Off The Record

After signing with Fearless Records in 2019, the My Kid Brother released their first EP in September of this year and it’s a wonderful collection of half a dozen songs – for their first EP the songs really sound polished and are catchy as hell.  

I linked up with the entire band, which was pretty cool as I normally just get to speak with one member for these interviews, but this is also why the audio on this one isn’t the best – but the content is good – I promise!  

We talk about the formation of the band, the making of the EP and a couple of fun stories while tripping on acid.  

MY KID BROTHER 

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/36qUaju

Apple Music | https://apple.co/36zAn1p

Falcon Jane’s frontwoman and founder, Sara May, started performing under the moniker almost 9 years ago, and while the band has undergone many line up changes over the years, she found her musical partner, Andrew McArthur in 2014 and eventually a romance would form between the two. Now, in 2020 Falcon Jane is on the cusp of releasing their third full-length album Faith, which will be available everywhere this Friday Nov 13, 2020.

Sara and I chat about the formation of the band, the stories behind some of the songs off the new album, making music videos on a small budget, as well as what our favourite Toronto venues are and why.

Here’s my chat with Sara May of Falcon Jane.

FALCON JANE

Bandcamp |https://falconjane.bandcamp.com/

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/36ldGxJ

Apple Music | https://apple.co/3kfa3hR

TEETH is a project that was birthed out of a necessity to release a lot of pent up anger and it shows in their music, these guys are HEAVY, however my chat with them was not.

I got to talk to Blake Prince and Chris LeMasters about the formation of the band, the singles they’ve put out so far and when we might expect the first album to drop. We also talk about the current music climate and some of their favourite movies. They recommended that I watch the American version of Funny Games, starring Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Michael Pitt and just as they had promised: It. Was. Weird! Definitely recommend watching it if you’re into mindf*** movies.

A big shout out and thank you to Jake over at New Damage Records for the introduction and help setting this interview up.

TEETH

Bandcamp | https://teethnoise.bandcamp.com/

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oK36IX

Apple Music | https://apple.co/3kKxznN

Heart Attack Kids originally started as a two-piece punk band made up of lead singer and guitarist Jared Ellul and drummer Nathan Stock in 2013. This high energy rock music really transferred well to their live performances, and the band would sign their first record deal in 2016 with Undergorund Operations and subsequently release their first full length album "No Future". 

The band would eventually switch labels and sign to Toronto Independent label New Damage to record and release their second full-length album "Bad Luck Like Gold".  Not long after releasing this album Nathan announced that he would be leaving the band - on good terms mind you, he just wanted to dedicate his time to his now fiance and start a career in carpentry - Jared and Nathan are still good friends this day. 

Jared didn't let this stop him from continuing on the project and he quickly teamed up with bassist Craig Gignac and session drummer Mark Swann and the three of them are currently working on new music. Can't Stop is the first single we've heard with the new line up, but Jared hints that another single will be out before the end of 2020.  I spoke with the bands co-founder and frontman, Jared about the history of the band, the new line up and new music he's been getting into. We even chat about the struggles of trying to stay fit during this pandemic.  Here's my chat with Jared of Heart Attack Kids.

HEART ATTACK KIDS

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3kpppRW

Apple Music | https://apple.co/2FMWmsc

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/heartattackkids

The Damned are Britain's greatest surviving punk rock band from the good old days and the Rockfield studios are especially important, because this is where the band would record, what would eventually become their most successful releases: The Black Album and Strawberries.  

I had the privilege to speak with one of British punk rock's OGs - Captain Sensible about the new EP, and his thoughts on the pandemic - it is apparent the man does NOT like Bill Gates (sorry Bill). He also Shares with me some fun stories from the old days, including a special one about a show in Toronto which had him waking up in the hospital.  

THE DAMNED 

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3lRjZzj 

Apple Music | https://apple.co/3iZo42F 

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/eternally_damned/

Mobina Galore, the Winnipeg punk duo made up of Jenna Priestner on guitar and lead vocals and Marcia Hanson on drums, formed in 2011. Since then the band have released 3 full-length studio albums and a very intimate documentary on the making of their last record Don’t Worry.

The documentary called Sorry, I’m A Mess was released in April of this year and gives viewers an in depth and personal look into what goes in to making an album, how the duo navigates that fine line between being bandmates and life partners, as well as the ridiculously tight schedule a lot of bands find themselves in when trying to finish an entire album before leaving for months of touring.

I speak with Jenna Priestner, the band’s guitarist and main vocalist, about life during the pandemic, and how her and Marcia have made the best of it, the origin story of the forming of the band, as well as an in-depth chat about their documentary “Sorry, I’m a mess”

Here’s my chat with Jenna of Mobina Galore.

MOBINA GALORE

Bandcamp| https://mobinagalore.bandcamp.com/

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3iT7Isb

Apple Music | https://apple.co/371Sj6L

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mobinagalore/

Bootblacks is a post-punk band based out of NYC and have been making music for a decade. The band’s founders, vocalist Panther Almqvist and guitarist Ali Gorman are the only two remaining original members and along with Barrett Hiatt on bass and Larry Gorman - a veteran from the hardcore scene on drums, Bootblacks are on the verge of releasing their third full length album “Thin Skies”. This will be their first release with Artoffact Records.

I catch up with frontman Panther via Zoom to chat about the new album, the weird and wonderful music videos they have been putting out, as well as what the post-punk goth scene looks like and where things are going.

I apologize for the quality of the audio on this one, we had some connectivity issues so Panther’s voice kind of fades in and out in some parts - but if you listen careful you’ll understand most of what he’s saying.

Here’s my chat with Panther of Bootblacks.

BOOTBLACKS

Bandcamp | https://bootblacks.bandcamp.com/

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/2IaUBpI

Apple Music | https://apple.co/3iKfWCK

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/bootblacks/

Rarity is a Post-Hardcore band based out of Hamilton, Ontario and are signed to New Damage Records. They have been active since 2014 and have released one EP and two-full length albums.

In today’s episode I chat with lead vocalist, Loeden and drummer Evan about life during the pandemic, the two new singles they put out this year and their deep love and respect for Alexisonfire.

Here’s my chat with Loeden and Evan of Rarity.

RARITY

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/34iHrOT

Apple Music | https://apple.co/33lQIX5

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/raritytheband/

Rarity is a Post-Hardcore band based out of Hamilton, Ontario and are signed to New Damage Records. They have been active since 2014 and have released one EP and two-full length albums.

In today’s episode I chat with lead vocalist, Loeden and drummer Evan about life during the pandemic, the two new singles they put out this year and their deep love and respect for Alexisonfire.

Here’s my chat with Loeden and Evan of Rarity.

RARITY

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/34iHrOT

Apple Music | https://apple.co/33lQIX5

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/raritytheband/

The Fallaways have been together for a few years now, having released their first EP Skiddish in 2017. They have undergone some line up changes since then, most noticeably frontman Jay put down his guitar to concentrate on singing and fuelling crowds at shows with energy and witty banter.

Now, they are a five piece and in late July released their second EP Sunset Ave. Aside from just being a kickass collection of songs, something I love about the EP is that Zach Carper, frontman for Cali Punkers FIDLAR had a helping hand on a few of the tracks.

Here's my chat with Vancouver rockers The Fallaways.

THE FALLAWAYS

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thefallaways

Spotify | https://spoti.fi/2RW0mcn

Apple Music | https://apple.co/330BLtu