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By KRYS GRANDMOND
Staff Writer

When journalists learn of the circumstances behind their name, it seems that it shows up in every article printed. But where I'm going to take you isn't to that day in Niagara-on-the-Lake ...

Sitting in the living room of the Hartzel Road house while they take turns playing Madden (a favourite video game among the guys), I sit back and take some time to really get to know each member of Creek Road Crossing and how they interact with one another. It's a well-thought out group with Lee Campbell taking care of the vocals, Warren Jenkinson on drums, Marty Chorosinski playing bass, and Christian Duguay and Jeff Daskewich rockin' it out on guitars. And while there may literally be a bond of family (Jenkinson and Campbell are cousins), I feel as though I'm watching five brothers.

One of the guys looks up from the game and asks if we want to go outside for a smoke. I can feel that niccotine fit starting to come on, so I gladly accept the offer and we head out back. I recall an earlier article I read about the band and as we're sitting on the step overlooking the yard, I watch the lead singer playing around with the rubber ball described by the journalist. That's when I pull out the tape recorder and take the opportunity to discuss what I had come to talk about ... the music.

I'm going to take you back to 1994, to a high school in South St. Catharines where the band first met.

"We were all friends, except for Marty," says Daskewich.

"Lee and I are cousins," adds Jenkinson. "I didn't really hang out with Duguay for awhile. He was from Merritton and that was a part of town ... " he trails off laughing, obviously poking fun at the 'geekiest' member of the band.

"We were all geeks," says Daskewich, "but Duguay was a GEEK."

As everyone laughs, the guitarist takes the playful chiding in stride with a smooth, "Bust out the yearbook." While the guys all talk about high school pictures, I try to get things back on track.

"We were in a band in highschool called Beamer and we played for like, two years," remembers Jenkinson.

"We opened for Pure," adds Daskewich.

"That was at Front 54 though. That was a cool gig for high school," says Jenkinson. I have to agree. At 17 years old and playing a club like Front, it can be the kind of exposure a band needs to keep things going.

But it didn't all start as smooth as it seems. There have been a few member changes along the way, the most significant, when a friend left the group and Campbell took his place on vocals. Though talented, getting the singer to commit to the group was another story.

"We kicked Lee out about three times over the course of a couple years, until this last good, three years," says Jenkinson of his cousin.

"His fuckin work ethic was pathetic," adds Daskewich, "and yeah, it wasn't as serious, and he REALLY wasn't serious. We were getting serious into it, and he put school in front of it ..."

"We're at the point now where it's gotta be all or nothing because there is no in between," says Jenkinson.

"He's really turned over to someone who's quite dedicated," agrees Daskewich.

Add a long break, more member changes, fighting to get old members back, vocal lessons for the lead singer, a name change, and 10 years later, they've got the final lineup. But where does it go from here?

"There's a lot of bands down here. I don't know, there's not really a scene here, but there's a lot of people who are trying to be competitive," says Daskewich.

"That's because everybody's in a band," laughs Jenkinson.

"Toronto's kind of a waste of time," says Daskewich. "Just in that, if you're not opening for an act, putting on your own original show, I don't know if you could actually build a fan base in Toronto unless you live up there. You'd have to be doing what you're doing down here, up there. You wouldn't be able to live down here, I think, and make that jump. I think our hope is to get with The Agency Group."

So they keep plugging away, and gig after gig, as their fanbase grows stronger, CRC rocks harder than ever. But on stage, each member has their own idea when it comes to favourite songs.

"Get It On, is mine," says Jenkinson.
"On Your Own is mine," says Chorosinki, "and I like playing our newer stuff."
"I'm starting to like Remind Me Why again," adds Daskewich. "I don't know, they all change."
Personally, I don't care which is their favourite, as long as they play them all. Song after song, the CD kicks ass, and no matter what anyone says, CRC stole the title of Indie Band of the Year in my mind somewhere around the third time I saw them perform. It's a sound that just grows on you, and once you start, you just can't get enough.

Once packed up and back inside, CRC treats us to a live performance in their basement that's no bigger than a small stage. As I slide around to snap pictures, the guys move flawlessly from one song to another, camera flashes apparently having no effect on their ability to perform.

Yup. They're ready. Now it's just a matter of time before someone big picks up on their buzz.

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See Creek Road Crossing LIVE at The Moose & Goose in Thorold, Ontario on Saturday, December 11, 2004.
Brought to you by the one and only SOUNDLINE MAGAZINE.
Please see the flyer for details, or visit our message board. Music, photos and more info regarding Creek Road Crossing can be found at their website: www.creekroad.com