Little Games

The Secret Return

In Search Of The Fourth Chord

Tom Harrison

LUMPY

People assume that Lumpy got its name from a character in the old Leave It To Beaver TV series.

That would be convenient and amusing, but the truth is more of a side effect than a direct hit.

Tom is music reporter with The Province, a Vancouver daily newspaper. He was writing a memorial for Erik Nissen, the man who managed NAL where the as yet unnamed band regularly rehearsed. In his memorial to a supportive man who had died of a combined stroke and heart attack, Tom described the music coming out of each rehearsal studio  until he reached one where some lumpy 50 year old men were playing their favorite rock songs.

“That’s us, isn’t it,” various members exclaimed after reading this part of the memorial. Thus Lumpy.

The band formed so Bill could learn to play guitar. The strategy was simple. Rather than read from a book or take lessons, he would sink or swim with experienced musicians. He called on Vern Beamish , Bruce Faulkner, Ron Hyslop and Ron Moores, who used the time to drink beer. Tom came in to sing in order for Bill, who had sung in a previous band, to concentrate  on his playing. Late 70s punk rock was their entry to performing rock and roll but collectively the six players had a formidable knowledge of rock that stretched back to its beginning.

It started, as most bands do, by kicking around a few old favorites. Eventually, at Vern’s insistence, some originals by Tom were introduced to the repertoire. Nine of them formed the basis of the first Lumpy album.
Like the songs, the recording was simple. Lumpy set up and played in NAL’s recording studio. It performed the songs as if live at a club.  No fuss was made over arrangements nor sounds. There were few additional takes. Overdubbing was minimal, mostly to reinforce a few choruses. Mixing also was quick. Engineer Mark Henning recorded the whole thing.
Lumpy still rehearses at NAL, still plays its favorite rock songs. Tom still writes, Bill has become a fearless guitar player. Vern still adapts Tom’s songs for the band and Bruce and the two Rons use the time together to drink beer.

Lumpy is Vern Beamish, Bruce Faulkner, Bill Harrison, Tom Harrison, Ron Hyslop, Ron Moores.