by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Music that falls under the side-project banner is, more often than not, rudderless in direction, derivative of the artist’s main project and served up half-baked and half-hearted. On the flipside, there are also those rare moments when side projects can illustrate the purity of simply making music, thanks to the dim spotlight.

The Unintended proudly call themselves a side project, and thankfully fall firmly into that second side-project category. The line-up includes the Sadies and Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor, with ex-Eric’s Trip and current Elevator leader Rick White taking the helm. Their psych-folk style steers clear of self-indulgence and avoids alienating the listener by keeping things short and concise, while letting White’s songs just sell themselves. Although forthcoming about being a side project, the Unintended are frequently labelled a supergroup.

“I think the only reason we get that supergroup tag is because we have Greg [Keelor] in it,” laughs White. “We decided to start a band because Dallas [Good, Sadies guitarist and ex-member of Elevator], Greg and I were all roommates and it just seemed like a good idea. It’s been really fun for all of us. The Sadies back up a lot of people [i.e. Neko Case and Jon Langford], and they said that the only time that they really feel like the Sadies, other than when they do their own shows, is in this band. Greg seems to really enjoy it too. On the first tour, he didn’t really know most of the songs on guitar, so he just brought his drum kit and played second drums. I would just look back at him while we were playing and he would just be beaming this smile. It just feels like friends playing music together.”

The laid-back style of the band translates perfectly to their eponymous debut album from 2004, and their current vinyl-only split release with the Constantines. Recorded mainly at Keelor’s country house, their recordings possess the homespun appeal of Springsteen’s Nebraska or the Dylan tapes, probably because tracks were actually recorded in Keelor’s parlour and kitchen. “We did the first record in six days total,” recalls White, “and he lives out in the country, so we would take time out to start a fire in the fireplace and just really relax. I think it really had a wintry, home-like kind of charm to it.”

With the Sadies constantly on tour, Keelor obviously busy with his main gig and White continuing with the psychedelia of Elevator as well as putting out solo records, an Unintended show remains a rarity. As with the easygoing approach of their recordings, White and co. avoid pushing too hard on anything associated with the Unintended, including capitalizing on the celebrity element.

“Probably due to the fact that we aren’t able to get together that often, we really don’t go on stage and try and sell anybody anything. It’s kind of funny, because there will be people showing up to our shows who are big Sadies fans, and some people who’ll show up wearing their old Eric’s Trip shirts and want to ask me a bunch of questions, but the funniest audience members are probably the middle-aged ladies who show up to see Greg.”

With the Constantines at Club Lambi on Friday, March 17, 9 p.m., $15

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