All about Jay Case and his lop-lopped fingertips

A case of shortened fingers left Crankshaft members wondering if it wasn't time for a new direction last fall.

So they gave it the shaft and were born again as BigSuit.

Then they made a CD.

And now BigSuit is going have a release party for it at Galaxy Cinemas and Loplops on Sunday, May 15.

(Shown are BigSuit members Ed Young, Jay Case, George Ravlich and Brian Oja. Photo courtesy of Lynn Buller of Northern Lens Photography)

The party starts with an all-ages show at Cinema 1 about 7 p.m. on Sunday, then at about 9 or so, frontman Jay Case says they'll be moving things over to Loplops where they'll be joined by a variety of other local musicians.

Case was lead singer and guitarist of Crankshaft, a notorious cover band with a rabid fan base of AC/DC, Cult-loving hardcore rockers.

Stumped by workplace accident

He tells SooToday.com that loss of the tips off three of his fingers in a workplace accident left him and his bandmates dreaming of other things during his recovery.

They decided to depart from the cover scene and start to introduce some more original music in each set.

But sometimes their audiences were a little less than receptive.

"We had Brian Oja singing AC/DC songs and whenever people saw Crankshaft they think of AC/DC and the Cult, they think they're going to totally rock out with stuff they know," said Case.

"They don't think of artists with original music so I figured if we're going to start doing original music, let's change the name."

So they put a bunch of names in a hat and pulled out BigSuit, he said.

Short femurs

The Sault band's debut CD stands tall, despite Case's assertion that he has the shortest femurs in the world.

"Mark Gough recorded it at Southpine Studios, George [Ravlich] mixed it, most of the songs are mine," said Case. "I think these are the first 10 songs I've written."

Case's spirited and heartfelt songwriting gives this band a dimension and depth that really showcases its varied talents and personalities.

Brian Oja and Jay Case trade off playing lead or rhythm guitar throughout the CD and Oja kicks in some lead vocal performances in live shows, with Ed Young chiming in for added depth in backup vocals.

Oja, BigSuit's voice of reason, wraps his vocal range around Case's grit and glory lead in an almost incestuous embrace while managing to keep both hands on the guitar for solid rhythm or lead performances.

He also does the art design, layout on the CD cover, t-shirts, stickers and posters for the band.

Cheeky bass player

In 1993 Oja joined Chris Belsito, Paul Belair and Mike Collins for the first incarnation of Rainhorses.

But he learned to kick butt with a guitar long before that and served time wickedly in a slew of metal bands throughout the 80s.

"BigSuit is basically four guys who really get along well together," said Oja.

Then there is cheeky George Ravlich.

He plays bass – very well, thank you.

He also mixed the CD.

Much else that could be said about Ravlich would likely be censored.

Tight skins

BigSuit is capably anchored by the tight skins of Ed 'Everyband' Young whom regulars on the Sault music scene may recognize on the drums with Startlefish, the Chris Belsito Band, Gringo Star, Catherine Taddo and The Gas Company.

Young also penned a couple of songs picked up by Kelly Brock and used in Dawson's Creek and the Surreal Gourmet and teaches percussion and guitar at Thomas Walls School of Music.

Tickets for the CD release party are just $5 and can be purchased from band members, Loplops, the Thomas Walls School of Music and Cliffe Printing.

Anyone who buys a ticket for the party is eligible for $5 off BigSuit merchandise such as t-shirts and stickers, which will be available at the party.

The BigSuit CD is now on sale at CDPlus (Cambrian Mall) and the Rad Zone (Wellington Square Mall) and from band members.

SooToday.com coverage of the CD release with photos