Acoustic Truth

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2005

*Acoustic Truth melds range of musical influences*

Haliburton - Honesty may be the best policy, but it's the truth that will get four Lindsay musicians on stage at one of the summer's wildest extreme sports events.
Doug Sparks, Darry Teefy, Ryan Maclam and Neil Tyrell - also known as Acoustic Truth - are to perform alongside The Salads and The Waking Eyes this Saturday (June 11) as part of this year's Rock the Wake.
Taking place June 10 to 12 in Haliburton, Rock the Wake combines live music with althletic competition, showcasing wakeboard, wakeskate, wakesurf, volleyball, skateboard and freestyle motocross contests.
Acoustic Truth has been together for four years, melding musical influences ranging from the Beatles and B.B. King to Slipnot and Mudvein to creat what Sparks calls "alternative acoustic."
A unique blend of raw acoustic guitars and subdued percussion with soulful vocals, the band's sound has attracted a growing following throughout southern Ontario as well as the Kawarthas.
"You can catch a little bit of everything in our music - it's all just under the surface," said Teefy, drummer and band producer.
"It's everyday stuff that drives everybody nuts and we turn it into music that rocks."
Acoustic Truth has released a self-titled demo CD and hopes to remix works for an 'official' 13 track CD by the end of the June.
"We're still learning as we go," added Teefy. "We're trying to remain independent so that we can retain more control over our work."
When the opportunity to join Rock the Wake arose, the band didn't hesitate. They've been striving to get as much air play as possible and with Edge 102 as the event's key sponsor, it was an opportunity they couldn't pass up.
Sharing the weekend with 24 other independents such as Amped and Tequila Mockinbird will also make for an excellent opportunity to network and gain further insight into the industry.
The band is inspired mostly by personal experiences and observations. Early in their musical careers, Sparks and Maclam leaned on each other for support once learning they'd both lost their fathers in car accidents.
"We connected on that level that no one else could," said Maclam, the band's bassist. It's impacted our music. It's one way of taking out the anger in a positive way, instead of being aggressive."
For the most part, there are good days. That's because they are not a typical band where one or two people write a song then bounce it off the other members, said Sparks.
"A lot of the time we'll come up with a couple of lines and everyone puts in their part," he said. "It all just fits together and you have a song."
..."We have amazing chemistry, " said Sparks.
For more information on Acoustic Truth, check out their Web site at www.acoustictruth.ca or e-mail the band at acoustictruth@sympatico.ca.

END - The Daily Post: Lindsay - Catherine Whitnall