Ivory Faces

2012-01-09T14:41:00.000-08:00

Written by Hannah Stocker. Photography by Mike Morien

"I spent the night on the couch, sick. It was lovely."- Skot Hamilton

"I accidentally drank all the beer." "Also all the Spandex"- Amber Neal

"You haven't lived until you've heard AK-47 rap with R-Drabs and Colin singing LMFAO. Quote it. "- Brendan Flaherty

'there were a lot of intoxicated musicians playing 'music' for a lot of intoxicated audience members for one of the best shows of the year'- Keltie Kiendy

"I barely remember any of it, so let me know how it was!"- Randi Gola (supremely intoxicated)

Ryan 'Slow Down Molasses'

This year I took a trip of a life time and ventured across the pond to Saskatoon, Canada. Whilst staying with my friend Ryan Drabble from the well known Saskatoon band Slow Down Molasses, I'd had my ears filled with talk of Saskatoon's most marvellous Band Swap and was really looking forward to experiencing the hype for myself.

Jeanette 'Jeans Boots'

Ok, so 35 musicians are randomly assembled into seven bands at a top secret (not really top secret) meeting, where they are assigned four cover songs all chosen by the individual members. Each band then has 24 hours to radically put together their songs – or and I quote from the lovely Chris Morin 'figure out some way to butcher them completely and appropriately.'

In the latest review of this years Band Swap, I read that it was notorious for putting otherwise really confident musicians into a rather uncomfortable situation out of their comfort zones and this is a statement that I whole heartedly agree with. From the moment the first band started you could see the tension on their faces, yet trying not to take themselves too seriously. Each band performed in my eyes, incredibly considering that they only had 24 hours to prepare.

I caught up with Darren Miller 'Band Swap's DJ exstrodinare' on what he thought to the night.

Ivory Faces gets proposed to

'As always seems to be the case, band swap was the best night of the year. Every year I worry that the evening won't live up to my sky-high expectations, and every year I'm thrilled to find out that it does. The crowd was a nice mix of new faces and old friends this time around. Definitely more new blood than in previous years, which is great, because it keeps things from going stale. Seeing an admission lineup forming in both directions (indicating that a large portion of the restaurant patrons were eating at amigos to ensure themselves a spot in the crowd) was completely mind-blowing. The performances were all very solid too, I don't remember anything near that level of consistency in previous years. All around, a really amazing time.'

I can almost guarantee that everyone has their own unique moment and I agree with Chris Morin (Ominocity) writing a step by step review would be far too ridiculous but like him I think the most memorable moment for me was the shock and sheer disgrace on some of the women in the audience as Jeanette Stewart (Jeans Boots) launched chocolate pudding into their faces with out a hint of warning, as she sang GG Allin's- Die When you Die. One of those moments when you had to be there to really and truly appreciate the incrediblness of it all.

K-Bro Shawn

Band Swap not only brings friends, lovers and haters together but it has raised around $22,000 in the past 6 years for a wondreful charity, the Saskatoon Crisis Nursery’s Nutrition Program. Not only that but the majority of the people who attended donated a huge amount of non-perishable foods. To all the organisers, performers, promoters, sound and stage staff, Amigos Staff and even to the audience who attended. Pat yourselves on the back as with out you Band Swap would not be the triumph that it is today. Round of applause.

Saskatoon you have been watermarked on my heart...

2011-12-21T00:59:00.000-08:00

A song to crush any heart and bring you out the end with hope.

2011-12-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

Before I set sail for the land of amazing beards (Canada) I was once again asked to write a Download of the Week for the truly inspirational Ominocity. It truly is a pleasure being asked to write for such amazing people who actually want to hear and read what I have to say.

So this time around I chose to write about a band I have become very fond and attached to, Portage and Main. Having interviewed the band and recommended them on more than one occassion back home in England I thought it only just that they should be promoted in their own motherland. These boys have worked so hard this year and once again it is a pleasure to write about them, something I can see Ivory Faces doing a lot more of next year.

So if you would be so kind and go check out my Download of the Week for Ominocity here:

Portage and Main Download of the Week

2011-12-19T14:09:00.000-08:00

Christmas is nearly upon us

Not long now and it will be Christmas Day and nearly another year has pasted. Past two days of my trip to Canada have been spent enjoying the company of new friends and getting blind drunk. I mean literally blind drunk. I have no idea how I got home last night as I did it with my eyes shut. (thank you Ryan Drabble for your assistance) So while you are sitting at home all cosey and warm, doing what ever is you do in your homes, why not check out Tellison's new Christmas song. Its been played on Radio 1 a few times now. Go check it out. GO!

Merry Christmas from Saskatoon, Canada.

2011-11-28T10:56:00.000-08:00

Grab yourself a warm drink be it tea, coffee or hot coco, put on your slippers and light a fire and take time out to listen to some lovely folk bought to you by the truely delicious, The Never Surprise. A duo from Vancouver, Canada the boys perform heart warming songs that could kindle any heart.

Their story really begins in 2008 when the boys found themselves living as neighbours on the same street. David Gaudet and Nick Eakins had previously worked together but when Nick decided to move away Gaudet continued on in Ottawa, releasing a critically acclaimed solo EP. Gaudet’s solo project earned him a CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award in 2007. Once again the boys are back as a duo and producing music that could 'warm the cockles of the heart.' Having recently released an album 'The Never Surprise' the boys are set to start 2012 on a high note.

Q. Thanks for agreeing to do an interview for Ivory Faces. How are you today?

TNS – we’re doing fine thank you. and yourself?

Q. For all those that do not know who The Never Surprise are, could you possibly provide a little insight into who you are.

TNS – we are a duo from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We make songs that we hope you will consume for your personal enjoyment.

Q. I understand that you have recently released your debut album ‘The Never Surprise’? How have things changed or progressed for the band since its release?

TNS - well things seem to be moving along pretty well. We’re fairly new to Vancouver and since putting out the record we’ve been playing more and more. We like to think the snowball has begun to roll, but it’s still very close to the top of the hill.

Q. Is there any recent experience that you can think of that kind of...changed you or had an impact on you. Maybe it was a joint experience that effected the band?

TNS – we were lucky enough to be chosen as part of the top 20 in a competition, put on by a local radio station, called the Peak Performance Project. We were able to meet and learn from a slew of Canadian industry professionals. From a networking and educational perspective, we were very lucky to be part of it.

Q. Were there any main influences artistically when you were writing the album?

TNS – it’s hard to name influences without feeling like your credibility and music IQ is on the line. In reality though our influences are constantly in flux. One day we’ll be all about one band or songwriter, and the next day it’ll be someone else. You’re really getting pulled in lots of directions all the time. I guess we try to find songs that sound like a balance of those influences. How’s that for a bullshit non-answer answer?

Q. When you aren’t taking on the challenges and joys of being a band, what do you get up to?

TNS – we watch hockey, then criticize hockey players, and we go to shows and criticize musicians. And we stare each other and criticize ourselves.

Q. I found you through the wonderful Green Couch Sessions. How was your experience with them and has it bought to you a new crowd of followers?

TNS – they were so awesome! We really think the green couch folks need to be recognized for their contribution to the Vancouver music community. They work like dogs, and it seems like their whole lives are devoted to supporting local music. Love them!

Q. So its not that long till the New Year. Do you have any plans to take yourselves further a field and maybe jump the pond and tour Europe?

TNS – we are definitely planning on doing another recording in the new year. Not sure if it’ll be an EP or full length or what, but we’re excited about that. We would love more than anything to be able to come to Europe and play music. We hear nothing but good things about music fans over there. No i
immediate plans, but fully on our career wish list.

Q. What would you say was your most memorable gig for The Never Surprise?

TNS – we played a show at the drake hotel in Toronto as part of NXNE . it was part of our cd release tour last summer. We played well, were well received and were just totally stoked to be part of the festival.

Q. Do you have any advice you would like to offer any other bands?

TNS – advice? Hmmm .. don’t be crappy..

Q. Lastly if you could describe the band in two words. What would they be?

TNS – Dave, Nick.

Thanks! For looking us up!

The Never Surprise Facebook