The Moustache Club may not be the Air Canada Centre or any other global arena. But for the HIGHS band, performing at small clubs in different cities means building an audience one show at a time.
The band performed to a welcoming crowd at the Oshawa club in early November.
“We are at a point right now where we will play and it will be our show, others are opening up for us,” says Doug Haynes, the lead singer of the band.
The band came together at Queen’s University in Kingston. They consider themselves a small family, much like another, more famous Kingston band, the Tragically Hip.
The band consists of five members who have been performing together for three years. Karrie Douglas, the only female member of the band, had the idea to get the band together. From an early age, she always wanted to be part of a band. Eventually, she was able to bring different musicians together and HIGHS was started.
“We didn’t start the band until we all graduated and left Kingston. We were all in different cities and had to travel to practice and travel back home. It was a big ordeal,” says Haynes.
Haynes, who grew up in Whitby, says he has played in Oshawa a few times and managed to create a fan base there.
“It’s nice that we are at that point in Oshawa,” he says.
Being in the music industry today always comes with a challenge, and HIGHS is no exception. Though they are performing and touring, band members also have regular jobs. Being away from family and friends can sometimes be a bit stressful, though they say they can always lean on each other for support.
Despite the difficulties, the band has overcome these challenges and is proud of where they are at right now.
HIGHS recently released its first full album, Dazzled Camouflage, and is doing a cross-Canadian tour to promote the album. A European tour is also in the works.
“We will never leave, we are here for good,” says Haynes.
Even though the band is having some success and intends to get bigger and better, members intend to remember their humble beginnings.
“We will never be too big for Oshawa,” says Haynes.
