2002 and Darby & Joan in 2004, on Three Gut before the label folded in 2005.[2]
He subsequently signed to Arts & Crafts in 2008.[3] His first release for that label, Little Buildings in 2008, was a compilation of tracks from his Three Gut albums. The album was created for release in the United States, where his earlier albums had never secured wide distribution. At the same time, he also released "You Can't Get it Back", an advance single from his first album of new material for Arts & Crafts, Jet Black, which was released in full on February 24, 2009.[4] Jet Black marks the first proper studio album that he will be releasing in the United States.[5]
Members of Royal City and The Constantines have regularly appeared as Vermue's band, live and on recordings. As well as long time drummer Greg Millson, who now performs with Great Lake Swimmers. Vermue was also a member of The Hidden Cameras for several years and has performed with Broken Social Scene, sung backup for Sufjan Stevens, and often guests with Owen Pallett. He also appeared on a tribute CD for The Breeders, Hellbound, performing the song "Doe".
Songs by Gentleman Reg have appeared in such films as Shortbus, Wilby Wonderful, Twist, The End of Silence, Late Fragment, and on the television show Queer as Folk.
Vermue, who is openly gay,[6] appears in a cameo role in the 2006 John Cameron Mitchell film Shortbus. In it, his character claims to be an albino — although Vermue is fair-skinned and has very light blond hair, he is not in fact an albino,[7] although he was born without pigmentation.[8] Songs by Gentleman Reg are featured on the soundtrack of the film.
Discography
Albums
- The Theoretical Girl (2000)
- Make Me Pretty (2002)
- Darby & Joan (2004)
- Little Buildings (e.p.) (2008) (U.S. only release)
- Jet Black (2009)
- Heavy Head (e.p.) (2009) (Digital only release)
Compilations
- "Doe" on Hellbound: A Tribute to The Breeders (2001)
- "Over My Head (4 track)" on Friends in Bellwoods (2007)
- "For Trust" on Friends in Bellwoods II (2009)
Soundtracks
- Wilby Wonderful by Daniel MacIvor, 2004
- Shortbus by John Cameron Mitchell, 2006
Guest Vocal Appearances
- "In The Beginning w/Stars" from Unreleased by Isis Salem(ex-Thunderheist) (2010)[9]
- "Smalltown Boy" from Unreleased[10] by Buck65 (2010)[11]
- "Wait & See" from Special Affections by Diamond Rings (2010)
- "Flare Gun" from Heartland by Owen Pallett (2010)
- "Blizzards" from Swift Feet for Troubling Times (Re-issue) by Ohbijou (2007)
- "Hotline Operator" from Tournament of Hearts by Constantines (2005)
- "Library" from Has a Good Home by Final Fantasy (2004)
- "Bring My Father a Gift" and "Take Me Down to Yonder River" from Little Heart's Ease by Royal City (2004)
- "Reward and Respite" from Attic Salt by Kepler (2004)
- "Communication" from Morning Noon Night by Jim Guthrie (2002)
As a member of The Hidden Cameras
Reg appeared on several of their albums and singles in different capacities.
- The Smell of Our Own (2003)
- The Hidden Cameras Play the CBC Sessions (2003)
- Mississauga Goddam (2004)
- I Believe in the Good of Life CD single (2004)
- Awoo (2006)
References
- ^ http://www.spinner.ca/2010/10/03/gentleman-reg-ohbijou-light-fires-pop-montreal/
- ^ Khanna, Vish. "Ever the Gentleman Reg ", Exclaim!, March 2009.
- ^ "Gentleman Reg Inks Deal with Arts and Crafts". CBC Radio 3. 2008-07-15. http://radio3.cbc.ca/blogs/2008/7/Gentleman-Reg-Inks-Deal-with-Arts-and-Crafts. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ MacNeil, Jason (2007-05-04). "Gentleman Reg Wraps Record With Help From Friends". Chart Attack. http://www.chartattack.com/news/43534/gentleman-reg-wraps-record-with-help-from-friends. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- ^ http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/G/Gentleman_Reg/2009/02/25/8523766-sun.html
- ^ Michael Barclay (2006-02-27). "Gentleman Reg plays the confidence game". Eye Weekly. http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_06.27.02/music/reg.php. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
- ^ Shortbus DVD director and cast commentary
- ^ http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=1312305
- ^ http://www.aux.tv/newmusic/music-news/listen-to-a-new-song-from-thunderheists-isis-salam/
- ^ http://exclaim.ca/News/buck_65_celebrates_i20_odd_years_i_with_collaborations_with_gord_downie_nick_thorburn_hannah_georgas
- ^ http://exclaim.ca/News/buck_65_talks_i20_odd_years_i_ep_series_gets_gentleman_reg_to_help_cover_bronski_beat_on_next_instalment
External links
Categories:- Canadian folk singers
- Canadian male singers
- Canadian pop singers
- Canadian singer-songwriters
- LGBT musicians from Canada
- Living people
- Canadian indie rock musicians
- People from Hastings County, Ontario
- Canadian indie pop musicians
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