In every small town there is an intimate venue sitting unused six nights a week. Most don't think to make use of the local church as another kind of community space, but a few of the forward thinking have put those rooms to good use – the Music Gallery in Toronto is a prime example. In Guelph, it is the Dublin St. Church that has discovered the magic of staging folk-roots performances amongst the warmth and reverence of their place of worship. The room, with its natural acoustic balance between the vaulted ceilings and the comfortable wooden pews, is the perfect spot to soak in the deft arrangements and lush harmonies. And thanks to some forward thinking of their own, Graydon James & the Young Novelists captured their performance in that space on their new album live at dublin st. church. The band gravitated together in August of 2009 under the namesake front man's direction when he emerged from a solo songwriting and recording bender with a triple-album. With a tour on the books, he set out to find like-minded musicians, and within three weeks of forming they hit the road. Since their unique formation, the group has adopted unique concepts from providing their own brand of tea at shows in endearing aromas such as Harmony (Peppermint), Banjo (Jasmine Green) and Beard (Earl Grey Vanilla) to a pay-what-you-can philosophy behind dispensing their music, which has garnered the band equal parts financial success and supportive praise. In the spirit of unpredictability, their follow-up to the triple-album was a 4-song EP titled a small town eulogy. Released in April 2011, Exclaim! Magazine called it “a work of unpretentious brilliance.” During their tour in support of a small town eulogy, the Young Novelists realized they would be playing in the acoustically renowned Dublin St. Church and decided to take advantage of the opportunity by recording the show. With the generous assistance of Preetam Sengupta (Letting Artists Make Art) and recording engineer Christopher Baron the interior of the church was transformed. Microphones were hung from balconies and carefully positioned in and around the instruments, ready to capture every note and every moment. Guest musicians Anna Atkinson (violin/viola) and Jason Chesworth (electric guitar) added depth and texture to the arrangements, having accompanied the band throughout the tour. The result is a testament to the band's hard-driven work ethic. From the impeccable harmonies to the subtle arrangements, the album sparkles with the energy of a live show while maintaining the impressive professionalism of a studio recording. It all hearkens back to an earlier era in music, an era that clearly influences Graydon James & the Young Novelists. “Not only does it feel better,” explains James, “but it's actually easier. This was all recorded in one take. In a sense it is frightening, but if you do what musicians are supposed to do – play together a hell of a lot – then it really comes through.” The process of the recording was so natural to the band that their next project, a full- length studio album helmed by producer Chris Stringer (Timbre Timber, Ohbijou), will be recorded in a similar style at the Lincoln County Social Club studio in January 2012. Until then they will keep doing what musicians are supposed to do: play together, a whole hell of a lot.