The new single Bad Idea, by gritty Windsor rock quartet Huron Lines, is a grungy thrill ride of a rock song created during the pandemic with a fuzz pedal and a baritone ukulele about finding yourself at the edge and knowing that taking another step is a very bad idea. With radio support from Sharp 9 Music, the song will be pushed to Modern Rock / Active / Specialty Rock across Canada, and supported with regional touring, a live-performance video, and social media.
For many artists involved in Windsor, Ontario’s fertile scene, the cultural hub isn’t just separated by a straggling, emerald waterway, it’s divided via an international border.
When the Covid-19 pandemic shelved travel across the iconic Ambassador Bridge and the convenient Windsor/Detroit tunnel, working musicians, artists, content creators, and journalists had been swiftly cut off from collaborators, partners, and creative spaces vital to their craft.
Over nine tracks and 36-minutes, FOUND IN FLOODS, from Windsor, ON’s HURON LINES comes off as a direct response to our shared moment of disconnect, pause, and loneliness and transforms it into a visceral, bruised masterwork.
The angular and muscular “Working Band” touches on the unglamorous side of playing music, as vocalist/guitarist Dave Mueller focuses on restiveness and doubt. The guttural and dusty “Blacklight” gives attention to the often-unspoken plague of mental health suffered by men and the silence that often comes with it. Sonically inspired by one of Huron Lines’ influences, Sonic Youth, “Thurst” tells the tale of lovers parted by the Detroit River during the lockdown.
Unable to tour their debut, 2021’s LOST AT THE BORDER, or play “local” shows with friends in the Windsor / Detroit scene, Mueller began to focus his restless energy on writing new lyrics and song structures for what would become their sophomore LP. “Most of the songs started on my acoustic guitar,” he says. “I try to write daily, recording ideas to my phone and keeping that going nonstop every week. The number of voice memos was well into the hundreds.”
After sharing these skeletal ideas with drummer Nick Mitchell and sketching them out further, these new tracks were given the necessary enhancements by guitarist Grainger Harris and bassist/backup vocalist RJBrando. “I finished the drums about 10 months before most of the other parts were done, so they were like new songs to me when we started mixing”, adds Mitchell. “Covid made writing and recording more challenging but it also gave us a lot of time to consider details and sonic approaches that we may not have otherwise been able to if not for the slowed-down nature of the entire process” shared Harris.
“Huron Lines have been releasing their killer alt-rock sound that has fans and the music industry taking notice as a new band to watch,'' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the International Music's Journey Show. ‘’I had a chance to chat with vocalist/guitarist, Dave Muellerto talk about the new single and about the new album. This is one band that you will want to check out! I dive deeper into the lyrics of ‘’Blacklight'' the first single of the upcoming sophomore album ‘’Found In Floods'' which is due out later this month. I think it is so important to use our platforms to open up discussions about mental health. Dave is very candid about his own personal struggles during covid and how this song was written. I love this kind of interview where there is no subject off limits. I hope you all take the time to hear this interview so you too can open the dialog and hear some great music by Huron Lines.''
A rock anthem to its core, the title track, “Find A Better Way,” carries a message that encapsulates the entirety of the record. With growing uncertainties, society faces challenges previously unseen, leaving the collective in a perpetual state of questioning, with doubt directed towards governments, public leaders, and our neighbours. From the aftermath of COVID-19, the increasing mental health crisis in North America, war crimes in Ukraine, and the explosion of social movements and protests, one thought unites us all—we need to find a better way to co-exist on this planet. “Find A Better Way” takes an inward look at confronting our tumultuous past and accepting personal accountabilities to uncover the strength needed to seek a solution.
“Find a Better Way” is the only track on the record to be mixed in Australia. The band worked with legend Producer/Mixer Kevin Shirley (the Black Crowes, Joe Bonamassa, Led Zeppelin) at Caveman Studios in Sydney. Kevin’s mix helped set the perfect tone for the album, which Ross Hayes Citrullo was then able to follow for the rest of the record. Kevin’s contribution set The Commoners on the right path with this epic title track.
Mastering was also an important consideration for the band and their label. For this stage, the team sent their record all the way to Nashville, Tennessee to Pete Lyman (Tedeschi Trucks, Blackberry Smoke, Chris Stapleton, Rival Sons) at Infrasonic Sound. Pete’s specialty for mastering southern rock made the mixes come alive, making them sonically competitive to the band’s influences.
The Commoners is a Canadian rock band that is comprised of Chris Medhurst on lead vocals & guitar, Ross Hayes Citrullo on lead guitar, Ben Spiller on bass & piano, and Adam Cannon on drums. The new studio album, “Find a Better Way”, features guest appearances from Michael Ekhart (pedal steel), Jeff Heisholt (keys), Michael Evans-Branagh (organ, piano, and Rhodes), and multi-instrumentalist Ben Healey.
‘’I had the chance to catch up with the overnight sensation The Commoners fresh off their April 2023 co-headline UK tour with Troy Redfern, ‘’ saysKim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the International Music's Journey Podcast. ‘’The fans are taken on a wild ride from the first note of this album ‘’Find A Better Way''. I wanted to play this album in its entirety so the fans can hear the album the way it was intended.''
‘’You can hear the influences of classic rock and blues in the very first note. This project with 9 tracks is simply brilliant. You go on a wild ride from the first song to the last taking you through lives full of challenges, doubts, fears, and desires. The lessons learned along the way shape the band into the musicians they are today.''
‘’I dig deeper into each song off the new album unveiling the stories behind the raw and authentic emotions of the lyrics that are driven home with the shredding of Chris's vocals. This album is worth taking notice of and then some. The Commoners have a sound that listeners want to hear. They take you on a real journey that you get lost in cutting you like a knife and then bringing you back home feeling completely satisfied knowing you just had the bitchin time ever!''
A killer album from start to finish, The Commoners have delivered a real beauty dripping in quality, rich in its roots/rock heritage in a visceral form they have absolutely nailed it.
To hear my interview where I play the entire album with my special guest lead singer Chris Medhurst, go to www.musicsjourney.com or click on the link below.
Toronto/Nashville singer, songwriter, and producer Billy Raffoul shares his soulful, intricate, and playful new EP, I Wish You Were Here, via Nettwerk.
Raffoul shares “With these songs, the goal was to get fans to a place where they can see them on stage…. I write music to experience sharing it with other people.”
‘’I Wish You Were Here'' features the captivating, up-tempo single “We Could Get High,” the lush, soothing love song “Better,” the cinematic and soft title track “I Wish You Here,” and the pop-tinged “Bliss” that serve as a much-anticipated introduction to the next chapter of Raffoul’s artistry. These songs were created alongside long-time collaborators Justin Zuccato and Mike Crossey, highlighting the graceful grit of Raffoul’s vocals and his knack for telling stories straight from the heart. After generating hundreds of millions of streams and earning acclaim from American Songwriter, Paste and more, the award-winning Ontario singer, songwriter, and producer presents ‘’I Wish You Were Here''.
‘’I had the chance to catch up with Billy Raffoul about his new EP ‘’I Wish You Were Here'', says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the International Music's Journey Podcast. ‘’I wanted to play the whole EP in this interview so fans could hear the tracks the way they were meant to be heard in this project. We dive deeper behind the lyrics of each song. Raffoul has very distinct vocals that are recognizable the moment you hear him sing. I became a huge fan the moment I heard his single ‘’Driver''.
To hear my interview with Billy Raffoul which includes the new EP played in its entirety, go to www.musicsjourney.com or click on the link below.
Music surrounded Billy as a kid back in his hometown of Leamington. His father, Jody Raffoul, rose to prominence as a popular regional draw, performing at a prolific pace. Billy picked up his first guitar at a young age and spent countless hours on the instrument. “Music put food on the table for my family, and it was always there,” shares Billy. “I don’t look it at any differently than if your dad’s a lawyer and you become a lawyer.”
Raffoul debuted with the 2017 single “Driver,” Following the release of his 1975 EP and The Running Wild EP, he delivered his debut full-length, A Few More Hours, atYYZ in 2020. The single “Acoustic” generated over 66.4 million Spotify streams and “Easy Tiger” surpassed 21.8 million Spotify streams. The same year, he maintained this momentum with International Hotel and shared bills with Kings of Leon, Kaleo, X Ambassadors, and more. Reaching another level, 2021 saw him garner the SOCAN Songwriting Prize for the single “Western Skies.” He continued in 2022 with a direct support spot on tour with award-winning rocker JJ Wilde across Canada.
Billy’s songs will ultimately resonate through your speakers and from the stage. “When you come to a show for the first time, I hope you walk away feeling good,” he shares.
TOUR DATES
May 18 – Tolhuistuin – Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 22 – Passionskirche – Berlin, Germany
May 23 – Kulturkitche Altone – Hamburg, Germany
May 25 – Kulturkitche – Archdioces Cologne, Germany
May 26 – Volkstheatre – Munich, Germany
June 9 – Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, Ontario
The three-time Grammy-nominated groupNOTHING MORE released their 5th studio album Spirits in Oct 2022 (via Better Noise Music). An album that was inspired by the philosophy of Alan Watts and Carl Jung with an introspective look at the results on one’s psyche after being isolated due to the pandemic.
The San Antonio, Texas-born quartet builds unapologetically massive anthems from catchy hooks with explosive live performances to sold-out crowds where ever they go. Nothing More has become one of the top bands shaping the future of Rock, alongside Nine Inch Nails, Twenty One Pilots, and Bring Me The Horizon. “There is a sophistication to Nothing More’s live shows with their theatric stage sets that really set them apart. They are like no other.''
The band’s blend of explosive storytelling and emotional lyrics resulted in a half dozen Top 10 singles at American Mainstream Rock Radio, including the No. 1 hit “Go to War'' and the SiriusXM Octane song of the decade, and Active Rock chart-topper “This is the Time (Ballast).”
One of mainstream rock’s most powerful and distinctive acts, three-time Grammy-nominated group NOTHING MORE have hit the road this month to start their “Spirits 2023” North American headlining tour. The tour will include stops in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and at The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. They’re joined by Crown the Empire and Thousand Below.
I had a chance to chat with bassist Daniel Oliver about hitting the road on the Spirit Tour and finally making it back to Canada with their first stop at The Danforth Music Hall tonight, on April 5th. There are four dates in total here in Canada so you check it out at https://nothingmore.net/.
KC: Introduction to the band and their musical journey so far?
NM: In a word, I would say that the musical journey of Nothing More has been very meaningful. Before everyone came to know of Nothing More, we spent nearly a decade in the underground; playing shows in dive bars for no one, working on our craft, and trying with all of our might to find our identity and become a world-class headlining band. Year after year we were passed on by record labels and booking agents, and told that we just weren’t “it”. But our love for music and love for the stage always beat the criticism we received from the industry and we used the pain of rejection to push on and keep refining the music that we were making. And I think that was what made us different as a band. When a label wouldn’t give us a deal, we learned to produce the records on our own. When we didn’t have the money to make an exciting stage show, we learned to build it ourselves. When people said that our songs were too complicated, we learned to write songs in a way that we still loved, but the message stays cohesive. I think that the struggle shaped this band in the greatest of ways. It showed us just how much music means to us. And it taught us the ability to change and endure rejection, and when not to change and to stick to your guns. More than anything I think it makes where we are now even more magical. Every day that we pull up to a show and there’s a line of people around the block waiting to get in makes all those years worth it. And I think the fans can tell that about us. They can tell that we put our heart into everything that we do and that we treat every show we play as if it’s our last.
KC: Can you share your inspiration behind the new album?
NM: The album “Spirits” was written as a kind of exploration of the spirit(s) that are inside every man or woman and how they fare through the trials of the human experience. As a band, we usually like to write from direct personal experience but since we wrote this record in the middle of Covid, and the entire world was going crazy around us, we pulled a lot from whatever mad spell the entire planet was going through.
‘’Nothing More is a staple in what the future of Rock music looks,'' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine. ‘’They are hard-hitting in the lyrics of the songs that they release and the world can relate. They don't water down the subject matters facing us all in our everyday lives. Daniel Oliver shares openly about the battles and the stigmatism that goes along with mental health issues and having the right tools to be successful in life. I can appreciate the candid conversation around a subject matter that to this day is still an issue in society. The hard-hitting lyrics in each song on their 5th studio album ‘’Spirits'' is a work of art just like their live shows. They use their platform to deliver tough topics. Their live shows are something that really sets them apart!''
Nothing More - You Don't Know What Love Means Official Music Video
Nothing More Ft Lacey Sturm - Best Times Official Video
Nothing More - Tired Of Winning / Ships In The Night Official Music Video
Chance to Win VIP Tickets!
Want to win a trip to meet us for an extreme adventure? Here's your chance!
In support of SweetRelief MusiciansFund's Music Mental Health Fund, we're giving away an extreme adventure trip to join us for a day of paintball, zip-line, or go-karting - your choice PLUS round trip travel, a 2-night hotel stay, and two VIP tickets to a future show.
Hailed as one of the "most important bands in music since the dawn of the rock and roll era,” the legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago. The highest-charting American band in Billboard Magazine's Top 125 Artists Of All Time, Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in six consecutive decades.
Featuring the signature sounds Chicago fans have come to love, their latest album, BORN FOR THIS MOMENT, produced by Joe Thomas, captures the true heart of this legendary band. Over the entire course of 14 vibrant new songs, BORN FOR THIS MOMENT encapsulates the unique blend of award-winning and personal songwriting, multilayered harmonic vocalizations, and world-class arrangements that have been electrifying audiences across the globe for decades.
Chicago recently received The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the GRAMMYS. The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording. A special award ceremony and tribute concert celebrating the honorees was held in 2020.
Chicago’s lifetime achievements include 2 Grammy Awards, 2 American Music Awards, Founding Artists of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Chicago street dedicated in their honor, and keys to and proclamations from an impressive list of US cities. Record sales top the 100,000,000 mark, and include 21 Top 10 singles, 5 consecutive Number One albums, 11 Number One singles, and 5 Gold singles. An incredible 25 of their 38 albums have been certified platinum, and the band has a total of 48 gold and platinum awards.
From the signature sound of the Chicago horns, their iconic Vocalists, and a few dozen of ever-Classic Songs, this band’s concerts are celebrations. 2023 marks the band’s 56th consecutive year of touring!
Chicago continues to be true ambassadors for their beloved hometown, carrying the city's name with pride and dignity around the world. Don’t miss them at The Venetian Theatre in February 2023.
''Chicago is undeniably one of the best shows out on tour today with their musical style, suffocation, and technique, '' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the International Music's Journey Show. ''The band Chicago wanted to rewrite the way rock and roll was in 1967 and they did just that. They did it their way!''
I had the chance to sit down to chat with lead tenor, Neil Donell to talk about the extensive catalog that he will be singing with members of Chicago that they will be performing on the 2023 tour. Donell shares some great stories about joining the band 6 years ago and talks of the incredible brotherhood among the band members.
Neil Donell is a singer, songwriter, producer, musician, vocal coach, and the father of two wonderful sons. Originally from Montreal, he relocated to Toronto in the 80s to pursue his musical aspirations. Donell has had a lengthy and busy career in the recording studio and on stages all over North America and beyond ever since.
It was a lot of fun to talk with Donell about his career in the music industry. Donell is so incredibly talented as a powerhouse vocalist. This was an opportunity to talk in-depth and play some of the most iconic songs of one of the best rock and roll bands of all time.
Chicago has 2 Canadian tour stops right now. The band will be performing at Caesars Windsor on April 7th and at Casino Rama on April 8th. To get your tickets, click HERE.
There will never be another band that has delivered hit after hit, album after album, never stopping to tour ever or stopping to record as Chicago has. Beginning its 56th year on tour, Chicago is one of the best band's there will ever be in rock and roll history delivering songs that bring back memories of a lifetime of music shared together with their fans all over the world.
To hear my 2-part interview with Neil Donell, an interview that is packed full of all your favoriteChicago hits, go to www.musicsjourney.com or click on the link below.
''Taming Sari is such an exciting Canadian Rock Band with their hard-hitting lyrics and insatiable energy in their live performances and music,'' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the International Music's Journey Podcast. ''I am thrilled every time they have a new release. This band delivers for every classic rock fan to new-age rock audiences. They are simply brilliant.''
A hard-hitting anthem speaks of vulnerability, feeling exposed in a world where it is harder and harder to fly under the radar and the raw energy of youth. “No Shelter” acts as a visceral reminder to cherish the people in your life — especially during an era filled with social trauma. It's also about forming strong relationships that make us feel connected. 'No Shelter' takes you on a journey and asks the question ''How long can it last?'' and ''Will you be with me to face what's next''?
Beyond its commentary, “No Shelter” is a blistering track that showcases the exceptional musicianship and vocal prowess of each member of Taming Sari. Listeners are treated to a sonically sophisticated song that is the culmination of Taming Sari’s pent-up creativity and energy during the pandemic; as the band says, “‘No Shelter’ is three minutes of pure mental and physical release that we all so desperately need in these times.”
“No Shelter” effortlessly exudes youthful energy through its meticulous guitar riffs and thunderous drums. “It's also about forming strong relationships that make us feel connected.” Anyone with a penchant for raw, melodic craftsmanship can be assured that the harmonies embedded in the music are as potent as the message.
“Let's settle the score know who to blame how long can it last? thing's will never be the same.”
Hailing from across Canada, Taming Sariis a collection of eclectic artists hell-bent on refining their distinct blend of classic rock and blues. This bilingual band has been on fire since the release of their debut album, Thirsty From The Drought, in 2019.
They have since performed during the intermission of an Ottawa Senators game, made it on the Canadian Active Rock charts, and racked up 200,000 streams and 70k listeners on Spotify with their last single alone. With a long list of recognitions and accolades, the release of their latest single ensures that Taming Sari is one of the most exciting Canadian acts today.
The 22-track album was recorded at the legendary El Mocambo in Toronto, ON last September and includes tracks from their sophomore album No Fools No Fun, and 5 brand new songs capturing the no holds barred, kick-ass ethic the band brings to everything they do.
The new album was put together with the help of live studio engineer Doug McClement (Blue Rodeo, Moxy Fruvous), live engineer Kirstan Moore, lead technician Jamie Howieson, and mastering engineer João Carvalho. Brian Moncar, the album’s mixing engineer (Alice Cooper, Our Lady Peace, The Tea Party) produced tracks 1-13 on the album, along with some other heavy hitters including Max Kerman of The Arkells (Saint John String Quartet) who arranged “Dark Times,” John-Angus MacDonald of The Trews (Glorious Sons, Dave Rave) producer of “Sympathy Card,” and Jason Jenkyns (The Stanfields, The Town Heroes) and Jon Landry (The Stanfields, The Town Heroes) who co-produced “The Swedish Motel”.
The No Fools No Fun album released in 2021 received national recognition with the track “Sympathy Card” hitting #27 on Billboard’s Active Rock Chart and top 50 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart in Canada, and “Overtime” was used in a montage during game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Most recently, No Fools No Fun was nominated for the 2022 ECMAS for Rock Recording of The Year.
The Nova Scotia natives continue to grow in the industry with multiple singles on the nationally syndicated show, “East Coast Countdown” and they have been showcased internationally at Live at Heart (Orebro, Sweden), ASEAN Music Showcase festival, Bangkok Music City festival, and Canadian Music Week.
They were also named Arkells “Leather Jacket” cover contest winners, Casino NS Artist in Residence Finalists from 2016-2018, Q104 Homegrown Champions out of 120 bands in 2017, and Jim Beam National Talent Search Regional Winners (Halifax) in 2019.
In addition to releasing new music, Andre Pettipas and The Giants are currently on the road, making stops at Canadian stages in Montreal, Ontario, PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. For more details on the tour, visit andrepettipasandthegiants.com/shows.
I had the chance to catch up with frontman Andre Pettipas to talk about the new album, play some great music and talk about life as a touring band. Andre also shares some news about recording at The Tragically Hip studio for their new music. The Burning Questions portion of the show is a lot of fun. To hear all the music and interview, click on the link below.
Multi-award-winning Canadian Music Hall of Famer singer, guitarist, writer, and producer Myles Goodwyn is raising awareness and support “For Ukraine” with the release of his poignant new single — available now.
The leader of the multi-Platinum-selling rock band April Wine was inspired to pen the track after seeing the country’s suffering amidst attacks from Russia.
“Like the rest of the world, I’m witness to the devastation and suffering caused by the needless war in Ukraine,” Goodwyn shares. “This painfully sad and tragic situation inspired me to write this song with the hope that it might encourage people to help the citizens of Ukraine who are so desperately in need of our help.”
As distinctive and immediately recognizable as his songwriting skills are prolific, Goodwyn’s vocals and guitar are joined by Bruce Dixon on bass guitar and Scott Ferguson on drum programming. “For Ukraine” arrives ahead of Goodwyn’s forthcoming collection of all-new original songs, Long Pants, set for release this summer.
In addition to Goodwyn and the other members of April Wine being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 2010, he received the prestigious East Coast Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and the SOCAN National Achievement Award in 2002.
''Myles Goodwyn has been busy writing for his 3rd and 4th studio album. Goodwyn's 3rd album ''Long Pants'' is set to release on June 23rd right on Myles Goodwyn's birthday,'' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the International Music's Journey Podcast. ''There are some pretty special songs on the 3rd album, songs that were written by Goodwyn in hopes to create change and open up the dialog by building awareness on many important world topics. One of those songs Goodwyn wrote is ''For Ukraine'' which is available right now and that is on his upcoming new album ''Long Pants''. Goodwyn will be performing this special song along with a few others at a very special event this coming weekend on May 14th...Pictou Country Benefit For Ukraine.'' For more information, click HERE.
The ‘Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues’ album earned him a JUNO nomination for Blues Recording of the Year, and won the ECMA award for Blues Recording of the Year. The following year Myles released ‘Friends of The Blues 2, ‘on the way to the album being well-received and winning another ECMA award for Blues Album Of The Year.
In 2016, he released his memoir named, Just Between You and Me, which became an instant seller on the Globe and Mail’s Non-Fiction List. His second book, Elvis and Tiger — this time a work of fiction — was published in 2018.
Myles Goodwyn’s new album, Long Pants, is available on June 23rd, 2022.
To hear my interview with Rock legend Myles Goodwyn, click on the link below.
The Trews are getting back to what they do best – hitting the road and playing live. The band have lined up several headlining dates across Canada this spring and summer, alongside support slots in Toronto for Black Crowes, and St. John’s, NL for the unrivaled Stone Temple Pilots. Excited about hitting the road, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald says, “We can’t wait to bring the songs from Wanderer to stages across Canada this spring & summer. The album is full of great live material that we haven’t had a chance to fully air out yet and it all fits in great with the rest of our catalogue. We said it before and we’ll say it again – we wanna play! “ For tickets visit HERE.
After hitting their previously announced dates in Estevan, SK, and in between festival appearances and supporting slots for the Black Crowes, the band will play new headlining slots in Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, BC, Ontario, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The trek begins next month with a show in Winnipeg on the 24th and ends in Antigonish on August 19.
The Trews are keeping their live show going with plans for a bunch of new Canadian concerts this summer. To celebrate their expanded tour schedule, they've also shared a video for "Enemy."
The single changes things up for the band with lead-guitarist John-Angus writing and singing lead vocals for this one. An interesting story of how this one came to be, John-Angus explains, “My then 5 year old son Elliott had a hand in inspiring this track. Alone time to work on new material when you’re raising two small children is almost non-existent so I find myself playing music with them, or at least with them in the room, often. One day Elliott suggested that I write a song called “I know what it’s like to be the Enemy”. The melody he came up with was more akin to an Iron Maiden song, or some other heavy metal band, then a Trews song. When I asked him why that lyric he said he wanted to hear a song from the perspective of one of the bad guys in a Marvel movie. Anyway, the lyric brought that chord progression and melody out of me almost instantaneously – they seemed married to each other from the very start. A day or two later I penned the verse and kept with that theme of it being from the perspective of the enemy but more the universal enemy, the one within. “
Plenty of grand boasts can be made about Wanderer, the blazing seventh studio album from rock ‘n’ roll heavyweights The Trews and easily their fiercest and most accomplished, garlanded as it is with enough marquee credits and potential smash-hits to spin even jaded heads.
But the Wanderer’s most striking claim may be this: it could not have achieved its acrobatic feats of sonic power had it not been for the lamentable, awful but also weirdly inspiring and motivational global pandemic which made touring impossible and writing and recording the only games in town.
Talk about a silver lining. At least in retrospect.
“This is a really strong rock record from start to finish. Every song was mulled over extensively,” guitarist John-Angus MacDonald says. “The pandemic bought us more time which you always need with songwriting. There are songs that would not be on this record had it happened another way.”
Adds singer/guitarist Colin MacDonald, “We accidentally honed our recording skills because there was no live show to get to.”
Really, who could have predicted that electrifying recording sessions begun in Nashville in December 2019 with Black Crowes guitarist and long-time Trews friend Rich Robinson would be curtailed by an unprecedented Canada/U.S. border closure, resulting in just three songs being completed?
Or predicted that that maddening roadblock and an ensuing lockdown would fortuitously lead, nine months later, to sessions at Jukasa Studios in Caledonia, Ontario opposite Derek Hoffman, yielding three more songs with the fast-rising producer who brilliantly helmed Civilianaires, The Trews’ widely acclaimed forerunner to The Wanderer. And the story didn’t end there.
With the Robinson/Hoffman sessions banked, six additional songs — including blistering COVID-themed corker and lead single “I Wanna Play” and the barn-burning title track — demanded additional studio time in Toronto in late 2020 with producer Eric Ratz. Yes, he of the Gargantuan Rock Sound as evidenced by his much-lauded work with Monster Truck, Arkells, Big Wreck… and now The Trews, whose playing throughout The Wanderer sounds positively atomic.
“This is very much a guitar record. I mean, all our records have had guitars, but we really put the focus on, forgive the cliché, getting back to our roots with stand-out riffs and solos,” John-Angus MacDonald confirms. “Rich is a walking riff, and Eric is a big guitar guy, so that’s just the way it happened.”
In the end, those three disparate, COVID-dictated sessions forced the chart-topping, globe-trotting crew, which includes bassist Jack Syperek, drummer Chris Gormley, and keyboardist Jeff Heisholt, to cohere as a band as never before. The results speak for themselves.
Indeed, even veteran fans of The Trews will be flattened by the gale force of the before-mentioned single and storming album opener “Where Do You Go,” both cut with Ratz and featuring unabashedly dweedly (but oh-so-cool and air guitar–worthy) guitar solos.
“I love ‘Where Do You Go,’ which is so out-there for us with its weird time changes. And ‘I Wanna Play’ is perfectly indicative of the times: funny, sad, passionate, and it rocks,” says Colin MacDonald, who test- drove the single with fans during Friday night Instagram Live sessions while in lockdown at home.
No new way of working was off the table during sessions for The Wanderer. For example, the three songs recorded with Robinson in Nashville (“Faith and Fumes,” “Permission,” “Hidden Gem”) were cut without a click track, standard studio procedure and the easiest way of tracking changes but also something of a production safety net.
“The songs with Rich were all about committing to the moment,” John-Angus MacDonald says, “and they sound freer as a result.”
“Our paths had been crossing with Rich’s for years,” Colin MacDonald explains of the genesis of the collaboration. “We opened for his side project, the Magpie Salute in the States in 2017, and he opened for us solo acoustic in Canada in 2016. Plus, the Black Crowes are one of our favourite bands.”
Further underscoring their cohesion, The Trews cut the songs on Wanderer together as a band rather than piecemeal which, like the click track, is de rigueur — and very much the way Civilianaires was constructed. But that method did not reflect the band’s headspace in 2020 even if trading audio files from home-studio safe havens would have been much easier.
“We toured for two years with Civilianaires and we wanted to capture that well-oiled band in studio,” John-Angus MacDonald says. “The older I get, the more I realize strengths like that are not a dime a dozen. We wanted to leverage that chemistry.”
Attentive listeners might also notice that the buoyant, pealing “Enemy” features not Colin MacDonald on lead vocals but John-Angus, a Trews first. “Plus, that song is technically a co-write with my then-five- year-old son Elliott because he’s a killer drummer,” he laughs. “He just bashes away with glee, and he came up with some of the lyrics.”
At the other end of the sonic spectrum is the downcast, mournful “Another Year Zero,” a song Colin MacDonald delivers with such furrowed resignation you can practically smell the bourbon on his breath.
“That song is about things taken for granted because something else seems just around the corner,” the singer says. “Other shows to do, other people to meet… but we didn’t factor in a global pandemic.
“It’s a reminder that you can’t take anything for granted, and it’s a reflection of what happens when you’re forced to sit at home alone with yourself.
“This is a transitional album,” Colin MacDonald continues, “and it encapsulates these twin realms of possibility and impossibility. It’s trying to find light during these massively dark times through music. This record was our safe place. We hope it helps others, too.”
“And we cannot wait to tour in May 2022,” John-Angus MacDonald says. “We just want to play again.”
''There is nothing sweeter than when you hear that Rock icons The Trews are heading out on tour,'' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the International Music's Journey Podcast. ''The Trewshave been rocking stages around the world for over 20 years now they are finally heading out on the I Wanna Play Tour in May with rock band W3APONS. I had a fantastic time talking with lead singer Colin MacDonald. This interview has loads of behind the lyrics and the music chat and lots of music from their new album Wanderer that you don't want to miss.''
To hear my interview with Colin MacDonald, click on the link below.
05/24 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre 05/25 – Regina, SK – Casina Regina 05/27 – Saskatoon, SK – The Roxy 05/29 – Red Deer, AB – Bo’s 05/30 – Edmonton AB – Midway Music 05/31 – Calgary, AB – The Palace Theatre 06/02 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore 06/05 – Medicine Hat, AB – Esplanade 06/08 – Thunder Bay, ON – NV Music Hall 06/10 – Sarnia, ON – Black Party 06/16 – Sudbury, ON – Caruso Club 06/17 – Burlington, ON – Spencer Smith Park 06/20 – St. John’s, NL – Iceberg Alley 07/05 – Windsor, ON – The Colosseum at Caesars 07/06 – Toronto, ON – The Budweiser Stage *Black Crowes 07/14 – London, ON – Harris Park 07/16 – Bala, ON – Kee to Bala 07/23 – Mattawa, ON – Mattawa Voyageur Days 07/30 – Saint John, NB – Area 506 Concert Series 08/06 – Youngstown, NY – Youngstown Village Music Festival 08/14 – Grand Prairie, AB – Bear Creek Folk Festival 08/19 – Antigonish, NS – Nova Scotia Summerfest
FKB is a high-energy, four-piece, alternative rock band based in Edmonton, influenced by the mystique, glamour, and excess of the 1960s-1980s entertainment business.
Formed in Bonnyville, Alberta, the band is fronted by JUNO Award-nominated songwriter (2019), Drew Shalka, and features Travis Topylki(lead guitar), Derek Chalut (drums), and Alex Fedorouk(rhythm guitar).
''FKB has delivered another infectious song with 'Beautiful Fantasy' that begs you to put it on repeat to discover sounds and different frequencies that you just don't pick up on listening to it only once,'' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, host for the International Music's Journey Podcast, and radio host on 91.3 FM. ''I love the effects of the delays in the new track Beautiful Fantasy and how the delays were played in reverse and then played back and some other pretty sweet effects by Dan Davidson. FKB brings a very unique take on an alternative pop-rock sound right now. Their high-energy stage performance will be exciting fans for years to come. The is amazing to see the connection the band members have with one another and their own separate influences and musicianship they all bring to the table. FKB is a very electrifying and intoxicating band and they are constantly challenging themselves creatively and that's exciting. I look forward to seeing what they have in store for us all in 2022.''
FKB’s infectious, falsetto-driven single, “Beautiful Fantasy” (2021) is co-produced by Dan Davidson (Tupelo Honey) and Clayton Bellamy (Road Hammers). “’Beautiful Fantasy’ is us finding a way to connect our influences from the past, like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and The Beach Boys, with the modern sounds of Foster The People, Portugal the Man, and The Weeknd,” says Shalka. “We wanted to draw from the excitement of our live shows and give people something they can dance to.”
The band appears as themselves in the feature film, Moments in Spacetime (Oct 2020), performing their single, “My Bedroom” (2018). “We reconnected with our high school media arts teacher at a local TEDx event where we were both speaking. He had returned from film school in Vancouver and his recent project, Sweet Oil (2017), was featured at the Phoenix Film Festival and the Holly Shorts Film Festival (Hollywood). He had also done some work on episodes of the AMC series, Hell on Wheels,” recalls Shalka. “He had a new project shooting in Cold Lake, Alberta, and asked if he could write us into the movie performing as ourselves. We even have a few lines of dialogue.” The film stars John Rhys-Davies (Indiana Jones, James Bond, Lord of the Rings), Patty Srisuwan (Misfortune), and Sam Gittins (EastEnders, Call The Midwife, Await Further Instructions).
Clayton Bellamy, a JUNO Award, multiple CCMA and SOCAN Songwriter of the Year has produced all of FKB’s music including, ”Glow” (2020), with Dan Davidson, “Backstreet Daydream” (2019); “My Bedroom” (2018); “Casual Love” (2018), released via KnightVision Records (Amsterdam), “Bright Lights” (2017), which was nominated for Adult Alternative Recording of the Year at the Edmonton Music Awards; and FKB’s debut EP, 123 FKB, which featured the Alternative and Active Rock single, “Crystal Ball”.
FKB has performed over 200 shows across North America since 2017. In 2019, they won the Edmonton edition of the Jim Beam National Talent Search, which culminated in a showcase performance at Canadian Music Week (Toronto).
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TAMING SARI
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Andre Pettipas and The Giants 
Photo Credit Matthew Perry
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