The D'Urbervilles

The D'Urbervilles are a Canadian indie rock band from Guelph, Ontario, active from 2005 to 2011. The group is also known as matters. and is associated with Diamond Rings.

Formation and early years

The band begins in Oshawa, Ontario, where childhood friends Tim Bruton and John O'Regan form a group as underagers so they can attend local rock shows. Bruton plays guitar and synth, while O'Regan sings and also plays guitar and synth. Their early performances use borrowed equipment and include an Echo & The Bunnymen cover. The name comes from a 19th-century British novel. After a few months, they move to the University of Guelph to study arts and join a local independent music scene that includes Constantines, Gentleman Reg and Royal City.

In Guelph, they meet Kyle Donnelly, who plays bass. The core group rehearses in an attic practice space above a local thrift store, using vintage gear late into the night. Because they do not have a vehicle, they often reach shows just before they are due to play, carrying equipment in plastic red wagons. They also perform with different drummers on various tours during this period.

Recordings and releases

After about a year, the band records a five-song self-titled EP, which leads to showcases at Pop Montreal and Toronto's NXNE. Their full-length debut, We Are The Hunters, is recorded in a warehouse on Toronto's east end in 2007 and released on Toronto indie label Out Of This Spark in February 2008. The album receives critical acclaim in Canada and is described as a collection of sensitive, street-tough songs.

Touring and later lineup

The D'Urbervilles attract touring invitations from Canadian acts including You Say Party! We Say Die! and Malajube. After the album release, drummer Greg Santilly joins the band. With this line-up, the group continues to develop its carefully measured, exuberant sound, performs in places including northern British Columbia, opens for Montreal bands Handsome Furs and Land Of Talk, and plays sold-out shows in Toronto.