After The Lounge

London. Ont., band After The Lounge whih includes Jason McCorquodale on guitar, left. Carlos La Torre, on drums, Gregory Scott Bollert, on vocals, and Chris French on bass, will take the stage at Cecil's Eatery and Beer Society Friday and Saturday as part of their Lights Go Out tour. Cover is $4 Friday and $5 Saturday. They will also perform a live acoustic show, and will sign CD's Saturday at 2pm, at CD Pluss inthe Northgate Shopping Centre. - North Bay Nugget

London Ont., band After The Lounge made an in-store appearance at CD Plus in Northgate Shopping Centre Saturday afternoon to do an acoustic set and sign CDs for fans. Carlos La Torre, left, on drums, Scott Bollert with vocals, Chris French bass and Jay McCorquodale on guitar played Lights Go Out, a song on their newest album of the same name. The album is to be released in the spring. The also performed at Cecils's Eatery and Beer Society. - North Bay Nugget

Huge rock fest descends on Grand Bend track
SUMMER SOUNDS: Weekend-long concert features such acts as Bad Company, Ronnie Hawkins, Rik Emmett and Glass Tiger


August 4, 2010



On the rebound from a venue switch, big names in rock and blues are bound for The Bend.

British rockers Bad Company with Paul Rodgers, Canadian legend Ronnie Hawkins and U.S. bluesman and actor Jim Belushi are the headliners at Dog’s Nest at Grand Brend.

Having been switched from the Port Dover area, the Dog’s Nest fest is being held at the Grand Bend motorplex Aug. 12-14.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for the Bend as well. We’re looking for a positive here (after having to change venues),” says Dog’s Nest event director Chris Parson, a longtime London region music scene businessperson and booker. “It’s the perfect location — the ‘West Coast’ of Ontario.”

The event was switched from the Port Dover area to the Grand Bend-area venue last month. Norfolk OPP and a Port Dover councillor expressed concerns about handling the huge crowds expected for next week’s traditional motorcycle rally, held in Port Dover every Friday the 13th for 30 years, and the rock fans.

Dog’s Nest still has Port Dover on its radar. Next year, Dog’s Nest’s Embro-based promoters are to stage a music event at Port Dover on May 13, Parson says.

A singer, songwriter and frontman, Rodgers has released 30 albums since 1968 and sold more than 90 million records. He’s helped lead three bands to rock stardom — Free, Bad Company and The Firm.

During Bad Company’s run from 1973-1982, the band’s hits included Can’t Get Enough, Feel Like Making Love, Shooting Star, Bad Company and Rock & Roll Fantasy.

The 2010 Bad Company tour brings guitarist and co-founder Mick Ralphs and original drummer Simon Kirke.

Among those set to join Hawkins on the opening night of Dog’s Nest are former Londoner Garth Hudson, who left the London region about 40 years ago to play in Hawkins’ backup band, the Hawks. .

Also in the all-star mix are the Sadies. Appearing alongside Hawkins will keep the 2010 Polaris Music Prize-nominated Sadies in the company of Canadian cultural celebrities this summer.

Last month, the Toronto-area band brought its blend of roots, country, psychedelia, rock and surf to a recent CBC Radio Two collaboration with CanLit superstar Margaret Atwood on a song of hers.

Also on hand for the Hawkins’ all-star jam is London-region band Plum Loco —whose guitarist, John Till of Stratford, played with a late 1960s’ edition of the Hawks before being hired away by Janis Joplin’s management.

Other London-region acts announced for the Dog’s Nest bill range from rockers Bobnoxious and After The Lounge to the psychobilly Matadors.
- JAMES REANEY THE LONDON FREE PRESS

“After the Lounge was one of the few groups that were able to stand out among the 70 performing groups we had at the 2009 London Ribfest. They showed us energy on the stage which you usually get from larger scale concert, they are professional and fit well with a great show.”

Christopher G. Jones - Entertainment and Administration Coordinator
Family Shows Canada
- Christopher G. Jones - Entertainment and Administration Coordinator Family Shows Canada

“After the Lounge were Hailed as one of the Best Opening Acts for The Pottahawk Weekend and Friday the 13th Weekend at the Port Dover Pier in 2007,,,They came across with a Raw True Grit Rock Edged Performance that Brought the House down and Left the Crowds Awe Inspired and Very Pleased with each Performance,, A Sunday Show Out On Pottahawk Island Left the Audience Dazzled By Their Great Harmony and Sound ..To Scott and The Band , 2 thumbs Up For Their Great Performances !!”


Larry L Christiaen - President and Venue Coordinator
Pottahawk Enterprises INC.
- Larry L Christiaen - President and Venue Coordinator Pottahawk Enterprises INC.

After The Lounge hits the studio
By BARBARA SIMPSON, SIMCOE REFORMER
After the Lounge is showing there is really life after the lounge -- in the confines of a studio.

Following five years touring nonstop, the London-based band, headed by Simcoe native Scott Bollert, finally hunkered down to create its first full-length album. However, its finished product Lights Go Out thrives on the band's energetic presence honed on the stage over the years.

"If I would have stopped and looked around, I would have realized we played too much," admitted Bollert, who added the band would play up to 100 shows each year.

While the eight-song disc only required three days to record, After the Lounge spent months rehearsing for the album. What rose from those months of toil is a danceable album produced by Darren Morrison, of London's Big Room Studios.

"He took everything we did in the past and he made them epic," Bollert said.

The band also tapped into the expertise of Hollywood-based sound engineer Stephen Marsh. He has mastered tracks for the likes of Barenaked Ladies, Incubus and Korn.

The art of mastering is vital in the digital age, he added. That's why the band took its time in committing to a producer and sound engineer. It wanted to create a record with quality sound.

"The mastering process is a big part of it," Bollert said.

With its first full-length album under its collective belt, the eight-year- old band has an ambitious slate of further recording sessions lined up. It plans to release a live album featuring a hodgepodge of recordings from various concerts. It will also return to the studio to work on a new album in February 2011.

"Now it's time to make up for lost time," Bollert added.After the Lounge will also return to the road. It is organizing the Band of Brothers tour, a throwback style of touring where independent bands would hit the vast countryside together.



"Back in the days of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, they would get together and roll into town together," he said.



Its first stop will be at Port Dover's The Brig (Norfolk Tavern) on June 11. It will be joined by the Mudmen, fronted by the bag-piping Campbell brothers who created the new Hockey Night in Canada theme song.

"They're just a phenomenal band," Bollert added. "They're Canada's children of rock 'n roll."

The local band Lazy Hamma will also open the show, he added. He said it's always a treat for him to return home to see family and friends.

"Coming home is always a big deal," he said. "I love the area. I would live there if my career allowed me to."

Doors open at 9 p.m. for the Port Dover show. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Partial proceeds will benefit Norfolk's Relay for Life. Advanced tickets can be purchased at all Harry's locations and Erie Music.

Barbara Simpson 519-426-3528, ext. 112 bsimpson@bowesnet.com
- BARBARA SIMPSON, SIMCOE REFORMER

After the Lounge, featuring Norfolk native Scott Bollert, will be returning to the local area with a show this Friday night at the Norfolk Tavern in Port Dover.

It will likely be the last time the band is in the area until next spring. The band has decided to focus less on the club scene in order to complete its album, Lights Go Out. With almost 70 shows last year and just under 100 this year, the group finds it difficult to be productive with writing and recording.

Band members plan to finish their song entitled, Lights Go Out, and start on the next EP for release in 2010.

ATL is currently recording with Big Room Studios producer, Darren Morrison who holds recording credits of Bill Durst as well as many other well known names. The tracks will then be sent to Los Angeles to be mastered by the legendary Stephen Marsh. Marsh is behind such names as Barenaked Ladies, Incubus and Korn.

The band is in negotiations with a handful of different labels for distribution.

Lights Go Out will headline the full length album followed by the band's regularly performed songs, Fever Coming On, University Girls and Before My Eyes. Lights Go Out is also part of an Indie Compilation, New Faces New Music Vol. 3 released last month in Las Vegas by Radio RNR. This will contribute to the American dates added to the Canadian Tour already planned for the new album.

Last month, the 2009 You Discover Concert Series chose ATL out of hundreds of bands to perform as part of the Top 28 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The group played for 1,000 fans on a massive stage alongside the falls and the fireworks. You Tube videos can be seen on the band's website at www.afterthelounge.com.

The boys of After The Lounge have also been recording video footage of antics, interviews and shows for a DVD entitled Road To The Top, due for release with the Lights Go Out album.

After The Lounge hits the stage at 10 p.m. on Friday night.
- Simcoe Reformer

An original tune, "Lights Go Out" by London pop/rock group After The Lounge has been chosen by RadioRNR from Las Vegas, Nevada for inclusion on their New Music, New Faces Vol. 3, a compilation series of original music from unsigned and independant artists. The tune will also be the title track the group's forthcoming album.

"Lights Go Out was written by me and our guitar player Bryan Parsons. We wrote quite a few tunes together many of them will finally see the light of day on the new album. Our sound is slightly heavier from our last album, Beauty, but we still have that danceable pop/rock feel," said lead vocalist Gregory Scott Bollert.

Formed in 2001, After The Lounge is now comprised of Bollert, guitarist Christopher Eveland, bassist Jefferson Sheppard and drummer Carlos La Torre. While the band is anxious to release their new album, they're thrilled that they will gain exposure through the New Music compilation.

"We are happy to have an immediate release of material as our album has taken longer than anticipated. ATL and RadioRNR did both agree that the single, Lights Go Out will be perfect for the compilation. RadioRNR will distribute the CD online for digital downloads through CD Baby's partners, including iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Napster, Rhapsody, Verizon V-Cast and GroupieTunes.

At the present time After The Lounge is negotiating with a number of major labels for distribution of their full-length album. Engineered and produced by Darren Morrison and mastered by Stephen Marsh, the album is close to completion and should be ready for release later this summer. - Scene Magazine London, ON