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Formed in 2003 as a simple high school hobby for vocalist Liam Trimble, Illfit Outfit had from the beginning taken on as its duty the spreading of pure pop bliss to its oft-punk bogged hometown of Edmonton, Alberta.
Never unconfident in marrying a fey hook to a bouncing rhythm, Trimble & cohorts took the outfit to the stage, preaching the word to teahouses and basements citywide, uncorking a steady stream of accolades and praise along the way, convincing Trimble to continue on past graduation.
In 2006 the departure of an original member and some role shifting within the group caused the creation of a vacuum to later be fulfilled by percussionist/multi-instrumentalist Jenni Roberts, whose flexibility and style leant an immediate buoyancy to the groups ebullient rhythms. Continuing in this steady vein, they began to draw strong attention from much larger venues and promoters about town. The group quickly became a fixture and a favourite among Edmonton music press and pop lovers well into 2007, which saw the release of the lauded Proudly Resenting… EP.
This release captured the group letting loose for the first time on disc. A listen through its six brief tracks witnesses them stride confidently through seaside shanties, retro-garage balladeering and contemporary pomp while delivering many listens worth of progressive riffs, dives and splashes. With support from multiple radio stations and a series of incendiary springtime release shows, the limited print was burnt through quicker than could be expected.
However, the same year brought another bout of change for the group with some final farewells to original members and the installation of ukulele auteur, Doug Hoyer, on bass guitar, whose strongly established writing chops leant another layer to the blend.
Now reinvigorated as a raw trio, Illfit Outfit tackled the remainder of 2007 with confidence. Travelling further a field and gathering constant attention with their enigmatic noise, they set their sights on 2008 as year of the Outfit.
- J. Giles
