Doomed Confessionary: Hal Jaques (Mountain Dust)
Mountain Dust is a modern hard rock, stoner, desert and heavy psych band from Montreal, Quebec (Canada), founded in 2013 by Blair Youngblut (drums), Brendan Mainville (guitar, vocals), Hal Jaques (bass) and Kevin Keegan (keyboards).
After releasing a first string of »Demos« in March 2013, the band replaced Keegan by Patrick Bennett, cementing the actual line-up. The following year, Mountain Dust released their first singles with Bennett, »Black Walls« & »Dead Queen« in September 2014.
Their first full-length album, »Nine Years«, was published by Kozmik Artifactz in July 2016. The follow-up to »Nine Years, Seven Storms« came less than two years after that, being self-released by the band in May 2018. After seven years, Mountain Dust returned with their third self-titled album, released on January 24th, 2025.
Fans of QOTSA, Graveyard, All Them Witches, King Buffalo, The Doors, Deep Purple, and the like, pay heed.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Hal: We are a rock band from Montreal, established in 2013. We just released our 3rd album. We get have been called stoner soul, heavy blues, doom, desert etc.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Hal: The pandemic was a big challenge for us because lockdowns in Montreal were very strict. We found it almost impossible to see each other and work on new music. Because of this, we lost a lot of the momentum we had leading into 2020, and we are only now starting to regain some of that momentum since the release of our latest album this past January.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Hal: Our latest album.
What was your biggest regret?
Hal: No regrets!
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Hal: Our European tour in 2018 was incredible. We played the iconic Freak Valley Festival in Germany, and Muskelrock Festival in Sweden as part of a 17 date tour. We would love to go back across the Atlantic ocean to play for our European fans.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Hal: For me personally, the biggest surprise was how many amazing bands started during, or just after, the pandemic. I feel a little out of touch with the scene during the pandemic, and when I jumped back in, I was very happy with all the new bands making great music.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Hal: Sons Of Arrakis from here in Montreal. They are friends of ours and they are great. I also really like the Canadian band Brass Camel. Proggy, bluesy, funky shred!
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Hal: Play from your fucking heart!
What are your guilty pleasures?
Hal: Hot dogs, Rick James, R Kelly.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Hal: Check our website mountaindustofficial.com for all concert dates. As of now we only have dates in Canada, but we would love to come back to Europe asap!
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Hal: Play more festivals in Europe/US.
How can people best support your band?
Hal: Put us in touch with bookers of European/US Festivals, and order merch at mountaindustofficial.com.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Hal: Thank you for checking us out, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us on any of our socials.
Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well