Lost Dakotas

Lost Dakotas was a Canadian alternative country band in the 1990s. The band originally consisted of vocalist Paul Dakota and bassist Greg McConnell (formerly of Absolute Whores), who began in 1989 as a busking duo at the corner of Yonge and Dundas Streets in Toronto. Their contemporaries in the busking scene included Leslie Spit Treeo, Grievous Angels, Graeme Kirkland and Barenaked Ladies.

Dakota and McConnell added guitarist Adam Faux and drummer Ron Duffy for their 1990 debut, Love to Play. Initially released as a limited edition cassette, the album completely sold out in just two days.^[1] The band's visuals, including posters and album art animated video clips, were created by artist Erella Vent.

1991's Last Train to Kipling (a reference to Kipling station on the Toronto Transit Commission's Bloor-Danforth subway line) was one of the most notable Canadian indie rock albums of the 1990s, staying in the campus radio charts in Chart for over 100 weeks.^[1] In 1992 Faux left to focus work on his previous band, Pig Farm, and was replaced by Rick O'Brien and later by Tim Bovaconte Kim Stockwell Band and the addition of J.C. Orr formerly of King Apparatus.

The band broke up following their 93 album Sun Machine. McConnell went on to form Stratochief, but died in 1999. Erella Vent, now Erella Ganon, continues as an illustrator and writer. Adam Faux currently leads two bands with drummer Topher Stott, Hot Fo Gandhi and The Tiny Specks.

Discography

• Love to Play (1990)
• Last Train to Kipling (1991)
• Sun Machine (1993)

References