Hey Rosetta! Singer Battles Bronchitis As Band Travel West

New333foundland's Hey Rosetta! have a thing for punctuation, but their issues these days aren't grammar-related. Sadly, sentence structure and synonyms can't cure lead singer/songwriter Tim Baker, who has been struck with an unforgiving bout of acute bronchitis.

This onslaught of illness has led the band to cancel a series of tour dates, including Halifax, Charlottetown and Saint John. Have no fear, though, they'll make it to Canadian Music Week in Toronto come hell or high water.

For most bands, making up a gig due to illness isn't a huge deal. But for a band from a province surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, it's best not to risk one's health (plus a 10-hour drive across the island and a six-hour ferry ride from Port Au Basques to Sydney, N.S.) to tour if you're not going to be able to play. Of course, hindsight is 20/20.

"The fact that Newfoundland is kind of isolated is not much of an issue," says bassist Josh Ward. "Your sound can travel without you.

"But we're kind of envious of the bands who live on the mainland. Like, if you live in Halifax, it's no big deal to play a show tomorrow night in Montreal. We can't really do that."

Baker, Ward, cellist Jessie Tessolin, violinist Kinley Dowling, guitarist Adam Hogan and drummer Phil Maloney spent the tail end of 2007 in the studio with Hawksley Workman.

"Hawksley came to St. John's for a weekend prior to recording," says Ward. "We hung out together.

"He came to our rehearsal and gave us some pointers. We recorded with him in Halifax at the Sonic Temple over the course of two weeks. We went absolutely flat-out from morning until night."

The album is being mixed in Montreal and plans are set for a late May release.

Like true blue Newfoundlanders, Hey Rosetta! plan to forge on despite their run of bad luck. Baker's spirits seem intact in his posts on the band's website.

"Well, my voice is returning slowly… Yeesh. It seems my throat infection has ushered in a new breed of microbes and dismay. Acute bronchitis. Hoo-ray. But this is still going to be the best tour ever. Soon as we get back playing again. Look out Quebec!"

You can hopefully check out Hey Rosetta! in these cities:

Feb. 29 Montreal, QC @ Quai Des Brumes w/Dog Day
March 1 Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks w/Dog Day
March 4 Barrie, ON @ Foundation w/Dog Day
March 5 London, ON @ The Salt Lounge w/Dog Day
March 7 Toronto, ON @ The Verge XM Live
March 7 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern (ChartAttack CMW showcase w/ Age Of Daze, Hail The Villain, Danko Jones, Inward Eye, The Arkells, Hollerado and Magneta Lane)