Astronaut

Four friends in a rock and roll band; simply that. Sarnia, Ontario’s Astronaut, is comprised of four guys with extremely eclectic musical backgrounds. Two members are trained in classical music, one trained with a jazz background, and one is a self-taught bluesman. Together, their sound can be compared to a sixties British rock band.

Daniel Gordon, the band’s driving force and backbone is an honours graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in piano. Along the line, Gordon was soon sitting at the stool of a drum set. He began to take lessons from noted musician Geoff Gander. He then became a standout in the percussion section of the Northern Collegiate senior concert band. Gordon currently studies Chemistry at the University of Western Ontario.

Big brother Matthew Gordon is also an honours graduate from the RCM in piano. He learned to play the guitar from career musician Jim Chevalier. Although the guitar became his new obsession, piano remained his true love. He currently studies Political Science at the University of Western Ontario. Gordon is one half of the band’s lead singers, a guitarist and pianist. He is also one half of the song writing team for the band.

Ed Murphy is a self taught bluesman at heart. Although he too got his start from Chevalier, Murphy soon took control over his instrument on his own. He and his guitar became inseparable. Jimi Hendrix, Jack White and “the devil himself” Robert Johnson are major influences on Murphy’s guitar playing. Murphy studies music at the University of Western Ontario as well. He also comprises the other half of the singing and song writing team for the band.

Chris Webb is the band’s chest-thumping bass player. Webb is an accomplished jazz musician whose transformation in to rock’n’roll has been flawless. Before Astronaut, he served three years in the rhythm section of his high school’s senior jazz band. Webb will be pursuing a degree in sound engineering and recording from Fanshawe College in London, Ontario.

In June, 2005, Astronaut recorded its first album with the help of producer Adam Miner. The boys and Miner built their own make-shift studio in a warehouse in Point Edward, Ontario. The band spent three weeks in the studio recording their eight original songs. “Down The Rabbit Hole” was released November 1, of 2005. In support of their album, Astronaut has played numerous concerts including serving as the opening act for Staggered Crossing, The Trews, Everclear and Collective Soul. In the summer of 2006, the Global Battle of the Bands declared Astronaut to be one of the “Top 3 Indie Acts in Canada.” The band is currently writing songs for their follow-up album due in 2007. As well as original material, the band also draws from and pays homage to bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John and The White Stripes.