Eye on the Arts: The Tree Streets
By Matthew Terry
Lance Writer
February 6, 2008
 The Tree Streets, a trio of musicians hailing from the Windsor circuit, are beginning the climb to fame.
Brenden ‘Frase’ Fraser, Dave Russ, and Colin Jolly, originally from Sarnia, have put together an eclectic mix of jazz, rock, and blues that works well. With two higher profile shows in February, The Tree Streets are definitely looking to increase their fan base.
Long-time friends, Fraser, Russ, and Jolly started The Tree Streets a year ago when they were playing in the Battle of the Bands at The Basement, but they did not have a name to go by.
“A good friend of mine pitched the name at me. We were a band and we needed a name,” Russ explains. Apparently, it was as good of a name as any at the time.
“We’re all from Sarnia and there’s a little area in Sarnia where every street has trees,” Russ continued. “Everyone in Sarnia knows about the tree streets.”
Starting out was a little rough for the band, though. The band was searching for a bass player, until Russ eventually “bit the bullet” and picked up the bass.
“I’m a guitar player. I didn’t even own a bass. When I started playing bass I used someone else’s, I didn’t even own a bass amp. Originally I used my roommate’s bass. I even played a couple of shows with other people’s basses,” Russ remarks. “It’s harder to sing and play bass than to sing and play guitar, so at first it was a little weird.”
Despite the personal challenges they have had, they managed to find a place for their own eclectic music.
“We definitely are a mix of styles. A little rock, a little jazz, a little blues.” Fraser explains. The band agrees. “Our music is a little more Canadian than the rest of Windsor. Windsor is a border city and it’s very American. The music is very Americanized,” Russ says. Jolly continues: “Our music tends to have a lot of the qualities that you would find in late nineties Canadian rock.”
The Tree Streets love the Windsor music scene, despite its usual American sound. A vibrant, fast-paced scene, there is a lot of talent coming out of the woodworks in the city. With it’s melting pot sense of style and energy, they are happy to be here.
The Tree Streets especially like playing at Aardvarks. “It’s super tight,” Fraser describes. “We’ve had people on stage at Aardvarks. If not on stage, then in front of the stage, knocking over microphone stands and all that kind of hassle. It’s sweet.”
The Basement is also one of those places they, especially Russ, enjoy playing at and hope to be able to play a show at The Basement in the near future. The Chubby Pickle is also a favourite haunt of the band. “The first few times we played at the Pickle we were the opening band and played really early,” Russ explains.
“People weren’t really getting into it. But the last time we played at the Chubby Pickle, it was really good. It was rocking. There were a lot of people there. It sounded good. We met a great band,” says Russ.
The band that they met was Time, which The Tree Streets are playing with at their upcoming show on Feb. 22 at the Chubby Pickle.
“It was hard to find a band that we really gelled with,” Russ explains. “Time is about the closest we have ever found. We’re three guys and it’s hard to organize shows and make sure it’s a success but when we pair up with another band it’s just that much easier because it’s two forces coming at you.”
As far as the shows are concerned, the whole band is looking forward to them. “We’re amped. The Whiskey show is our cover show, the show where we can pay for the [Chubby Pickle] show,” Jolly says.
The Tree Streets have plans to record a full length album and tour Ontario.
Catch The Tree Streets at The Whiskey on Feb. 15 and with Time at the Chubby Pickle on Feb. 22. For more information about The Tree Streets, visit them online at http://www.myspace.com/thetreestreets.
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