December 10, 2012

Absence makes the heart beat faster for Kanata musician

From: www.yourottawaregion.com
By: Jessica Cunha | Dec 08, 2012 – 10:00 AM

Steve Gardiner releases first album in eight years

Steve Gardiner

Absence Makes the Heart Beat Faster is a fitting title for Steve Gardiner’s first album in nearly a decade.

The Ottawa musician is releasing his third full-length solo album after an eight-year hiatus. The record features 12 rock tracks with two bonus club mixes thrown in for good measure.

“I’m just so excited about it; it’s been a while since my last release,” said Gardiner. “There was a big stretch where I didn’t put anything out … I went through a lot of personal changes in those years.

“I had done so much for so long … I just kind of stopped doing it for awhile.”

Gardiner, who was a member of the bands In and Out and Thermocline, started tinkering around at his home recording studio again after helping another Ottawa band with a demo.

“Like any musician, it flows through your blood,” he said. “I kind of really got back into it again … I started writing some songs and it just started taking shape.”

Gardiner spent the next two and a half years writing, recording and producing the tracks with his band – which includes Andrew Lamarche on drums, Dan Joseph on bass and Brent Miller on guitar.

“It’s the first one I’ve done myself,” said Gardiner. “I ran the show. The only thing I didn’t do was mix and master it.”

Working without a record label allowed Gardiner to spend time on each track.

“I’ve been out (of the music scene) for so long; when this comes out it has to be great,” he said about his third album. “We did it on our own time; we did it the way we wanted it to sound.”

Absence Makes the Heart Beat Faster is available online through iTunes and cdbaby.com.

LIVE

Gardiner said he and the band are rehearsing now for live shows in the new year, including an official launch for the record in February.

“I really believe it’s the best album I’ve done so far,” said Gardiner. “I really want to get out there a promote it.”

He added the band is planning to play as many festivals as possible over the summer.

“I’ll play somebody’s basement if I have to, just to go out and promote the album,” he said.

Hyperactive, the first single released from the album, is about Gardiner’s re-discovery of himself.

“I just kind of felt that it was a heavy enough song; after not doing a record in so long you kind of define what your sound is and where it’s going,” said Gardiner.

Although he enjoys some pop music himself, with so much of it saturating the market Gardiner said it’s an interesting time for rock musicians.

“You kind of go, where does rock sit right now?” he said. “I think there’s a hole right now. Pop is really big but for those hardcore rock lovers, if they want to check out something new and Canadian, I would encourage them to check (the new album) out.”

© Copyright Metroland 2012

January 15, 2009

Robert Farrell Band (rfb) featured in the Ottawa Citizen

The great unknown

By Fateema Sayani, Citizen Special January 15, 2009

Robert Farrell would be happy to lose the title of ‘greatest undiscovered guitarist in Canada.’

Robert Farrell Citizen 20090115Photograph by: Wayne Cuddington, The Ottawa Citizen, Citizen Special

Robert Farrell has spent the past 25 years studying, teaching and playing the guitar. He knows the ins and outs of the thing and is often heralded for his inventive techniques such as the double slide.

Six years ago, Billboard described him as “arguably the greatest undiscovered guitarist in Canada.” It’s an accolade, but a trying one –“undiscovered” has cachet, but it’s only fun to be that way for so long. As such, frontman Farrell wears the frown of frustration.

We meet one afternoon at the Elmdale Tavern. A regular patron stuffs coins into the CD jukebox, trying to hear most of Exile on Main Street. Paperbacks line the wall and the titles bring to mind classic-rock songs: Behind Closed Doors, Bastard Son, and Dance With the Devil.”Give us the cool look,” the photographer prompts. Farrell and his bandmates flinch in response. Drummer Andrew Lamarche (Artificial Joy Club, David Gogo) and bass player Stephen Clarke (Lister) provide the comic relief — gesturing, joking and launching out random musical trivia to chew over. They, along with Farrell, have successful careers as session players.

Continue reading “Robert Farrell Band (rfb) featured in the Ottawa Citizen”

July 9, 2008

Jon Amor Review

From The Ottawa Citizen
Saturday, July 6, 2008 – Page A9
REVIEWS

Artists work it together

Jon Amor - Photo by: Brian Goldschmied By Lynn Saxberg

Another highlight of yesterday’s daytime festivities was a performance by British guitarist Jon Amor, who demonstrated the fruits of his own made-in-Ottawa collaboration. In a crisp white shirt, Amor, who grew up a few kilometers from Stonehenge. made a terrific impression on the River stage, thanks in part to the Ottawa band that accompanied him.

As the tall, skinny Brit blazed the frets, pledging his allegiance to electric blues-rock, a rhythm section made up of Ottawa bassist Pat Giunta and drummer Andrew Lamarche made sure his playing was given a maximum punch. On songs like Rose Coloured Glasses and I Can’t Keep Living Like This, two of the expressive anthems from his latest disc, Unknown Soldier, they were cooking.

Mind you, Amor has a knack for getting along with people. One high-profile gues on his disc is Robert Plant, who dropped by the studio to contribute some bluesy harmonica.

August 14, 2007

Duluth News Tribune – No Passport, No Problem

From: Duluth News Tribune

John Myers Duluth News Tribune
Published Sunday, August 12, 2007

David Gogo of Canada found himself stuck in a Toronto airport Friday night trying to fly into the U.S. so he could get to Duluth for his 6:45 p.m. penultimate act at Bayfront Blues Festival. The only problem is that Gogo didn’t have his passport, a requirement to fly into the U.S.

So after a frenzied night of customs hassles, Gogo eventually flew from Toronto to Thunder Bay and then rented a car and drove into the U.S. at Pigeon River since the passport rule isn’t in effect yet for driving into the U.S.

His extra guitars ended up in Detroit without him, but Gogo and his band made it to Duluth just fine. He even praised the breakfast he stopped for at a Grand Marais restaurant.

August 14, 2006

David Gogo – Nationally On CTV’s “Good Morning Canada”

David Gogo LogoFrom davidgogo.com

David and the band performed two songs live for “Good Morning Canada” that will be featured Canada wide on the CTV network on Saturday, August 26th at 8:00 Am (local time) and again on Sunday, August 27th at 7:00 Am (local time). The show is hosted by Natalie Pierosara and showcases interesting lifestyle and news stories in and around the country.

For further information and program details, check this out.

March 27, 2006

Order of the Day – Chart Magazine Feature

Order of the Day was featured on the Chart Magazine website today.

From http://www.chartattack.com/

NEWS

Four Canadian Acts Featured In Budweiser Music Promotion

Monday March 27, 2006 @ 06:00 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

Order of the Day - Chart MagazineFour Canadian acts are among the 15 that should gain American exposure as part of a campaign to promote Budweiser’s new Select brand.

Ottawa hard rockers Order Of The Day, singer/songwriter Melissa McClelland, Winnipeg folk/roots band Nathan and Delerium member Rhys Fulber’s Conjure One project are all part of the U.S. promotion, which involves 10,000 vouchers being distributed at bars and clubs across the country. Each voucher is redeemable for five free downloads at the BudTune.com website, and recipients can choose songs from any of the 15 acts chosen for the program.

Order Of The Day have contributed “Pretty Things” and “What Are You Waiting For” from their Truth Be Told EP that they’ll release next month. You can also hear their songs at their MySpace page.

“The potential exposure of our music to the American market is huge for us,” OOTD guitarist Tom Pambrun says of the promotion. “It’s getting harder and harder to break new bands these days, so to be able to get on board something like that at the ground level is an extraordinary opportunity and we plan to make the most of it.”

The other artists involved in the promotion are former Sixpence None The Richer singer Leigh Nash, Stereophonics, Jars Of Clay, The Devlins, The Waiting Game, Trespassers William, Venus Hum, The Submarines, Robert Post, Griffen House and Kirsty Hawkshaw.

—Phil Villeneuve
© 2006 Chart Attack

January 25, 2006

Velvetbox Article

In this contest, judges pick an Ugly winner

Songwriter beats out 400 entries, becomes Bear’s Radio Star

Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Tuesday, January 24, 2006

To thousands of people who listen to The Bear radio station, Lawson Carroll’s song, I’m Ugly Cause You’re Beautiful, has the potential to be a hit. After weeks of online voting and deliberation by a panel of Ottawa-area music industry judges, it was announced yesterday as the regional winner in the Canadian Radio Star contest, formerly known as the National Songwriting Competition.

The catchy song, marked by an infectious drum loop and a soaring hook and performed by Carroll’s band Velvetbox, was one of 400 entries submitted to The Bear, said the station’s music director, Kath Thompson. For the first time, voting was open to the public, and more than 10,000 people cast votes for their favourite of the top five finalists.

Continue reading “Velvetbox Article”

August 26, 2005

David Gogo Press

David Gogo LogoGlobe and Mail – 2005-08-26

PROFILE: DAVID GOGO

Canada’s top blues guitarist never felt he was at a musical crossroads. ‘I just try to follow my instincts, and lately it’s been working pretty good.’

By BRAD WHEELER

Friday, August 26, 2005 Page R20

As record companies and musicians do their various things, the blues makes its own way. In the early nineties, EMI Records signed a young blues guitarist out of Nanaimo, B.C., and, naturally, strongly suggested that he put out a rock — not a blues — record. David Gogo did as he was instructed, but in an insurgent stroke, included one blues track on the album, B.B. King’s It’s My Own Fault, a slow burner that was a staple of King’s live shows in the sixties. READ MORE

Toronto Star – 2005-08-25

Broader shade of blues

B.C.’s David Gogo widens audience
Joins B.B. King in town Wednesday

GREG QUILL
ENTERTAINMENT COLUMNIST

David Gogo’s “Hey Juanita,” a jaunty and infectious country-soul rocker, may be the breakout cut on his latest album, Vibe.

This is not the first time Nanaimo, B.C. singer/guitarist David Gogo has shared a stage with his idol. On Wednesday night at the Molson Amphitheatre, Gogo opens for B.B. King at the American blues legend’s 80th birthday bash at the Molson Amphitheatre.

“The first time was 15 years ago, when I was 21 and just starting to make a name for myself,” says Gogo, who last year received the CBC Saturday Night Blues Great Canadian Blues Award for a lifetime contribution to the musical genre in Canada, and earlier this year picked up the Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year Award. READ MORE

July 14, 2005

David Gogo Review

From ottawacitizen.com – July 13, 2005

ZZ Top deliver big ol’ slice of blues-rock

Lynn Saxberg
The Ottawa Citizen

Is Bluesfest still a blues festival? ZZ Top and David Gogo answered that question last night with a deafening “hell, yeah.”

A capacity crowd of at least 20,000, most with lawnchairs on the grass and Harleys parked along the street, welcomed a great, big old slice of blues-rock delivered by the same three guys who’ve been playing the same three chords for the last 35 years.

They made that old joke again last night, about 30 minutes into a concert that began with a plunge into the back catalogue. There were plenty of hits to choose from, a gritty Under Pressure to open, a nasty Jesus Left Chicago and an even nastier Nation Wide. By the time a new song, the boogie-blues number Buck Naked, came along, it was indistinguishable from the vintage stuff.

To the crowd of blues-thirsty 20- to 40-year-olds, it hit the spot like a shot of Jack after too many warm beers.

For David Gogo, last night’s show had to be a career high. Backed by his Ottawa-based band, he gave a blockbuster performance in front of a huge crowd of blues-rock fans.

Although the axeman had the same sort of opportunity last year opening for the Tragically Hip at the festival, he cemented the bond with last night’s performance, grabbing attention from the start with his twisted-blues take on Personal Jesus.

The West Coast guitarist’s set included a searing, but soulful, take on Hootchie Cootchie Man, a guest appearance by the Texas Horns, another by Ottawa guitar hero Tony D., and several spots by the sultry-voiced Becky Abbott.

Like last year, Gogo chugged a beer and then used the empty bottle as a slide on his electric guitar. The crowd loved it, even more than last time. It looked like Gogo will be heading back to Vancouver Island with a lot more names on his mailing list.

© The Ottawa Citizen 2005

January 12, 2005

Steve Gardiner – Ottawa Sun Article

Success comes calling for local musician

By ANN MARIE McQUEEN, Ottawa Sun

Steve Gardiner has always wanted to make it in the music business. Two years ago, after a tragedy folded his latest band, he all but gave up.

It was then others seemed to start trying for him.

People may best remember Gardiner from bands such as In and Out and Thermocline, but it was an independent solo CD the Cornwall-born singer/guitarist recorded in 2000 that led to his current resurgence.

Continue reading “Steve Gardiner – Ottawa Sun Article”

February 15, 2002

THERMOclinE Review

From GodsofMusic.com

ARTIST: THERMOCLINE
SONG: VACANT LOT
GENRE: ROCK / RADIO PLAY!
SIMILAR: THIRD-EYE-BLIND, TRAIN, LIT

Reviewing THERMOclinE’s “Vacant Lot”, 2.13.02

First Impressions: Are these guys signed??

THERMOclinE hails from Ottawa Canada and their current line-up consists of Steve Gardiner on Lead Vocals, Aaron Kronis on Lead Guitar and Vocals, Jay Ruston on bass, and Andrew Lamarche on Drums.
This is what today’s radio play pop-rock is all about! These gentlemen liken themselves to Stabbing Westward, Econoline Crush, STP, and Filter, but do not let this influence your decision to listen to them. I am a fan of most of the aforementioned groups, but I do not hear them in this tune. What I do hear is an original song, which if played every day at 5:PM on the radio, would generate platinum status album sales! If you are into today’s hits from such artists as Nickelback, SUM41, Train, Lit, and Third-Eye Blind, then I guarantee that you will like THERMOclinE!

“Vacant Lot” is a 3:29 A&R dream. This song has everything it needs to satisfy both the musician AND the average audience. It is short. It is to the point. It has absolutely no wasted space. The chorus sticks in your head, and it is FUN to sing a long with! The musicianship is tight, slightly difficult and very well produced. The dynamics rise and fall appropriately from verse to chorus. I can find very little that I would have done differently in this song. Even the guitar solo falls directly into the category of “Today.”

Since the fall of the guitar solo (most commonly noted as being destroyed by Nirvana and Nevermind) guitar solos have become much shorter, less flashy, and more hooky. Aaron’s solo in “Vacant Lot” adds a hook to the music without distracting you from the song itself. It belongs here, and it would be missed if it were removed. I absolutely love the mode contrasts from the verses to the choruses as well. Especially in the middle when the crunchy guitars emphasize the eighth notes!

I will be singing along with this chorus for quite some time!
“I want to forget now
I want to forget now
It’s the way you looked at me
If I don’t remember you
Then you will remember me”

I am adding this song to my station on Mp3.com because it is THAT good!

John E. Tate IV

May 5, 2000

THERMOclinE – Ottawa Sun

Here is the THERMOclinE article from yesterday’s Ottawa Sun.

Thursday, May 4, 2000

BANDS ON THE RUN

By Ian Nathanson, Ottawa Sun

WHAT’S UP, DOCS:
If a shoe company is looking to sponsor THERMOclinE, it likely won’t be Doc Marten. Seems to be a sore spot — literally — whenever it’s mentioned to guitarist Aaron Kronis or drummer Andrew Lamarche. In Toronto attending Lollapalooza ’97, Kronis, bassist Jason Young and lead singer Graham Machacek were checking out Artifical Joy Club (Lamarche used to be AJC’s drummer). As fans were throwing objects at the band, Lamarche retaliated by hurling a Doc Marten boot into the crowd, inadvertently knocking Kronis unconscious. “The security guards up front brought him forward and had us go with them backstage to the medical tent,” Young explains. “Then we saw Lamarche walk by and went over to talk to him.” When all was sorted out, Lamarche wound up becoming such good pals with THERMOclinE, he would later become a member. THERMOclinE will perform in a non-shoe-throwing zone at Barrymore’s Saturday to honour the release of their full-length debut, Negative One.

August 27, 1998

Artificial Joy Club – German Article

ARTIFICIAL JOY CLUB

Artificial Joy Club - 1998 GermanyArtificial Joy Club kommen aus Kanada und wollten sich ursprünglich Melt nennen. Das war aber nicht möglich, weil, so Gitarrist und Produzent Leslie Howe, praktisch jedes einsilbige Wort der englischen Sprache bereits als Bandname registriert ist. Selbst altenglische Formulierungen wie “Spiv” gibt’s bereits. So nannte man sich denn halt Artificial Joy Club. Vorher gab’s die Band bereits unter dem Namen Sal’s Birdland. (Sal ist die Sängerin von AJC.) Aber das war der Band zu schwer auszusprechen. Auf meine Anmerkung hin, daß AJC ja nun auch nicht gerade leicht auszusprechen sei, zuckte man kollektiv mit den Schultern und meinte: In den USA schon. Daß die Band in Europa Neuland betreten, zeigt sich auch an der Tatsache, daß man sich auf die Festivals im Sommer freut. Bassist Tim Dupont, der einen lustigen Irokesenschnitt trägt und gerne indisches Hühnchen essen mag, schwärmt von der letztjährigen Lollapalooza-Tour, redet davon, wie toll das doch wäre, alle diese anderen Bands kennenzulernen, daß man sich als kleines Kind mit Backstage-Ausweis fühle usw. und meint, daß dies hier genauso sei. Als ich ihm erkläre, was hier auf Festivals für gewöhnlich so zwischen Grönemeyer und Aerosmith so abgeht, schweigt er still. Warum aber unterhalte ich mich eigentlich mit AJC? Ach ja: Die Band verfolgt eine ähnliche Arbeitsweise wie Garbage: Coole Gitarren, sexy Gesang, griffige Melodien und witzige elektronische Zutaten. Sogar in der Bio wird auf Garbage verwiesen. Ist es eigentlich markttechnisch sehr klug, damit quasi schlafende Hunde zu wecken und den Vergleich geradezu herauszufordern?

Leslie: Stimmt das? Ich habe die Bio noch gar nicht gelesen. Das ist es aber, warum ich Bios hasse. Bios sind für faule Journalisten, damit sie Reviews schreiben können, ohne die Platte gehört zu haben. Natürlich habe ich die Sache mit Garbage auch schon gehört. Aber ich finde, wir klingen überhaupt nicht wie Garbage. Wir sind viel düsterer.

“Ich finde, wir klingen überhaupt nicht wie…” – ist das nicht schon ein halbes Eingeständnis. Und was heißt hier “düsterer”. Wenn überhaupt, sind AJC eher poppiger. Aber jedem das Seine: In der Tat haben AJC einen Sound, der – trotz aller Ähnlichkeiten – nun wirklich überhaupt nicht nach Garbage klingt. Vielleicht rührt das ja daher, daß AJC eine alteingesessene Liveband sind. Wir erinnern uns: Garbage betraten ja als Kunstkonstrukt die Live-Szene. Ohne diese Sängerin wäre die Sache doch wohl ziemliche steril gewesen, gelle? Nicht so AJC. AJC klingen erdiger und rauher. Wie kommt dieser Sound zustande?

Leslie: Es ist nicht so, daß wir uns einen bestimmten Sound überlegen. Der ensteht so im Studio. Wir versuchen halt immer, das beste für den Song zu tun.

Z.B. auch mal akustische Gitarren einzubringen o.ä. Hat die Umgebung vielleicht mit dem Sound zu tun?

Leslie: Ich denke nicht. Ich meine, wir kommen alle aus Kanada. Aber es gibt keinen spezifischen kanadischen Sound, nicht wahr? Und Sal und ich leben schon lange in den USA, weil es dort einfach mehr Möglichkeiten gibt.

Mal was anderes. AJC kommen ziemlich modern daher: In ihren Songs finden sich zahlreiche Anspielungen auf allerlei Pop-Culture-Phänomene: Brad Pitt, Star Trek, Godzilla, Kevorkian, Beatles, Sinatra, Brady Bunch, Forrest Gump, Tarantino etc. Darüberhinaus kommt das Cover, das von Leslie gestaltet wird ziemlich cool rüber. Auch auf das Internet wird verwiesen. Sind AJC eine bewußt moderne Band, eine Gen X-Band?

Tim: Das mit dem Internet ist ziemlich cool. Wir sind da ziemlich stark vertreten. Wenn Du den Suchbefehl AJC eingibst, kommen hunderte von Einträgen. Wir können so direkt mit den Fans in Kontakt treten. Also ich finde das Klasse.

Artificial Joy Club - 1998 GermanyLeslie: Das mit den Anspielungen auf Pop-Ikonen ist so eine Sache. Zunächst mal sind Sal’s Texte ziemliche persönlich. Dazu gehören auch solche Verweise. Es ist aber nicht so, daß dies eine bloße Ansammlung von Aufzählungen ist. Auch sind es nicht unbedingt Botschaften, die da drin stecken. So suchen wir Sachen auch meistens eher nach dem Klang aus, als nach der Bedeutung. Wie bei dem Cover: Das Bild von dem Auge in der Hand habe ich zwar schon mal irgendwo gesehen, es hat aber keine sprituelle Bedeutung. Ich fand, daß es einfach cool aussähe.

AJC machen na nun eine ziemlich kontemporäre Musik. Wie lange kann man denn sowas machen?

Tim: Dazu kann ich nur eines sagen: Rolling Stones. Ich werde so lange Musik machen, bis ich umkippe. Ich meine: Wir sind eine Live Band. Das ist einfach das Größte. Alles andere ist zweitrangig.

Werden wir denn auch mal in den Genuß von AJC kommen?

Leslie: Wir sind noch nicht ganz sicher. Aber vermutlich werden wir im Sommer so eine Art Festival-Tour machen. Für den Herbst gibt’s dann evtl. eine Club-Tour.

Okay: Und wie geht es von hier aus weiter?

Leslie: Oh, mit dem Zug nach München…

Na ja, ich hatte zwar gemeint, wie es musikalisch weitergeht – z.B. mit Orchester oder sowas (das will aber nur Drummer Andrew Lamarche), aber man möchte sich nicht so recht festlegen. Etwas rockiger möchte es z.B. Tim machen. Aber egal: Zunächst geht es an den Foto-Shoot und dann gibt’s Essen…

[Erstveröffentlichung in Gästeliste #1, August 1998]

Interview: -Ullrich Maurer-
Fotos: -Ullrich Maurer-

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