Dilly Dally

Dilly Dally were a Canadian alternative rock band from Toronto.[1] The band consisted of Enda Monks (rhythm guitar and vocals), Liz Ball (lead guitar), Annie Jane Marie (bassist) and Benjamin Reinhartz (drummer).[2] They announced their breakup on March 2, 2023.

This article is about the Canadian band. For the advertising slogan, see Dilly Dilly. For the music-hall song, see Don't Dilly Dally on the Way.
Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally performing in March 2016
Dilly Dally performing in March 2016
Background information
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Years active2009–2023
Labels
Members
  • Enda Monks
  • Liz Ball
  • Annie Jane Marie
  • Benjamin Reinhartz
Websitehttp://dillydallyband.com
Dilly Dally album release (888 Dupont), October 8, 2015

Dilly Dally released three singles, one 7" ("Candy Mountain", 2014) and two full-length albums, Sore (2015) and Heaven (2018).

History

Early years (2009–2014)

Dilly Dally was formed in 2009 by childhood friends Enda Monks and Liz Ball.[3] Monks and Ball met while in high school in Newmarket, Ontario, just outside of Toronto.[4] The two self-taught guitarists were determined to start a band, and developed their sound through years of playing shows in the Toronto alternative and punk scenes.[4] The band is known for their signature guitar tones as well as Monk's raspy vocals.

Monks and Ball self-released the band's first single, "Next Gold", in 2013 with an alternate rhythm section. In 2013, Benjamin Reinhartz (drummer) and Annie Jane Marie (bassist) joined the project:[5] the new musicians helped solidify the band's sound.[6] In 2014, Buzz Records (Canada) and Fat Possum Records (United States) released their first 7", "Candy Mountain", but there was limited public interest in the band.[7]

After a positive Pitchfork review of the "Next Gold" single,[8] Dilly Dally's notoriety increased internationally.[9]

Sore (2015–2017)

Dilly Dally's first full-length album, Sore, was released on October 9, 2015, on Buzz Records in Canada and Partisan Records in the United States and United Kingdom.[5]

Sore was a longlisted nominee for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize,[10] as well as a Juno Award nominee for Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2017.[11] The single "Desire" was a SOCAN Songwriting Prize finalist in 2016.[12] Additionally, the video for "Snakehead" was long-listed for the Prism Prize in 2017.[13] Sore was featured on Exclaim! "50 Best Canadian Albums of the 2010s" list.[14]

The band toured extensively during the Sore album cycle. Monks recalls: "When you put four people in a box for two years, it's psychologically fucked. (...) The machine was going full speed ahead. As the manager, I just kept confirming dates."[15] The relentless pace of those tours almost caused the band to break up.

Heaven (2018–2019)
Dilly Dally playing at Rough Trade UK, October 10th 2018

After taking a mental health break, the band got back together in 2017 to write their second full-length record.[16]

Heaven was released on September 14, 2018, by Dine Alone Records in Canada and Partisan Records in the United States and United Kingdom. The songs on this release cover themes such as marijuana use, queerness, depression and substance abuse in the music industry.[16] The album was produced and mixed in Los Angeles by Rob Schnapf.[16]

Heaven was longlisted for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize.[17] The song "Bad Biology" was a finalist for the SOCAN Songwriting Prize in 2019.[18]

Final shows and breakup (2020–2023)

Dilly Dally had shows announced for 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of tours and festivals worldwide.

Dilly Dally opened for the band My Chemical Romance for several dates in 2022.[19]

On March 2, 2023, the band announced they were breaking up, saying "It's time for us to move forward and continue our journeys separately." They released their last two singles, "Colour of Joy" and "Morning Light", and announced the date for their final concert on May 27 at Lee's Palace in Toronto.[20] A second show was announced for the next night on March 7.[21]

Personal lives

The band is outspoken in their support of queer issues. Monks identifies as queer,[22] and Annie Jane Marie has come out as transgender.

The song "Sober Motel" was written by Monks in relation to Annie's journey into sobriety.[23]

Discography

Next Gold

  • Released: 2013
  • Label: Self-released

Candy Mountain

  • Released: 2014
  • Format: 7"
  • Label: Buzz (Canada), Fat Possum (United States)
  • Tracks: "Candy Mountain", "Green"

Sore

  • Released: October 9, 2015
  • Label: Buzz (Canada), Partisan (United States & United Kingdom)
  • Tracks: "Desire", "Ballin Chain", "Snakehead", "The Touch", "Next Gold", "Purple Rage", "Get to You", "Witch Man", "Green", "Ice Cream", "Burned by the Cold"

Heaven

  • Released: September 14, 2018
  • Label: Partisan
  • Tracks: "I Feel Free", "Doom", "Believe", "Sober Motel", "Sorry Ur Mad", "Marijuana", "Pretty Cold", "Bad Biology", "Heaven"

References
  1. "A stronger, healthier Dilly Dally reaches for Heaven on second album". Toronto Star, September 8, 2018.
  2. "Dilly Dally Weather the Storm to Reach 'Heaven'". Exclaim!, September 12, 2018.
  3. "The Quietus | Features | Escape Velocity | Toronto Noise: An Interview With Dilly Dally". The Quietus. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  4. "Dilly Dally Almost Died". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  5. "Meet Dilly Dally, The Band Behind Toronto's Most Cathartic Rock Songs". The FADER. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  6. "Dilly Dally Are Loud, Messy, and All About Friendship". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  7. "Dilly Dally Leaves Home". Interview Magazine. 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  8. Listen to "Next Gold" by Dilly Dally, retrieved 2021-02-06
  9. Edwards, Samantha (2014-07-03). "Dilly Dally". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  10. "Polaris Music Prize unveils long list of albums in Whitehorse". Edmonton Journal, June 15, 2016.
  11. "Canada's 2017 Juno Awards Winners Revealed!". ET Canada, April 2, 2017.
  12. "Fast Romantics' 'Julia' the best Canadian song of the year, according to SOCAN songwriting prize". CBC Music, July 11, 2016.
  13. "Here are the Prism Prize 2017's top 20 music videos". Now, February 7, 2017.
  14. "Exclaim!'s 50 Best Canadian Albums of the 2010s". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  15. Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Vozick-Levinson, Simon (2018-09-06). "Dilly Dally Went Through Hell to Get to 'Heaven'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  16. "How Dilly Dally Rallied to Find 'Heaven' After Depression -- And Almost Breaking Up". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  17. Evan Minsker, "Polaris Prize 2019 Long List Announced: Carly Rae Jepsen, Marie Davidson, Fucked Up, More". Pitchfork, June 20, 2019.
  18. Brock Thiessen, "SOCAN Songwriting Prize Unveils 2019 Finalists". Exclaim!, June 3, 2019.
  19. Haynes, Kinsey Blake (August 23, 2022). "Review/Photos: My Chemical Romance ft. Turnstile & Dilly Dally – Nashville, TN 8/23/22". Rock Revolt. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  20. Bloom, Madison (March 2, 2023). "Dilly Dally Break Up, Share Final Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  21. Bell, Kaelen (March 2, 2023). "Dilly Dally Announce Breakup and Final Show". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  22. Trapunski, Richard (2018-09-05). "Dilly Dally are tired of anger". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  23. "Dilly Dally kick their bad habits on new song "Sober Motel": Stream". Consequence of Sound. 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
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