that's the spirit. profile picture

that's the spirit.

that's the spirit

About Me


CBC radio3 and Last.fm . Scrobble me, or what have you.
If the hairy, hippy lovechild of Sam Beam and Andy Maize were the singer of Yo La Tengo, That's the Spirit would at least be listening in the front row, if not actually being the pleasing sound that results.
That's the Spirit is the latest incarnation of Ottawa's Ben Wilson, long a staple of the local scene and former frontman for beloved Kelp Records folk Paperjack.
The follow-up to That's the Spirit's debut E.P. I Like His Older Stuff (ex-fisheyelens) – which garnered top-10 charting on college radio in Canada – continues in the spirit of mid-90s lo-fi heroes like Lou Barlow, Guided by Voices, Elliot Smith and Bonnie Prince Billie. Older Stuff was recorded using three ghetto blasters, a broken Radio Shack microphone, a cracked classical guitar and a delay pedal from 1955 that caught fire during one of the recording sessions.
The upcoming CD is called Staying Places-- a schizophrenic collection of dream-folk, post-rock-y dissonance and 30-second perfect little pop tunes, with a Canadian release on September 23, 2008. It's a wee bit higher-fi and a whole lot more accessible, maintaining that distinctive voice and unique, etheral sound.
When not performing with Ottawa's premier pop band (and recent Toronto Indie Music Award-winners) the Polytones, or Department of Foreign Affairs, That's the Spirit has toured in Canada and internationally, appeared on CD compilations in Texas and Canada and shared the stage with some of his favourite artists including Eric's Trip and Alejandro Escovedo. Now it's time he had his own spotlight - which you can look forward to with Staying Places in 2008.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/11/2006
Band Website: antiqueroom.ca
Band Members: Wilson, Ben
Pilkington, Brennan
Thibedeau, Chris
Ottawa, Mr.
Murdered Head, The

Influences: Tom Verlaine, Mick Turner, My Bloody Valentine, FemBots, Jeremy Enigk, Sufjan Stevens, Yo La Tengo, Andrew Bird, Luna, Sonic Youth, Galaxie 500, Spoon, Versus, Yellow Jacket Avenger
Sounds Like: ..



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PAPERRJACK: the effort i'll never get back ($10, Kelp Records, 2001). Ottawa hippy commune poses as indie rock band and pens happy songs that sound more grateful to be alive than dead. You can own this now via paypal -- just click below.


fisheyelens: i like his older stuff ($10, independent). My first ultra-lo-fi solo record, recorded using two ghetto blasters, a broken guitar, a 1955 delay pedal and a tuning fork. i also hope to re-release some of these tunes in another form someday, but you can still buy the original CD or cassette for $10 by clicking the button below.


Record Label: antique room
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Rancho Relaxo - Friday April 11

it’s been a while! i’ve been super-busy, playing lots of shows around town and finishing up Staying Places. Release will be in September!!One thing you should know (if you haven’t ...
Posted by that's the spirit. on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:42:00 PST

new non-virus-y facebook page

dear youse, for a page free of spybots, ads from macys and girls in bikinis called 'tom', visit my new facebook page! : http://apps.facebook.com/ilike/artist/That%27s+the+spirityou 'll get concert li...
Posted by that's the spirit. on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:47:00 PST

some new rough mixes up.

recording a lot in my little studio these past few weeks. sometimes i go upstairs, at the request of my family. i've just posted a few of these rough new tracks i recorded in the dungeon. these may ...
Posted by that's the spirit. on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 09:52:00 PST

guelph and toronto this weekend!

hey! that's the spirit will be playing a couple shows this weekend:Sat. Sept. 29 - Jimmy Jazz, Guelph, ON (10pm, FREE SHOW!) w./ polytones www.vinyljimmyjazz.comSun. Sept. 30 - Smiling Buddha Bar, To...
Posted by that's the spirit. on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:49:00 PST

chartattack.com & Ottawa Citizen Aug 2007

good people,the lovely folks at Chart and the Ottawa Citizen had some words to say about me this week re: tonight's show at Irene's. hope to see you tonight!http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2007/08/031...
Posted by that's the spirit. on Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:15:00 PST

CD fundraiser!!

friends:  the new record is really coming together, since i threw a bunch of tunes i did over the past year in the recycle bin.  i'll be doing more bed tracks in toronto in aug./sept. and ho...
Posted by that's the spirit. on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:31:00 PST