Jason Collett is used to taking matters into his own hands. Before the 39-year-old joined the Toronto supergroup Broken Social Scene in 2002—immedi­ately prior to the release of the band’s breakthrough album, You Forgot it in People—Collett was an acoustic-strapped storyteller (and professional carpenter) who’d played with local roots-rocker Andrew Cash and self-released two albums, one under his own name, one under the alias Bird. Like his blue-collared patron saint, Bruce Springsteen, Collett proffers a brand of lonesome urban-cowboy blues that works in both solitary and group settings: at the beginning of the decade, he hosted the popular Radio Mondays series in local clubs, bringing together the city’s top songwriters (including Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning and Feist, who would later become BSS bandmates) to workshop new material. That spirit of inclusiveness made Collett a natural fit for the ever-expanding group, and his well-seasoned guitar playing and hard-nosed work ethic helped transform the band from erratic collective to sturdy touring machine. The alliance proved mutually beneficial: in 2003, BSS’s Arts & Crafts label put out Motor Motel Love Songs, introducing Collett’s early work to a wider audience. Collett continued to nurture his solo career on the side, and in 2005 released Idols of Exile, featuring a supporting cast of fellow Canadian indie musicians, including members of Montreal’s The Stills. Some songs on the album—like the Tom Petty–powered anthem “I’ll Bring the Sun”—mix celebratory sentiment with ragged country-rock grit, while more subdued set pieces such as “Almost Summer” (a fleeting-romance requiem that recalls vintage Jackson Browne) lay bare Collett’s talent for mending both broken social scenes, and hearts, as well.

Jason Collett plays Dec. 2 at Lee’s Palace. $15. 529 Bloor St. W., 416-870-8000, www.jasoncollett.com. Tickets available at the Horseshoe Tavern (368 Queen St. W., 416-598-4753), Rotate This (620 Queen St. W., 416-504-8447) and Soundscapes (572 College St., 416-537-1620).