Biography
An aggressive alt-rock band hailing from Southern Ontario, Chore surfaced amid the post-hardcore surge that defined the mid-1990s. As longtime fixtures on the respected Canadian indie imprint Sonic Unyon, the group issued three albums clustered around the millennium’s turn, among them the favorably received 2002 effort The Coastaline Fire. Although the outfit called it quits in 2004, members periodically reconvened for reunion performances across their home province of Ontario and surfaced again with a fresh single in 2021.
In late 1994, siblings Mike Bell and Chris Bell launched Chore in the Lake Erie-adjacent community of Dunnville, Ontario. Drummer David Dunham and bassist Brian Pettigrew completed the initial roster. After inking a deal with the Hamilton-rooted Sonic Unyon, the band adopted an unconventional configuration for its first record: Chris handled vocals and guitar while Mike deployed a double-necked guitar/bass instrument to reinforce the low frequencies. That singular arrangement powered both 1997’s Another Plebeian and its 1999 successor, Take My Mask and Breathe.
Extensive Canadian roadwork helped Chore cultivate a modest yet fiercely loyal following, especially within Ontario. After the second album, Pettigrew departed and Mitch Bowden stepped in on guitar and vocals, freeing Mike Bell to concentrate exclusively on bass. With this more conventional rock lineup in place, the group sharpened its approach for the 2002 release The Coastaline Fire. Its opening track, “The Hitchhiker,” gained modest attention, and the album reached Japanese listeners the following year. Throughout this period, Chore sustained touring commitments in both Canada and the United States.
After a decade together, Chore dissolved in 2004. Individual members subsequently contributed to projects including Alive and Living, Don Vail, Customaries, and Not of. The original lineup staged a limited series of 2010 concerts and has since reappeared sporadically for local dates. In early 2021 the band reentered the studio, issuing the two-song single comprising “Face” and “Greenhorn.”
In late 1994, siblings Mike Bell and Chris Bell launched Chore in the Lake Erie-adjacent community of Dunnville, Ontario. Drummer David Dunham and bassist Brian Pettigrew completed the initial roster. After inking a deal with the Hamilton-rooted Sonic Unyon, the band adopted an unconventional configuration for its first record: Chris handled vocals and guitar while Mike deployed a double-necked guitar/bass instrument to reinforce the low frequencies. That singular arrangement powered both 1997’s Another Plebeian and its 1999 successor, Take My Mask and Breathe.
Extensive Canadian roadwork helped Chore cultivate a modest yet fiercely loyal following, especially within Ontario. After the second album, Pettigrew departed and Mitch Bowden stepped in on guitar and vocals, freeing Mike Bell to concentrate exclusively on bass. With this more conventional rock lineup in place, the group sharpened its approach for the 2002 release The Coastaline Fire. Its opening track, “The Hitchhiker,” gained modest attention, and the album reached Japanese listeners the following year. Throughout this period, Chore sustained touring commitments in both Canada and the United States.
After a decade together, Chore dissolved in 2004. Individual members subsequently contributed to projects including Alive and Living, Don Vail, Customaries, and Not of. The original lineup staged a limited series of 2010 concerts and has since reappeared sporadically for local dates. In early 2021 the band reentered the studio, issuing the two-song single comprising “Face” and “Greenhorn.”
Albums
Singles
