From over the ocean to the Water Tower Pub

Sault Ste. Marie’s Odd Man Out is set to celebrate the release of its long-awaited second album Friday evening at the Water Tower Pub.

The band didn’t pull the title this new endeavour, Over The Ocean, out of a hat. It’s a reflection the band’s unique relationship.

In 2007, singer and founding member Nick Roy took a job teaching English in Korea, thinking it would only be a year-long adventure. Shortly after arrival, he met a girl, got married, and started a family. So, in Korea he stayed.

But this never stopped Odd Man Out from doing what bands do. When Roy returns to Canadian soil, the band performs – usually as an acoustic outfit and at smaller venues. This changed recently.

“Last summer, I found a band in Korea that I’m jamming with and we’re a full band. (Odd Man Out) had never really done that… so we decided to do it and they went on the hunt for some new members,” Roy told SooToday.  

Along with original members Chris and Steve Myers, the current band consists of Cliff Alloy on drums, Craig West on bass and Josh Norling on saxophone. Despite the distance between them, this new full band experience lit a fire.

“We noticed a spark going on. This wasn’t just jamming. This was great music,” Roy said. “When we’d finish playing, we’d be on a live musician high. We had to do something with it, no matter that I was leaving again.”

That “something” was record Over The Ocean. Roy’s vocal tracks were laid down at Love X Studio in Seoul, South Korea. The rest of the band recorded in Sault Ste. Marie at Reveal Music Studios with engineer Warren Reville at the helm.

Modern technology made the process easier than one might imagine. But Roy admitted there were challenges.

“The toughest part was trying to be a part of every step,” he said. “I missed their input on vocals when I was recording.”

However, living and working apart has not stifled the band’s desire or creativity even if it does limit their output.

“It makes it easier in the sense that I don’t have to commit to three to five band practices a week,” Roy joked. “But at the same time, I liked band practice, and I miss having it with these guys. It’s my brotherhood time and where we’d get a spark for new stuff.”

Witness that spark live during Odd Man Out’s CD release performance at the Water Tower Pub Friday night at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free. Courtney McDonald and Steve Myers from The Wild Iris will start the night off with an opening set.

Copies of Over The Ocean will be available at the show for $10.