On a recent Cancer Bats website posting, bassist Andrew McCracken disputes vocalist Liam Cormier’s ability to distinguish between band info that is newsworthy and info that is blogworthy.
“Liam, you never listen. We explained the difference between blogging and news to you before,” he writes. “News is news; new record, tour coming up, Aner’s not in the band anymore, that kind of stuff. Blog is everyday bullshit happening on tour that maybe isn’t necessary but some people might get a kick out of.”
With that definition in mind, we gave Cormier another chance to prove himself as he, McCracken and the rest of the rage/metal/punk touring machine (guitarist Scott Middleton and drummer Mike Peters) braved the snow between Fredericton and Moncton. So, what’s the news?
“Lots of new stuff coming up for us. We have a whole mess of tours coming up, which we’re stoked on,” says Cormier, whose band is touring the east coast in support of Birthing the Giant, released last June. “We actually just got a brand new van, which rules. We had a ton of van trouble last year.”
To see what else is new, take advantage of a pair of chances to catch them on January 20 at the Pavilion and The Attic. They will be joined on both bills by The End and I Hate Sally.
This is a scene
One Halifax independent record label is trying to make its branding as ironic as possible. Trevor Murphy and Josh Pothier—both members of The Establishment—founded No Scene Records a year ago and are excited about the venture.
“We’re a weird band in that we can play with a whole bunch of other people, but don’t necessarily have our scene or fit into one of the scenes that are carved out,” says Murphy. “There are five or six different scenes, and we can play with anyone in those different scenes.”
The cooperation between acts the pair have established is an eclectic meld also embracing the likes of country artist Ryan Cook, rock act Jon McKiel and the shoegazing, post-grunge influences of Joyless Streets. While Cook begins to pump his debut Sunny Acres, released last week, and McKiel sets to tour across Canada again, Joyless Streets will wait until spring to join their No Scene teammates on the promotional circuit.
“They will be putting out their new record in March, if everything goes right,” says Murphy. “It’s a great record, so we’re really excited about that.”
He also hints at a 7-inch The Establishment will split with Windsor, Ontario’s The Orphan Choir.
“We just recorded our two tracks with J. Lapointe,” says Murphy. The Orphan Choir “recorded their tracks with Ian Blurton. It’s something we wanted to do and it doesn’t hurt to do it with someone else. They know a lot of people up there, and the same thing goes for us here. It’ll help us get bigger audiences.”
ECMA item of the week
The Trailer Park Boys may be hosting for a second consecutive year, but the East Coast Music Awards will see a few other encores from their 2006 telecast. Performing the February 18 show, in no special order, are Ron Hynes, Classified, the Joel Plaskett Emergency, In-Flight Safety, Georges Belliveau, The Divorcees, Measha Brueggergosman and, in a special performance together, Rose Cousins, Jill Barber, David Myles and Catharine MacLellan.
What would you repeat? Email: [email protected]
