Two Hours Traffic

Two Hours Traffic formed at the University of Prince Edward Island in 2002. They are named after a line in the prologue to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The band was started by Liam Corcoran and Alec O’Hanley, and they added Derek Ellis and Andy MacDonald to fill out the sound. In their initial twelve-year run, they released four full-length albums and three EPs. The majority of their music was produced by fellow East Coaster, Joel Plaskett, including their 2008 Polaris Music Prize shortlisted album, Little Jabs. Two Hours Traffic’s music has been featured in the high-profile television shows The OC, One Tree Hill, The Office, and Gossip Girl. 

Despite an impressive run, in 2013, Two Hours Traffic announced a farewell tour and disbanded following its completion. Cut to 2018, as the legal weed industry was heating up, they were approached by Figr to play an event at PEI Brewing Co. to help promote the brand. They hadn’t really considered this scenario, but were receptive to it. At this time, having been through a few substitutes and member swaps in the final years of the band’s initial life, they found themselves short a fourth member. Discussing the idea of playing this show, Liam, Derek and Andy settled on asking Nick Doneff if he might want to step in on guitar and play this show. Nick obliged and the band made a very successful return to the stage. This reunion sparked a craving for more amongst the band members and fans alike. 

With no commitment to a record label or management team, the band managed the increased demand and inquiries as best they could. Finding themselves booked to play a few random festivals each year since their reformation, the slow trickle of activity kept the band in a form of natural, unforced, no pressure existence. Without really consciously deciding to begin working on new songs, the songs naturally started to show up, and over the course of the last few years the members met regularly to collaborate on new music. Through this process they’ve found the fun parts again and in turn, they’ve re-established a trust in each other that feels organic, unforced, and has allowed them the artistic freedom and democratic basis for being in the position of releasing their first new music in 12 years. The new six-song EP, called I Never See You Anymore, will be released on May 23. 

I Never See You Anymore was produced by bandmate and bass player, Andy MacDonald. It was recorded in various locations, including Don’t Wake Baby Studios (Greg Alsop), Fang Studios in Dartmouth NS, Mark “Lefty” Geddes’ Hope River studio, Nick Doneff’s house, and Howie’s Loft. The EP was mixed by Graham Walsh. The band has since started working with Noisemaker to help manage the day-to-day business. 

In the fall of 2020, they did a small tour of East Coast cities to get a sense of touring again and to test the markets. In support of the new EP, Two Hours Traffic is off to Ontario in late May for a small tour, taking them to London, Hamilton, Toronto, and Guelph. 

The first single from the EP is currently enjoying some well-deserved attention on the CBC Radio 2 Top 20, and they recently contributed a version of Joel Plaskett’s “Deny, Deny, Deny” to the brand new Plaskett tribute covers record called Songs From the Gang. 

Two Hours Traffic may not have intended to return, but they are back and that is reason to celebrate.