Some time in the late 80s Doug discovered a new land full of wonder, mystery, gas stations, and fast food restaurants. Some people call this land “Toccoa.” During his first years in Toccoa he discovered “rock and roll” by hanging out regularly at the legendary club known as “The Strand.” The house band at the Strand was a little act known as The Shroud and Doug instantly became obsessed. His obsession bordered on psychotic and he wrote letters to one member of the shroud nearly every day. The member who caught Doug’s undying affection was none other than Jamey Bozeman.

Around this time a young lad named Jordan was just being born.

Jamey’s band was doing well in the world until a wicked step mother turned all of the members except Jamey into fairies. All the fairies began playing wussy fairy rock and so Jamey left the band in order to establish himself as a non-wussy artist.

Jamey teamed up with drummer Aaron Baber. Aaron is a figure clouded in mystery. He is somewhere between 13-45 years old. The only thing known about his birth is that he was born in “Buzztown.”

In the beginning this new act that hit the Georgia scene was called “N.I.C.E.” (A literary reference) As the revolving door of members began turning the name changed to Oceanic then to Transatlantic. Transatlantic put out a home made e.p. and even made it onto a compilation put out by Velvet Blue Music. Jamey later changed the name again to Canary Islands. The story finally gets interesting when the band dropped the Islands from their name and just became “Canary.” Canary put out a full length called “A Sound of Summer Running” (another literary reference)

Doug found out about Jamey’s new musical projects and having just broke up with his answering machine decided that he needed something to take up his time. Doug thought he knew how to play the bass so he began calling Jamey regularly to try and get “in the band.” Jamey was at this time in the early stages of practicing the ancient eastern art of leavemealone and trying to cure himself of ever returning a call or email. (The last call he ever returned is actually recorded and on the Canary full length) Because he had not yet perfected the art he gave into temptation and returned one of Doug’s calls, the rest is as they say “history.”

Well the band needed a second guitarist; Jamey knew a guy from a former band (not even worth mentioning here) and despite his fairy nature let him join the band under the condition that he wouldn’t play any wuss-rock. This bassist turned guitarist was named Father Foley. Eventually the rock was just too much for him to take so he left the band.
Shortly before this time Jordan discovered Doug Andrews. Jordan became obsessed and began trying to mimic Doug’s every move in his own band, “The Locust Years.” Jordan even gave up the guitar in order to play bass just like Doug. When Father Foley left Canary Jordan jumped on the opportunity, broke up with his band and joined up with Doug. (For those keeping track at home that’s a bassist turned guitarist replaced by a guitarist turned bassist turned guitarist)

Finally free of all fairies Jamey really began to shine. He promised to “never stop the rock.” Canary put out a split ep with Under the Red and those who noticed knew that something big was on the horizon.

After an incredible performance at Cornerstone music festival Canary seemed to drop off the face of the earth. Apparently they locked themselves away in their recording studio and watched hours upon hours of the Lord of the Rings Director’s commentary because when they finally emerged they had a new name and a new album.

Biography by band historian Josh Alt