The Drake’s week-long What’s In The Box concert series has so far been going off without a hitch, but last night’s five-band showcase took a turn towards the solemn.
Already a stacked bill with local buzz-bands Rattail and Germans, a solo set from Holy Fuck’s Brian Borcherdt and CanRock veterans By Divine Right, the night was originally also slated to include Toronto’s gothic folk orchestra, Bruce Peninsula.
The band was forced to drop off the bill, however, when lead singer Neil Haverty was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a sudden but apparently beatable form of cancer. Haverty sent out a lengthy email on Boxing Day explaining the situation.
“Last week I started bruising very easily and bleeding from my mouth and noise. Apparently leukemia can happen that fast. Can you believe it?… There are lots of people here who have it a lot worse of than me. Anyways, it sucks for the moment, I’m not going to lie, but I am very sure I can muster the strength to get through it… I’ll fight this bitch with everything I’ve got.”
Bruce Peninsula’s sophomore record is already recorded and in the can, but the originally-planned March release date has been pushed back indefinitely. Drummer Leon Taheny tells us that since Haverty is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Princess Margaret Hospital, the other members of the band have not yet been allowed to visit him. Last night’s show, in addition to showcasing new material, was meant to be Haverty’s birthday concert.
As if to make up for Bruce Peninsula’s absence, Taheny was all over last night’s bill, not only drumming for Brian Borcherdt and psych-punk band Rituals (who filled the empty spot on the bill), but also singing and playing guitar for his own band, Germans. Taheny dedicated Germans’ abbreviated set to Haverty, but perhaps hoping to keep the mood from getting too somber, he referred to him obliquely as “a sick friend.”
Here’s wishing Haverty a swift recovery and Bruce Peninsula a solid 2011.
