Music
Press
Just days before they rock the LPL's Wolf Performance Hall, St. Thomas jazz-rock-indie-folk band Matthew and The Birds star in this week's Reaney's Pick.
Five of the band's six members are St. Thomas Parkside secondary school students. One attends Laurier secondary school in London.
On Saturday, Matthew and the Birds are in the free show called LOUD Howls the Wolf at the central library, 251 Dundas St., in London.
The band has been recording its new album with London engineer and producer Andy Magoffin.
The CD is to be called Remnants of What We Reminisced. Its launch is likely to be in the spring.
"Andy's awesome, great to work with -- very relaxed," says lead singer and guitarist Matthew Ariaratnam, 17 and in Grade 12 at Parkside. "I'd be his best friend if I possibly could."
The song heard on the lfpress.com video is Raining Meow, one of the new album's tunes.
Heard in a sax solo during Raining Meow is Sophia Smith, 16 and in Grade 11 at the St. Thomas school. Also from Parkside are bassist Ben Bandosz, 16 and in Grade 11, and the newest Bird, drummer Corey Juck, a Grade 12 student. Juck, 18, joined about three weeks ago after playing in heavy metal groups.
Guitarist Justin (Pickles) Youskow, 17, is the Londoner in the mix and in Grade 12 at Laurier.
On Wednesday, the band's trumpet player, Rowan Pentz, had to miss the video shoot. Something called calculus kept Pentz from the lfpress.com soundstage, his bandmates say.
Saturday's free concert by young London-region rock bands is part of London Public Library's L.O.U.D. (London Ontario Underground Dimensions) program. LOUD was created to give London's teen indie bands a safe, classy venue to showcase their talents as the library's way of supporting the local scene.
James Reaney is a Free Press columnist and reporter covering arts & entertainment.
james.reaney@sunmedia.ca or read James's blog.
- The London Free Press
Matthew and the Birds have a way about making the most troubling times seem OK.
On the incredibly upbeat Coffee, they band asks "Why is there love? Why is there hate? Why can't we all just negotiate?"
Friday night, they'll be focused on something else: The release of their sophomore album, Between the Waves. The disc was recorded with the help of Simon Larochette at the London Music Club, which happens to be where the show takes place.
Matthew and the Birds have been together for nearly three years. They've won two battle of the bands. And they released their first album, Remnants of What We Reminisced, in 2009, under the direction of Andy Magoffin (Great Lake Swimmers, Jim Guthrie) at the House of Miracles.
The band was also among the top 10 for CHRW's Local Album of the Year callout, and they picked up a nomination for best pop artist at the London Music Awards.
Hear their unique brand of jazz and pop when they take the stage in LMC's Big Hall. Doors are at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Cover is $5.
- The London Free Press
Discography
Remnants of What We Reminisced
1)Coffee Song
2) South Central
3) Protector
4) Walkin'
5) Raining Meow - Featured on the "Oh! Compilation 2" a compilation of London artists.
6) Insomnia
7) Good Advice for the Advice Giver
8) Solstice
9) Did You Know There's Hemp in Granite?
10) Train Song
11)These Old Footprints
12) Tropical Nowhere
Between the Waves
1) Suzie Suzie
2) Sing it Sinatra
3) Nightmares
4) There for You
5) Places
6) Hey!
7) Strings - COOP Radio Vancouver Picks “Strings” as #9 in Year-end Top 20 for radio show The 6.57 to St.John's
8) Demons
9) The Future is Hopeful
10) Ships
Photos
Bio
Matthew and the Birds' sound contains a matchless blend of pop and jazz which has led them to turn the heads of music lovers of all genres. With their first album, “Remnants of What We Reminisced”, recorded by Andy Magoffin at the House of Miracles, the band was shortlisted for Local Album of the Year at CHRW, has been nominated for a London Music Award for best Pop Artist, and has been nominated for a Jack Richardson Music Award for Folk/Roots band. ?
Their new album, “Between the Waves” breeds a refined sound showing the eclectic talent of the band. Recorded by Simon Larochette, at the London Music Club, the album contains the same jazzy vibes and melodic hooks that were on the first album, but now they are broadening their horizons.
Links
