Christopher Dignan
Many musicians flock to Toronto in hopes of being part of the vibrant music scene, but Christopher Dignan grew up there; he helped create that scene.
Christopher started singing, playing guitar and writing songs young, but didn’t exactly work his way up. He started at the top and worked his way out. Still in high-school in the late 80’s, Christopher formed his first band SUCKERPUNCH with older brother Sean on drums and friends Cindy Beattie (bass) and Dorian Wilde (guitar).
With Christopher as the gyrating guitar swinging front man, swamp-billy punks Suckerpunch quickly became the must see band in town. Dorian soon moved west, and Suckerpunch grew as a party punk three piece to be reckoned with, releasing Carols From The Canyon (vinyl) and hitting the road.
Hugely disappointing for their many Toronto fans, Suckerpunch disbanded in 96, but within a year, Christopher and his brother Sean joined forces with Mikey McCallum (guitar) and Derrick Brady (bass) and Toronto darlings DODGE FIASCO was formed.
Fronting Dodge Fiasco opened fresh avenues for Christopher, giving him the impetus and freedom to expand his song writing style, exploring heart felt influences like Charlie Feathers and John Lee Hooker, beyond the Suckerpunch Crampsy/Gun Club vibe.
Make no mistake – a maturing exploration in songwriting took nothing from Christopher’s front man stylings. Dodge Fiasco is a party band, still selling out shows today, and if you’ve ever been to a Dodge show you know they’re one of the only bands that can get classic “stand with their hands in their pockets” Toronto crowds dancing up a storm.
The idea that he wanted to record a solo record started to germinate in his brain. Christopher, the charismatic party front man, decided he’d like to go it alone. He wanted to do it all himself- write the songs; play all the instruments. He already had some songs, the guitar chops, the voice, so, the next logical step was to get learning to play the other instruments.
THE KENSINGTON HILLBILLIES afforded him his first opportunity. For once, Christopher wasn’t the center of attention. He relaxed, had fun, and enjoyed his stint with the popular Market country band, full of great musicians and friends. He concentrated on his new role as bass player in the band. He got good at it.
Having mastered the bass, Christopher still had one piece of the puzzle left- the corner piece. He found it with fuzz garage band THE MIDWAYS. When Johnny Martin casually mentioned to Christopher that his new band needed a drummer – Chris smiled his seductively charming grinchy grin. Johnny asked Christopher if he could play drums, to which Chris answered “no, but I will! And he did. Proficiently! The Midways released their first CD; Pay More And Get A Good Seat, in 2003 then a full length LP record titled Manners, Manners, released on CD on Screaming Apple Records in Germany.
Christopher was now ready to begin what turned out to be the long meticulous process of recording his debut album Let The Sparks Fly.
Chris used the very act of recording as his way to write songs, exploring his own ideas by getting them down on tape. He began recording demos in his own apartment on a simple four track cassette player as a way to not only create new and re-create older songs, but also as a way to learn al of the different parts.
Chris is a loveable luddite - his has no cell phone, no high speed internet at home – the definition of old-school- and these values come across loud and fuzzy in Let The Sparks Fly. Christopher’s methodology translates into a no bullshit approach to making a record, not relying on auto tuners and looping tricks, just honest hard work.
When the songs were ready and he had learned all the instrumental parts, Chris connected with engineer Glen Salley at his Parkdale studio, Sterling Sound Productions and there, Chris recreated the demos he had worked through at home into the full fledged album. Christopher played all the instruments on the recording with a few special guests; Derrick Brady from Dodge Fiasco (organ on a couple of songs) and Jim Bish (Baritone Sax) and Glen Salley (Tenor Sax). Did you really expect Chris to learn the saxophone too?
Let The Sparks Fly captures Christopher’s raw punk-abilly style that joyfully reminds us of his early Suckerpunch days with songs like “Gonna Move” and “Move Them Bones”, the country leanings of his bands Dodge Fiasco and The Kensington Hillbillies in songs like “Too Long Without You” and a sensual Sinatra-esque croon in “Tap on Your Window” that is both retro and fresh at the same time.
Christopher Dignan’s long awaited debut record offers 14 songs of diverse original material that has the party appeal of a well-constructed mixed tape – and the metaphor suits the man.
