In 2003, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy played his first show ever in Ottawa. On this evening, there was another first. Ryan Hough, ex-axeman/vocalist from legendary Ottawa bands Kluane (featuring future member of Kepler and Weights and Measures), Angelheaded (featuring future member of Kepler, Arcade Fire, and Weights and Measures), and Prisons Come Home (featuring a future member of Weights and Measures), was to play violin in his first ever show opening with the country-tinged garage rock band, Golden Famile. Little did everone know, this was to be the beginning of a new chapter in rock history.
Ryan Neeb (Jabeenaroc, Scutterbotch) and Scott Adams were in the audience and found renewed hope in rock n' roll while listening to the full, rich sounds of Golden Famile. They were in a dissonant, sax infused rock band called The Wandering Lifesign. They were intent on rocking with the Golden Famile at a later date, which they did one fateful night at legendary Ottawa rock venue, Zaphod Beeblebrox. At that rock specatacle, Ryan and Ryan found they were kindered spirits when it came to musical tastes, so when Wandering Lifesign Broke up, Scott and Ryan had an obvious choice for a replacement. Along with Ryan, Mike Sheridan came along for the yet unnamed musical jouney.
But things were not working out for the young rock outfit. The drumming situation was not working out and they had lost their practice space. Morale was low. Where were they to turn?
Luckily, about the same time they found a practice space, a friend from local Ottawa band My Dad vs. Yours named Jose, suggested former Loopholes/Suburban Pop Project drummer Conrad Amenta to step up to the plate. Conrad brought a new dynamicism and dry sense of humour to the band and everything seemed to fall into place quickly after that moment in time.
Then the phoncall came from The Saint Bernard of Love, Mike Wieland. He needed an opener for quirky folk performer Collapsing Opposites, and was willing to give the fledgling band a shot at greatness. There was a problem. Their merry band was yet to be named. This called for drastic action. They decided to lock themselves in a sportsbar with beer and not allow themselves out until a unanimous decision was made. Ryan Hough had remembered strolling through an old book store and found the title of one section of the bookstore, books on books (meaning books about books), a tad humourous. The rest of the band agreed, the last beer was finished, and Books on Books was born.
They played their first show at Irene's Pub in front of a modest audience opening for locals Les Allumettes and Golden Famile, as well as Vancouver folkster Collapsing Opposites. Their set was almost unanimously praised and will go down in history as one of the greatest first shows in Ottawa.
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