Biography
THE SECRETARIES BIO.
A few years back, The Secretaries performed their first gig on the planked surface of the ice rink in West Edmonton Mall. There was a charity thing going on and people were exercising on really expensive machines to raise money. So it was that Colleen Brown (bass, vocals), Amy van Keeken (guitar, vocals)and Natasha Fryzuk (drums, vocals, accordian) baked up a new fan base right then and there under the sunny arena dome. We heard some rock anthems, a gorgeous lament that reminded me of Joni Mitchell being lost in Paris, and even an accordion. There was clapping and, I think I do remember, drinking.
Since then, the band released an EP, opened for Gogol Bordello – also at the übermall – and in 2009 most notably doubled in size as a unit, simultaneously escaping the unimaginative “girl band” moniker, thanks to the three-piece, uh, “boy band,” the Brassholes … their Great Recession-dressed horn section.
Now, the self-titled album has just emerged, a rockin’ pretty, pretty rockin’ thing that might remind you a little of Heart, making out, or even just the old days, when people would lay their feelings on the line without sounding like a pampered, sulkily misunderstood, gravel-throated man-baby. Between the fun stuff you will also note a brooding Slavic tint, which is because The Secretaries come from a city where almost everyone is at least *slightly* Ukrainian. Hoy! And pass the sour cream.
What more can I say? Should I do the tedious “blues inventory” thing and name everyone they ever played on stage with, how many times they’ve been on CBC besides several? Talk about their fashion sense or how it’s hard in a man’s world? You can figure out that shizzle for yourself.
The Secretaries attack with gorgeous, harmonic songs, punchy and thought out. Their shows are excessively fun parties, swaying with dented-brass choreography. When they tour your way, come up to the stage with a couple shot in your hands. The rest will be history.
- Fish Griwkowsky
"The rocking-est band currently playing in Edmonton. Sort of Heart meets Sabbath, but much cuter."
-Tom Murray, See Magazine
"...On more than one occasion, the Secretaries have proven themselves over the last year - rocking their way deep into the music scene... Confident, soulful and delightfully nasty, these dude-ettes are more than ready to take the inevitable next step..."
-Fish Griwkowsky, The Edmonton Sun
"As anyone who’s caught one of its costume-themed, dance-contest-in-the-middle, raucous live shows can attest, despite cramming big rock ambitions into intimate little songs, the Secretaries feel less like a band than an incredibly fun social club that happens to revolve around playing ethereally catchy rock."
-David Berry, Vue Weekly
Instrumentation
Amy van Keeken: guitar, vocals, recorder, percussion, Robot Ass Slap/ Colleen Brown: bass, vocals, Percussive Ankle Twist/ Natasha Fryzuk: drums, "vocals", percussion, guitar, Masked Floor Hump
The Brassholes are:
Darren Radbourne- trumpet
Greg Hutchinson- trumpet
Steve Hutcheson- euphonium
Discography
The Secretaries release their debut album Sat Oct 10th, 2009. Watch for it in stores!
Links
| http://www.thesecretaries.com |
| Northern City (Live) |