MYSTERY TRAIN

by Sharon Dudka
Copyright 2001 - Cosmic Debris Musicians Magazine - Issue #73 - June, 2001

If you're a country music fan on Vancouver Island, you've probably taken a ride with Mystery Train on several occasions, at one of the many venues and music festivals our rock has offered in the past decade. If you're new to the area or passing through, it's a recommended run and you'll be glad you bought a ticket. Your best pair of dancing shoes is the suggested luggage. With over a 150 years experience between the five members, their professionalism, talent, skill and love of country music will impress musicians and fans alike.

The band kindly met with me at the home of Oscar Demers, the pedal steel player, and it was apparent why the two year longevity limit of most bands does not apply to Mystery Train. Despite the experience and skill of this grouping, there was no ego in the room to bump into. A sense of humour abounded. There was no whining about the current music scene, but discussions about what is needed to be more prominent in the industry today. Impressive, coming from musicians who have "worked 48 weeks a year" and "have turned down recording deals".

Larry Boudreau is the founder, lead guitar player and the 'engineer' of the Train. His Dad sang and played guitar at the all-night jams his family hosted and his mother swears Larry was tapping his feet before he was born. Forced to leave this musical environment in his hometown of Penny in order to attend highschool in Prince George, the 14 year old immediately put an ad up at the local music store, forming his first band The Country Cousins.

Always the leader, Larry played in several bands in the Prince George area, until he moved to Fort St. John in 1982 where he formed a band with Peter Priebe called Slim Pickens. Tom Cole joined the band, they became Tom Cole & Cole Country until 1989, when they disbanded due to Larry moving to the island. Tom moved to Calgary, where he won Alberta's Horizon Award and the Peavey Corporation Battle of the Bands. Larry, now in Parksville, knew he had to get another band together. He met Bill Dellert jamming and they teamed up with Daryl Terpacki, Brian Varty, and Derek Strong, to form Mystery Train.

Bill Dellert, on lead vocals, rhythm guitar & keyboards, the other original member of the band, was born in Whitehorse and raised in Vancouver, where he played in folk and rock bands.

Moving to the island in the mid-70's, Bill played with dance band Brass Penny, 'the house band' at Parksville's George Inn for several years.

Simultaneously, the Bum Steers evolved from a group of musicians who enjoyed jamming together out of the Errington area, with various players such as Gerry Barnum, Rick Coonce, and Len Hill. A spin-off band formed, called Second Avenue, which many islander's may remember. They were so popular they had "more bookings than they could handle", playing 48 weeks a year for two years straight. After that busy schedule, Bill took a few years off and then joined the trio Sound Investment. Bill's next project was to coax Larry Boudreau to "get his act in order and quit playing in the living room".

Jay Stevens, on bass and lead vocals, is the youngest and the most recent addition to the grouping. Born in Toronto, Jay's parents hailed from New Brunswick. He declares those kitchen jams that Easteners are well-known for and which his parents usually hosted, were a major inspiration for him. In his hometown, Jay played with a country rock band called Deception. They toured and hosted a weekly jam at a Toronto after-hours club, which allowed him to play with musicians such as Jeff Healey, Gordy Johnson, members of Blue Rodeo and Michelle Wright's band. Jay moved to Nanaimo in 1993 and he has played with several bands, most notably, The Wankin Family with Andrew Oye, and Darkhorse.

Members of Darkhorse wanted to take a break, something Jay wasn't ready for. He recalls one of the members of band saying, "Are you going to join up with a band like Mystery Train, or something?" The next day, Oscar Demers came into the Music Maxx, where Jay teaches guitar and bass, looking for a bass player who could sing.

Brad Kent, on harmony, drums and lead vocals, is the lone native islander in the band. He grew up in Victoria and was born into a musical household. Brad has a Degree in Music from UVIC and has played in various bands such as Richard & Peter Marks, Homebrew with Wayne Peters, Sweet Potato, Taxi, Haig Brothers Revue and Lonestar. Brad has done studio work in Vancouver for Waterstreet Sound and has shared the stage with artists such as Prairie Oyster, Valdy, Nester Pister, Paul Brandt and Jerry Reid.

Oscar Demers, on pedal steel, was born into a musical household in Chatham, Ontario, and that is how he joined his first band (his sister was the singer and they needed a guitar player). The band was called The Meyers Bros. and Oscar was 12 years old, remaining with the band for 18 years. They started touring when he was approximately sixteen, due to "a good promotion's manager", opening shows for Nashville acts and travelling up and down the "corridor" between Detroit and Toronto. They had three albums and six 45's and appeared on the prestigious Ernest Tubb Record Shop national radio show as well as an interview with Ralph Emery on WSM radio. Being a band and session player, Oscar has played with many great country artists such as Bill Anderson, Billy Walker, Donna Fargo, Ronnie Milsap, Hank Williams Jr., Hank Snow, Dolly Parton and more.

Oscar could probably write a book on his experiences...

Destiny was Oscar's next band, another opening act for many Nashville artists. But Oscar was headed out west and by the mid- 70's he was in Vancouver working with Ray McAuley & Wild Country and playing on the 1978 Album of the Year 'Sometimes Good'. He also played with the Midnight Rodeo Band until he moved to the Island and joined Nanaimo's Family Tradition.

Oscar wanted to retire after 45 years in the music industry when Larry Boudreau approached him about replacing a member of his band who was leaving. Oscar said he didn't want to join another band, but he'd help him out until he could find a permanent replacement. To quote Oscar, "That was three years ago and he's still looking. Or is he?"

They say a band is as good as it's weakest link and I'm still looking to find it with this grouping. This is a band of seasoned professionals that you can count for a quality performance, no matter what the venue. Each member brings a large amount of background, skill, style and personality to create the solid country dance band, Mystery Train. Whether you buy a ticket or hire this band, you will be a happy customer, even if you have sore feet.

Mystery Train: (250) 951-0056.

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