Colin Ouelette first picked up his sticks in grade school, when his parents insisted he learn an instrument.
"As a 10-year-old, I thought that drumming would be a lot more fun than, say, playing the violin," said Ouelette.
While attending high school at John Paul II Collegiate, Ouelette played in a band, but thought he put his drumming days behind him when he left to attend post-secondary in Saskatoon.
"Honestly, I thought I had quit playing music because after high school, I hadn't been in a band for years," said Ouelette.
Life, however, had different plans, and Ouelette has just made his first televised live performance with his band, Short of Able.
After completing his undergraduate degree in Saskatoon, Ouelette enrolled in law school at the University of Alberta in the fall of 2007.
"I wanted a change, basically," he explains of the move.
Arriving in Edmonton, the only person Ouelette knew was Nicole Maharaj, a friend of Ouelette's fiancée, Danielle Fontaine.
Maharaj introduced Ouelette to her husband, Narish, a bass player, and they began to play together.
"We somehow decided it would be fun idea to play some songs," said Ouelette. "It was never going to be a serious thing."
The two ended up getting together with guitar player Devin Phillips and singer and guitar player Justin Wisser and forming the band Short of Able.
"We all have jobs and careers, so it's difficult to get together enough while having a life and families," said Ouelette. "It's like a second job."
Even so, the band has experienced considerable success, being regularly booked at popular nightclubs and even scoring recording time at a studio in Edmonton after winning a Battle of the Bands contest.
"It's been a hobby, but we're doing our best to get out there," said Ouelette, adding the time and effort the four members have put into their music has its rewards, both in the satisfaction of making music and the fan appreciation.
"There's nothing better than after you play your set and you're walking around the crowd," he said.
Short of Able released their first album, "Far Away and Out of Sight," a blend of rock, folk and indie music that will appeal to a broad spectrum of music fans, the beginning of this month and it is available on iTunes, or directly ordered from the band at www.shortofable.com or on their Facebook page.
"So far, a lot of people are buying it and it's getting good reviews," said Ouelette.
Short of Able was featured on Breakfast Television Edmonton this morning, and their performance can be seen at www.btedmonton.ca.
The band is also in the process of planning a summer tour, including a number of stops in Saskatchewan, since three of the band members are originally from Saskatchewan: Narish Maharaj hails from Rosetown and Justin Wisser is from Paradise Hill.
As for the future?
"Definitely our careers are number one right now," said Ouelette. "Whatever happens with the band, happens, but right now we're still the weekend warrior band."
