Arts

Jemma Hicken and Robbie Banks tour: Coming Back To Cortes

The audio version of this opens with a short clip of Jemma Hicken singiing ‘Skim Milk.’ I was hoping it would be a new version, with her and Robbie Bankes singing together, but it looks like the only place to hear that will be in Mansons Hall at 7:00 on Tuesday July 2, 2024. Jemma and Robbie are just finishing a month long tour of Alberta and BC. They were about to play at Campbell River’s Spirit Square when Cortes Currents reached them yesterday. They will be on Read Island today.

 Cortes Currents: How long have you been playing together? 

Jemma Hicken: “We had one show together last November. Then we’ve just had our tour, so mostly since May 30th.”


Songs in the podcast: ‘Skim Milk’ (opening and 3:45-7:03) and ‘Pocket Dial’ (9:40-end) from the album ‘Get it Together’ – Jemma & the Good Thing (Bandcamp, July 21, 2023)

Robbie Banks: “We started in Alberta, at Dinosaur Provincial Park, and then we worked our way back through southern Alberta and then through southern BC. Played in Calgary, Nanton and the small town of Parson.  Then we went down to the Kootenays to the Nelson area for a few days and then back up to the Okanagan.”

Jemma Hicken: “We played at a tree planting camp in Midway.” 

Cortes Currents: How many tree planters did you have in the audience?  

Jemma Hicken: “42.”  

Robbie Banks: “We thought it would be the biggest party show of our tour, but they were all very tired  (laughter) and slept on the floor.” 

Jemma Hicken: “It was really fun.” 

Cortes Currents: Other highlights of the tour?  

Jemma Hicken: “I think one of my highlights was the first show that we played because we were in the Badlands and I’d never seen them before.  It was really picturesque and it was exciting to go there for the first time.”

Robbie Bankes: “We had some really great turnouts at a few of the house shows, which was really fun. We weren’t expecting to play for that many people, but  there were some house shows with 50 or 60 people, which was really nice.” 

“The whole thing was a highlight. We had really planned our driving days well. I was worried about long drives and stress, but it was very relaxing for the most part, which was a big surprise.” 

Jemma Hicken: “It was a big surprise, it felt almost like a vacation.”  

Robbie Bankes: “We got to see a whole bunch of different things and meet a whole bunch of different people and …”

Jemma Hicken: “We got along.”

Robbie Bankes: “Yeah, and we got along, which was also a surprise.” 

Cortes Currents: So are you playing in Campbell River?  

Jemma Hicken: “Yeah, we’re playing in Campbell River in an hour and a half.  Then we are going to Read Island tomorrow to play a show. Our last show of  the tour is on Cortes next Tuesday. It’s going to be at Manson’s Hall with our friend Sam Tudor, who’s amazing.I feel just totally excited about this show because  Robby and Sam are two of my favourite local songwriters.  I feel honoured to be sharing a show with them on Cortes.” 

Robbie Bankes: “Sam’s a real up and comer. He’s maybe one of the next big things in Canadian music, I would say. So it’s really exciting that he wanted to come to Cortes. It’ll be really fun, hopefully a good turnout,  Sam puts on a great show every time I’ve seen him, so it’ll be really fun to see that show.”

Jemma Hicken: “There’s going to be lots of storytelling.”

Cortes Currents: You sent two songs to go with this interview. They are both from your album, but now you and Robbie are singing them together. The first one is ‘Skim Milk.’ What’s the story behind it? 

Jemma Hicken: “Skim Milk I wrote about coming of age in a time of climate anxiety. I was also thinking about things that people just wouldn’t buy if the world was imminently about to end and the first thing that came into my mind was Skim Milk, because it’s totally gross. Then Skim Milk ended up becoming this beacon of hope in a song about climate anxiety.  Because if people are still buying Skim Milk, then it must mean that the world isn’t imminently about to end.” 

Robbie Banks: “It’s been really fun to sing Jemma’s songs,  I really love hearing Jemma play. She’s really funny, and her songs are really good and  it’s been a really fun experience to be able to hear them every night, and also play on them every night. Yeah, it’s a dream come true.”  

Cortes Currents: Have you two sang Robbie’s songs?  

Robbie Banks: “Yeah, we do that as well a little bit.” 

Jemma Hicken: “Yep.” 

Robbie Banks: “Yeah.” 

Jemma Hicken: “It’s been such a joy to play with Robbie. He’s one of the best players I know, and it’s so exciting to get to hear his music every night.”  

Robbie Bankes: “Jemma had some really nice harmonies, and it just feels like they come together a little more when Jemma plays on them.  That’s all you could ask for, really.”

Cortes Currents:  How did you two meet?  

Robbie Bankes: “My partner works on Cortes at the medical clinic.  So I was there and  ran into Dan, Jemma’s partner, who was also on Cortes. I went to high school with him a long time ago in Calgary. We reconnected and found out we liked music and  it’s been amazing.” 

Cortes Currents:  Do you think you will be playing together again? 

Robbie Bankes: “Definitely.  It really worked out.”  

Cortes Currents: Are we going to be looking at the beginnings of a – do I call you a duet?  

Jemma Hicken: “A duo.” 

Robbie Bankes: “A duo, or perhaps an internationally famous super band.” (laugher)

Jemma Hicken: “But you never know, so come to Manson’s Hall,  Tuesday, July 2nd. The first night of the internationally famous super band.  

Robbie Bankes: “Tickets are 20 bucks, but if you can’t afford 20 come anyway and put whatever you can in the hat. Everyone’s welcome. Kids are welcome.  Our music is appropriate for all ages.”  

Jemma HIcken: “I’ll try not to swear.” 

Robbie Bankes: “Yeah, but I feel like Cortes kids can handle a little swearing.”

Cortes Currents: Before you go, Jemma I understand you’re putting out a music calendar for Cortes. 

Jemma Hicken: “I put it out already. you can find it on the Cortes Foundation website, which is Cortesfoundation.ca.  It includes all of the music that’s happening at Manson’s Hall, at the Gorge Hall, at the Gorge Marina, and at the Village Commons  this summer.”

Cortes Currents: I am going to close this interview with Pocket Dial. What’s the story behind this song? 

Jemma Hicken: “Pocket Dial I wrote in the year after one of my close friends had passed away. I was really feeling like  my perspective had changed a lot in that year, and I was figuring out who I was after that big change – death – in my life. It’s about grief and figuring out who you are. 

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