The Utilities are:
-Joel Stretch (vocals, guitars, banjo, keys)
-Drake McCheyne (drums, percussion)
-Colby Stolson (bass)
-Blair Stretch (guitars)
Joel Stretch is working on recordings in his bedroom. Joel Stretch wonders why his recordings don’t rock. Joel Stretch makes the observation that most music that rocks includes drums and bass. This is a troubling observation for a small town teenager who does not know any bassists or drummers interested in being in a band. At this very moment there is a blast of light, and Colby Clair Stolson appears to Joel in a vision. With much reverb and echo on his voice, Colby says “Joel! Don’t you remember?! I play bass!! Mr. Personality is dead, Joel. Dead. But the drummer Drake McCheyne and I live on. We are pretty good…”
As suddenly as he had appeared, Colby Clair vanished. Joel was left alone in his room, his head reeling. He said to himself, “Well, maybe if I put more effects on my handclaps, it will sound more like drums. I guess I’ll try that.” But it was no use. Colby Clair had planted the Utilities seed in Joel’s heart; by that fall, it had grown into a beautiful flower.
Fast forward to 2012; The Utilities are in the process of relocating to Lethbridge, Alberta. They have already self-recorded and released an album titled “This is as Light as it Got”. It did not win awards, get any radio play, or impress very many people aside from their friends (it did, however, sound like the young band sounded in real life). They have gained a fourth member, Blair Stretch. Currently, The Utilities have finished their second full length, titled “Flint”, which is available NOW on the Lethbridge-based Esper Records. With lots of shows planned, new songs being written, and new fans being won, The Utilities are making a splash in the Western Canadian indie-rock scene.
Band Contact: joelstretchmusic@hotmail.com
