Shotgun & Jaybird
| Company type | Indie rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 in Dawson City, Canada |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Sackville, New Brunswick , Canada |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
Shotgun & Jaybird was an indie rock group originating from Canada, established in 2003 in Dawson City and later based out of Sackville, New Brunswick.
History
The formation of Shotgun & Jaybird occurred in 2003 when Frederick Squire, previously a member of The Janitors, journeyed to the Yukon and teamed up with his longtime friend and former Janitor bandmate Jim Kilpatrick from Ajax, Ontario. On stage, Squire adopted the name "Dick Morello," while Kilpatrick performed as "Shotgun Jimmie." Alongside Dom Lloyd, they regularly performed at The Pit and produced Dawson Towne Recordings with the assistance of Sandy Silver.
Following their tour, the band returned to Sackville, New Brunswick, where they recorded Sackville Classics for the Simple Ukulele and took part in the first-ever Stereophonic Music Festival, which was organized to support the local radio station CHMA-FM.
In 2004, both Kilpatrick and Squire released individual solo projects. Later that year, Julie Doiron, recognized for her solo career as well as her work with Eric's Trip, moved to Sackville and joined them for the second edition of the Stereophonic festival. That same year, Shotgun & Jaybird issued a self-titled greatest hits collection featuring selections from Dawson Towne Recordings, Simple Songs, 6,000 True Stories, and Rubber Covered Painter.
The duo expanded into a trio with the addition of drummer Paul Henderson. Early performances frequently showcased Morello and Kilpatrick switching between guitar and drums, creating a unique setup with two drummers and one guitarist. By late 2005, this trio supported Julie Doiron during her solo endeavors, with Doiron joining as bassist.
With Doiron's integration into the group, Kilpatrick and Squire concentrated on guitar duties, enriching their musical texture. This development culminated in the 2006 release of the There Are Days and There Are Days EP under the relaunched Sappy Records label. The EP featured cover art by Erik Edson and Very Silly Monkey, included collaboration with local artist W. L. Altman, and was mastered by Toronto-based Noah Mintz.
This EP represented a significant milestone that propelled them into multiple tours across Canada and produced their most refined recording to date. During this period, Chad VanGaalen served as artist-in-residence and performed several shows alongside the band.
After touring in support of the EP, Henderson, Doiron, and Jon Claytor organized the inaugural Sappyfest in Sackville. They also recorded "Trying to Get Somewhere," which climbed to No. 2 on the Earshot! charts. Their following tour with Woolly Leaves and Julie Doiron became their most commercially successful.
Towards the end of 2006, Henderson departed on good terms and was succeeded by Jesse Baird, who had previously worked with Drummer, The Janitors, Leslie Feist, and Brother of Pidgeon.
In May 2007, Shotgun & Jaybird declared their disbandment and held their final concert in Moncton, New Brunswick.
After disbanding, Doiron and Squire opened for Eric's Trip during fall 2007 and toured Eastern Canada under the name Blue Heeler (later renamed Calm Down It's Monday). They released two tracks under this moniker but continued pursuing individual collaborations such as the 2008 album Lost Wisdom with Mount Eerie and 2009's Daniel, Fred & Julie alongside Daniel Romano. In 2010, Squire launched his first widely available solo album titled March 12.
Shotgun Jimmie unveiled another solo record called The Onlys in October 2007 and remains active as a solo artist.
Members
- Fred "Dick Morello" Squire – guitar, vocals, drums
- Jim "Shotgun Jimmie" Kilpatrick – guitar, vocals, drums
- Julie Doiron – bass guitar, vocals
- Paul Henderson – drums (2004 to 2006)
- Jesse Baird – drums (late 2006 through 2007)
Discography
- Dawson Towne Recordings – released in 2003
- Sackville Classics For Simple Ukulele – released in 2004
- Shotgun & Jaybird – released in 2005
- There Are Days and Then There Are Days – released in 2006
- "Two Minutes Faster" featured on the Volume II 7" compilation (Out of Touch Records) – 2006
- Trying to Get Somewhere – released in 2006