Two Hours Traffic Keep Their Plaskett Connection On Tour And CD

Much has transpired since Charlottetown quartet Two Hours Traffic released their self-titled, full-length debut a year ago.

The band earned a nomination for best rock recording at this year's East Coast Music Awards and have been finding eager audiences through a steady schedule of dates throughout Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario.

The group shot a video last fall for "Better Sorry Than Safe" that went into light rotation at MuchMusic, but it wasn't until last month that the group began to make major waves when "Heroes Of The Sidewalk" hit #1 on the New Music Canada website and "Limelight" found its way into an episode of the uber-popular Fox television program, The OC.

Eager to capitalize upon their newfound recognition, Two Hours Traffic are planning a busy summer of touring, beginning with a series of opening slots in Ontario and Quebec this week with the Joel Plaskett Emergency. Hitting the road with Plaskett is a natural fit for the band, since he produced the group's first album.

"Joel's the band's best friend," notes guitarist Alec O'Hanley. "He keeps an eyebrow up and is a trusted pal to consult on music matters, industry or artistic.

"Basically he's the father I never had. With the exception of Gerald, my biological father. Also a good father."

As O'Hanley explains, this week's shows in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal will feature a mixture of old and new material.

"About half our set consists of new tunes, which probably isn't the greatest move... but we can't hold them in any longer."

The crowd response to the new material will serve as somewhat of a litmus test for the band's next release, which is again being produced by Plaskett.

"We worked on the arrangements and recorded them with Joel at the Sonic Temple in Halifax in February," says O'Hanley. "We're just waiting until he's done touring at the end of July to finish them."

While fans of the band will have to wait until the fall for the release of the new record, the band have a teaser EP available for free for fans.

"We have a three-song tour EP that we'll basically be giving away to anyone who wants it," explains O'Hanley. "I hear that worked pretty well for the Arctic Monkeys."

Two Hours Traffic will also hit the Canadian festival circuit this summer.

"We're relative neophytes to the whole summer fest scene, but they're a welcome change from playing bars," says O'Hanley.

One festival that the group are familiar with, however, is the Shoreline Festival in Rollo Bay, P.E.I. The band will make their third straight appearance there on July 21.

"It's great that P.E.I. now has a summer festival that can compete with the better festivals across Canada, and we're happy to be a part of it," says O'Hanley.

"Charlottetown's music scene has come a long way in the past few years and I think festival-goers will see that. Surprisingly, Rollo Bay is probably one of the greatest locations in Canada for this sort of thing. It's right by some sublime beaches and the stage faces a nice natural amphitheatre."

Get caught in Two Hours Traffic at these shows:

May 25 Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix w/Joel Plaskett Emergency
May 26 Ottawa, ON @ Capital City Music Hall w/Joel Plaskett Emergency
May 27 Montreal, QC @ The Main Hall w/Joel Plaskett Emergency
June 24 Halifax, NS @ Stage 9 w/Mardeen and Museum Pieces
July 1 Charlottetown, PEI @ Festival Of The Lights
July 7 Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Folk Festival
July 9 Toronto, ON @ Toronto Street Festival (Eglinton Pop Stage)
July 21 Rollo Bay, PEI @ Shoreline Festival