The Definitive Are Heading East and Enjoying the Ride

The Definitive. Photo credit: Heather Adam.

Born from chance meetings at jam nights in local Calgary bars, self-described Northern Rock band The Definitive is heading out east for the first time this October. On this milestone tour band members Evan Burns, Duke Domino, Dylan Jones, and Vaughan Xavier will take with them their brand new EP, Horizon’s Edge.

Founded two years ago, drummer Xavier served as the primary link between the four members. Xavier and guitarist Jones met at Guitar Fight Club, an event hosted by Mikey’s Juke Joint for guitarists to battle each other via guitar solos. 

Duke Domino at Arts Commons' Amplify: Origins. Photo credit: Shannon Johnston.

At Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dance Hall, Xavier met vocalist Domino. Xavier was playing with a country artist and Domino was playing his original music. which Xavier felt drawn to.

“I remember this guy was giving out business cards to everyone, so how could I forget,” Xavier said.

After connecting with Domino at Ranchman’s, Xavier decided he wanted to form a band around Domino’s original music. He brought in Jones, and Jones brought in bassist Evan Burns, with whom he was working on another project.

“That was the last piece of the puzzle that we were after. We brought him on and many songs were written very quickly after that,” Jones said.

Originally, the direction for the band wasn’t entirely clear. Before Burns joined, Domino, Jones, and Xavier had a corporate gig for which they had to play covers. However, due to misunderstanding how many songs they had to learn they found themselves with too little to play come the end of the night. 

Faced with a crowd and time to fill, the group decided to play a song they had prepared — “Use Me” by Bill Withers — with their own twist. As Jones explained, they decided to turn the more relaxed, “laid back” song into a rock song suitable for the bar scene.

“After that show, that’s when we kind of decided ‘oh, we could actually try and take this in more of a rock direction.’ We took this classic blues tune and made it our own into this like rock and roll, funk type tune with extended guitar solos,” Jones said.

While that night set them in a new direction, Jones explained that the band is still finding their sound. Since the first album, he explained the group has tried to “put a lot more emphasis on just getting creative with each other” rather than draw from any particular influences.

Released on October 15, Horizon’s Edge is released just in time for the Ontario leg of the tour. However, Xavier explained that the four songs from the EP are already well road tested.

“We played them over and over again and really massaged the parts into what they are,” Xavier said. “I think they’re a great example of what our sound is as a band. [It’s] a more authentic example than the first eight songs we ever put out, and I’m personally really proud of them.”

Compared to their first album together, Jones explained that this EP tells a more lyrically cohesive story. 

“It just talks about not rushing to get to that next thing all the time, and actually taking some time to enjoy the ride a little bit.”

With their tour ongoing, Jones said the band is excited to play their new songs now with the studio versions out.

“I think as a listener, when you’re hearing songs that you’ve never heard before, unless you’re constantly seeing that band every month, it doesn’t really sit.”

With this tour taking The Definitive out east for the first time, Domino hopes to blow Ontario crowds away with the live versions of the new EP. It's a big milestone for the band, who have primarily toured western Canada for the past two years.

“Yeah we’re pretty stoked. Getting out east is not easy,” Jones said.

Duke Domino at Arts Commons' Amplify: Origins. Photo credit: Shannon Johnston.

These past two years have given The Definitive not only time to work on their sound, but develop a distinctive performance style. No matter the venue, The Definitive are intent to bring a presence in more ways than one. This entertainment factor is especially important for Domino, who said “it comes down to genuine and authentic care for the audience.” A fan of rock band Kiss, Domino noted seeing them live as a light bulb moment.

“I said ‘wow, oh my goodness this is so entertaining. I get it.’ The music was great. The interactions are great with fans,” Domino said. “Even the greats like Queen and Elvis, those artists, that’s what I want to bring to the table.”

Xavier noted that the band has “developed a bit of a reputation for being high energy.”

“People know [Domino] as the guy that’s gonna get up there and dance.”

The longer The Definitive has played together, the more they’ve been able to bounce off each other and coordinate, Jones said. He noted that The Definitive doesn’t have the resources for pyrotechnics or lights, so they have to rely on their own energy and presence to entertain.

“We say to each other all the time, the more you have fun the better it is. And that’s what we’re here for, is to have fun,” Jones said. “You go up with the intent of having fun with each other and the people that are there to engage with you.”

Following the tour, Jones said the band is focused on getting into a studio and hopefully putting out new music. Xavier noted it's been awhile since they’ve been able to have a dedicated writing session.

“There's been some pretty good ideas that we're all stoked about, that have, like, snuck into the set list, and they kind of have a permanent spot there now.”

As the band approaches their third anniversary, Jones said The Definitive hope to “just keep getting to that next level.”

The Definitive will be playing Guelph, Newmarket, and Toronto while in Ontario and then returning home to Alberta for a show in Lethbridge. Tour dates and available tickets can be found on The Definitive’s website.