Zeus Like Phil Collins

Bands that form by accident don't usually do this well, this quickly.

The founding members of Toronto's Zeus — Mike O'Brien and Carlin Nicholson — shared stages while in a number of groups over the last few years, but it was their roles in Jason Collett's backing band that gave birth to what Nicholson refers to as "a musical explosion."

The two found themselves drawn to the studio between tours with Collett, where they recorded material for what would eventually become Sounds Like Zeus, their debut EP as Zeus.

"A lot of the stuff that we did for this record came about in a spontaneous manner," says Nicholson. "We didn't really know we were recording it for this Zeus project yet."

Before long, friends Rob Drake and Neil Quin were added to the Zeus lineup, and the band were off and running as an easy-going pop foursome. All they needed was a name.

"Pete Elkas asked us to play a show," Nicholson recalls, "and asked, 'What are you guys called?' Mike said, 'We're called Zeus.' I guess it just comes from moments in the studio when things sounded like Zeus, you know? That's basically where it came from. A lot of things can sound like a lot of different things in our vernacular."

Since those early shows, Zeus have been snatched up by a burgeoning Arts & Crafts label, and they've been hard at work recording Collett's new album. In their spare time, they've also managed to put together a yet-to-be-released Zeus full-length, Something Awesome.

These are the sorts of credentials that allow a young band to cover a Genesis song — Sounds Like Zeus' fourth track is a version of "That's All" — without generating snickers of disapproval.

"We always thought it was a sick and badass tune that might not sound as tough as it could," Nicholson says. "We're not necessarily Genesis fans, but everyone likes a good Phil Collins number when they're doing their groceries."

Zeus are taking a break from their Collett work in July to headline a weekly residency at Toronto's Dakota Tavern. The four remaining nights promise some intriguing guest appearances.

"We've got some killer stuff happening," says Nicholson. "Pete Elkas is going to play one night... Gentleman Reg, Danielle Duval, The Golden Dogs, William Delray And The Sexy Moving Parts, The Silt, some other secret stuff... Amy Milan will probably come out and play a tune. We're just trying to keep it in the family. It's called Zeus' Family Tree."

Here's where you can catch Zeus and their relatives:

July 8 Toronto, ON @ Dakota Tavern w/William Delray And The Sexy Moving Parts and The Silt
July 11 Bala, ON @ Kee To Bala w/Sloan
July 15 Toronto, ON @ Dakota Tavern w/Gentleman Reg and Danielle Duval
July 22 Toronto, ON @ Dakota Tavern w/Peter Elkas
July 29 Toronto, ON @ Dakota Tavern w/The Golden Dogs