Goodbye Glory

Vaughan’s Emerging music scene
August 2006

Our city’s fresh young musicians are ready to explode onto the Global Scene

Shania Twain. Billy Talent. Alanis Morisette. Our Lady Peace. Celine Dion. The Barenaked Ladies. Avril Lavigne. Nickelback.

The impact of Canadian musicians on Canada and the rest of the world is obvious, and our nation has only just started. Everyone who lives here knows that our homegrown talent has improved immensely in the last 10 years, and as a result, Canadian artists are receiving more airplay around the world than ever before. They hail from a variety of places, from Mississauga and Timmins to Halifax and Vancouver.

While Vaughan has never been known as a hotbed for aspiring musicians, the city above Toronto is producing incredibly talented artists who, with every day of hard work and determination, move closer to their dreams of superstardom and success.

One of these artists is Angelica Di Castro. A beautiful 27 year old singer, Angelica was discovered at the early age of 14 singing at a festival. Signed to a contract immediately, she recorded 2 songs that were distributed in Europe and received significant airplay. The songs were considered dance hits, and one reached as high as #5 on their local charts. She even received critical acclaim from Chart Magazine and Billboard Magazine. While her music was performing well in Europe, Angelica continued to attend school in Vaughan. As she grew, she realized that her passion was not in singing dance songs, but more classical adult contemporary. People always complimented the strength and purity of her voice, and she knew that the pop route was not the way to go. By 17, she recorded “World of Love” featuring 12 songs, mostly contributed by talented song writers. It received airplay in Europe and Canada.

Even though she was born with an extraordinary voice, Angelica decided to further her abilities by attending York University and studying Classical Voice Performance. During her years at York, she performed in a number of recitals and concerts. Graduating in 2001, she acknowledges that the program helped her to become a much better all around singer. Most people who heard her sing wondered why she hadn’t chosen the pop route. “I didn’t feel that was the way to go”, she explains. “I wasn’t into pop. I didn’t want to try to be like Britney Spears. I felt that my direction was where my passion was – in a more classical and contemporary style.” Her powerful voice continued garnering gigs at different events, small shows and even singing the national anthem at baseball games in the U.S. She attributes a lot of her publicity and success to Dulce Barbosa, who has helped get the word out about her. She also introduced Angelica to her current manager and guitarist, Peter Linseman.

In 2001, Angelica released her second CD, a self-titled album featuring a collection of popular Italian songs including Caruso, Torna Surriento and Io Che Non Vivo. She smiles and says “it was my way of saying thanks to all of my Italian fans who have supported me over the years”. She’s always been proud of her heritage, and low and behold, to date she’s sold almost 5,000 copies of this CD independently.

Her biggest honour to date came in 2002, when she was invited to perform “Light Of The World”, the International World Youth Day theme song, not only in front of millions, but also for Pope John Paul II. “Obviously because of security, I couldn’t personally meet him, but when I was singing, we made eye contact and waved, and that acknowledgement was extremely special”.

Angelica has remained true to her passion and her style, and has recently released a new CD, Bittersweet. As she continues to grow into herself and build a fanbase, she knows that her hard work and determination will be rewarded.

While Angelica is hypnotizing audiences with her adult contemporary sound, 5 young men are pumping up the volume on their amps.

Meet Goodbye Glory, featuring lead singer Kevin Costa and guitarists Adam Staviss and Dante Berardi Jr. from Vaughan, Jan-Michael Rossi from Richmond Hill and Renzo Casullo from Toronto. This group of five, ranging from 21-29 years of age, plays a variety of rock styles, meshing their individual tastes and talents together to create a strong sound with a definitive edge.

While the band has only played together for 2 years, they’ve already achieved incredible success. Introduced through a network of mutual friends, they bonded instantly and wrote a few songs. Within 4 months, they competed in 2 ‘Battle of the Bands’ competitions, winning both. One rewarded them with recording time in a studio, while the other presented them with the opportunity to open a show at The Docks for Canadian punk band Gob. “It was pretty wild,” says Adam, “We played for like 100-200 people at most, and all of a sudden, we’re in front of 2,000 at the Docks!” Jan adds “Most of them were hardcore punks, which our music isn’t at all targeted - "Whatver" Magazine

Woodbridge-based band Goodbye Glory didn't play Toronto's North By Northeast rock music festival in June.
But hearing the group's new CD was enough to convince European recording representatives at the festival to invite them to Germany to perform.

The September show, called Popkomm, could lead to a European distribution deal for the one Richmond Hill and three Woodbridge residents who make up Goodbye Glory.

"As a band, this is massive," said guitarist Dante Berardi Jr., 21. "It's our first major out-of-town show and it's out of the country."

The other band members are drummer Renzo Casullo, guitarist Adam Staviss and bassist Jan-Michael Rossi.

The band is one of three Canadian groups invited to play Popkomm, a music, media and entertainment trade show, conference and festival in Berlin Sept. 20 to 22.

Goodbye Glory will perform the festival's first day in the Kick it Like Canada section, showcasing musical talent from this country.

Last year, the festival featured 1,200 musicians from 23 countries.

"We've been told we're going to Germany, we're playing this show and we have to kick ass and that's what we'll do," Mr. Berardi said.

Toronto's North By Northeast music festival ran June 8 to 10, the same week Goodbye Glory held a launch party for its CD.

The recording convinced representatives from EC Music Group -- a consortium of European music industry companies -- to issue the German invitation, Mr. Rossi, 21, said.

Europe holds a huge market for Goodbye Glory's style of music, which Mr. Rossi describes as hard rock.

"It's not screaming heavy metal, but it's not easy listening, either," he said. "It's more middle-of-the-road."

Plea For Sanity, the new CD, features a mix of hard rock tunes and love ballads.

Goodbye Glory won a battle of the bands contest and was awarded three hours of studio time. The three-song recording from the session eventually resulted in a recording deal and a full album with a Canadian label, Dangerous Records.

The next, and perhaps trickiest, step is to secure a North American distribution deal, Mr. Rossi said.

Depending on how things go, the band may stay in Europe after the festival and tour, Mr. Costa, 21, said. If not, Goodbye Glory will return to Canada to concentrate on distribution of the CD.
Either way, the focus stays on music, he said.
"The ultimate dream is to give it 100 per cent and to be able to survive well on music," he said. "Juno (awards) are up there as well, but to give it 100 per cent is my ultimate dream."
Members of Goodbye Glory hope their September concert in Berlin leads to European distribution for their new CD.
Aug.5,2006
- York Region Newspaper

Goodbye Glory – September 2, 2006

Your name, Goodbye Glory, does it have some sort of metaphorical meaning?
Kevin Costa: Yes, yes it does. We were originally called Sound23, but we changed our name, we decided that Sound23 was a little bit too....

Dante Berardi Jr.: ... bubblegum.

Kevin: Sound23 was kind of like our glory days when we began. We were thinking about a new name and were browsing through magazines, and realized that we were in a way saying goodbye to those glory days, and that was it, Goodbye Glory.

Dante: It took a long time too. For about four months we were all brainstorming ideas and words. Trying to let out words that worked, and one night it just kind of came to us.

Adam Staviss: A revelation.

Dante: Yes, an epiphany, if you will.

Adam: Epiphany is a fantastic word!

Growing up, what was the first song or album that spoke to you?
Kevin: Pearl Jam Black.

Dante: Nirvana Bleach.

Adam: I would have to say Black Sabbath Paranoid.

If you could tour with anybody, anybody at all, who would it be?
Kevin: I would have to say Dallas Green and Alexisonfire, they’re just amazing. And they’re Canadian.

Dante: We’ve been listening to them since their first album, liking everything they’ve ever done. So now that they’ve accomplished so many things, that is just amazing for them. There are also a few great indie bands like Flatlined and My Darkest Days.

Adam: Are you asking this question because you have the hook-ups?

Dante: Well if you have the hook-ups... ANYBODY. Honestly, we would love to tour with anybody Canadian; we are all about pushing Canadian talent. ‘Oh Canada... our... true... and... Native... land...’ I don’t know the words.

You just released your debut album Plea For Sanity, what was the recording process like?
Adam: Tough, very tough, very exhausting, but amazing at the same time. We did about two months worth of pre-production, Gavin Brown helped us out with that quite a bit. He was a huge help. We were also recording with Jag Tanna from I Mother Earth, and Gene Bernaudo as well, he was helping us throughout the whole process. He’s the owner of our label Dangerous Records.

Dante: www.dangerousrecords.ca

Adam: That was very appropriate.

Dante: It was really an amazing experience to work with them. Especially when you grow up listening to I Mother Earth, and now recently listening to bands like Billy Talent, knowing Gavin had worked with them, and having these guys help us out. It was a really good experience to have them take our songs and bring them to the next level. Overall the recoding process was a very large learning experience and a pleasurable, physically pleasurable experience for all of us.

So you guys have recently been given the opportunity of a lifetime, you’ll be traveling to Germany to perform. Can you tell me a bit more about it?
Kevin: We are going with The Trews. It’s going to be awesome.

Adam: It is expensive! We’ll pretty much be living on the street when we get back, so if anybody out there can afford to give us anything, even pennies...

Kevin: We’re just going to go there and rock-out and have a good time. We’re only playing one show there, but it is just going to be the best freakin’ show, I can’t wait.

Dante: We’re playing the opening show, the opening night, the first band of the whole festival. This festival is world-wide, hundreds of thousands of people. It’s going to really be a great night.

Kevin: And then after we’re done, we’re all going to fight with swords and horses. I’m going to bring a horse.

Adam: Whoever doesn’t die is the new leader of the band.

How did this come about? Going to Germany?
Dante: Basically, what happened was our release party was June 7th, the day after my 21st birthday... I’m 21, I’m young and very disease-free, call me...

Kevin: The Popkomm people came over for North by Northeast, but didn’t like any of the bands there. So they asked our radio promoter for any good bands, and she gave them our CD, they came to one of our shows, and they dug it and we got the invite. It was cool.

Dante: It is just a great, great opportunity for us, we are very, very happy that they decided that we were good enough to have this.

What do you want people to think or feel after hearing your music?
Dante: Sex... no, when we play any show we basically want people to feel the emotion and passion that we put into the music.

Kevin: Our songs aren’t about killing people and starting fires, they’re about real-life situations and things we all go through.

Adam: As long as people are getting something out of it, I think that’s all that really matters. If they feel happy after they listen to a song, if they feel sad, if they feel angry, as long as they get a reaction from it, then I think that’s saying something. And if we’re getting a multitude of different reactions I think that’s really important, because that’s showing that people are interpreting the music in diff - Toronto Indie Interview

June 2006 was a month that will go down in history for the 5 Toronto natives that make up Goodbye Glory. After their debut CD (Plea for Sanity) release party they were given an offer – the opportunity of a lifetime – to travel to Germany to open the festivities at this year’s Popkomm. An annual festival in celebration of music, talent and entertainment, Popkomm mirrors our North by Northeast and Canadian Music Week. 4 Bands will be attending from Canada: Grand PM, Golden Dogs, The Trews, and yes, Goodbye Glory.

Hand in hand with early shows comes uncontrollable tardiness (which I like to call the Fashionably Late Syndrome), so regretfully I missed the first few songs of Goodbye Glory’s set, but better late than never. What I heard when I entered was gripping, sheer power emulating from the speakers. With a musical styling reflective of 3 Doors Down and Evan’s Blue, GBG brings personality and character to their performance by advertising “we are all single and very disease-free” between songs.

With the riffs, melodies and heart-felt lyrics what I witnessed was magic happening on the stage, and I had a brief Where’s Waldo moment trying to locate a witch with a cauldron (which, might I add is a very possible sighting at The Kathedral), but found none. This is the kind of energy that will be representing Canada in Germany, and at this show I must admit I was proud to be Canadian. Eh?


www.myspace.com/goodbyegloryband


~Ilona Fridman

- Toronto Indie

Goodbye Glory Music Raw and Powerful

By: Kayla Morrison, One80 Intern

Alternative rock band Goodbye Glory (GBG) is slowly making its way to the top with their powerful lyrics and intense melodies. Their music oozes passion, power, and emotion.

The Toronto based indie band, made up of Jan Rossi (bass), Kevin Costa (lead vocals), Adam Staviss (guitar), Renzo Casullo (Drums), and Dante Berardi (guitar), formed in December 2003 in a not so traditional way. “Adam came up to me with another guy,” recalled Berardi during a recent interview, “and asked me if I was a musician…and I said, ‘Yeah, I’m a musician, why?’ And apparently this guy bet Adam that he couldn’t pick a musician out of the crowd, but he did.”

When the band first played together, “Everything sounded the way that it was supposed to sound!” said Staviss.

“You get these moments,” added Berardi, “when you’re writing…when everything just comes together the way that it’s supposed to.”

The band officially emerged in 2004. They had an easier time managing because of much support from family, friends, and promoters. The band members’ musical influences include Pearl Jam, Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Elvis, and Rod Stewart.

GBG played their first show at the legendary Toronto rock club El Mocambo to an impressive audience. Ever since then they have been tearing up the indie rock scene.

They recently attended Germany’s Popkomm festival, where they were chosen to play with several other Canadian bands, including The Golden Dogs and Grand PM. Over 250 people packed into one of several clubs at the venue in Berlin to see the show.

Now that they’re back in Canada, GBG are excited to continue entertaining fans. Their next show is on Oct. 25th at the Modd Club, and an all ages show is scheduled for the Kathedral on Nov. 11th. They’re hoping to venture outside of Toronto as well, possibly to Quebec.

They are also working on getting their debut record, Plea for Sanity, distributed through major music stores. Legendary songwriter, producer, and musician Gavin Brown helped arrange a lot of the songs on the album. Jag Tanna from I Mother Earth also helped out the band and provided helpful advice. Berardi and Staviss agree that it was very intimidating and also a dream come true to work with these renowned artists.

GBG describes their music as completely natural. “We don’t write the songs, the songs write themselves,” said Berardi, quoting Ian Thornley of rock band Thornley.

Berardi and Staviss shared some lessons they have learned since entering the music biz. “Shower…” said Berardi.

“One of the lessons that I’ve learned is [that you] can’t really control everything… because it’s impossible,” said Staviss.

“Love music,” added Berardi. “I loved music before and I love it now, and I’ll love it tomorrow!”

They also hope GBG will become ‘the greatest band in the world’. “Just for a minute…” said Berardi. “Can someone, like on CNN, just say, ‘Goodbye Glory is the biggest band in the world [pause], and now they’re not!” On a more serious note, they also want to be able to make music their only job. Right now some of the members are working four jobs at a time to support themselves and their endeavours.

Staviss and Berardi offered some words of advice for other aspiring indie bands. “Make sure,” said Staviss, “that you’re all on the same page. Make sure that you all know [each others’] goals…[and] keep working toward something.”

“Take it as it comes,” added Berardi. “Don’t give up, because giving up sucks! [So] stick together, do what you can, and love music!”

The members of GBG love to keep up with their fans. They are constantly on their MySpace site and are always messaging fans. Check out their websites: www.myspace.com/goodbyegloryband and www.goodbyeglory.com

- Kayla Morrison is a current intern at One80. She plans to study journalism next year.


- Kayla Morrison, One80 Magazine