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Loitering Heroes
Beast Alert!
By Vish Khanna
A quirky lot encompassing several musical styles, Toronto, ON’s Loitering Heroes are an imaginative indie rock band whose spirited recklessness might be drawn directly from like-minded peers in their city. In the wake of unhinged groups like the apparently defunct Jon-Rae and the River and Rock Plaza Central, Loitering Heroes sound like a natural extension of what’s developed into the “gang of geeks” Toronto sound. Like the aforementioned bands, Loitering Heroes are centred on one man’s songs and, in this case,
that man is Wavelength Toronto music series co-artistic director Kevin
Parnell. Though songs like “Ballad of Bandaged Champions” and “Holes in the Story” possess folk frameworks, they end up careening all over the place at unexpected moments, with jazz and rock progressions morphing into indiscriminate multi-cultural grooves. As compelling and mystifying as the instrumental aspects of “City Spells” or “One Fell Swoop” might be, the focus throughout the record is Parnell’s voice, a loud, impassioned tool that, much like RPC’s Chris Eaton, seems capable of rising above any din. Often strengthened by a chorus of band members, Parnell leads Loitering Heroes through an interesting collection of songs, and Beast Alert! is more endearing with each subsequent listen. (Independent) - Exclaim! Magazine
Scott and Herring are also members of Loitering Heroes, an indie rock quartet helmed by Kevin Parnell, one of the guiding lights of Toronto's independent music com- munity. On this twelve-song debut, the pieces favor a rock vibe for sure, but Parnell's supporting cast adds shades of improv and jazz. Parnell's not a particularly tuneful singer and he's merely a decent guitarist, but what he lacks in technical prowess, he
makes up in wordplay and emotion.
Most engaging are the singsongy,
shifting tempo-based riffs of pieces
like “We’ve Devised New Pagan Rituals,” “Sailor's Delight (Jamboree
On The Seven Seas)” and “Go Away
Ghost Ship,” all focusing on seafaring
themes amidst rhythmic waves incit-
ing instrumental diversity. The Heroes also venture into country folk territory and aren't afraid to drive a groovy beat or to take things to experimental proportions. Instrumentally, the quartet handles the active songshifts easily, and Scott surely sounds energized on several tunes, particularly on “Holes In The Story” where his distorted solo offers an interesting contrast to his more laid-back jazz ventures. Jay Collins - Signal To Noise Magazine
Discography
"Apocalyptic Monologue" 09/10 forthcoming LP
1. Hit The Deck!
2. Race To The Top
3. Pins & Needles
4. Constellations
5. Ghosts On The TV/Baby Steps
6. Homesick Astronaut
7. Struck By Lightning
8. Water Water Everywhere
9. Bones
10. Hand-Me-Down
11. Holes In The Story (Retcon Revisionist)
12. Scenic Lookout
13. Trumpets & Drums
"Beast Alert!" 2007, independent LP release
1. We've Devised New Pagan Rituals
2. Ballad of the Bandaged Champions
3. Holes In The Story
4. City Spells
5. Moths In The Cupboard
6. One Fell Swoop
7. X Marks The Spot
8. Sailor's Delight (Jamboree On The Seven Seas)
9. Go Away Ghost Ship!
10. Apology Pending
11. Superhero's Lament
12. Feeling Buried Under a Pile of Leaves
Photos
Bio
A Brief History of Loitering Heroes
Starting as solo project of Kevin Parnell in late 2004, Loitering Heroes, quickly became a quartet for live performances. Double bass player Michael Herring and jazz guitarist Don Scott backed Kevin up on a few shows and quickly all three found a common inspiration. Classically trained flautist Leah Hunter was then asked to join the band to bring a unique element to the new songs. As a quartet, Loitering Heroes began playing live around Toronto and developing new material based on Kevin’s original solo folk-based work, but now incorporating jazz and world elements.
In early 2006, drummer Brandon Valdivia was asked to join the band, bringing with him his background in improvisational music, jazz training and experience in touring with the indie rock band Picastro. Now a full band with a pack of genre jumping songs, Loitering Heroes set out to produce their first LP. Self-produced in their rehearsal space, bassist Michael Herring stepped up to become the recording engineer, teaching himself as the work progressed. Slowly and meticulously the first LP “Beast Alert!” was finished in late 2006, and mastered by local Toronto musician Sandro Perri.
Self-released in the fall of 2007, “Beast Alert!” found much radio play across the country and garnered key reviews, calling the songs “compelling and mystifying”, “imaginative unhinged spirited recklessness”, “rhythmic waves that incite instrumental diversity”, and comparing the band to the now-defunct Jon-Rae and The River and Rock Plaza Central. In February 2008, “Beast Alert!” was picked to be the feature record on CBC Radio 2 program The Signal, where tracks from the LP were played and discussed by the host.
2007/2008 saw a lineup change in the band as they looked to explore new directions. Flautist Leah Hunter took the less prominent role of a session musician, and drummer Brandon Valdivia left the group due to commitments with other projects. The band quickly asked drummer Nico Dann to join, who Michael and Don had been working with in a newly formed jazz quartet. Bringing an entirely different approach to drumming and song structure and training in jazz and classical music, Nico helped set the band onto new paths and inspired sessions of songwriting, in which the basic structure of the songs are suggested by bandleader Kevin Parnell, but then reworked and reimagined by the entire quartet, creating a new and exciting sonic palette for Loitering Heroes.
With a new set of diverse material and live shows lined up, Loitering Heroes is set to go into the studio with a fresh and clear artistic vision to record their second LP.
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