Article by:
Frank McGwire
Catching Up with Brandon’s Liam Duncan aka Boy Golden
Riding high on the success of their single KD & Lunch Meat (YouTube video just passed 200k views) Boy Golden (aka Liam Duncan) and his band Church of Better Daze are at an auspiciously pivotal point in their music careers. While Spotify only lists their Church of Better Daze disc, this group mostly hailing from Canada’s prairie (Brandon, Manitoba) has collectively produced a considerably prolific arsenal of musical creations.
One of the more outstanding things about them is the fact that their sound isn’t easily categorized or identifiable for that matter. Someone on YouTube described their sound as what you might get if The Cure and Tom Petty had a kid. If you were to categorize them, they would fit in nicely with the Renegade Folk section. However, there is no such section in any music store which makes it even better. Who needs labels when your music is this easily enjoyable?! If you’re looking for something new to spin, do yourself a favour and check them out on YouTube. Here’s the link to KD and Lunch meat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-dB3V4yyJ8
Westman Zone's Frank McGwire caught up with Liam while he and his band of brothers and sistahs had just finished the first leg of a 50-date North American tour with the Saskatoon roots / southern rock band The Sheep Dogs (Warner Canada/Atlantic).
Q & A with Boy Golden:
Let’s give our readers some backstory. Folks in Westman may remember you from your days in Until Red which became Middle Coast. Until Red was known for their catchy melodic pop with a tinge of R & B, all soaked in rich harmonies. You carried over that sound to Middle Coast. A curiously catchy name for the band that was clearly ready for the next phase of its musical career but still trying to master its identity. It’s important to note that band comprised of Roman Clarke (Drums & Vocals), Dylan MacDonald (Lead Guitar & Vocals) and yourself, logged over 700 hours in a van by travelling over 70,000 km of mostly Canadian roads making your way to 150 gigs all in just one year. That’s a miraculous accomplishment! Who made all the phone calls to arrange that tour?
That was mostly Roman and Dylan making the booking calls! Near the end of our time together we had an agent as well. We had the work split up fairly well. I was never very good at talking money so I wrote grants and organized things. All of that experience has served me very well starting this new project and hitting the road with it!
One may consider that’s when you cut your teeth and paid your dues, it should also be noted that that period of relentless touring and writing also helped shape you into the prolific artist you’ve become. Through the past 10 years, you’ve metamorphosized into Boy Golden. Was this more of a natural progression or a conscious decision?
It’s both! I was making conscious decisions to prioritize writing and recording and creativity in my life. This led me to relax, and let go of my preconceived notions of what my music should sound like. Over time, this led me into the Boy Golden character and the world of the Church of Better Daze. I wanted to have a project that would let me make whatever I wanted and avoid stress – self-imposed or otherwise. The Boy Golden project feels really natural to me, so the decision to pursue it also felt natural.
Would you consider Boy Golden to be more of an alter ego akin to say Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust character? If so, how long do you think you’ll ride it out?
Yes, that was the initial idea! It’s fun to step on stage and leave my regular self behind. It makes me more confident. I’m going to keep the name, I like it. As for the character, I am going to let the music shape the character. Without giving too much away, there are two new records waiting to be released, and I think releasing them will help the character develop.
It’s been said that the best artists continue to develop and progress. This is very true about you. I remember booking the Elton John / Billy Joel tribute act you fronted at Sand Hills Casino about 7 years ago. Some may say you’ve come a long way from that point of your musical career but I’m sure there are elements from that period which lend themselves to what you’re doing now. For instance, your Boy Golden shades might be something Elton would wear. That period also showed you had a keen ability to not only reinvent yourself but your sound. Where does the inspiration come from for you to make certain changes to your overall sound?
Ha! Yes, that was a short-lived project… those are not easy artists to cover. I’ve always liked an element of theatre in music. I’ve always loved artists that strike that perfect balance between entertaining and making the music that is in their hearts. I’m influenced by everything around me. My extended musical community provides a lot of inspiration. Sometimes I get really into a record and go through a little phase of writing things that are inspired by my listening. In general, I try not to do anything ‘on purpose’. Write first, let the music dictate the sound and the look.
On your social platforms, you’ve confessed to stealing the lyric ‘learn and burn’ from the Sheepdogs first album. Then instead of serving you a cease and desist letter, they invited you and your band on the road for the Live & Outta Sight tour! What was your reaction to this? The word surreal comes to mind.
Well, they were never going to sue me, I was just kidding! But yes, I am very grateful they are taking us out for over 50 dates throughout Canada and the States. It’s exactly what the project needed to push it forward. My agent called and said it was between me and one other artist to get that call, and at the time, I was like “why would you tell me that??” A day later, we had the tour booked! Surreal, intimidating, exciting – all of that!
On your website, it states one of your mottos which is, “today is going to be a better day than the last one.” How will you top the day you were asked to go on tour with the Sheepdogs?
Any day I get to play a show is a better day than a day I don’t play a show!
L - R: Fontine Beavis, Roman Clarke, Liam Duncan (aka Boy Golden), and Kris Ulrich.
Let’s talk about what you’ve got going on now starting with the personnel in your band. Let us know who the players in your band are and what they do.
Alright! We’ve got Roman Clarke, we have been making music together since 14 years old. One of my best friends. He plays drums. Kris Ulrich, another one of my best friends. He plays guitar and we make records together. Fontine Beavis, or Mama Tizzy. We also grew up in Brandon together, and she is like my other half on stage, singing and playing tambourine. Austin Parachoniak, of Gillam, plays guitar and sings and makes me laugh. Corey Hykawy plays bass and has been playing bass with me since I started touring my own music. This is the core crew, but people switch in and out. Jen Doerksen helps me organize my life and make beautiful things.
People can find your music on Spotify, all they have to do is look up Church of Better Daze on google or on the tube. Your video for KD & Lunch Meat is well over 200,000 views as of this article. How are sales on Spotify?
They are fine! I don’t pay too close attention. It speaks more to me that for the first time in my life people are buying tickets to shows. In my hometown but also across the country, people are coming out, which is really exciting. Those Spotify numbers look good but can be meaningless if they don’t come with real fans.
Well put! The Sheepdogs tour began a few weeks back, you must have spent your summer in preparation for that coveted opening slot.
We had a super busy summer – played around 40 shows I believe. It was great. Winnipeg Folk Fest was a highlight, as was Hillside Festival in Guelph, and Osheaga in Montreal.
When you’re not gigging or trying to line up gigs how do you spend your time? I’d imagine there’s a lot of writing involved.
When I am home, I try to write and record one song a week. Sometimes more, but that’s my goal. It is a practice like anything else. I’ve written enough now that I don’t need to be feeling something particularly strong, I can access those feelings through the writing process. Very grateful for the peace and meaning that my writing practice has brought me.
eft to right: Liam Duncan (aka Boy Golden), Roman Clarke, and Fontine Beavis.
Source: KD & Lunch Meat video.
You managed to catch the attention of the Sheepdogs and their people, cheers to that! What other buzz is going on, are there others singing your praises?
Maybe!! Hopefully!!
You’re 7 shows into this tour with a bit of a break before resuming things in Toronto next week. How do you prepare for the monumental task of warming up the crowd for a nationally renowned band?
We do exactly what we do every night – just play our best. Everyone in the band is an artist and a skilled musician in their own right. I love them all and the shows flow easily. I am not worried about the music part, I am just worried I am going to forget something important somewhere…
Thanks again for doing this Liam, I wish you all the best this summer and beyond! Looking forward to seeing you on the road this fall. Hopefully, I can make it out to your show in Winnipeg at the Burton on Tuesday, November 22nd maybe you can give us an update on the tour then.
Thanks Frank! J Hope to see ya out there!!
The Live and Outta Sight Tour started September 15th in Sherbrooke and will wrap up January 28th in Ottawa. The Winnipeg stop on the tour is Tuesday, November 22nd. You can purchase tickets online here.
Boy Golden says that everyone who joins the congregation via the website www.churchofbetterdaze.com will be sent a special welcome package.
You can also text 450-800-2205 to join, though Duncan says he hasn't quite figured out how to do the welcome package via the texting option quite yet.
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