Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
It took 7 weeks and 36 bands, but the cream of Calgary's crop rose to the top last weekend at the Axetreme Stripdown finals and it was as sweet as Chyshuga. The freshmen band (together for less than a year) owned The Gate's stage during their brief but electric 20 minute set leaving fans wanting more. Despite the stiff competition from the rest of the bill, Chyshuga appeared polished and at ease in front of the 4 guest industry judges and received top marks across the board. Rounding out the top 3 was Headruin and Headfirst.
Despite Axetreme Stripdown being a band competition, it was the 500 plus fans who came out over the 2 day finals who left as real winners. Outside the 8 competing bands, the finals also showcased 7 bands from the Edmonton and Calgary area including Deep Fine Grind, Marble Engine (Edmonton Stripdown Champs), Strada, Rights of Jones (formerly Jack Union), Five Star Affair and the unreal Tupelo Honey who closed out the show brilliantly on Friday night. The weekend line up was stuffed full of one thing: talent! Each band put on a show worthy of admission and were a credit to the indie scene. The highlights, and they're were so many, included Strada lead guitarist turning his guitar into a javelin and booting a hole through his amp speaker, the vocal domination of Tupelo Honey's lead man Matt Landry and the unveiling of Marble Engine to Calgary fans, whether in delight or dismay, couldn't take their eyes of the 4 peice Rock Opera from Edmonton.
The big losers? The hundreds of Calgarians who lived up to Calgary's apathetic reputation and didn't come out and support their local music scene as a result missing the unbelievable talent that lives right underneath their corporate, snobbery noses. I guess the bands will have to wait until they get a major record deal (or maybe make the Stanley Cup Finals) before their city will get behind them. It's funny that in a city of Cowboys, Calgary still thinks the cart comes before the horse. - Kyle Taylor - The Gate, Calgary
Discography
"Chyshuga" 5 song EP
Single = "Under The Sun"
(currently played on The BEAR in Edmonton)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
From Calgary, Alberta, Chyshuga started out as a four piece in May of 2004. In September of this year they added guitarist Shilo Doetzel. In the last year and a half the band has accomplished a great deal, including winning the Axtreme Stripdown Battle of the Bands Competition (Calgary), signing with Dirtnap Productions management team (Tupelo Honey), and releasing their first single 'Under the Sun' which was picked up by 100.3 The Bear in Edmonton. The music of Chyshuga has been described as "huge and hard hitting" - hard rock that is both melodic and heavy while still appealing to a variety of music fans. Gracing their audiences with power and beautiful melody, Chyshuga have been working hard to make every show unique and unforgettable. Chyshuga's biggest influences come from newer bands like 36 Crazyfists, Finch, The Used and Sevendust.
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