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Monday, April 9, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
HANGOVER DAYS II
A little while back Colin posted one of his favourite 'hangover albums', Springsteen's Nebraska.
I recently found myself ensnared by a similar self induced illness.. Bourbon is best drank in moderation, a respect I sometimes forget to extend.
Nonetheless, I awoke on the couch in my living room, close enough to mine and my housemates' record collection to look them over without having to move too much. I spotted this album... One that was the soundtrack for my 2007/2008 winter that had since been shelved for another day.
I put the record on - gentle but energising, anything less would have kept me in bed, anything more I would have turned off. I ended up having a pretty decent day.
- CJ
I recently found myself ensnared by a similar self induced illness.. Bourbon is best drank in moderation, a respect I sometimes forget to extend.
Nonetheless, I awoke on the couch in my living room, close enough to mine and my housemates' record collection to look them over without having to move too much. I spotted this album... One that was the soundtrack for my 2007/2008 winter that had since been shelved for another day.
I put the record on - gentle but energising, anything less would have kept me in bed, anything more I would have turned off. I ended up having a pretty decent day.
- CJ
Thursday, April 5, 2012
ALBUM RELEASE
A gentle reminder that we would love to see you all on April 17th at the Horseshoe in Toronto. Our friends and favourite band, Birthday Boys, were gracious enough to agree to join us in performing on the night of our album release. Someone may even be drunk enough to put our album on the house speakers.
Free show.
- CJ
Free show.
- CJ
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
THE YEARS IN WRITING
On the eve of our record release and our Canadian tour premier, feelings of nostalgia for the road behind us are more often than ever coming to mind. I started writing down the songs we've written together over the past few years - as many as I could remember until the page was full.
Most of them we've performed live in some capacity or another.
The majority of them were conceived and materialised through debates over structure, drum beats, transitions, dynamics, lead lines, melodies, shitty attitudes - the consequence of the democratic writing style Rikers employs, but a labour of love nonetheless.
All of them were written in anticipation of putting out a record we would all love and be proud of - there were to be no compromises.
Islands is that record.
Whittling the track listing down from a very large number to the songs that have made the record is part of that nostalgia now. Because the record is ready.
And we can't wait to show you.
- CJ
Islands - April 17, 2012.
Most of them we've performed live in some capacity or another.
The majority of them were conceived and materialised through debates over structure, drum beats, transitions, dynamics, lead lines, melodies, shitty attitudes - the consequence of the democratic writing style Rikers employs, but a labour of love nonetheless.
All of them were written in anticipation of putting out a record we would all love and be proud of - there were to be no compromises.
Islands is that record.
Whittling the track listing down from a very large number to the songs that have made the record is part of that nostalgia now. Because the record is ready.
And we can't wait to show you.
- CJ
Islands - April 17, 2012.
Friday, March 30, 2012
FURS AREN'T DEAD
The first bands that a kid likes are usually the same bands that their parents happen to be listening to. Some of the earliest memories I have of music are from the long drive to my cottage to every summer. In the late 80s and early 90s, my parents were still for lack of a better word, "cool." They were no doubt "yuppies" (we had a Volvo, a green one) but they loved great music. Every trip featured mix tapes that my Dad made, from Johnny Winter to the Stones. But it was the newer stuff that really stuck with me. Driving through small town Ontario in the summer might cause some people to reach for a folk or classic rock record, but for me these images bring to mind Billy Idol, Talk Talk, FYC and The Psychedelic Furs.
Years later, when I was in high school, I decided to dig out some old tapes and have a listen. I instantly recognized the dark vocals and panning synths.
There are colors flashing
people wearing stars and stuff
there are engines cracking
there's a way to turn it off
It gets so hard at times
to take it serious
it really gets to be a drag
when all we really need is love
Here Come Cowboys - Here to save us all
Here Come Cowboys - They're so well inside the law
I had no idea who The Furs were, but I wanted to hear more, so I went out and bought "Mirror Moves." Then I got "Forever Now," and pretty soon I was hooked on the band, and their decidedly moody sound. My friends and I all loved what was we broadly termed as "80s music," and every party we had became an opportunity to mine the top 100 charts of that decade and put the results on a CD. As we got further into it however, it became more of a competition to find more obscure bands (at least for a 17 year old in 2001), and introduce them into regular rotation. The Psychedelic Furs quickly became our soundtrack for everything from parties to driving to parties, to returning empties and eating breakfast at the Bloor-Jane diner the next day. Whenever I had a crush, instead of pursuing it (way too shy), I would listen to “The Ghost in You” while swooning in my room. And while most kids were blasting rap or whatever else was big in the early 2000s (I really have no idea), we would roll the windows down and blare “Heartbeat” or “Here Come Cowboys” at traffic lights, or go straight to the stereo at random house parties and put the record on. Immature to be sure, but not only did we like being different (and twenty years too late), we loved The Furs.
And last night, as I watched them play at Lee’s, I felt as though everything had come full circle. I first encountered them as a child, and then rediscovered them a decade later, when “Mirror Moves” was in my Discman more often than not. And now, ten years after that, I’m playing synthesizer in a band that I love, with guys I love, watching Richard Butler sing songs from the record that made me fall in love with synth in the first place. I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
- AP
Years later, when I was in high school, I decided to dig out some old tapes and have a listen. I instantly recognized the dark vocals and panning synths.
There are colors flashing
people wearing stars and stuff
there are engines cracking
there's a way to turn it off
It gets so hard at times
to take it serious
it really gets to be a drag
when all we really need is love
Here Come Cowboys - Here to save us all
Here Come Cowboys - They're so well inside the law
I had no idea who The Furs were, but I wanted to hear more, so I went out and bought "Mirror Moves." Then I got "Forever Now," and pretty soon I was hooked on the band, and their decidedly moody sound. My friends and I all loved what was we broadly termed as "80s music," and every party we had became an opportunity to mine the top 100 charts of that decade and put the results on a CD. As we got further into it however, it became more of a competition to find more obscure bands (at least for a 17 year old in 2001), and introduce them into regular rotation. The Psychedelic Furs quickly became our soundtrack for everything from parties to driving to parties, to returning empties and eating breakfast at the Bloor-Jane diner the next day. Whenever I had a crush, instead of pursuing it (way too shy), I would listen to “The Ghost in You” while swooning in my room. And while most kids were blasting rap or whatever else was big in the early 2000s (I really have no idea), we would roll the windows down and blare “Heartbeat” or “Here Come Cowboys” at traffic lights, or go straight to the stereo at random house parties and put the record on. Immature to be sure, but not only did we like being different (and twenty years too late), we loved The Furs.
And last night, as I watched them play at Lee’s, I felt as though everything had come full circle. I first encountered them as a child, and then rediscovered them a decade later, when “Mirror Moves” was in my Discman more often than not. And now, ten years after that, I’m playing synthesizer in a band that I love, with guys I love, watching Richard Butler sing songs from the record that made me fall in love with synth in the first place. I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
- AP
OTTAWA BOUND
Driving from Peterborough to Ottawa is a bit of a desolate journey. Luckily, the B-52s are on the radio.
Come join us at Club Saw tonight. It's a little old place where we can get together.
-CS
Come join us at Club Saw tonight. It's a little old place where we can get together.
-CS
Thursday, March 29, 2012
RIKERS GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND
looking for a good show to see this weekend ?
obviously if you're in OTTAWA for Junofest we recommend you come see RIKERS @ CLUB SAW on Friday March 30th but if you're not lucky enough to be in Ottawa we've got a few other recommendations that might make your weekend a little better.
Here's a list of our friends that are on tour this weekend and where you can find them .
BIRTHDAY BOYS
www.birthdayboysmusic.com
These guys are our bff's when it comes to bands . technically speaking there is some blood relation but all bias aside we're massive fans and seeing as they've slowed down their touring schedule lately you should catch em while you can.
THE LUMBERMEN
www.thelumbermen.bandcamp.com
ever seen a man wearing a bearskin and holding a chainsaw ? they're opening up for Birthday Boys in Peterborough , grab their ep from bandcamp
Friday March 30th
The Red Dog
Peterborough
TEENAGE KICKS
www.teenagekicksteenagekicks.com
we've played with these guys twice recently and each time they killed it . great tunes , great band , good guys blah blah blah . we're not a very warm and fuzzy band so we don't pass out those compliments easily. just take our word for it and check out TK. they're on tour with Wildlife ( who i've never seen but also come highly recommended by others ) across the east coast. here are the remaining dates...
Friday March 30th
Michael's - Halifax
Saturday March 31st
Peppers Pub - St. John NB
Sunday April 1st
Scanners - Quebec City
FIREXFIRE
www.firexfiremusic.com
another band we played with a while back . keyboards . harmonies . good songwriting. worth checking out for sure.
Saturday March 31st
Montreal - Pub St Cibiore
PAINT
www.paintband.com
check out the song ' girl in a frame ' . reminds me of 90's indie in a good way. the simplicity of a pop song will never lose it's appeal.
they're on an ontario run right now , weekend shows here..
Friday March 30th
Windsor - Milk
Saturday March 31st
London - Black Shire
enjoy some live music this week kids . it's better than playing video games and drinking diet mountain dew.
obviously if you're in OTTAWA for Junofest we recommend you come see RIKERS @ CLUB SAW on Friday March 30th but if you're not lucky enough to be in Ottawa we've got a few other recommendations that might make your weekend a little better.
Here's a list of our friends that are on tour this weekend and where you can find them .
BIRTHDAY BOYS
www.birthdayboysmusic.com
These guys are our bff's when it comes to bands . technically speaking there is some blood relation but all bias aside we're massive fans and seeing as they've slowed down their touring schedule lately you should catch em while you can.
Friday March 30th
The Red Dog
Peterborough
THE LUMBERMEN
www.thelumbermen.bandcamp.com
ever seen a man wearing a bearskin and holding a chainsaw ? they're opening up for Birthday Boys in Peterborough , grab their ep from bandcamp
Friday March 30th
The Red Dog
Peterborough
TEENAGE KICKS
www.teenagekicksteenagekicks.com
we've played with these guys twice recently and each time they killed it . great tunes , great band , good guys blah blah blah . we're not a very warm and fuzzy band so we don't pass out those compliments easily. just take our word for it and check out TK. they're on tour with Wildlife ( who i've never seen but also come highly recommended by others ) across the east coast. here are the remaining dates...
Friday March 30th
Michael's - Halifax
Saturday March 31st
Peppers Pub - St. John NB
Sunday April 1st
Scanners - Quebec City
FIREXFIRE
www.firexfiremusic.com
another band we played with a while back . keyboards . harmonies . good songwriting. worth checking out for sure.
Saturday March 31st
Montreal - Pub St Cibiore
PAINT
www.paintband.com
check out the song ' girl in a frame ' . reminds me of 90's indie in a good way. the simplicity of a pop song will never lose it's appeal.
they're on an ontario run right now , weekend shows here..
Friday March 30th
Windsor - Milk
Saturday March 31st
London - Black Shire
enjoy some live music this week kids . it's better than playing video games and drinking diet mountain dew.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
ALBUM RELEASE PARTY - TORONTO
We will be celebrating the release of our debut record 'islands' with a show on Tuesday April 17 @ the Horseshoe.
The record will be in stores and online on the 17th and we're looking forward to tossing a few back in celebration.
it's the legendary Edge 102.1 Nu Music Nite at the Horseshoe so that means NO COVER.
We've worked long and hard on this record so come party with us and get your copy.
Birthday Boys are also on the bill so that makes a sweet night even sweeter.
The record will be in stores and online on the 17th and we're looking forward to tossing a few back in celebration.
it's the legendary Edge 102.1 Nu Music Nite at the Horseshoe so that means NO COVER.
We've worked long and hard on this record so come party with us and get your copy.
Birthday Boys are also on the bill so that makes a sweet night even sweeter.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
HANGOVER DAYS
Ever notice that certain albums were almost designed to deal with a hangover? 'Nebraska' is one for me.
CS
Sunday, March 25, 2012
STAY IN THE LIGHT
This week the spotlight is on finishing up the video for our first single, "I'm on the Radio".
And we can't wait to show you.
CJ
And we can't wait to show you.
CJ
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