Captain Firebutton
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Captain Firebutton

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Band Rock Alternative

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

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"Captain Firebutton and the Thunder and Lightning 35"

Pop/Rock
Captain Firebutton and the Thunder and Lightning 35
Rating 3
Captain Firebutton (Independent)
Channelling everything from Dr. John to the Beach Boys while remaining very much its own band, Ottawa's ever-unpredictable Captain Firebutton introduces us to an accessorizing-mad metro man, international relations (or relationships: the war-themed song is called International Marriage), and a Martian manhunter who, thoroughly alienated, sounds just like that strange guy in the apartment down the hall.
Ryan Brown, Sean Keohane and Johnny Weston trade off lead vocals while the rest of the boys fire up New Orleans jazz, R&B and Bare Naked Ladies-like pop. Keohane also delivers some sweet trumpet and flugelhorn.
Sometimes the band tries a little too hard, but overall the album, the Captain's first full-length studio effort, works, provided you're comfortable with never knowing what's coming next. - Ottawa Citizen


"Captain Firebutton: Orchestral manoeuvres on a lark"

Right from the opening notes of the wordy, but amusingly titled CD Captain Firebutton And The Thunder And Lighting 35, it’s apparent that these six guys, known collectively as Captain Firebutton, have an appreciation for orchestral sounds.

Their “theme” is a brief but spirited opening number that really sets the mood for the entire 14-track album — that being one of fun.

It’s a full meal for the ear, in that the songs are peppered with intricate melodies, surging horns, and jazzy piano lines, yet somehow they come off sounding clean and polished. It’s no surprise then to learn that the majority of the band members come from, or currently study, classical music. That formal training, combined with their modern influences and willingness to let loose in their songs, comes together to make a unique — maybe signature — Firebutton sound.

But according to bassist Cody Fox, guitarist John Weston and drummer Alex McFarlane — the half of the band that sat down one snowy afternoon to chat about their upcoming show — deciding to put full effort into the band and produce a CD was a relatively recent decision.

What helped the three, along with bandmates Ryan Brown on sax, guitar and vocals, vocalist and horn player Sean Keohane, and keyboard player Mike Paterson, decide to fully push Captain Firebutton was winning the Ottawa University Battle of the Bands competition.

“We realized, hey, we can actually do something,” said McFarlane with a laugh.

So, drawing from songs the guys had played live for years and new creations various members brought to the table, the band worked on getting the songs ready for the studio.

They just received the finished discs this week, and are thrilled to have something to offer the fans who have been coming out to their live shows.

“It’s very exciting to see something professionally produced and know how we all worked together on it,” said Fox.

“We’re each individually picky on our own level of what we want the music to sound like, so the finished project is pretty refined,” added Weston.
Captain Firebutton’s CD release show is tonight at 9 p.m. at Mavericks, 221 Rideau St. with guests Adam Cavanaugh and The Merry Monsters. Tickets are $7 at the door.
kim mannix vermette/metro ottawa - Ottawa Metro


Discography

- Captain Firebutton and The Thunder & Lightning 35 (LP)
- Captain Firebutton (EP)
- Myspace.com/captainfirebuttonband (streaming tracks)
-Dog on a Leash (radio play on Ottawa's LiVE 88.5)

Photos

Bio

Captain Firebutton has always been the little band that could. Initially formed as a six-piece group with a horn section, Firebutton channelled classic rock mixed with modern indie music to create a totally unique sound. Firebutton quickly broke into the music scene in our native Ottawa, playing high-profile gigs with Ill Scarlett, The Golden Dogs, and The Beautiful Unknown at Ottawa's premiere live performance venues. The band was dealt a huge blow with the departure of a member: our trumpet player, lead singer, and founder. After four years of performing together the band was forced to completely re-evaluate their approach and emerged as a five piece ensemble with a decidedly richer and more exciting sound. With influences ranging from Radiohead to Billy Joel to The Beatles to Supertramp, Captain Firebutton puts together a sound completely unlike anything else, yet remarkably cohesive and addicting. Today, Firebutton continues to branch out musically and is one of the premiere performing acts in the Ottawa area. Our hope is to bring the dynamic Firebutton sound to everyone, everywhere!