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The Duhks have a new lead singer

And I'm not surprised. Apparently, as of March 1, Jessee Havey quietly left the Duhks and was replaced by Sarah Dugas, who played some on the band's debut. It is, however, curious that Sugar Hill -- who gave us a year and a half warning that Nickel Creek were going on hiatus -- apparently didn't send a press release (at least not to me) to announce that the singer of the Duhks' Grammy-nominated song had left. Understandable, since the label is down to one publicist, but curious.

It is also curious that Jessee Havey's MySpace page www.myspace.com/jesseehavey lists no label affiliation. I used to hear about something called a "leaving member" clause in label contracts, and while I've never fully understood what that meant, I'd have thought Havey was bound to Sugar Hill, and that Sugar Hill would have wanted her. And maybe she is and they do. Meanwhile, the lone track on Havey's MySpace page is called "Can't Be Bothered" and it opens with "I can't be bothered by the things they might say anymore." It sounds terrific.

Doubtless there are stories. Bands are hard things to hold together. I don't care about the stories. I would note that the Duhks' site suggests she might be back, and her blog says she won't. I only saw them once, really (the AMA awards show two years back doesn't count), last year at the Cannery Ballroom during the AMA convention. The sound was wretched, and it seemed to me as if Havey was a star in a band that didn't want there to be a star, and didn't wish to make room to enable her to be a star.

That's an ego thing, sure, but I mean here to draw attention to the musical differences which are usually cited when somebody leaves a thriving band. In this case, I suspect, on the basis only of what my ears detect in their music (and the fact that the band toured with Railroad Earth most recently), that the Duhks wish to play a more ethnic, jam-based music than suits Havey. Havey has (at least in the studio) a big, rich voice, full of emotion and depth, and she needs to be in a more song-based, lyric-driven setting. Jazz maybe, and I keep thinking of Lizz Wright for some not very explicit reason.

Peter saw the Duhks at Merlefest, and said via e-mail that he thought Dugas may be a better singer than Havey. But, then, he isn't nearly as drawn to Havey's voice as I am. I'll suspend judgment until I hear Dugas sing songs I don't associate with her predecessor. In any event, you can hear her in a couple quick live tracks on the Duhks' MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/theduhks.

And I'll wait for Havey's next album, for hers is a big personality and a special talent.

Posted by grant on May 3, 2007 9:38 AM | Permalink