| Michael Mabbott and Matt Murphy are sipping their first cup of morning coffee. Already, the wisecracks are flying about touring the music of fictitious ’70s country legend Guy Terrifico. The energetic duo has indubitable comedic chemistry that is toned down just a smidge when proud parents Les and Linda Mabbott pull up to our table.
Even though Mabbott and Murphy worked on different sides of the camera for the three-week shoot filming The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico, they had spent years together labouring over the music of the film. Uncannily, their songs succeed in sounding like country-rock hits that have been kicking around for years. Some tunes were written while Mabbott lived in the songwriting lair of Calgary’s Anderson building – a time when Terrifico was still an incomplete muse.
Like the lead character in Mabbott’s cinematic debut, he is an Alberta boy at heart. Born and raised in Edmonton, Mabbott was a Calgarian for one year, and is now Toronto’s latest full-time filmmaking citizen. Murphy, a Halifax sensation-turned-Torontonian, has been a national campus radio treasure for 10 years. He has served as lead singer-guitarist in the Flashing Lights, Little Orton Hoggett and The 10 Cent Wings, and currently in the Super Friendz and City Field.
Their best talents collided during the making of Terrifico. Between Mabbott’s witty script and Murphy’s guileless voice, it’s hard to resist the charm of Terrifico, whether he’s falling over or making out with drum kits. The music had to be consistent with the idea that the musical legends in the film kept company with Terrifico. Mabbott recruited Kris Kristofferson, Donnie Fritts, Merle Haggard, Ronnie Hawkins, Levon Helm, musicologist Rob Bowman and Phil "The Mangler" Kaufman (Gram Parsons’s infamous tour manager and last escort to the Joshua Tree) to all appear in the film.
Making insta-country-rock hits from 30 years ago was a tremendous challenge.
"Sometimes we had made great progress, but there was a lot of time we just stared at each other, rolled dice and talked about it," says Murphy. "We talked and talked and talked…."
"Oh God," sighs Mabbott with a smile on his face. "It was just the general activity of working together and then trying to figure out what this character is – he was a songwriter in the ’70s and these wicked songwriters all say he was an idiot human, but what a great songwriter. So it had to, hopefully, within reason, be viable for these guys to be into it."
The boys travelled to Austin, Texas as well as to Halifax and Toronto to record an era-and-style specific soundtrack. In Austin, they had to resist the modern country inclinations of enormously experienced and headstrong producers. They returned to Halifax and Toronto, assembled their own bands, and immediately connected with the loose esthetic they wanted to hear from Terrifico.
"I find it interesting that Austin musicians couldn’t get it," continues Mabbott. "(That’s) why I went to Matt in the first place, is from seeing Little Orton Hoggett. These guys are playing wicked country music that’s really good fun, but they were still flying off the drum kit and doing rock ’n’ roll kicks all over the place. It’s that same vibe. It can be a little sloppy and gets the point across."
It’s clear that working on this project was filled with many first experiences that neither Mabbott nor Murphy will ever forget. Mabbott became a songwriter, director and consummate storyteller. His imagination will undoubtedly continue unfolding on the big screen. Murphy transformed from a beloved musician – unable to fake any note in his music career – to seamlessly disappearing into a leading role as an actor. Mabbott’s mom notes how Murphy’s last appearance in the film has been drawing a solemn hush from audiences.
As for answering pressing questions about touring the soundtrack, Murphy pauses for a bit before finally relenting.
"I’m probably gonna do a corporate tour," he declares to our table. "The law firm that promoted our thing, if they want me to do their retreat, I’ll definitely fly out for $40,000 a week." |
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