Highwind’s Return a Dance With Death
By Nick Murray
Do you remember Highwind?
I remember Highwind.
Highwind - photo credit Rob Hoskins Photography
Highwind comes from a better time.
They come from the Land of Plenty.
A time when this little city of Moose Jaw had a rather exceptional and plentiful cast of local bands, musicians and artists that called it home.
They come from a magnificent little blip in local history in which Moose Jaw had designs on being some sort of artistic hotspot.
They come from 2014.
Megan Nash’s post-Country era had just begun.
PandaCorn played shows here.
Ursa Maja and Jared Robinson had just featured Snak the Ripper and Moka Only.
Peak Lords Kitschner, Johnny 2 Fingers, Scott Benson Band, The Faps, Tangean Wall and many many more.
Like Cracktoilet?
And Perpetua.
Moose Jaw hosted events for the Junos and, during that time, had multiple really fun music festivals.
But Moose Jaw was the little “Prairie Art Mecca” that never could be.
Most of those artists are still grinding today, in some form or other.
But the scenario certainly isn’t the same.
More than enough of them left town and there isn’t some interconnected “scene” of like-minded artists here any more.
Those days are long gone.
One of the more popular of those “2014” Moose Jaw bands was Highwind.
Consisting of Chase Rysavy, Eric Taylor and Troy Waggoner, they formed a punchy, alternative rock trio that had a pop-punk panache, unafraid to dip their toes in the waters of Emo.
Highwind in 2014 - Bobby’s Place - pic via WEEKENDwarrior
But after their 2016 EP Cellar Door, Highwind disappeared. “They were working on school and other things” said bassist Eric Taylor.
The band members had been staples in said “scene” for years. Rysavy was Me & My Anatomy and Taylor was in A Perfect Punchline; along with Ehren Pfeifer, who recently joined Highwind.
After a four year hiatus the boys got back together and got to work on the recording of their 2023 release Final Words.
“We got back together during the Pandemic” Taylor said, adding “and then just felt like nothing had changed. It was cool.”
The guys in the band know what they like and they like what they do.
The result of that is a six track EP that is unapologetically nostalgic, yet shows the group, simultaneously, coming to terms with their age…and mortality.
If you couldn’t gather from the title, Final Words is an exercise in crisis. Existential crisis. It’s a deep, deep dive into loss and mortality.
Final Words starts off with “Weighing You Down”, which comes in like a Treble Charger song.
A little bit of pop, a little bit of punk and a little bit of rock, accentuated by a pulsing drum run that transitions the song from the intro to the meat.
The comforting, saccharine voice of Chase Rysavy slides over the music like syrup, only he is singing about uncomfortable things, like “ troubled heads” and “hospital beds”.
The song really is about what it says it’s about.
Rysavy, probably singing to a girl about how much of a burden he is. How much he is “weighing her down”.
In a clever turn Rysavy then asks “Could you just go home?… it’s hard to be down/ in this hospital gown/ when you’re around.”
Who’s the burden now?
Guy just wants to wallow in his filth and misery and all these nice people are here cheering him on. Where do they get off?
In truth, the song is actually about something quite different though. Something you may not catch unless you’re privy to the context. “Chase’s Grandma was in the hospital and the song is about her feeling like a burden on her loved ones” Taylor said.
The band released a video for this song on Valentine’s Day. I mean, what could be more romantic than a slow death?
The video was directed by another familiar face from 2014: Dustan Hlady (Friend Friend). Check it out for yourself.
The second song is called “At What Cost”.
It’s got more of a Brand New vibe to it, complete with slicing guitar parts and screaming vocals.
Lyrically, It’s more of Rysavy singing about the bad things in his life: crying, empty beds, hollow hearts, his meaningless existence “it’s draining/ I’m dragging my feet / at the thought of just waiting and waiting/ my body degrading/ to nothing…” he cries.
Normally I’d recommend somebody get this guy some Vitamin C or a Wellbutrin but the song is actually really really good (my personal favourite on the record) and any sort of joy in his life might have taken away from the artistic output.
That same tone carries over into “I’m Making Amends”.
Highwind - photo credit Rob Hoskins Photography
The fourth song comes in plucky and joyful and positive sounding with jangly guitars and a buoyant rhythm section.
But don’t kid yourself, it’s called “And Feeling Helpless”; and Rysavy’s voice returns to remind you that all is not well. “I dream you’re reaching for me/ but I’m sinking down and down” he chimes.
Final Words is “a concept album”, after all, Eric Taylor says; and it’s concept isn’t one that brings a lot of happiness to the table.
Unless you’re a psychopath.
It’s a look into losing a loved through multiple different perspectives.
The next two songs, “In Hospice” and “These Are My Final Words” exemplify this.
They blend into each other, as complimentary pieces are known to do; the former ending where the latter begins: on a soul-crushing note.
Rysavy’s voice hovering above the faint sliding of fingers on electric strings.
“…wither away… with all those words I meant to say” he opines into the darkening silence, as if entering into some black hole that’s pulling him towards the after life.
“These Are My Final Words” emerges as the spectral light at the end of a long tunnel. A dim light; but a light nonetheless.
It continues with the “withering away” refrain, only this time in the form of an early Bright Eyes track. It’s just Rysavy and a guitar. Minimalistic and slow. Rysavy’s voice often sounds like Conor Oberst’s but never more so than on this offering. Think “You Will. You? Will. You? Will.” From Lifted.
“You can definitely tell he grew up listening to Connor” Taylor confirmed.
Highwind - photo credit Rob Hoskins Photography
The only difference is that at the end of the Bright Eyes song you’re left with something uplifting. That’s where Highwind draws the line. There will be no joy, not on Highwind’s watch.
Instead you’re left with rotten dreams and swallowing blackness.
But, then again, this is an album about dying. So what can you really expect?
Who knew tragedy and bleakness could be so charming and fun to listen to?
The album might be shrouded in darkness but sunny days are ahead for the band.
The album is coming out shortly; they’re filming another music video and they’re booked to play the Mae Wilson with Leroy & Leroy and a pair of Comedians on March 24th.
