Centretown now has its own anthem.
The Ethics, an Ottawa-based band, released its third album titled What I Did For Modern Love, which features a new track called “Centretown.”
The song was written by vocalist Kevin Hersak, who has lived in Centretown for the past six years.
“I’ve tended to reference neighbourhoods and particularly street names in songs before,” Hersak says. “But this time I wanted to just write about my hometown, and more than that my own neighbourhood.”
Bass player Matt Arnold says he loves how the song references two well known Ottawa streets. “Enough about New York and L.A. already, let’s give Ottawa its due.”
The Ethics got their start seven years ago when Hersak and Gleeson performed as a duo at venues such as Trio Bistro in Westboro. They were later joined by drummer Paul Ross and bassist Matt Arnold. About a year ago, the band was joined by key player Marcus Ward.
The band held an album release party on Oct. 14 at the Rainbow Bistro in Ottawa and held another release party in Montreal on Oct. 15.
“We’re hoping to branch out quite a bit now. It’s so early, the album literally just dropped, but there’s been some national play and we’re hoping to kind of go with that,” Hersak says.
Hersak says when the band was in the studio recording Centretown they drew out a map of the area.
“I guess the guys got into a discussion, wait a second you can’t be between Somerset and Colonel By, so they actually mapped it out,” Hersak says.
Even though you can’t be between the two streets, Hersak says, “there is a sort of creative license because first and foremost I want words that resonate with the music, and the way the melody is running I got lucky with Somerset and Colonel By Drive.”
Hersak describes Centretown as the most classic rock beat on the album.
He says what he loves most about Centretown as a community are the old houses.
“We live in a very new, young country … so its sometimes hard to get that sense of rootedness, but I find more than a lot of places in Canada, Centretown has that,” he says.
Hersak wouldn’t go into details, but he did admit that there are rumours The Ethics may be picked up by a major label soon.
Next up for The Ethics is a show on Nov. 12 downstairs at the Clocktower at 575 Bank St.