Frosted Tipz

"Having the newly revamped Frosted Tipz take the support slot for Pride Tiger was a calculated stroke of brilliance. New singer Amy van Keeken violently seized lead vocals, fitting perfectly into the band's struck poses and totally greasy sex appeal. Look out for them. Our living iron maiden, my heart goes bang bang"
Fish Griwkowsky - Exclaim! Magazine

"Debuting at a riotously odd all-ages Halloween show at a rollerskating rink last year, the Frosted Tipz quickly became one of Edmonton's most reliably mind-blowing live acts. Their classic metal-meets-electronostalgia sound (think early AC/DC mashed with Gary Numan fronted by a ruby-throated Nabakovian Lolita) gives dance-crazy types plenty of foot-to-floor fodder while also making it challenging to peel their eyes off the stage. Drummer Darren Chewka looks like he wandered in from the physics lab and drums like he's possessed by the hell-raising spirit of Keith Moon, while bassist Alan Hildebrandt throbs out punishing lines with the intensity of a nuclear accident. Guitar god Curtis Ross (also the mind and lightning fingers behind brilliant hip hop-cock rock project Bebop Cortez) doles out the kind of riffs that preachers devote entire sermons to decrying. This weird and stellar mix is corralled by the provocative vocals and irony-laden keyboard work of the heartbreakingly adorable coquette Roz Christian, whose filthy mouth and sweet smile bring a totally different dimension to the heavy masculinity of the music, including their cover of the classic banger behemoth, "Hallowed Be Thy Name" by Iron Maiden. Watch for them their upcoming Calgary shows, including their opening slot for The Bellrays." - FFWD

Frosted Tipz
Head vs Hips
Independant


A couple weeks ago, you may have read about the trials and tribulations faced by Frosted Tipz in creating their first EP, Head vs Hips. It's been a rough journey so far, but if the new disc is any omen, the Tipz should be having better luck. They've been together for just 18 months now, but claim to be here for the long haul, and who knows, they could make it.

Head vs Hips only has four songs, but each one exhibits their professed fixation with hooks—the songs are catchy and are filled with riffs that will make you want to move. There isn't really any standard way of singing along to dance rock, so the Frosted Tipz opts for the sometimes sultry, always electric voice of Roz Christian. Her voice is laid back, but just urgent enough to do its job.

I've heard metaphors are often helpful when describing music. Here goes: after listening to this disc a few times, the image of an exclusive joy factory springs to mind. You know, with, like, glitter and shit. But also smoke. Lots of smoke. And laser lights. Yeah, I think that captures it.

Edmonton has a knack for turning out some great dance rock groups. Don't make me name names. I'm sure you can do that yourself. The Frosted Tipz are a great contribution to the local scene. They're fresh, and they've already shown endurance. Get used to hearing their name.

BILL RADFORD - Vue Weekly

By Erin Ignacio


When it comes to appeasing the melodically critical peanut gallery, there are no harder critics to please than the indie rock Bourgeoisie. Or rather, the electroskadiscodancepunktronica movement machine known as the local music scene.

But for Edmonton's sassy dance metal outfit The Frosted Tipz, better known on the street as Alan Camino, Darren Chewka, Curtis Ross and Roz Christian, facing adversity in the musical cosmos is just another thing that helps keep them interested and on their toes.

The last Tipz show I attended at Broken City left an indelible impression. As the quartet, humble and soft-spoken offstage, took their places I could tell that there were a few skeptics in the crowd that were going to be in for a major surprise. As frontwoman Roz Christian took hold of the mic, she began their transformation from angel-faced musicians to full-fledged whip-smart firecracking wall of sound. Dropping all pretense of inhibition they launched into a heated, sexed-up set of heavy rock and roll.

"The Tipz are unlike any other band that I have ever played with," muses guitarist Curtis Ross during our balls-out telephone interview.

"There is a tightness that came out of us being friends that really helped in the beginning, because we didn't start with any high expectations or false ideas about one another." Ross continues, "We all have such different styles and (are) immersed in a musical community where all of these really great bands have the opportunity to play together, but none of them really sound quite alike. That makes for an amazing combination. There is so much variety, and you meet in the middle about things."

Ross cites pop music as something of the band's guilty pleasure, reasoning that in the general sense of the word, pop music can be repressive because of its need to appeal to a mass audience. However, the desire for appeal across a broad audience is still prevalent to the Tipz, defining their pop aesthetic by a sound that is more accessible in terms of catchier (often ridiculous) songs, fun and crazy metal riffs and not taking themselves too seriously.

"I dunno, I think we are the only ones doing dance metal."
For the Tipz, by creating music they are contributing something new for people to discover.

However, he counters unapologetically, this is polarity of their appeal, "You either love us or you hate us. I'd rather we stir up a little controversy rather than people be apathetic."

Anyone who has heard the band members' other projects, Edmonton rock show staple Le Tabernacles or the hip hop outfit Bebop Cortez, would not dispute that the heady foursome have a penchant for big sounds and hard rock, often cited as taking from the influence of Blondie and Iron Maiden. Yet local 'zines and reviews often compare their weighty seductive sound with that of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs or The Detroit Cobras. A comparison that Ross assumes stems from the fact that each of the groups have a charismatic frontwoman.

Admittedly, the band saw the novelty of having a frontwoman as the bridge between the musicians and the audience, but as Ross bluntly states, "the novelty has worn off."

Awaiting the release of their EP, right now it is a visceral live show full of the aggression and intensity of a classic heavy metal inspired rock band playing their hearts out. Don't expect to see an angular contemporary version of what rock and roll can be, (ie. dead.) expect to experience the aforementioned "Wall of Sound".

On that note, Ross emphasizes that bands have to get over the stigma of playing all ages shows because "those kids are the ones who will be coming out to support you and your music in the future".

With an EP projected to be released in the New Year and the acclaim of their steadily growing fan base, the Frosted Tipz would agree that they have come a long way from their first show, a Halloween '04 setup at Sportsworld (Edmonton's equivalent to Lloyd's Recreation) that brought them out of the basement and to the ears of an curious crowd.

Their sound, stage presence, and song writing skills have definitely improved since then but they acknowledge that their first show, much to their surprise, sparked a number of invitations to headline more shows, led to a studio collaboration with the Wolfnote's Bryan Kulba and prompted FFWD to label them "The Most Notable Unsigned Band of 2005", solidifying their place as a legit band in the local music arena.

"Like I said, we never have anything planned. Here we are with these shaggy haired rockers, crazy heavy metal riffs, Darren who is an insane muppet animal on the kit and Roz, this beautiful demure girl with big pipes just belting it out. It's the weirdest combo. But it is kind of comforting because together the band is greater than the sum of its parts. Our driving aesthetic overall is just to create good music that people can move to." - Beatroute