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  The Low Tones: (l-r) Paul, Carly and Tom.

THE LOW TONES ARE:
Tom Dufour - vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul Sylvestre - lead guitar, vocals
Carly Marcoux - drums, vocals

IF YOU LOVE THE LOW TONES, YOU'LL LIKE THESE BANDS:
The Byrds, The Beatles, Gram Parsons, Big Star, Teenage Fanclub, BMX Bandits

BIOGRAPHY:
Tom, who began playing guitar in early-University, would hang out at open mic nights at a local pub called 'The Coach and Horses' (or The Coach for short) with other hopefuls tagging along with guitar-mate and mutual friend of older brother Dan Dufour; Paul "Don't come back until you've learned some bar chords!" Sylvestre, playing numbers together on stage by The Tragically Hip, The Odds and The Beatles to name a few. In 1998, then promoter (and former drummer for early gal-punk-rockers Artemis) Carly Marcoux offers to sign Tom Dufour to her label (the fledgeling Modern Soul Records) after haughtily refusing to pay him for a gig that she had only promised him as a favour to a mutual friend... She gets his phone number.

The hookup between Tom and Carly occurs a few weeks down the road after a botched summer attempt between Carly and friend Sandra at signing on Detroit band The Same. Dates occur as well as many concerts and interviews with all three friends in tow. Tom and Carly decide that it's time they started their own band. The Low Tones become a duo for the second-time ever. 2 songs come out of their practices together: On the Outs and I Don't Know What You Did (To Lose Yourself in Me). Mutual friend, blues-riffist and all-around girl enthusiast Mike Lucas is then asked to join the band as bassist. Five more songs about breaking up and several covers come out of this union including a rousing version of The Byrds 'Eight Miles High'. Mike introduces Tom and Carly to the song "Garbage Truck" by Hardship Post. Many attempts are made in Carly's apartment at playing this song.

First show ever: May 1st, 1999 at The Spotted Dog below The 'old' Press Club:

'I remember thinking; there are so many people here, this place is packed and thank God the lights are shining in my eyes otherwise I'd really be scared.'
- Carly

'... Four bands played, I don't remember the order, but we didn't headline. All of our friends were there! After we played our first song, they cheered wildly! It was the best feeling ever, even though we were not very good.'
- Tom

Eventually the Low Tones get into a groove, and in late '99 after the friendly departure of Mike Lucas and his green skeleton ring, and many screaming girls; Paul Sylvestre is then asked to join the band as the second bassist. Paul brings the power-pop, classic rock knowledge and musicality that Tom and Carly had been seeking in a third member of the band. As well as having been a veteran in the local scene, (having played for indie-pop locals Vivian Blue and country frontiersmen The Lone Gunmen) Paul had been toying around for years on his instruments and frankly, he was damn good at it.

The Low Tones were now three, it was January of 2000 and they had played their first gig ever with Paul at The (new) Press Club of Windsor... more good feelings were had, more songs were practiced and sounds made --no shortage of fun, tears and laughs, two years and two mini-tours later (along with compatriates and great friends The Redstripes and an impromptu week fill-in of bass duties by trumpeter and man of the cloth John Atkinson to make it temporarily to a fourth)...

... and the rest, I'm afraid; is history, and history in the making...

DISCOGRAPHY:
high hopes and low tones e.p. (2000)
Clouds Overhead (live at the Press Club) (2000)
*we three e.p. (compilation) (2001)
Sessions 2002 (compilation - feat. "It's Easy") (2002)
Alright b/w Spin Till You Die (split 7") (2003)
Tiger Verses (forthcoming 2003)

CONTACT THE LOW TONES:
Email: msoulrecords@yahoo.ca
Web Site: http://tundra.love.tripod.com

Artemis/Speculum | Vivian Blue | The Lone Gunmen | The Redstripes
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There are MANY more talented bands here in Windsor than those listed above. If you're in one and don't see your link, e-mail me with your link!

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