The Lovely Feathers

The Lovely Feathers assembled their distinctive brand of theatrical indie rock in Montreal during 2004, drawing on the combined talents of Richard Yanofsky on guitar and vocals, Mark Kupfert handling guitars and vocals, Noah Bernamoff on bass, Dan Suss at the keyboards, and Ted Suss behind the drums. Their origin story further distinguishes the group’s sound: Yanofsky abandoned medical studies in favor of pursuing rock music full-time, while the Suss siblings each dismissed the other’s chosen path—Dan immersing himself in philosophy and literature alongside classical piano training, and Ted committing to an ambitious drumming schedule that included brief stints with several local hardcore outfits. Bernamoff and Kupfert’s connection stretches back before kindergarten; the pair briefly operated a twee pop project during their teenage years until adolescent friction drove them apart. A random encounter in 2004 revived the friendship, prompting ex-college hockey player Bernamoff to step in on bass for one of Kupfert’s hometown performances. That reunion set the remaining pieces in motion. The band convened at Studio Plateau in Montreal throughout summer 2005 to lay down their first full-length record, Hind Hind Legs, which appeared in 2006 under the guidance of producer James Shaw (Metric, Broken Social Scene) and engineer Drew Malamud (Death from Above 1979, Stars).