sean ashby

"Almost as loud as Moterhead one minute , As quietly bombastic as the Wedding Present the next " . Somewhat more succinctly , someone in the crowd turns to his friend and says : "Best (explitive) band I've seen tongiht "

from a new music west show with some of vancouvers best bands .
Mike Usinger for the Georgia Straight - Georgia Straight - Vancouver

SEAN ASHBY: Recently relocated to Toronto from the West Coast, this rocker made his local debut with a gig at Clinton’s. Sean has found prominence as a long-time guitarist in SARAH McLACHLAN’s band, as well as leading his own band, JACK TRIPPER, and is an in-demand producer. He has just released his debut solo album, Brass And Gold, and it is worthy of attention. He keyed on its strongest cuts in his spirited set, ably backed by a band that included guitarist ANDREW ALDRIDGE. Ashby’s material is refreshingly eclectic, ranging from FOO FIGHTERS-style riff rock to the haunting and tender title track ballad. Tunes like “Star 98,” “Nova Girl” and the irresistibly catchy “Dreaming” (with the memorable line “I saw you standing in a mausoleum”) would sound great on any rock radio station. Sean told OTB he is wrapping up production of a new record from Hamilton honkytonker SCOTTY CAMPBELL, and will soon work with TODD FANCEY (NEW PORNOGRAPHERS) back in Vancouver
- Toronto Tandem

-"This is a local band to watch out for ... veer all over the pop landscape from flying saucer attack feedback to minimalist country / folk harmonizing to Mack 3 power pop - occasionally in the space of the same song ."

Darren Gawle Drop D magazine . - Drop D Magazine

Sean Ashby
Brass And Gold
By Kerry Doole

Ashby found some Western success with earlier band Jack Tripper, and has also achieved prominence as a long-time guitarist in Sarah McLachlan’s band. On this, his solo debut, he emerges as a rock singer-songwriter with a knack for melody and infectious riffs. He grabs your attention from first cut “Dreamin’” and its memorable line, “I saw you standing in a mausoleum.” This and equally catchy tracks like “Star 98” and “Nova Girl” would certainly enliven rock radio stations, while Ashby is also capable of delivering gentle, haunting ballads (“Brass And Gold,” “Eyes Are Closed”). Stylistic reference points here range from the Foo Fighters to Coldplay to Nick Drake, and such eclecticism is refreshing in this era of one-dimensional artists. Multi-instrumentalist Ashby also produced and engineered, while Warne Livesey (Matthew Good, Midnight Oil) mixed the disc. Other contributors include Kevin Fox (string arrangements) and New Pornographer Todd Fancey (backing vocals). He’s definitely a stronger guitarist, writer and producer than singer but Ashby’s voice proves a malleable instrument for these impressive songs. (Black Sparrow)

- www.exclaim.ca

"The list of artists that guitarist Sean Ashby has worked with is long and illustrious, from Sarah McLachlan, Delerium, Wild Strawberries and Grapes of Wrath. With a list like this and a hand in selling over 10 million records, Ashby is a proven hired gun". "its in the quieter, darker, and self-reflecting tracks where Ashby really comes out of his shell. The title track is a brilliant example of Ashby’s bare bones acoustic production, where he allows a single snare drum hit or a fling of a cymbal in spots to help build the emotional tug of the song. Again he displays this style in two other outstanding highlights, found in the slow exotic build up on “Dance Upon My Grave” and the sure fire pop hit “Nova Girl”. "

- POPJOURNALISM

Sean Ashby is one of Toronto's most successful musicians, being a leading member for the band Jack Tripper and also as a long-time guitarist in Sarah McLachlan’s band. His new solo "Brass and Gold" is produced with help of Todd Fancey (member of The New Pornographers) and several others. The opening riff of "Dreamin" has the melodic riffs and guitar overdubs that remind one of Brian Ray playing the guitar with John Cougar Mellencamp doing the vocals. Stylistically, Sean jumps around from muscular rock of "This Machine" to gentle ballads (“Brass And Gold,” “Nova Girl”). But the big hooks here in "Star 98" and "Gone" are so thick, they beg to be played loud, with a cutting buzz saw sound like Heart's "Barracuda". The song "Baby Yes" takes the same style down a notch. Not all the ballads work for me ("All I Need" tries to be Coldplay a bit too much) but when they hit the mark, with "Paper Tiger" it's like the second coming of Mark Oliver Everett. The album finale "Come to Me" evokes a Lou Reed ballad and fades out. This is a strong eclectic debut that would be welcome in your collection.
- Powerpopaholic.com

Sean Ashby Playing In Support Of Brass And Gold
Tuesday April 15, 2008 @ 05:30 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff


Sean Ashby
Toronto singer/songwriter Sean Ashby is hitting the road to promote his Brass And Gold solo debut, which will be released by RCD Music on April 29.

The 12-track disc was produced by Ashby and mixed by Warne Livesey (54-40, Matthew Good Band). It was recorded in Toronto, Vancouver and Hamilton. Among the guest contributors are The New Pornographers' Todd Fancey on backing vocals and K-OS drummer Ray Garraway. Two songs have string arrangements by Kevin Fox.

Four songs from Brass And Gold can be previewed on Ashby's MySpace page.

Ashby was previously a member of Vancouver rockers Jack Tripper, whose song "Nova Girl" (which also appears on Brass And Gold) was featured in the 2000 Bill Pullman film, The Guilty. He recorded a version of The Beatles' "Blackbird" with Sarah McLachlan that appeared on the soundtrack to the 2001 Sean Penn film, I Am Sam. Ashby has worked as a session and live musician for McLachlan, Delerium, Swollen Members, Front Line Assembly, Holly McNarland, Lee Aaron, Sons Of Freedom and many others.

Ashby has scheduled some Ontario dates this month before he heads to Europe in May to play guitar with Delerium. Three Canadian shows have been confirmed for June, but he expects to tour throughout the summer.

Here are Ashby's Canadian dates:

April 22 Windsor, ON @ Salt Lounge
April 23 Burlington, ON @ Red Rooster
April 24 Toronto, ON @ Bovine Sex Club
April 25 Peterborough, ON @ The Red Dog
June 3 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
June 13 Halifax, NS @ The Marquee - Chart Attack

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NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ RCD Music/ Fontana North) - Sean Ashby is one of North Americas most sought after musicians having been playing and recording with the likes of Sarah McLachlan, Delerium, Conjure 1 and many others. Ashby, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and engineer will release Brass And Gold on RCD Music/Fontana North on April 29, 2008 with a CD release party at the Bovine on April 24.
Ashby has recorded and toured with some of Canada's most successful musicians. He has been McLachlan's guitarist since1996 and appeared with her on "Just like You (Cats In The Cradle)' for D from Run DMC's solo CD.

He has recorded and/or toured with Delerium, Front Line Assembly, Swollen Members, Conjure 1, Lava Hay, Lee Aaron, Sue Medley, Holly McNarland, Mike Trebilcock (of the Killjoys), Todd Fanceys (The new Pornographers) and Wild Strawberries. Ashby recorded a version of the Beatles' 'Blackbird' with McLachlan for the major motion picture 'I Am Sam' starring Sean Penn. It is currently getting heavy rotation on radio stations all over North America.

Brass and Gold is a solo venture, however if you include his last project Jack Tripper, it is actually Ashby's third album. The CD focuses on Ashby's songwriting/singing /guitar/producing and he also mixed one song. Many of the songs are inspired by Ashby's battles with his own dark side and his journey out. "Eyes are Closed" is a more uplifting song that came to him in a beach hut in Costa Rica on a surf trip. 'I am no Jack Johnson, but I have been doing an impression of surfing for about ten years,' says Ashby.

"Dance Upon My Grave" was inspired by a book on Gypsy Singing, 'it talked about being a Gypsy singer and how a singer should be completely drained after one song - wrenching out all their emotion into every line, left voiceless and exhausted at the end of the "telling" of the song,' Ashby explains. 'I was also thinking about a scene in Kill Bill Part 2 where the protagonist is buried alive and trying to escape, the claustrophobia of that idea juxtaposed as an emotional metaphor was the catalyst for this song. That coupled with my own relationship destruction's, inevitably at my own hands. I could go on like this about all the songs, they mean the world to me.'

Ashby was able to recruit an impressive line up of musicians to perform on Brass and Gold including Todd Fancey (the New Pornographers), Ray Garraway (K-OS) and Sean Drabbit (Branford & Wynton Marsalis). Kevin Fox did two wonderful string arrangements. 'Recording the string section was a very emotional experience - so beautiful sounding I had a hard time keeping it together in order to produce/direct the session,' says Ashby.

As a musician Ashby has appeared on the Grammy Awards twice, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno five times, SNL and David Letterman three times along with other major TV shows and four motion pictures. Ashby has received two four times platinum U.S. records and one Diamond record in Canada for his work with McLachlan.
Ashby is hitting the road with Delerium this month and then returning in time for the CD release to start touring Brass and Gold. Check the website for tour updates.
http://www.seanashby.com/
http://www.myspace.com/seanashbymusic

- Top 40-charts.com

Sean Ashby Playing In Support Of Brass And Gold
Tuesday April 15, 2008 @ 05:30 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff


Sean Ashby
Toronto singer/songwriter Sean Ashby is hitting the road to promote his Brass And Gold solo debut, which will be released by RCD Music on April 29.

The 12-track disc was produced by Ashby and mixed by Warne Livesey (54-40, Matthew Good Band). It was recorded in Toronto, Vancouver and Hamilton. Among the guest contributors are The New Pornographers' Todd Fancey on backing vocals and K-OS drummer Ray Garraway. Two songs have string arrangements by Kevin Fox.

Four songs from Brass And Gold can be previewed on Ashby's MySpace page.

Ashby was previously a member of Vancouver rockers Jack Tripper, whose song "Nova Girl" (which also appears on Brass And Gold) was featured in the 2000 Bill Pullman film, The Guilty. He recorded a version of The Beatles' "Blackbird" with Sarah McLachlan that appeared on the soundtrack to the 2001 Sean Penn film, I Am Sam. Ashby has worked as a session and live musician for McLachlan, Delerium, Swollen Members, Front Line Assembly, Holly McNarland, Lee Aaron, Sons Of Freedom and many others.

Ashby has scheduled some Ontario dates this month before he heads to Europe in May to play guitar with Delerium. Three Canadian shows have been confirmed for June, but he expects to tour throughout the summer.

Here are Ashby's Canadian dates:

April 22 Windsor, ON @ Salt Lounge
April 23 Burlington, ON @ Red Rooster
April 24 Toronto, ON @ Bovine Sex Club
April 25 Peterborough, ON @ The Red Dog
June 3 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
June 13 Halifax, NS @ The Marquee - Chart Attack

SEAN ASHBY TOURS SOLO THEN DELERIUM THEN SOLO AGAIN

May 3rd, 2008

Sean Ashby releases his debut solo album Brass And Gold on RCD Music/Fontana North on April 29, 2008. Ashby will play some Ontario tour dates before hitting the road with Delerium and then will return to tour Canada extensively this summer with his own music. www.myspace.com/seanashbymusic
“On this, his solo debut, he emerges as a rock singer-songwriter with a knack for melody and infectious riffs….Stylistic reference points here range from the Foo Fighters to Coldplay to Nick Drake and such eclecticism is refreshing in this era of one-dimensional artists.” - Kerry Doole, Exclaim
Tour Dates:
April 8th - Salt Lounge - London
April 10th - Call the Office - London
April 12th - Coach & Horse - Windsor
April 22nd - Salt Lounge - Windsor
April 23rd - Red Rooster - Burlington
April 24th - Bovine - Toronto
April 25th - The Reddog - Peterborough
June 3rd - The Horseshoe - Toronto
June 11th - Edmundston, NB
June 12th - TBA
June 13th - The Marquee - Halifax
June 14th – TBA
Canada West to East touring July & Aug
Sean Ashby has recorded and toured with some of Canada’s most successful musicians. His resume is indeed a long one and its getting longer every day. Take a look at some of the highlights in Sean’s career. Ashby recorded a version of the Beatles’ ‘Blackbird’ with Sarah McLachlan for the major motion picture ‘I Am Sam’ starring Sean Penn. It is currently getting heavy rotation on radio stations all over North America.

Sean Ashby has recorded and/or toured for:
all three Ginger (former Grapes of Wrath members) releases
Sarah McLachlan’s Mirror Ball (4 million copies in the US sold), and After Glow (also 4 million copies sold)
Delerium’s Poem release
Conjure 1’s debut release
Wild Strawberries’ release ‘Quiver’
Mike Treblecock’s (former Killjoys member) alt-country release
Swollen Members recording sessions
Todd Fancey (member of The New Pornographers) two solo cd’s currently producing/ mixing /engineering /programming and playing guitara release due late 2008
Scotty Campbell’s rockabilly CD due out in 2008 produced / mixed /engineered / and guitars
Melissa Bellm - new cd-guitar / writing /mixing .
Sean has also toured with;
May Moore
Lee Arron
The Sons of Freedom band backing Lee Aaron
Holly McNarland
On top of this already impressive resume, Sean has also recorded with Front Line Assembly on their soon to be released album and we can’t forget to mention his recording of ‘Cats in the Cradle’ with “D” from Run DMC… That’s right, one of the godfathers of hip-hop!

Brass and Gold is a solo venture, however if you include his last project Jack Tripper, it is actually Ashby’s third album. Jack Tripper was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award for Best Rock Recording alongside the likes of Nickleback, The New Pornographers and Matthew Good. Jack Tripper’s song ‘Nova Girl’ has been featured in the Bill Pullman film - ‘The Guilty’. As well, six songs have been used in the hit TV series ‘Cold Squad’. The power of Sean Ashby’s songwriting, backed up by his amazing guitar work is definitely generating interest from the TV and film world. - Sugarcain Entertainment.com

Sean Ashby Interview in Support of Brass and Gold

PunkTV.ca: So tell me about the musical origins of Sean Ashby, from aspiring illustrator to musician?
Well I wanted to be an Illustrator, I wanted to draw action comics like the New X-men, and I was pretty good at it too. My mom is and artist and my Dad is an English teacher so it was a pretty artsy community up there in Thunder Bay. I went to Music College in Hamilton, and then I started playing around Ontario. I then got a gig with a Nettwerk recording act Ginger which was The Grapes Of Wrath, so I moved out to Vancouver.

PunkTV.ca: Your album Brass and Gold just came out, what was the writing/recording process like?
It was interesting it involves Vancouver and some talent out there. I had a band called Jack Tripper who was fairly popular; we won several awards and were pretty popular in the west. That was going on for about 9 years, and then I left to go to a more major center, to do more promotions. So this CD feels like my 3rd CD, but it is my first Solo. Warren Livsey (Death Cab, mixed it, I did most of the engineering, I did the premix then I brought it to Warren and he has been doing this forever, and I went out to his studio in Port Coquitlam, and I did the drums and bass out there. Then I went to Hamilton and recorded Guitars, Vocals and Overdubs there. Then I flew back to Vancouver and mixed it with Warren. Then I came back to Toronto and had it mastered and made 1000 copies and at the Second Show we played we got a distribution deal, which is pretty fast.

PunkTV.ca: You have worked with a lot of great musicians including Sarah MacLauchlan, D from Run DMC, what do you learn from working with artists of this caliber?
I learn a lot, D ( Run DMC) I just did one song with, I was just blown away. He was just a really nice guy to work with, really enthusiastic. He wanted Sarah Mac to sing the vocal hook, and then he decided he also wanted her Guitar player as well, so because of my association with her I ended up on that tune. I have played with Sarah for 12 years all the live stuff and studio recording as well.

PunkTV.ca: You are doing some eastern touring when can we expect you in the rest of Canada?
We have some song that we sent out to commercial radio, which is getting some play. So in order to encourage radio stations to play it, you have to go to the Town and play a gig. We are heading out to the East Coast, in June so we might go out west in Late June, but we will be traveling across the country…maybe several times.

PunkTV.ca: You have done a lot of studio work and toured with various bands, do you like being in the background or do you prefer the spotlight?
I like playing live, that is where I stand out. I am really good at what I do; I was good right away on the guitar. All of a sudden in 5 months I was super good guitar player already, and just a little kid. I had natural ability but I also practiced 5-9 hours a day, now I end up playing really simple things for big pop artists. Haha It takes a lot of skill to do it though.

PunkTV.ca: What is it like touring with a band like delirium?
We are heading off to Europe soon, it is incredible. We did a tour in the States, and there was a really serious Goth Crowd. I would consider myself more of a rocker, but I have the ability to play other styles, so I listen to the music and cop the vibe. It’s wild, they come up to the bus after and they know your name and which songs you have played. It is pretty trippy and flattering.

PunkTV.ca: Your two top friends on Myspace are Kirisawa and Sergio Leone are you an aspiring director as well?
Well…in as much as it is one of the skills that impress me the most. I am not making films but I admire the breadth of scope it takes to work in such a vast medium, there is so much that goes into making a great film. I chose two very different directors, Sergio Leone is very tongue in cheek and Kirisawa is visually amazing.

PunkTV.ca: What would you like to be doing 5 years from now?
I would like to see my solo career more established and still making records. Doing what I am doing but on a higher level.

PunkTV.ca: Have you had any of the following experiences have you seen a Ghost, a UFO or the Face of God
I am supposed to say something funny here…no…I have not. I don’t believe in UFO’s and I don’t believe in god.

PunkTV.ca: Most surprised
I am pretty much you get what you see. I am not hiding very much. I work all the time I don’t drink. I have been a straight edge character for the last two years.

PunkTV.ca: Well you are going on tour you can make some new stories.
That’s right.

PunkTV.ca: Thanks Sean.

Thank You.

- PunkTV.ca

SEAN ASHBY TOURS SOLO THEN DELERIUM THEN SOLO AGAIN

May 3rd, 2008

Sean Ashby releases his debut solo album Brass And Gold on RCD Music/Fontana North on April 29, 2008. Ashby will play some Ontario tour dates before hitting the road with Delerium and then will return to tour Canada extensively this summer with his own music. www.myspace.com/seanashbymusic
“On this, his solo debut, he emerges as a rock singer-songwriter with a knack for melody and infectious riffs….Stylistic reference points here range from the Foo Fighters to Coldplay to Nick Drake and such eclecticism is refreshing in this era of one-dimensional artists.” - Kerry Doole, Exclaim
Tour Dates:
April 8th - Salt Lounge - London
April 10th - Call the Office - London
April 12th - Coach & Horse - Windsor
April 22nd - Salt Lounge - Windsor
April 23rd - Red Rooster - Burlington
April 24th - Bovine - Toronto
April 25th - The Reddog - Peterborough
June 3rd - The Horseshoe - Toronto
June 11th - Edmundston, NB
June 12th - TBA
June 13th - The Marquee - Halifax
June 14th – TBA
Canada West to East touring July & Aug
Sean Ashby has recorded and toured with some of Canada’s most successful musicians. His resume is indeed a long one and its getting longer every day. Take a look at some of the highlights in Sean’s career. Ashby recorded a version of the Beatles’ ‘Blackbird’ with Sarah McLachlan for the major motion picture ‘I Am Sam’ starring Sean Penn. It is currently getting heavy rotation on radio stations all over North America.

Sean Ashby has recorded and/or toured for:
all three Ginger (former Grapes of Wrath members) releases
Sarah McLachlan’s Mirror Ball (4 million copies in the US sold), and After Glow (also 4 million copies sold)
Delerium’s Poem release
Conjure 1’s debut release
Wild Strawberries’ release ‘Quiver’
Mike Treblecock’s (former Killjoys member) alt-country release
Swollen Members recording sessions
Todd Fancey (member of The New Pornographers) two solo cd’s currently producing/ mixing /engineering /programming and playing guitara release due late 2008
Scotty Campbell’s rockabilly CD due out in 2008 produced / mixed /engineered / and guitars
Melissa Bellm - new cd-guitar / writing /mixing .
Sean has also toured with;
May Moore
Lee Arron
The Sons of Freedom band backing Lee Aaron
Holly McNarland
On top of this already impressive resume, Sean has also recorded with Front Line Assembly on their soon to be released album and we can’t forget to mention his recording of ‘Cats in the Cradle’ with “D” from Run DMC… That’s right, one of the godfathers of hip-hop!

Brass and Gold is a solo venture, however if you include his last project Jack Tripper, it is actually Ashby’s third album. Jack Tripper was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award for Best Rock Recording alongside the likes of Nickleback, The New Pornographers and Matthew Good. Jack Tripper’s song ‘Nova Girl’ has been featured in the Bill Pullman film - ‘The Guilty’. As well, six songs have been used in the hit TV series ‘Cold Squad’. The power of Sean Ashby’s songwriting, backed up by his amazing guitar work is definitely generating interest from the TV and film world. - Sugarcain Entertainment.com