Biography
Like Willie P. Bennett and Fred Eaglesmith before him, Toronto-based Scott Bradshaw—widely recognized under the stage name Scott B. Sympathy—has built a reputation as a keenly observant singer-songwriter whose distinctive blend of country, folk, and rock has earned him a devoted cult following across Canada, particularly throughout Southern Ontario, even as he remains virtually unnoticed beyond those borders. Although Neil Young served as a primary influence, Bradshaw also absorbed the sonic approach of fellow Queen West acts including Cowboy Junkies and Blue Rodeo, resulting in a folk-rock style weighted more toward its rock elements.
Early in his career, however, Bradshaw performed under the simpler billing of Scott B. and concentrated on solo acoustic appearances that began in the mid-1980s. Over time he shifted toward full-band, rock-driven performances that incorporated the propulsive drive associated with Crazy Horse, lending additional muscle to his sharply drawn lyrics; these shows were presented under the name Scott B. Sympathy, a construction modeled after outfits such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the Bob Seger System to highlight the central figure while acknowledging the presence of additional musicians. The word “Sympathy” was specifically chosen to indicate that the supporting players would perform in sympathy with Scott B. Despite repeated efforts to clarify that the name referred to the band rather than Bradshaw alone, the public continued to treat Scott B. Sympathy as the performer’s complete name, and the designation persisted. Bradshaw kept writing under his legal name, yet he most often appeared and recorded as Scott B. Sympathy, although solo acoustic engagements were still occasionally credited simply to Scott B.
Following years of steady club performances that cultivated a strong regional audience, Bradshaw issued his debut album, Neil Yonge Street, independently on his own Smokeshow imprint in 1990. The follow-up, Drinking With the Poet, also appeared on Smokeshow in 1992. Both releases drew favorable notices from Canadian critics and found modest airplay on college stations, though they made little headway elsewhere. By the middle of the decade Bradshaw had assembled a stable lineup consisting of Gary Robertson on guitar, Ron Bock on bass and backing vocals, and David O’Sullivan on drums. The group adopted the streamlined name the Sympathy, with Scott B. positioned as one of four equal members, and recorded Long Way Down in 1996; the album was subsequently licensed to True North/MCA for wider distribution. Although the record received the strongest critical acclaim Bradshaw had yet enjoyed, True North’s abrupt decision to retain only Bruce Cockburn left it without meaningful retail support. Shortly afterward Bock and O’Sullivan departed to form the Monarch Brothers, prompting Bradshaw to resume performing under the Scott B. Sympathy banner. In 1999 he released Unfinished Sympathy, which featured contributions from Robertson, Ashley MacIsaac, Oh Susanna, and Blue Rodeo’s Basil Donovan.
Early in his career, however, Bradshaw performed under the simpler billing of Scott B. and concentrated on solo acoustic appearances that began in the mid-1980s. Over time he shifted toward full-band, rock-driven performances that incorporated the propulsive drive associated with Crazy Horse, lending additional muscle to his sharply drawn lyrics; these shows were presented under the name Scott B. Sympathy, a construction modeled after outfits such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the Bob Seger System to highlight the central figure while acknowledging the presence of additional musicians. The word “Sympathy” was specifically chosen to indicate that the supporting players would perform in sympathy with Scott B. Despite repeated efforts to clarify that the name referred to the band rather than Bradshaw alone, the public continued to treat Scott B. Sympathy as the performer’s complete name, and the designation persisted. Bradshaw kept writing under his legal name, yet he most often appeared and recorded as Scott B. Sympathy, although solo acoustic engagements were still occasionally credited simply to Scott B.
Following years of steady club performances that cultivated a strong regional audience, Bradshaw issued his debut album, Neil Yonge Street, independently on his own Smokeshow imprint in 1990. The follow-up, Drinking With the Poet, also appeared on Smokeshow in 1992. Both releases drew favorable notices from Canadian critics and found modest airplay on college stations, though they made little headway elsewhere. By the middle of the decade Bradshaw had assembled a stable lineup consisting of Gary Robertson on guitar, Ron Bock on bass and backing vocals, and David O’Sullivan on drums. The group adopted the streamlined name the Sympathy, with Scott B. positioned as one of four equal members, and recorded Long Way Down in 1996; the album was subsequently licensed to True North/MCA for wider distribution. Although the record received the strongest critical acclaim Bradshaw had yet enjoyed, True North’s abrupt decision to retain only Bruce Cockburn left it without meaningful retail support. Shortly afterward Bock and O’Sullivan departed to form the Monarch Brothers, prompting Bradshaw to resume performing under the Scott B. Sympathy banner. In 1999 he released Unfinished Sympathy, which featured contributions from Robertson, Ashley MacIsaac, Oh Susanna, and Blue Rodeo’s Basil Donovan.
Albums
