Factories & Alleyways

Some of the members of Vancouver's Factories and Alleyways used to play around town in the rock band Like a Martyr, but for the last couple of years, they've been heading in a more rootsy direction. This has culminated in an album from the new project called Canadiana, which will drop on June 25.

The album was recorded at Burnaby, BC's soon-to-be-relocated Hive Creative Labs. It was self-produced by the four-piece with engineering duties handled by local studio whiz Jesse Gander (Japandroids, the Pack A.D.). The drums, bass and rhythm guitar were all tracked live off the floor, while vocal harmonies were sung together around a single microphone in order to capture an intimate energy.

Speaking to Exclaim!, Factories and Alleyways explained that the band have typically referred to their music as "Americana," but their distinctly Canadian sound inspired the album's patriotic title. Sonic touchstones include the Band, CSNY, Bruce Springsteen and Whiskeytown.

That album cover is above and the 10-song tracklist is below. As fans may notice, some of these songs previously appeared on the band's self-titled 2012 EP. The rest of the songs are from a separate, unreleased EP.

Scroll past the tracklist to hear a three-song sampler, which features the blue collar folk rocker "Without a Buck," the harmony-filled campfire number "Hallelujah" and the atmospherically pitter-pattering "The Back Door."

Factories and Alleyways:

1. Without a Buck
2. 1000 Beers
3. Pass Along
4. The Back Door
5. Hallelujah
6. Right Now
7. My Brother
8. Sing to Me
9. Lonely Road
10. Life Is Now
- Exclaim! magazine

Factories and Alleyways take you on a journey across the USA in a bashed up old Chevy with the windows down and the stereo up. Begin by getting your power stances ready for the mighty ‘Without a Buck’, which kicks off the trip with Allingham’s gravelly tones and anthemic chorus.

Continue rolling towards the bluesy ’1000 Beers’ and you will hear the tones of the Deep South forming the roots of the band’s sound. Take a left turn on to the next track ‘Lonely Road’, which gives Allingham’s rasps a rest as the trip takes on more of a reflective mood. The lyrics and harmonies contain so much passion they will leave you with goosebumps.

Still meandering across south America, it’s time to make a pit stop (grab cowboy hat on the way) at the nearest hootenanny with the explosive ‘Right Now,’ waking you up with a feel good barn dance fiesta classic and, not to mention, one of the most brilliant piano solos I’ve heard in a long while.

After all that partying, build a campfire and chill out to the beautiful ‘Hallelujah’, written straight from the heart. ‘Goodbye’ is the final track of the album, signifying the end of the journey with a crooning farewell.

Factories and Alleyways blur the boundaries of power rock and folk combining the sound with the rusty roots of jazz and blues. Taking inspiration from Springsteen and Whiskeytown, they are in danger of being old fashioned. Yet the energy, passion and enthusiasm of this band of brothers turns this EP into an all American timeless classic. Road trip anyone? - For Folk's Sake

FINDING THEIR ROOTS

Inspired by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Adams, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Factories and Alleyways revive the historical art of storytelling in their latest self-titled EP.

The ball started rolling eight years ago when Jeremy and Matt found themselves playing in a “boogie woogie” rock ‘n’ roll band together. When the band dissipated, the two continued on to form Factories and Alleyways and create their distinctive roots/Americana sound. Inspired by rich musical storytellers, Jeremy Allingham, Matt Denny-Keys, Josh Denny-Keys, and Alex Glassford revel in the creation of new narrative.

“Storytelling is such an integral part of not only our art, but our day to day lives. You live your life for the experiences and then share them — that’s something we all love to do,” says frontman Allingham. “I like to capture a time and place because when I listen to music, that’s the time when I’m most captivated. When Bruce Springsteen is singing about the factories and when Van Morrison is talking about people in Ireland, that’s when I really connect.”

With songs such as “Without a Buck”, Factories and Alleyways tell stories of the working class experiencing dark times, bottoming out, and then rebuilding their lives. “It’s the events in the world around us that inspire our music. You combine that with a history of listening to music that you love that hits you in the gut with your own world. That’s the formula,” says Matt Denny-Keys.

“This music is laid back, relaxed, storytelling music. To get into a studio with a strict itinerary changes the flow. You’ve got to keep the calm, laid back vibe while being super efficient,” says Allingham. However, with the help of Jesse Gander, chief recording engineer at the Hive Creative Labs, and some Knob Creek bourbon, the band had no problem creating an album to be proud of.

Factories and Alleyways will be hitting the studio again in the new year to begin recording their next album. “It’s a bit of a tight time after Christmas, but we wouldn’t rather be spending our money on anything else. I’d take five days in the Hive over a week in Mexico any day,” says Allingham.

Factories and Alleyways will play at the Railway Club on November 8.

By Ali Omelaniec - Beatroute Magazine

From The Curator: Factories and Alleyways carry on a fine Canadian tradition established by Blue Rodeo. This EP will surprise you, if not the melodies then the lyrics then harmonies. Let it surprise you…invite it into your life. Let it do it’s work. ~Sammy

Factories and Alleyways is a band of brothers, bonded together in the melodies they sing and the stories they tell.

Taking their cues from the timeless works of The Band, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, and Whiskeytown, Factories and Alleyways produces music lush with three-part harmonies, delivered with raw emotion and soul. The band performs songs that bristle with live energy and warmth – they’ll make you dance, they’ll make you cry.

Drawing from influences in country, folk, rock and gospel, the group’s new release reverberates with honest songwriting and undeniable brotherhood. Recorded at the Hive Studio with Engineer Jesse Gander (The Pack AD, Japandroids, Billy the Kid, Hard Drugs) the band’s debut EP features six songs that demonstrate a knack for memorable melodies, infectious harmonies and beautiful arrangements.

This is campfire music, to be shared together in the warmth of the flames. This is road trip music, blasting at the adventure’s beginning, playing softly on the long drive home. This is music created and played by four brothers for no other reason than that they LOVE IT. Factories and Alleyways is Jeremy Allingham, real-life brothers Matt and Josh Denny-Keys and Alex Glassford, all of whom sing and play multiple instruments.

Press Love

“Factories and Alleyways swings from back-porch sing-alongs (“1000 Beers”) to Brylcreem-slicked Sun Studios rockers (“Right Now”) to shimmering last-call slow waltzes (“Goodbye”). The EP’s secret weapon is gorgeous three-part harmonies…” -Mike Usinger (Georgia Straight – Vancouver Alternative Weekly) - NewMusicTen.com

From The Curator: Factories and Alleyways carry on a fine Canadian tradition established by Blue Rodeo. This EP will surprise you, if not the melodies then the lyrics then harmonies. Let it surprise you…invite it into your life. Let it do it’s work. ~Sammy

Factories and Alleyways is a band of brothers, bonded together in the melodies they sing and the stories they tell.

Taking their cues from the timeless works of The Band, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, and Whiskeytown, Factories and Alleyways produces music lush with three-part harmonies, delivered with raw emotion and soul. The band performs songs that bristle with live energy and warmth – they’ll make you dance, they’ll make you cry.

Drawing from influences in country, folk, rock and gospel, the group’s new release reverberates with honest songwriting and undeniable brotherhood. Recorded at the Hive Studio with Engineer Jesse Gander (The Pack AD, Japandroids, Billy the Kid, Hard Drugs) the band’s debut EP features six songs that demonstrate a knack for memorable melodies, infectious harmonies and beautiful arrangements.

This is campfire music, to be shared together in the warmth of the flames. This is road trip music, blasting at the adventure’s beginning, playing softly on the long drive home. This is music created and played by four brothers for no other reason than that they LOVE IT. Factories and Alleyways is Jeremy Allingham, real-life brothers Matt and Josh Denny-Keys and Alex Glassford, all of whom sing and play multiple instruments.

Press Love

“Factories and Alleyways swings from back-porch sing-alongs (“1000 Beers”) to Brylcreem-slicked Sun Studios rockers (“Right Now”) to shimmering last-call slow waltzes (“Goodbye”). The EP’s secret weapon is gorgeous three-part harmonies…” -Mike Usinger (Georgia Straight – Vancouver Alternative Weekly) - NewMusicTen.com

Factories and Alleyways fra Vancouver er et nytt, men særdeles hyggelig bekjentskap.

De er ute med en 6-spors EP som de gir bort på Bandcamp. Og hvem kan si nei takk til gratis musikk når det låter så godt som dette.


Selv oppgir de alt fra CSN&Y og The Band til Whiskeytown og Paul Simon som inspirasjonskilder. Factories and Alleyways består av Jeremy Allingham, brødreparet Matt og Josh Denny-Keys, og Alex Glassford. Alle synger, korer og spiller en lang rekke instrumenter.

Factories and Alleyways byr på strålende harmonier, gode tekster og ikke minst utsøkte og fengende melodier der de mikser popmusikk med americana, alt. country, folk og gospel. «Right Now» er et godt eksempel, der de har fanget gospelstemningen i pianogroovet og koringen, med en ikke så veldig gospeltekst på toppen.

De legger ikke skjul på tilknytningen til gospel i «Hallelujah» (heldigvis ikke DEN Hallelujah, dette er en original komposisjon) – som har et vidunderlig piano, herlig koring og en fele som bare snirkler seg vei inn i hjernebarken din. Det låter så bra at jeg til og med aksepterer blåserne som dukker opp i bakgrunnen.

Det er ingen svake låter på denne EPen. Det er fordelen med formatet. Man gir ut de låtene som låter bra NÅ, uten å måtte fylle ut en plate med sammenrasket lyd for å tilfredsstille en oppsatt standardlengde.

Førstekuttet «Left Without a Buck» er en låt om tapt kjærlighet, og i kjølvannet: en økonomisk nedtur…

«Gambled on your love
Dollars gone to dust
What I’d give
For one more night with you «

Og i «1000 Beers» snur vi det hele opp ned, og er på vei tilbake til en savnet kjæreste – og samtidig får vi høre om vokalistens talenter…

«Whiskey
Guitar
They’re all I know
All I know»

Bestesporet er nok «Lonely Road», basert på harmoniene, melodien og måten vokalen veksles mellom vokalistene på.

«Something inside is gonna make you wonder
What the hell you’re doing here
You gotta kick to keep from going under «

Uansett – dette er de beste null kronene du kan bruke på musikk denne uken – så last ned EPen fra Factories and Alleyways og kos deg.

Du hører hele platen, og laster den ned på Bandcamp (hvor du også kan kjøpe CDen for 4 canadiske dollar)
- musikkbloggen.no

As confessions go, it’s not the kind that’s going to endear a band to elitists who fancy themselves too cool for your school. And to their credit, that doesn’t bother Factories and Alleyways’ main songwriters Jeremy Allingham and Matt Denny-Keys in the slightest.

Over drinks at the Reef on Commercial Drive, the two bandmates spend the final stretch of an interview with the Straight talking about guilty pleasures. Except, quite rightly, they argue there’s really no such thing as a guilty pleasure: if you like a song, there’s nothing more pathetic than pretending otherwise because Pitchfork subscribers might disapprove.

A number of acts come up, some of them almost no one’s idea of egregious (Paul Simon), and others of the variety that won’t earn you any points on Main Street, even when the band’s T-shirts are worn ironically. (Factories and Alleyways keyboardist Josh Denny-Keys, who is Matt’s brother, evidently has an appreciation for Nickelback).

As for arguably the biggest name to surface during the conversation, both Allingham and Denny-Keys cite an unrepentant fondness for the most mega-successful band from the ’70s not named Fleetwood Mac. And, good on them, because anyone who will argue that “Hotel California” isn’t one of the all-time greatest driving songs, especially when you’re barrelling through the desert at sunset, is simply full of shit.

Yes, Factories and Alleyways has a thing for the Eagles, to the point where the bio for the four piece’s eponymously titled debut EP even namechecks the Me Decade legends.

“You don’t have to like all the coolest bands,” singer-guitarist Allingham argues. “When we talked about our influences, one of the bands that kept coming up was the Eagles. We didn’t have a huge conversation about this, but I do remember typing them into the bio, and thinking ‘Oh, should I do that?’ ”

“Like, ‘Do we really want to say this?’ ” Denny-Keys, who sings and plays bass, interjects with a laugh.

“But it’s whatever, man—they fucking write great songs,” Allingham continues. “I like the Eagles, and that’s fine. They sing like angels and have great hooks. It’s not like my favourite band in the world, but I’ll throw them on every few months for a few tracks. I think that can bolster your maturity as a songwriter, in not limiting yourself to ‘Oh, what’s cool, and what do people want to hear?’ ”

Lest all this lead folks to conclude that Factories and Alleyways aspires to nothing higher than regular airplay on The Bro Jake Show, rest assured that the band’s influences don’t stop there. Going back to that bio, you’ll also find nods to the Band, Bruce Springsteen, and Whiskeytown, the influence of those latter two shining through loud and clear on the blue-collar, bourbon-scorched “Without a Buck”.

Factories and Alleyways also leaves you thinking the quartet would have done well for itself in the early ’80s, when guns-a’-blazing country-punk was for a spell the hottest thing in pop music. That the group—rounded out by drummer Alex Glassford—would have fit right alongside Rank and File, Green on Red, and the Long Ryders on a C90 mix tape is a huge compliment. Denny-Keys takes it as just that, but points out that the Greed Decade wasn’t just about young gunslingers in bolo ties.

“It’s funny that you talk about the ’80s feel,” he says between sips of Red Truck Lager. “One of my favourite artists is Don Williams, and one my favourite eras of his is the ’80s. You’ve got a fantastic country legend, the gentle giant of country music—in the ’80s, people didn’t necessarily leave him, but he had this high, punchy bass sound and weird electric piano and synths. But what was always there, that natural thematic element, was melody, and that’s what we’re really drawn to.”

Factories and Alleyways also swings from back-porch sing-alongs (“1000 Beers”) to Brylcreem-slicked Sun Studios rockers (“Right Now”) to shimmering last-call slow waltzes (“Goodbye”). The EP’s secret weapon is gorgeous three-part harmonies, bolstered by hired hands that include pedal-steel jockey Doug Liddle, slow-burn fiddler Kathleen Nisbet, and horn players Adam Junk and Nick Wilson.

What makes the release doubly impressive is that three out of Factory and Alleyways’ four members are in some way new to the Americana game. Allingham, Matt Denny-Keys, and Glassford have all done time in local modern-rock outfit Like a Martyr, a band currently on hiatus so the musicians can focus on their new project.

What has the group’s members feeling good about their musical repositioning is that there’s traditionally been a devoted Americana scene in Vancouver. Still, noting that Like a Martyr was perhaps too mainstream for the underground, and too underground for the mainstream, Denny-Keys wonders if Factories and Alleyways is also straddling different worlds.

“We sort of did it to ourselves again,” he suggests. “We’re not doing the Bon Iver full-on, old-school country roots where it’s, dare I say, completel - The Georgia Straight

Factories and Alleyways is a new band emerging out of Vancouver. They just released a 6-song EP recorded at The Hive in Vancouver, its available for a mere 5$ on their Bandcamp - you should definitely give it a listen! Jeremy Allingham and his 2 brothers, and then 2 more friends form this Americana-Folk-Gospel-Roots Rock band, and their mix is definitely incredible. Below is a live video of them performing 1000 Beers. I’d suggest throwing this song on during one of the last nice, warm(ish) days and pretend its summer again, that’s what this song makes me feel, at least! - The Province Newspaper

Factories and Alleyways is a new band emerging out of Vancouver. They just released a 6-song EP recorded at The Hive in Vancouver, its available for a mere 5$ on their Bandcamp - you should definitely give it a listen! Jeremy Allingham and his 2 brothers, and then 2 more friends form this Americana-Folk-Gospel-Roots Rock band, and their mix is definitely incredible. Below is a live video of them performing 1000 Beers. I’d suggest throwing this song on during one of the last nice, warm(ish) days and pretend its summer again, that’s what this song makes me feel, at least! - The Province Newspaper