Written by Debra Lynn
Before Wil & Co arrived on the stage at the Gate House Theatre in Port McNeill on Saturday, Feb. 24, I was underwhelmed by their setup. It was just a couple of guitars on stands and a set of drums. I presumed it would be a low-key evening. I was already looking forward to going home afterwards to snuggle with my cats and chihuahua and watch another episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Then Wil Mimnaugh and Keith Gallant arrived on stage. This little two-piece band had the energy and impact of an orchestra.
Mimnaugh is the core of the band. Gallant has been playing drums for him for the last 10 years. Sometimes the group becomes a trio if the opportunity arises. Mimnaugh plays an electrified acoustic guitar with an amp meant for a true electric guitar—which is his stylistic trademark. This unconventional combination of the earthy acoustic guitar with electrification produces a very deep resonating sound. It doesn’t just please the ears, it gets into your bones.
Mimnaugh has a unique, raspy voice. Although he was likely born with it, it could suggest someone who chain-smokes his woes away, or someone who spends time nursing his heartbreak at a local watering hole, or someone who has spent too much time working outside in inclement weather. For expressing emotion, the suggestive “I’ve been through the school of hard knocks” raspy voice is an asset. It also comes across as genuine and authentic, conveying real emotion rather than just simply mastering the notes.
Mimnaugh mentioned that he has virtually lived across Canada. He was born and raised in Quebec, has lived in Ontario and Alberta, and is now living on the island. This appears to have been formative for his musical style that I consider to be very “Canadiana.” He strikes me as a “Gordon Lightfoot on steroids.” I get visions of him “yelling out his emotions” (to use his terminology) to a lonely Canadian panorama. This aspect was not lost on the people at Travel Alberta who picked up his song, Roam, to use in their promotional video.
Although Mimnaugh’s style has elements of country and western, hard rock, alternative rock and folk, it also contains multi-cultural elements. I heard guitar licks that were reminiscent of Inuit throat singing and chanting, enhancing the Canadiana feel at a profound level. His second to last piece contained a riff that reminded me of East Indian sitar music.
Even with that exotic element, the tune still maintained that uniquely Canadian feel.
He is a real creative, experimenting with very different ideas while still ending up truly and undeniably himself.
Mimnaugh’s personal energy is another critical element of his performance. In his bio on his website, ibreakstrings.com, he suggests that he might have A.D.D. His energy is not just in his performance, in his dancing, in the artistry of his guitar playing, but in the composition of the tunes themselves. His tunes don’t just go from point A to point B. They build in intensity as they proceed, much the way a train goes faster and faster as it gains momentum. They are more than just melodies; they get the heart pumping to a powerful finale.
The work of Wil & Co has an odd element of nostalgia even though it is so new to many of us at this point. This could give it a lot of traction in the long run. I think Mimnaugh’s very distinctive and relatable musical style has the potential to make him a Canadian icon.