The Molestics
Contact: molestics@ourrant.ca
What?
An odd band, The Molestics
are an eclectic mix of Dixieland jazz, 30's calypsos and Hawaiian
songs sung phonetically. Front man Mike Soret borrows as much
from Jello Biafra as he does from Louis Armstrong in his delivery,
using his theatrical background to break into spontaneous stories
and attempt to engage, even confront the audience. Briefly represented
and distributed, now mostly a strange legend except for the few
thousand who've seen them. This page is the only known way to
contact this sometime playing band.
Who?
From 1996-2000 line-up included
Sam Petite (guitar); Rolf Wilkinson (drums);
Gilles Roy (bass), and Mike Soret on brass and vocals.
From 2000 on Mike Soret, Sam Petite, and Waylen Miki (piano)
have been the core of the group with a floating rhythm section
which in the west consists of Clive Jackson on Bass and Ike Idesness
on drums. In the east the rhythm is taken care of by Graig Earle
on bass and Joe Poole on drums.
When?
After 2000 the band did not record
except for the rare sessions known as "The Shaunnessy session"
and "A Farewell to Hokum". In 2003 they went to Montreal
and recorded the music for two films: Paul Morstad's animated
short "Walking Catfish Blues" (NFB) and Carl
Lauden's apocalyptic piece "The End" (a working
title). As well, International Rocketship used their song
"Lucky" off Manufacturing Hokum for an animated short.
Why?
They are all in good spirits and
reunite whenever a guarantee covers a plane ticket. Musically
they have maintained their chops by playing with the Golden
Wedding Band (Soret) which is soon to release their
second CD; and The Backstabbers (Petite). Sam also leads
Sam Petite and His Musical Daredevils in Toronto and
plays upright bass in several bands. Waylen is very busy accompanying
several Toronto acts on his keyboard.
Where?
Next get together is unknown
at this time.
How many? (Discography)
How many of these you got?
Moe Bettah Hokum -- 1996 (tape)
The Bettah Demo -- 1997 (tape)
Tropic of Hokum -- 1996 (CD BLR 002)
Veni Vidi Hokum -- 1998 (tape)
Live at the Big Log Inn -- 1999 (tape)
Manufacturing Hokum -- 1999 (CD KHR 001)
The Shaunessy session -- 1999 (tape)
A Farewell to Hokum -- 2000 (tape)
Golden Wedding Band
(Soret with new Vancouver lineup of former Molestics
side-men)
Hokum in the Key of Life -- 2002 (CD KHR 002)
GWB -- 2004 (CD KHR 003)
Contact: molestics@ourrant.ca
Last updated June 1, 2004
