by SCOTT C

You may recognize the crazy hair and the big moustache, but do you really know the man inside? The mysterious Tony Ezzy has been sowing his musical oats with various bands for years, not to mention recording several important albums in the meantime. Making sure that Montreal had a healthy dose of Prince’s Minneapolis sound has always listed high among the priorities of this keyboard Casanova, but Tony has stepped away from the funky stuff as of late, turning his eyes to the skies for some heavenly help.

He’s just finished recording The First Letter to the Ezzikians, his first foray into the world of gospel music. “I’ve been influenced by people like Brother Joe May, Rosetta Tharpe, Sister Wynona Carr—and of course Jesus Christ,” he explains while lounging on my couch. “I want to take the Ezzikians into fruition, spreading the gospel like Paul on the road from Damascus.”

If you’ve ever seen Tony Ezzy play with his band Masters of the Universe, then you know that gospel is a slight departure from the wonky keys and big drums, but Tony is serious about starting the new year on the right foot. “There’s talk of a Valentine’s Day show for Masters of the Universe, but I’m trying to stay away from secular music right now.”

When he’s not sitting behind a keyboard somewhere, you can find Tony working his day job, reading palms downtown at High Times smoke shop. He’s there from Thursday to Saturday, making the future look bright for anyone who’s looking for a little insight. “I think it was Saint Augustine, in about 350 A.D., who said it’s good to have a healthy balance of scripture and humour, as well as having a healthy conviction and not a zealous one. If I stick to that, I think I’ll be okay.”