BY MATTHEW GILLIES
For the members of May Contain Nuts, life appears to be going
well smoothly.
Their performance at the recent Tattoo Rock Album Contest
earned them a prize worth $15,000: a music video.
May Contain Nuts is a 1970s/80s cover band. Members Gerry
Houle, Greg Lavigueur, Chad Vinkle and Chris Tuttle work at
CVRD Inco.
All the members have been professional musicians and on the
road since they were teenagers. Along the way, they settled
down, started families and found "real" jobs. But they still
love performing.
Since coming together in July 2006, May Contain Nuts has played
at various locations throughout Sudbury such as The Crowbar,
where they performed their first show under the band's name.
The original members were Vinkle, vocals and rhythm guitar,
Houle, lead guitar, with Elvis Belm on bass and Chris Johns on
drums. Lavigueur replaced Belm and  Tuttle replaced Johns.
The band gathers at Houle's house, at least once a week to
practise their songs in the garage, which has been transformed
into a small jam space with a mixing board and amps arranged at
each corner of the garage.
The name of the band comes from a metamorphosis of  ideas
beginning with May Contain Beer to May Have Came In Contact
With Nuts before settling on May Contain Nuts.
"It came about through various brain storms," Houle said.
"Plus, the band is full of nuts."
The members of the band give the appearance they've been
playing together for years as they talk about their jobs at
CVRD Inco, their experience at Atomic Studios recording a song
for the Tattoo Rock Album, and reminiscing on previous bands
they've had throughout the years.
"It's a passion, something we've been doing for a long time,"
Houle said. "It's a high when you play to a crowd who's
enjoying the music and getting into it."
The band members have had their share of "Spinal Tap" road
horror stories.
Tuttle remembers when his tour bus broke down, and the band had
to hitchhike 400 kilometres home.
As for Houle, his worst experience came when he was playing in
a heavy metal band. It was booked to play in Cochrane. The band
got to the bar only to see the original band who had cancelled
setting up their equipment. Their manager quickly booked them
into a Espanola bar for the next night. Unfortunately, it was a
country bar.
"Monday and Tuesday were hell," Houle said. "We ended up
playing Twisted Sister's The Price so many times that week. It
was the only slow song we knew that the people could dance to."
In spite of the years on the road, the band members love what
they are doing.
"If it wasn't for the people, we wouldn't be doing this," Houle
said. "We'll keep playing as long as its fun."
"Once you get it in your blood, you're hooked on it," Vinkle
said.
Aside from the success they've had, the members agree that
Sudbury is full of musical talent that isn't given the
recognition it deserves.
"There's not enough venues for Sudbury bands," Vinkle said.
"There are bands in Sudbury who are better then bands coming
from out of town. Even some bars in Sudbury won't book local
bands because they don't realize how good they are."
