Back in Syndication

The Reverb Syndicate is back from hiatus. The Ottawa surf/spy-rock four-piece played their last show in September 2008 before heading in opposite directions. Lead guitarist Mike Bradford "needed a life adventure," so he took off for a year to Edinburgh. Guitar/keys man James Rossiter did a work exchange at a German company.

While their bandmates were away, the remaining members found other projects. Bassist Jeff Welch played with Big Jeezus Truck and drummer Mike Rifkin formed a jazz trio.

Now that everyone's back on home turf, the band is striking up again, starting with a reunion show this weekend featuring crowd-revving go-go gals Katie Bonnar and Lauren Hart.

"We've been rehearsing our old stuff and writing some new stuff," Welch says. "When you haven't had your friends in the room together for a long time, it's really something just to get back together and create."

Welch says the Reverb Syndicate went out at a bad time. The band had just released its second record, Sputnik A-Go-Go, and played some high-profile slots.

Still, the band didn't lose name recognition. TRS references would pop up in all sorts of places: obscure music blogs, say, and buried inside a Charles de Lint book.

The fantasy author released The Mystery of Grace last March. The novel's main character is immersed in hot-rod culture and surf music is that scene's soundtrack. In the credits, the Ottawa novelist thanks the Reverb Syndicate and suggests them as recommended listening for the uninitiated, along with old guardists Dick Dale and Link Wray.

Welch had never heard of de Lint. When a friend told him about the reference, he went out and bought the book. "For a guy who started the band for the fun of it, this is cool stuff for me!"