Misguided Acrobat

Misguided Acrobat flies into GP
Sheena Christo/For Encore!

Misguided Acrobat is making waves around the province with a sound that band manager Gordon Muirhead deems "really unique...a home-grown sound that's all their own."

Grande Prairie will have the chance to experience that sound when the band plays Howlers, April 16 for Meltdown.

The Calgary-based band consists of three very talented musicians; Mark Stonehocker, who is originally from Beaverlodge, on guitar and lead vocals, Bill Stewart on bass and Sean Doran on drums. The three have been playing together for just over four years.

The band came together in December 1999 when Stonehocker who was in search of back-up players to his one-man act, answered an ad by bass player Stewart. After playing together for a short time, the two decided they should start up a band and Doran joined the scene with his one-of-a-kind percussive sound.
For the first year, the band came up with some workable lyrics and held numerous jam sessions that eventually resulted in the sound they have today. After much trial and error, they wrote their first full-length song entitled 'Forgotten Pain'.

"Over the years," says drummer Doran, "our communication has greatly improved. We are more open to experimentation and different sounds. Because of that, we rewrite a lot of songs in the creation process."

Each with their own musical background, the three have melded their individual styles to create their unique sound.

"I wound up dropping my computer programming education for my music career," says Stonehocker. "It just sort of took over."
Stonehocker's musical influences have changed from the religious beats he had listened to for so long to the more alternative sounds of bands such as Dave Matthews, Radiohead and Our Lady Peace. He took up guitar in 1995 and has been building on his abilities since, producing two full-length solo albums, and two others released through MP3.com.

Stewart has been playing bass for 9 years, after taking up the instrument in 1995, shortly after graduating from Medicine Hat High.

When it comes to music, he is a truly eclectic fan with tastes ranging from Pearl Jam to Type O Negative, Tool to Depeche Mode.

"I've been playing for 14 years, in a wide range of sounds, from jazz to progressive straight through to hard rock," says Doran.
Misguided Acrobat recently released their first CD called 'Fall and Rise' after two years of writing, rehearsing and recording. It is a 15-song concept album including an mp3 of different recordings.
It tells the story of a man and his battle with love, addiction, religion and the media, and how he is overwhelmed at first, only to get up, brush himself off and move on in the end.

"Everyone had their ideas of what kind of sound we wanted," says Stonehocker. "It just sort of happened to come out in a way that worked really well." He laughs, "It sounds nothing like it did when we began."

Each of the trio has his favourite from the album. Doran enjoys the angst-induced 'My Day' best with its heavy drum sound. Stonehocker prefers the guitar riffs in 'See Me Slip.'

"I have to go with 'Atheist Last Prayer,'" says Stewart of the darker-sounding song he wrote entirely. "It's my baby."
Their first single, 'As I Break' and another song 'My Day' received play time on the A-Channel in Calgary in early December last year before their CD release party.

Misguided Acrobat has played gigs all over southern Alberta including Airdrie, Strathmore, Okotoks, Vulcan and Calgary. Their next gig is at Howler's Lounge (GPRC) Friday, April 16.

They will open for Deep Fine Grind at Meltdown, where they will take the stage at 9:30 p.m.

"The small-town gigs are good because they help us develop a fan base," says Doran. "They reach a lot of people, give us more experience and teach us to deal with different playing situations.
"There is a fan base out there that we need to reach," he continues. "I grew up in a small town, so I know."

"It's great when the audience really gets into it," says Stewart. "It's kind of a compliment when people get up and dance."

On life on the road Stonehocker laughs, "Usually the people we bring along to the gigs with us are more trouble than we are. They want to party and we are like, 'We want to sleep. We have to play tomorrow.'"

The trio have had their trials and tribulations as a band as well.
"There is always something that needs attending too," says Stonehocker. "Things come up." The creation of the album, the work that went into it, unavailability of places to play and communication blocks are everyday stresses of being in a band. They are strenuous on us, says Stewart noting, "The CD helps give us unity."

Through these trials, they have become more driven as a group and their abilities and song-writing skills have improved greatly.
"I try to lead more," says Stonehocker.

Manager Gordon Muirhead is very impressed with their progress as a band. "They've got a lot of talent and are a lot of fun to watch. They're a very tight group and mix well on stage. The audience really digs them and get into them. If you wanted to compare their sound, I think U2 would probably be the closest.
Maybe Smashing Pumpkins somewhere mixed in there."

Currently the band is focusing on getting more air time and more gigs in and around Alberta. They are also building on their fan base and selling their CD.

"There are so many things we want to get done," says Stonehocker. "We have plans for a video and we really want to start writing new songs. It's great having so many people supporting us and helping us out."

They support anyone who is trying to get started as a band.
"We practiced for a year before we played anywhere, and that made us sound really tight. We were crappy before that," Stonehocker laughs. "And then we were good. That is when we entered the world."

According to Doran, his advice for up-and-coming bands is to go for it.

"Do whatever you can. Have your goals ready and be prepared for a lot of hard work," he says.

For information on the band and to hear samples of their songs, see their website at www.misguidedacrobat.com.

- Encore! Daily Herald Tribune (Grande Prairie)