Limblifter comes out of hibernation

by Matthew Wilson

Who: Limblifter

Where: Logan’s Pub, 1821 Cook St.

When: Saturday, Feb. 12

We are all guilty at one time or another of completely forgetting about certain bands. You know those bands. The ones that frequent TV and radio for months or even years, creating the illusion that they’re really popular, but then just drop off the face of the earth one day, as if they never existed. It’s always mysterious, what those bands are in fact doing in their years of hibernation. But sometimes they wake from their sleeps and re-emerge onto the scene. This is the path Limblifter has taken.

While glued to my computer screen a few weeks back, I noticed Limblifter was coming to town and thought, “Hey, Limblifter! Wait, who are those guys again?”

When Ryan and Kurt Dahle formed Limblifter in the late ’90s, they were technically still half of the band Age of Electric. You might remember AOE for their hit single “Remote Control,” which was a pop-alternative jewel by Canadian standards. The band became part of an elite group of up-and-comers in the early part of the ’90s, at a time when Matt Good was still unknown. They were even nominated for a Juno award. But after a few torpid years, the Dahle brothers split from other half of the AOE, John and Todd Kerns—oddly, another set of brothers. The Kerns brothers would move on to form the band Static in Stereo, which released a self-titled album in 2001. The Dahles formed Limblifter.

The band produced such pop-rock hits as “Tinfoil,” “Ariel vs. Lotus” and “Wake up to the Sun.” The original trio that was Limblifter has changed over the last few years. Ryan Dahle has been the only constant member. His brother Kurt took off in 2001 to join indie faves the New Pornographers, and Ryan has since hired a new staff of bandmates. Many critics wondered why it took so long for their new release I/O, and Dahle understands.

“Four years is a long time in between records,” Dahle says on the band’s website, “but good cookin’ is worth waiting for.”

So now the question looms: do they still have what it takes? The Limblifter website says they do. When describing the new album, the site exclaims, “Dahle’s gloriously refined songwriting encompasses concise forms and ideas, yet retains the interwoven guitar layers and complex melodies that have made Dahle a memorable, unique and critically acclaimed voice in the Canadian music industry.” Quite a wordy description, with nary a hint of bias (wink wink).

The Martlet really wanted to ask Limblifter some in-depth personal questions. We wanted to ask them about their time off, their new album and all the their emotions around the new Western Canadian tour. But they never replied to our request. So we didn’t.

Instead we must wait and see if Limblifter can survive in the new generation of modern rock. Ryan Dahle isn’t quite as young and hip as he was in the days of Age of Electric, but the band is still confident in their abilities. Now veterans of the Canadian scene, Limblifter must look to their faithful fans to re-emerge. There are new giants of the Canadian rock scene, groups that Limblifter will have to contend with. It is a test of ability for Limblifter to see if they can re-establish themselves in the rapidly changing landscape of Canadian music.