Kingdom of Few

Who: Kingdom of Few
From: Calgary, Alberta
When: 10 p.m. on Saturday October, 13
Where: The Hideout
Pre-Show Hype: The band has released their debut self-titled EP in April 2011, and now it’s their time to shine and let fans have a listen, live.
Crowd: The crowd’s vital signs were definitely positive. They were lively – bobbing their heads, swaying, and waving their hands in the air. Kingdom of Few got a good response out of them.
Style: The band had a hard rock attitude to accompany their hard rock music genre. They head banged. They moved around. They sang long notes, loudly. They are like a heavier version of Pearl Jam, and far more energized.
Technicalities: The show went smoothly – no technological glitches. There were colourful lights above the stage, which often changed with the mood of the song (slow conjured up a dim blue light, while upbeat was accompanied by flashing red light).
Memorable Moment: Drummer, John Clarke, was summoned to the front of the stage by Ty Deer filling in for lead vocalist Curtis Butala who couldn’t make the Toronto trip because of family issues. “Johnny Has a very beautiful voice,” said Deer and John began to sing the end of a song with him. In conclusion, he did have a lovely voice and meshed well with the frontman.
Sex Appeal: Fitted shirts, tattoos, and zest – what’s not to like?
Total Rank: 8.5/10 (The extra .5 is for the level of energy brought onto stage; it was very raw)

By: Alexia Kapralos
Photos By: Stephanie T - The Scene Magazine

Who: Kingdom of Few
From: Calgary, Alberta
When: 10 p.m. on Saturday October, 13
Where: The Hideout
Pre-Show Hype: The band has released their debut self-titled EP in April 2011, and now it’s their time to shine and let fans have a listen, live.
Crowd: The crowd’s vital signs were definitely positive. They were lively – bobbing their heads, swaying, and waving their hands in the air. Kingdom of Few got a good response out of them.
Style: The band had a hard rock attitude to accompany their hard rock music genre. They head banged. They moved around. They sang long notes, loudly. They are like a heavier version of Pearl Jam, and far more energized.
Technicalities: The show went smoothly – no technological glitches. There were colourful lights above the stage, which often changed with the mood of the song (slow conjured up a dim blue light, while upbeat was accompanied by flashing red light).
Memorable Moment: Drummer, John Clarke, was summoned to the front of the stage by Ty Deer filling in for lead vocalist Curtis Butala who couldn’t make the Toronto trip because of family issues. “Johnny Has a very beautiful voice,” said Deer and John began to sing the end of a song with him. In conclusion, he did have a lovely voice and meshed well with the frontman.
Sex Appeal: Fitted shirts, tattoos, and zest – what’s not to like?
Total Rank: 8.5/10 (The extra .5 is for the level of energy brought onto stage; it was very raw)

By: Alexia Kapralos
Photos By: Stephanie T - The Scene Magazine

Toronto’s “Indie Week 2012” has come and gone, with 175+ Artists playing at 19 different venues across the city, it was truly an epic showcase of Canadian talent. I was fortunate to see some of the best new and up-coming bands the Indie scene has to offer. One band in particular stands out above the crowd, finalists from Calgary, Alberta… “Kingdom Of Few”.

This is an exceptional band, both in their musical abilities and their dedication. When the lead singer, Curtis Butala had to cancel due to a family medical situation, the band faced a difficult decision. With plane tickets already purchased and hotel rooms booked, they took a vote and decided the show must go on. With less than two weeks to go, Bassist Alex Parks approached an old band mate Tyler Deer, to see if he could stand in. Tyler’s ability to emulate the vocal style and phrasing was impressive and if they hadn’t made the announcement, only the die-hard fans would have ever known.

The band put on one of the most intense and high energy shows I have ever seen. It was clear they owned the stage, not in a pretentious or cheesy way, they simply love what they do, and it shows. “It’s not about the money” Parks says. “It’s about the fans and the experience and about getting the chance to get up on a great stage and play our music. We’ve played all around Calgary and this is the third time this year we’ve played in Ontario. We played outdoor festivals in Barrie and Sudbury, but this is the first time we’ve ever played in Toronto. It has been a great experience and we’ve met a lot of cool people and made a lot of great new friends. We do have plans in the future to make a video, but we’re still working on the lay-out. Right now, we just want to play live as much as we can. That’s what we’re focussed on, and trying to put on the best show possible. We’d like to say thanks to all of our fans, without their support we wouldn’t be here. It’s an awesome feeling and we’re still overwhelmed by the support we’ve received”.

Their song’s “Rich Man” and “On The Corner” are personal favorites and they nailed them live. Big shout outs to Reno Serani - guitar and vocals, John Clarke- drums and vocals and Alex Parks - bass and vocals for an awesome show. I especially liked the part where John came out front to sing and Alex sat in on drums. It added a great dimension to the show and allowed the audience to see the band’s diversity. This is truly a great bunch of guys. From their ability to write awesome songs to their killer live performance they never cease to amaze me. One thing that stood out to me in particular is how they supported all of the other bands, staying to watch them play and cheering them on showed a great deal of respect and class. A band of this caliber with such an awesome outlook is hard to find.

Kingdom Of Few has definitely earned the highest of all possible recommendations. Be sure to check them out! \m/ \m/
- Global Entertainment Magazine

Toronto’s “Indie Week 2012” has come and gone, with 175+ Artists playing at 19 different venues across the city, it was truly an epic showcase of Canadian talent. I was fortunate to see some of the best new and up-coming bands the Indie scene has to offer. One band in particular stands out above the crowd, finalists from Calgary, Alberta… “Kingdom Of Few”.

This is an exceptional band, both in their musical abilities and their dedication. When the lead singer, Curtis Butala had to cancel due to a family medical situation, the band faced a difficult decision. With plane tickets already purchased and hotel rooms booked, they took a vote and decided the show must go on. With less than two weeks to go, Bassist Alex Parks approached an old band mate Tyler Deer, to see if he could stand in. Tyler’s ability to emulate the vocal style and phrasing was impressive and if they hadn’t made the announcement, only the die-hard fans would have ever known.

The band put on one of the most intense and high energy shows I have ever seen. It was clear they owned the stage, not in a pretentious or cheesy way, they simply love what they do, and it shows. “It’s not about the money” Parks says. “It’s about the fans and the experience and about getting the chance to get up on a great stage and play our music. We’ve played all around Calgary and this is the third time this year we’ve played in Ontario. We played outdoor festivals in Barrie and Sudbury, but this is the first time we’ve ever played in Toronto. It has been a great experience and we’ve met a lot of cool people and made a lot of great new friends. We do have plans in the future to make a video, but we’re still working on the lay-out. Right now, we just want to play live as much as we can. That’s what we’re focussed on, and trying to put on the best show possible. We’d like to say thanks to all of our fans, without their support we wouldn’t be here. It’s an awesome feeling and we’re still overwhelmed by the support we’ve received”.

Their song’s “Rich Man” and “On The Corner” are personal favorites and they nailed them live. Big shout outs to Reno Serani - guitar and vocals, John Clarke- drums and vocals and Alex Parks - bass and vocals for an awesome show. I especially liked the part where John came out front to sing and Alex sat in on drums. It added a great dimension to the show and allowed the audience to see the band’s diversity. This is truly a great bunch of guys. From their ability to write awesome songs to their killer live performance they never cease to amaze me. One thing that stood out to me in particular is how they supported all of the other bands, staying to watch them play and cheering them on showed a great deal of respect and class. A band of this caliber with such an awesome outlook is hard to find.

Kingdom Of Few has definitely earned the highest of all possible recommendations. Be sure to check them out! \m/ \m/
- Global Entertainment Magazine

Kingdom of Few has a 4 page feature in the July/August 2012 issue of The PORTAL - The PORTAL Magazine

Kingdom of Few takes the raw, sexual energy of Buckcherry, and radio friendly tracks of Hinder, adds a touch of causal cool, creating their own vibe. Frontman, Curtis Butala oozes confidence and sex appeal on stage, while bassist Alex Parks enjoys his “wireless” freedom, often mingling through the crowd; then there’s Reno Serani, the man with the magic fingers on guitar and John Clarke backing it all up on the drum kit,. The allure of a Kingdom of Few show the unique laid back mood, combined with high energy guitar driven rock that gives them an “every man” appeal. Ladies .. beware Curtis’ charms, and men .. prepare to fist pump when Kingdom of Few take the stage - this is a band you both can enjoy!

Shannon Ambrose, Chief Managing Editor, The PORTAL Magazine - Shannon Ambrose, Chief Managing Editor, The PORTAL Magazine

Kingdom of Few takes the raw, sexual energy of Buckcherry, and radio friendly tracks of Hinder, adds a touch of causal cool, creating their own vibe. Frontman, Curtis Butala oozes confidence and sex appeal on stage, while bassist Alex Parks enjoys his “wireless” freedom, often mingling through the crowd; then there’s Reno Serani, the man with the magic fingers on guitar and John Clarke backing it all up on the drum kit,. The allure of a Kingdom of Few show the unique laid back mood, combined with high energy guitar driven rock that gives them an “every man” appeal. Ladies .. beware Curtis’ charms, and men .. prepare to fist pump when Kingdom of Few take the stage - this is a band you both can enjoy!

Shannon Ambrose, Chief Managing Editor, The PORTAL Magazine - Shannon Ambrose, Chief Managing Editor, The PORTAL Magazine

Kingdom of Few - Kingdom of Few EP
Independent

Depending on which side of the modern rock debate you fall, Kingdom of Few might be the next champion of the genre or yet another generic impersonator. All the elements are on this 6 track EP to get them monster radio play on playlists stuffed, burrito-like, with progenitors Creed, Nickelback, Faber Driver, Seether, Theory of a Deadman, Default, et al:
Big bombastic drums courtesy Johnny C, drop “D” guitar chugging and Slash-era guitar solos courtesy of Reno Serani, throbbing -200kz bone cracking bass lines from Alex Parks, and the requisite snarling, guttural sing-song throat emoting of Curtis Butala. Every predictable cliché is represented - doubled lead vocals (“On the Corner”), loud part/quiet part (“All Night Long”), guitar solo after second chorus, dueling guitar harmonies, anthemic gang backing vocals and the need to have every song break the time-length barrier (though “Rich Man” and “Take It Away” are 3:34 and 3:06 respectively). ? ?These are the very things that make people hate Nickelback. These are also the very things that make people LIKE Nickelback. Does Kingdom of Few “sound” like Nickelback? No. The material isn’t as slick; in fact, the songs have a more organic feel, less ProTools and Auto-tune and more balls-out ‘live’ essence. They’re dynamically more akin to nu-metal acts. Both “Listen” and “Looking For a Fight” are far more progressive than your average modern rock misogyny -fest. I’d be happy to see Kingdom of Few explore that direction on a full-length album and possibly drag this cut-and-paste alternative rock genre out of its stale doldrums. ? ?I declare the band champions of a NEW genre. Pay attention followers, there might be upheaval on your rock radio station one day soon.

Jaimie Vernon - Cashbox Magazine Canada

"When Kingdom Of Few took the stage, the crowd was instantly captivated by their sound and stage presence. They had everyone dancing and singing along to their songs. I was also approached several times that night by new Kingdom Of Few fans and asked when the band would be playing next, as they had enjoyed them so much. "
- Nick Taylor, President of Unrated Inc.