Pheromone Recordings

THE DEARS TO PLAY NEW ALBUM IN ENTIRETY AT RESIDENCIES IN TORONTO, MONTREAL AND BROOKLYN;NEW ALBUM SLATED FOR AN EARLY 2011 RELEASE ON PHEROMONE RECORDINGS;MERCH SALES AT SHOWS TO BENEFIT MONTREAL CITY MISSION AND WAR CHILD

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:29:18 +0000

To introduce audiences to their new collection of songs, acclaimed art rock band The Dears will play a series of residencies during which they will perform their forthcoming record in full. The eight residency shows – three consecutive nights in Toronto and Montreal and two in Brooklyn (tour dates below) – will recapture the essence of band’s immensely successful string of shows in Mexico City this past May.

The Dears will be donating proceeds from every merch sale at these residencies to Montreal City Mission and War Child. “Some of the items are rare, might be the wrong size, while some things are out of print and may be sold at ridiculous prices. But this is not just about raising money. People hurt everywhere, all the time, and in so many ways. Essentially, this is what we sing about and sometimes singing just ain’t enough. By taking some of this stuff off our hands, hopefully folks will remember who they’re helping and why,” says the band of the endeavor.

The Dears’ upcoming album, slated for an early 2011 release, is a welcome return to form for the band that won the adoration of countless critics and fans. Praised for their “themes of love, isolation and racism while delivering instantly accessible melodies” by Rolling Stone, Filter Magazine applauded their “astoundingly complex, deeply evocative pop.” Pitchfork congratulated the band for their “earnestness decidedly lacking in today’s indie landscape” while Complex raved “The Dears split the difference between morose and uplifting melodic rock better than anyone since the Smiths.” Penthouse simply said The Dears are “a must-listen for fans of introspective British rock.”

The new record and touring lineup also marks the return of guitarists Patrick Krief and Rob Benvie, early-era bassist Roberto Arquilla as well as newcomer Jeff Luciani on drums. In addition, of course, to singer Murray Lightburn and keyboardist Natalia Yanchak. The band mentions that “we’ve seen many line-up changes, but this one is quite special. Some of our relationships, and friendships, go back over 10 years. The result has been powerful and chilling, like some cosmic design intent on blowing you away.”
Residency Tour Dates:

September 29 Montreal, QB Pop Montreal @ Santa Cruz Church
September 30 Montreal, QB Pop Montreal @ Santa Cruz Church
October 1 Montreal, QB Pop Montreal @ Santa Cruz Church

October 13 Toronto, ON The Garrison
October 14 Toronto, ON The Garrison
October 15 Toronto, ON The Garrison

November 3 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory
November 4 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory

About Montreal City Mission:

For over 100 years, the Montreal City Mission (MCM) has embraced a social
justice model of community action while responding to the challenges of
poverty and social exclusion. From refugee assistance programs to youth and
green programs, MCM’s programs seek to support and empower Montrealers in
need as they make the journey from exclusion to community.
www.montrealcitymission.org

About War Child:

War Child works with children all over the world to reduce the effects of
poverty, provide an education and to defend and promote child rights. War
Child works to help children whose lives have been torn apart by conflict,
and provide them with the means to build a brighter future. War Child works
with local people and organizations in Afghanistan, Darfur (Sudan), Uganda,
Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Georgia and
Haiti. www.warchild.ca.

Beast and 80,000 of Their Closest Friends

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:38:07 +0000

On Tuesday June 29, Beast played the Montreal Jazz Festival’s mainstage “Grand Evenement” and they flat out crushed it, with a sea of humanity 100 yards wide and half a kilometre long in attendance. Imagine the already extraordinary core Beast live experience augmented by a four piece string section, backing vocalists and a 5 piece chorale and rivetting visuals. But don’t take our word for it. Read the Montreal Gazette’s review here:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Different+kind+oomph+Beast+unapologetically+itself/3218742/story.html

Flash Lightnin’ self-titled debut available now; CD release show booked for Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern August 12

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:09:42 +0000

Flash Lightnin’s long-a-coming self titled debut is in stores and available digitally now. And what better way to celebrate than with a searing night of rock ‘n’ roll at the Horseshoe! The bill on August 12 will also include Huron, the legendary Ian Blurton’s highly touted new group. Opening the night will be Biblical, the new band fronted by ex – Illuminatti bassist Nick Sewell. Bust out your earplugs and we’ll see you there!

And if you are attending the Hillside Festival in Guelph this year you can also catch Flash there, along with Pheromone’s The Warped 45s.

Herohill.com Gives The Warped 45s Polaris Love

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:00:10 +0000

Pheromone thanks Bryan Acker for his unalloyed support of 10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan since its release. This comes from his Polaris nominees post:

Over the last two weeks, The Warped 45s have been in and out of my Top 5 quite a few times in the last couple of weeks. Not because the record has lost any impact over the countless listens I’ve given it; in fact, it holds up better than I could have imagined and that staying power is why it beat out The Sadies, Yukon Blonde, The Besnard Lakes, The Barr Brothers (a record whose only crime is the fact I’ve had it for only a week or two and haven’t been able to absorb every nuance) and ultimately an artist I was smitten with and assumed would make the final cut, Bahamas and his Pink Strat.

But at the end of the day, the honest feel I take from Warped 45s release helped it win out. These TO transplants play each note with love; the love of playing music with your friends without the fear and pressure of hoping anyone else will “get it.” When people hear The Warped 45s, they hear a solid group of roots rockers that bring it every time they hit the stage and it’s that road warrior mentality has helped them fine tune a collection of songs that every roots fan should have on their shelf. “Let my headstone be my favorite jukebox, loaded with the songs of my friends.”

The Warped 45s and Flash Lightnin’ to play Hillside

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:06:34 +0000

Pheromone’s Warped 45s and Flash Lightnin’ were both honored with offers to play play Guelph, Ontario’s quite fabulous Hillside Festival. Hillside is a long time fave summer destination for music lovers from Southern Ontario and beyond. Always held in late July this year Hillside runs from July 23 to July 25. The schedule is highly diverse and eclectic, presenting a virtual musical smorgasbord of entertainment. Google Hillside for the full list of dozens of acts and be sure not to miss the Americana musings of the Warpeds, or get your ass kicked by the mighty Flash. Tickets go on sale May 1 and will go fast!

View Magazine gives The Warped 45s front page love in their January 21 edition

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:22:05 +0000

One of Canada’s strongest musical markets, both domestically and internationally, is alternative country, or what has been labeled “Canadiana”. With a history that rivals any country – featuring the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell and Ian Thomas – a generation of new bands have taken the influences of old to heart, and created a community of roots music that consistently churns out unique and original material. So, without further ado, here’s an introduction to Canada’s next great export, Toronto’s Warped 45s. The quintent, obvious phonophiles and well aware of the history of the music they are appropriating, have created a well–worn tribute to the past, while offering sonic suggestions of what the genre is going to sound like in the future.
Though their debut full–length, titled 10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan, The Warped 45s have a distinctly Canadiana release on their hands, complete with alcoholic ballads, tales of travel and of course, a provincial shout–out to round it all off. “The songs were written and all tried live for a year previous to going into the studio, so I guess any themes we had snuck in with us,” discusses guitarist and one half of the songwriting duo, Dave McEathron. “I feel a great connection to traditional styles of music but you can’t ignore all that has happened in music up to now. With us, I think they have to be updated lyrically to reflect the changes in technology, social customs and the environment as well. In one of our songs for example, ‘Radio Sky’, it’s a hubcap stream and in ‘New Depression’ it is the concept of a ruinscape. My songs tend to jump from the past to possible futures and play off of each other through time. There are themes being raised through a few characters about how they are living or if they even deserve to live and there is exploration of nature, but under the sphere of pollution and terror with just enough hope to make it digestible. Hopefully these themes appear as suggestions, but not in a preachy way. It’s more important to me that they offer up daydreams of sorts around on a few subjects, like a movie.” Released in September, the response has been overwhelming. Picked up by Toronto–based indie Pheromone Recordings and released nationally through Fontana North, 10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan has even surprised the band, including cousin of Dave and other co–conspirator, Ryan McEachron. “Although the reviews have been great pretty much across the board and we appreciate all of them, the most memorable would have to be while driving up north, heading for Thunder Bay, on our first west coast tour,” explains McEachron. “We are all together, in the van, listening to our favorite radio show, CBC’s Drive with Rich Terfry of Buck 65, who then came on and announced that he thinks our album is one of his favorite albums of the year. It’s amazing we didn’t drive off the road.” Yet, the success should not come as a surprise. To begin, the album was recorded by one of Canada’s best roots producers, Toronto’s John Critchley. Having already worked with Elliott Brood and Dan Mangan, The Warped 45s knew they were in good hands. “The album was recorded at Green Door Studios in Parkdale (in Toronto’s west end) with producer John Critchley,” adds Ryan. “We initially used the studio as a practice facility, so were already comfortable there, and were impressed by John’s projects with bands such as Elliott Brood, NQ Arbuckle and others. We did a six–song EP with John in 2008 that we were proud of and served us well, so it only seemed natural that we should record our full length album there too.
“But there were challenges. The first was money. We decided that we would record a new record anyway, even if it meant going into debt. And it did; a lot of debt. Regardless, we started recording last winter. We wanted the audience to hear the live energy, which John is good at capturing, so we spent a few solid long weekends laying down tracks together in one sweaty room. From there we had to spread out our overdubbing and mixing based on our ability to come up with money, and a run of flu and or pneumonia that knocked us all out, one at a time. We all got better, the record got finished and the rest is history.”
While 10 Day Poem for Saskatchewan is another notch on the success of the Canadiana scene in Canada, live is where The Warped 45s truly come into their own. It’s inebriated, insatiable, raucous roots and roll, and very different from the album. “There may be a bit of a serious feel on the record, but live it’s a much more lighthearted and energetic,” asserts cousin Ryan. “When the crowd is interacting with us, we like to fire back and forth and get them involved. More and more people like to sing along, and we really love that. It is more raw when you can see us playing off each other, sweating buckets. Trust me.”

Beast’s “Mr. Hurricane” video nominated for a Grammy!

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:17:35 +0000

Whoa! Yes it’s true! Beast’s lauded clip for the hit song “Mr. Hurricane” from their self -titled debut album has been nominated in the Best Short Form Video category in this year’s Grammy Awards. Beast’s clip is sitting alongside some other acts called Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas and Depeche Mode. Hats off to Director Ben Steiger-Levine, Producer Sach Baylin-Stern and Animator superbe Joshua Errett! What’s all the – ahem – buzz about? Check it here:

Beast – Mr. Hurricane from Pheromone Recordings on Vimeo.

Exclaim! Gives The Warped 45s Year End Love

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:57:36 +0000

Exclaim!’s year end issue is about to hit the street and their best of the year picks are already online. Roots music section Wood, Wires and Whiskey salutes The Warpeds’ 10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan as one of the 10 best of the year…which it most assuredly is! Read more here

Brooklyn Vegan reviews Beast show at CMJ (with pictures)

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:09:29 +0000

I’m pleased to announce a late addition to the Brooklyn Vegan / Bowery Presents day party tomorrow at Pianos: Montreal’s BEAST, who will kick off the day’s festivities at 12:30pm. They played a knockout set at the M for Montreal showcase at Arlene’s Grocery on Wednesday.

Read the rest here

Beast completes a series of successful shows at CMJ, and Soul Mag has some words of praise

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:03:24 +0000

Beast’s self-titled debut conjures images of a bad-ass lone warrior masterfully fighting his way through a shitload of his enemies in some yet-the-be-written anime/martial arts classic. A combination of trip-rock rhythms, otherworldly vocals, and an injection of spaghetti western guitar riffs all work perfectly together to create the group’s wonderfully gritty sound. But forget all the catchy phrases about their sound being different, innovative, and the rest; though it is exactly that and then some. The real point here is that they are just plain good at what they do…

Read the rest here