My name is Caroline, and I'm a Dolly Parton addict. OK. But what does that have to do with emerging talent, you ask? My obsession with the busty one led to my discovery of the Constantines, a Toronto-based quintet who recently recorded an amazing cover of "Islands In The Stream" with Feist that's currently taking the music blogosphere by storm. So, you can only imagine my glee when I discovered that they were coming through New York to play in support of a new album, Kensington Heights (it drops tomorrow), and that I was going to get face time with their front man, Bry Webb. The icing on the cake: the interview would take place at 7B, one of my favorite dive bars in New York's East Village.

While I was originally surprised that I hadn't heard of the Constantines before, after doing some digging, I discovered that there's a reason. They've made a slow and steady ascent firmly rooted in delivering solid live performances and connecting with their audience—not relying on passing trends or marketing gimmicks. To say that their third album offers up more of the same isn't a dig; it's a tribute to a band that's the aural equivalent of your boyfriend's favorite beat up leather jacket. It's not "cool", but it's classic—and it makes you feel warm.

Which might explain why Webb felt like a familiar friend when he slid into my booth on that sunny afternoon last week. With tousled, shaggy hair and an old button down shirt, he looked like that record store guy you had a crush on back in high school. Not the asshole; the shy one who would recommend crazy underground bands you'd never heard of and drank too much black coffee. Before I could start doodling his name in my reporter's notebook, Webb introduced me to his lovely fiancee, who was not only cute as a button, but even offered me bar snacks. It figures.

Click here to watch my interview, and check their Web site to see when they'll be hitting your city this summer!

- Caroline Stanley

Similar Topics:Canada, music, rock

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