On Vinyl

With a well-received debut CD under their belt, Fredericton's On Vinyl has completed one ambitious stage of their career and are about to embark on another - getting it out there. After all, recording an album is one thing, getting it into people's stereos is another challenge all together.

Although Strode Dodger is already on the shelves, things officially kick off on Thursday, October 27 when the band will host a CD release party at The Cellar. Joining them will be Ermine who is making the trip from Halifax as well as Moncton's Sproll.

On Vinyl has been together for just under two years, but wasted no time heading into the studio. They started recording in November of last year with drummer Zach Atkinson having only joined 3 months prior. Strode Dodger was recorded in Sheffield under the watchful eye of producer James Gauthier. Lead vocalist/guitarist Chris "Skinner" MacLean says working with Gauthier was a great experience.

"Working with James was great, his studio was very cozy, James was a real pro he made sure that he got the best out of us, or we did it again, straight up. It was really nice to experiment with different guitar tones in the studio, and also, to find our sound." For Skinner, the best part of putting an album out is being able to leave their mark.

"We played countless shows for the past two years and never left our mark for people to listen to while we're gone - now we can. Also, having those songs carved in stone, knowing you did your best to make them 100 per cent, that's it. After the record is done you can say 'OK those songs are done, let's write more and record another album'".

While another album IS definitely on the horizon for the band, they're going to focus on promoting this one for now. They've already played around the province hitting the big cities as well as places like Bathurst and Woodstock. Last weekend they played at the Halifax Pop Explosion. After the CD release party they're planning on hitting the rest of the East Coast and will head to Ontario and Quebec after Christmas. "We really want to tour this son of a bitch," says Skinner.

Skinner feels good about the New Brunswick scene in general and says there's a lot of bands working just as hard as On Vinyl is.

"There are quite a few bands in Fredericton getting out there, we just played with Gnosh from Woodstcok and they have a new disc and its sweet. All of Green are in the works of a new disc should be huge. Melonworks are working really hard on the tour train. Old Droltab Records and Nick of Time Music keep bringing in some of the best bands presently on tour. The Moncton scene seems to be doing great also; Iron Giant and the Ditchpigs have been cookin' it up hard. There's so much stuff going on." So be sure to hit up The Cellar next week. Skinner promises it's going to be a good time. "We have some wild games planned for the event, there's going be ducks, donkeys, and sacks of doorknobs, people will be throwing chickens at balloons and nothing will be as it seems. I say bring and extra pair of clothes too. When you see the mountain of rock you'll know what I mean." - Here NB

Haling from Fredericton, On Vinyl is the latest contribution to the Maritimes longstanding love affair with power pop. One of the first comparisons I drew on the band was Halifax's late great Thrush Hermit. Both bands can be poppy at times but keep a bit more of a rock edge as compared to some of their counterparts. Vocalist Chris Maclean's voice reminds me mostly of Joel Plaskett and though I do hear some hints of Sloan's Chris Murphy at times as well.

Lots of nifty power pop / rock to be found here: 20 Minutes has got an urgent driving feel to it, a cool bassdominant song. On The Road has the jangly-guitar bit so common but not unwelcome from pop bands. Nothing Wrong With The Way I Sleep and Kill The Business is where I believed the Thrush Hermit comparison was warranted - not a bad quality to have in your songs by any means.

A solid debut from these fellow New Brunswickers.

Check 'em out live next time they play in your fine city!

- Ken Kelley

- Here NB Magazine

On Vinyl is another ECMA nominee I covered in my alterna-preview post. As I mentioned in that post, I liked the few songs I'd heard from this Fredericton indie rock triumvirate (I also liked using the word triumvirate, hence it's re-appearance), so I was hoping to get the chance to do a full review. Luckily, Chris and the guys from On Vinyl were kind enough to send the hill a copy of their debut album, and so here we are.

I believe this is the first review I've done for a New Brunswick-based band, and I'm glad it's such a good album, as I'd hate to have to slag someone from my father's home province. Strode Dodger is described by the band thusly: "The eight blistering tracks on Strode Dodger show a band certain of how they want to sound and able to deliver feel-good rock every step of the way". Pretty apt description of the album as the guys crank the rock up for 8 up-tempo songs while still managing to add some variety so you don't feel like you're listening to an ocho-pack of the same song.

I'm glad On Vinyl mentions Sloan as an influence in their bio, because it's the comparison that comes to mind as soon as you hear Caught Up. The guitars and harmonies are mighty Sloan-tastic, but that's far from a bad thing in my book, in fact it makes for a great song. The bass and riffs on Nothin Wrong work together lovely, and the ripping geetar solo at the end brings to mind #1 Jays fan Geddy and his band, whom the guys also site as a reference. Lost & Gawking might be my favorite track on the album. The jangling guitar riff is the perfect backdrop for Chris MacLean's vocals, which have an appealing, slightly off-kilter quality that helps keep On Vinyl's songs from being too obvious. The frenetic Strode Dodger has pulsing, almost punk edge to it, while the wistful On The Road is a fine way to end things.

Strode Dodger is an enjoyable, if wackily named, debut from On Vinyl, and I can see why it garnered them the ECMA nomination. With plenty of solid riffs, and hooks that'll have you humming along from the get go, this Freddy triumvirate (ok, last time, promise) deliver the stellar Maritime flavoured rock. Don't take my word for it, check out Strode Dodger for yourself. - Herohill- Halifax Online

Tomorrow night, at everyone's favorite home away from class, the Cellar Pub, Fredericton's own On Vinyl will be celebrating the release of their very first album Strode Dodger with the assistance of friends Ermine and Sproll.

On Vinyl have been rocking the local scene for the last year with increasing skill and composure, building a loyal fan-base that sings, dances, and most importantly, rocks along with them at every show.

Their playing style is a healthy mix of Sloan and the Weakerthans with a
pinch of kickass and excess volume thrown in for good measure.

Well, maybe not a pinch; more like a pant-load. If you've heard the two
tracks they've had playing on The Fox over the last six months or so, it
simply doesn't do their gigantic live sound justice. It's amazing what three guys can do. I actually remember seeing jaws drop at their last show.

They don't just rock hard, either. Make sure you bring an extra pair of
underoos for the epic moment when singer/guitarist Chris "Skinner" MacLean finally rips off his sweater and breaks into "guitar-god mode." Which, incidentally, reminds me of the best part about On Vinyl, which is that you can tell they're having fun. I've seen bands sleepwalk through their shows (the recent Sloan show comes to mind) and you'll never see that from these
three fine, young gentlemen. Banter, face-melting guitar solos, and meanderings through the crowd up the entertainment value and keep you on your toes.

You'll have plenty of opportunity to see them in the next little while as
well. Refreshed from their rest after performing at the Halifax Pop
Explosion, they plan on starting up a tour through the Maritimes to support their terrific new album.



- The Brunswickan

Here we are at the end of another year on the east coast and, as usual, there's been plenty to write about. So, as usual, while it would be impossible to highlight all of the cool things that have happened on this end of the country over the past 365 days, I'll just stick to some of my personal favourites. Here's my top 10 list of Atlantic Canadian musical happenings in 2005:

# 10. A slew of new bands formed, while other relatively new groups start to flourish. Names to keep an eye on include Aide De Camp, The Establishment, Gilbert Switzer, Great Plains, Hotshotrobot, Lenore, Los Mantalinos, On Vinyl, Special Noise and The Letter Unfolds, among many others.

# 9. Hot new albums were unleashed by some of the region's best acts, including Contrived, HOPE, Jesse Dangerously, Jorun, Sharp Like Knives, sHeavy, The Dean Malenkos, The Holy Shroud, Two Hours Traffic and Urban Surf Kings.

etc.

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/12/2304.cfm - Chatattack.com

On Vinyl may be one of the hardest working rock bands in Fredericton and now they have an ECMA nomination to show for it. The band received a surprise nod in the Alternative Recording of the Year category for their album Strode Dodger when nominations were announced in December.

"I heard about it from our guitarist, Skinner," drummer Zach Atkinson tells inFredericton. "To be honest, I was kind of busy at the time and didn't really feel like chatting. He told me that we got nominated and I definitely felt like talking to him after that. It's the last thing I expected to hear."

The three-piece band is up against In-Flight Safety, Jon Epworth and the Improvements, Mars Hill, and Two Hours Traffic. Atkinson says the band is very excited to be in such good company, but realize they may not be a front runner in the category.

"We know we're not winning," he says with a mixture of modesty and resignation. "Those guys are monsters in the East Coast scene compared to us little chickadees." Atkinson is placing his bets on In-Flight Safety, a band that many have expected would break out onto the national scene in due time. That's not to say, however, that the band has been resting on their laurels while all this goes down.

"[The nomination] has been a morale booster, a real pusher. We started working on that album two and a half years ago and now we're thinking about our next album," Atkinson explains. "We've been taking our time, which is not always the best idea because it's really easy to just fall off the face of the Earth. [The nomination] was a real push for us to put some extra effort into what we're working on now."

No kidding. The band has a string of dates booked throughout the ECMA weekend and have already been in consultation with producer Laurence Currie (Sloan, Holy Fuck, Grand Theft Bus) about their follow-up recording. "We want to work with a producer this time and we thought we'd give it a trial. We worked on four songs and it's sounding great so far." The band expects to continue work on the CD after a short tour through Ontario.

On Vinyl performs tonight in Fredericton at The Capital, joining Halifax favourites Ermine. If you're in Halifax for the ECMAs and would like to check out On Vinyl, you have several options:

* Friday, Feb. 16: Marquee, 10:00 p.m.
* Friday, Feb. 16: Soho Kitchen, 1:00 p.m.
* Saturday, Feb. 17: The Attic, 10:00 p.m.
* Sunday, Feb. 18: The Pavillion, 2:00 p.m. (all-ages) - InFredericton

A nomination for an East Coast Music Award is old hat for some established Maritime acts like Joel Plaskett, George Canyon and Sloan.

Some nominations mean more to others. Take the Best Alternative Recording of the Year for Fredericton three-piece On Vinyl, the band's first award nomination.

"I think all of us were really surprised," On Vinyl guitarist/vocalist Andrew Goyette said after band rehearsal earlier this week. "We didn't think we were going to get nominated for an award. We were kind of blown away, we really didn't believe it."

On Vinyl joins a list of other relatively young bands in the Alternative Recording category, including New Brunswick-raised, now Halifax-based In-Flight Safety, Halifax's Jon Epworth and the Improvements and Prince Edward Island's Mars Hill and Two Hours Traffic. On Vinyl, the only New Brunswick-based act nominated for the award, joins a small list of other acts from the province nominated for an award at this year's ceremonies, set to be televised on CBC this Sunday at 8 p.m AST.

On Vinyl started in 2004 as a project between Goyette and guitarist/lead singer Chris MacLean, two long-time friends who grew up together in Bathurst. They added drummer Zach Atkinson, a booking agent for the mainstay Fredericton live-music venue The Capitol, the following year.

Although On Vinyl is a relatively young band and the members are each only 24 years-old, the trio has older musical roots than their current incarnation implies. Goyette and MacLean played together in various cover bands in Bathurst before moving to Fredericton in 2000. Atkinson was in the alternative rock band Dionisus before joining On Vinyl.

In 2005, the threesome packed their gear and took a batch of freshly written songs to Sheffield, a 30-minute drive outside of Fredericton, to record their debut album Strode Dodger with co-producer James Gauthier in his converted barn studio. Released in October 2005 by Moncton's Quadrophonic records, the album is eight tracks of high energy power-pop.

It's almost fitting that On Vinyl will head to the Nova Scotia capital this weekend, as the group's sound draws from the early-'90s Halifax sound. Band such as Sloan (up for three ECMAs this year) and now defunct acts like Thrush Hermit, the Inbreds and even Moncton's Eric's Trip defined the alternative sound at the time as taught, catchy guitar-led rock with distorted chords, laden with melody.

Strode Dodger offers an updated, slightly more ambitious take on the lauded Halifax genre of yesteryear.

"Andrew and I, who write the majority of the music, that's what we like," MacLean said. "The album is very straightforward, it has our own sound on it, but there's nothing crazy on it. The bands that we love, the bands that we've all watched, the bands we root for, the bands whose albums we own, they're all rock."

Both Goyette and MacLean admitted the album took a while to catch on with audiences, especially in their home province where many are more accustomed to groove-oriented rock from outfits like Grand Theft Bus or heavier material from the likes of Saint John's Ermine or Moncton's Iron Giant. In fact, On Vinyl applied for an ECMA last year, but came away empty-handed, something the band attributes to minimal exposure at the time.

"For a long while New Brunswick wasn't that accepting to rock music, even though there were a few punk bands and harder rock bands," MacLean said. "But, for the most part, it was into that jam, dance-rock band sort of thing. It was kind of weird at the start because it took a lot of shows to get people where they are now, with a rock attitude."

On Vinyl carried on, though, taking their act on the road to neighbouring provinces, gaining a following over the past year.

Due to an awards loophole that allows certain acts to apply two years in a row, the group applied for the 2007 awards, this time getting the call.

The ECMA nod is as much recognition for perseverance as it is for talent.

Next up is a slew of five shows over three days, starting with a slot on the coveted Friday night showcase at Halifax's legendary Marquee Club. It will be a celebration of sorts, as the band has upgraded from the much smaller club downstairs, Hell's Kitchen, where it once played the annual Halifax Pop Explosion festival.

"Hawksley Workman was playing that night and it was packed," MacLean recalled. "We thought right then and there, this is the place that we have to be. For us to be playing there is pretty exciting."

Regardless of whether it takes home any hardware, the EMCAs are an opportunity for a young band like On Vinyl to meet other bands, industry professionals and get their music into the hands - and ears - of new fans. McClean acknowledged the three-piece have a long weekend ahead.

"We just want to meet as many people as we can, really," he said. "People who haven't heard the name can put faces to the band. We put on a pretty good show and we have some pretty good tun - The Telegraph Journal

And finally, here's the Atlantic Buzz CD Pick O' The Week: On Vinyl's Strode Dodger. Fantastic debut from Fredericton pop rockers. Leadoff cut "Caught Up" is a surefire hit, tearing a page from the book of Sloan and setting it ablaze with intelligent, innovative ideas.

—Jon Bruhm

http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2005/09/3004.cfm - Chartattack.com

They are far away from Chevelle and certainly not heading down the Hanson route, but On Vinyl and Sproll do have something in common with these bands, there are two sets of brothers involved.

Furthermore, they are on the same record label, Quadraphonic Records, they both had album artwork done by Daniel A. Jagoe and their latest similarity: this year both have been nominated for an East Coast Music Award, Sproll for NEWCAP RADIO Rock Recording of the Year and On Vinyl for Alternative Recording of the Year. Not too shabby.

Chris MacLean is in On Vinyl, his brother Neal MacLean in Sproll, Chris says that "My brother and I started playing the guitar around the same time, he was 19, I was around 13."

Although their music is on opposite sides of the spectrum, they do tour together every once and a while. Chris adds: "It's a lot of fun. Our van broke down the last time, we had to jump in their band's van . . . we both kind of manage our bands. Both do things differently, our target markets are very different. We're a lot alike, but very different."

Neal's pretty proud of where his brother's at. The brother thing had nothing to do with him signing On Vinyl onto his record label. "They're just a really good band. They work hard." And of course, the brotherly love has to come in at some point. Neal says of Chris: "He's always fun to be around."

Every kid has a niche, some play hockey, others are into music.Some parents who aren't the hockey moms and dads, become the supporters. Neal says that his parents are "pretty proud of us." Chris adds that "they're cool, they're not musicians but always go to the shows in Saint John and Bathurst, whenever they can. It's hard because when you tour you don't see your family a lot, so they see less of us, but they get pretty excited whenever we sell records, or they hear us on the radio, or read an article about us. They're really proud."

Chris and Andrew Goyette who plays in On Vinyl have been playing together since somewhere around Grade 9. Andrew says that Chris - also known as Skinner - and himself have been "playing original music seriously after high school, since 2000". He's been playing music for 10 years, and On Vinyl came together "a little over two years ago."

He says of his relationship with his brother Mike Goyette of Sproll, "It's great when we tour together, there's no brotherly fighting. Definitely get along better than Skinner and his brother - they're kind of the spokespeople for the bands so they always have a reason to argue, but we just sit back and have fun!"

Mike and Andrew's folks, also the music mom and dads, "are pretty proud. Very happy for us. Big fans of On Vinyl and Sproll. though they're definitely biased! Dad's a rocker and so is my mom. They've always supported us. I dropped out of university to pursue music, because I needed to put time and effort into it, and they're fully supportive." He jokes, "If all else fails, I'll go to university to become a suit!"

But with the success of On Vinyl and Sproll, failure is unlikely, these guys realize the difference a nomination can make. Andrew says "I'm really excited. It's the first time we've been nominated; we played in P.E.I last year but weren't affiliated with the ECMA'S. A nomination is pretty solid."

Neal knows it's a good thing. "It gets you recognized." And Chris is more stoked about the showcase portion, because rather than playing in the basement of the Marquee they'll be playing in the Marquee in front of 2,000 people, and their myspace "has never been so popular!"

Chris sums up the relationship with his brother by saying that "we push each other, really work each other. We talk everyday and we keep finding ways to keep playing."

The set of brothers play along with Thom Cooke on drums, Austin Farquhar on bass, lead singer Corey Hachey for Sproll and the On Vinyl threesome is completed with drummer Zach Atkinson. Watch for both bands to appear soon around Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John. - Here NB

Sackville, New Brunswick is the place to be this weekend, as the third annual Stereophonic Festival kicked off on Thursday night. More than 20 acts are slated to rock the college town this weekend, to both celebrate and raise funds for their small but mighty campus radio station, CHMA. Julie Doiron, Jon-Rae Fletcher, Ruth Minnikin, Ninja High School, Peter Mansbridge & The CBCs, Sharp Like Knives and Two Hours Traffic are but a few of the names abuzz around town, along with one of the region's hottest up-and comers, Fredericton power trio On Vinyl.

We told you about their fierce new album, Strode Dodger, a couple of months ago. The boys say that stopping into Sackville en route to a stint in Charlottetown was a no-brainer.

"When Stereophonic came up, it seemed like a great lineup to be on," says guitarist Chris "Skinner" MacLean. "And it's a solid cause.

"I mean, who doesn't love campus radio? We want to play everywhere we can in the Maritimes and try to spread the good word of rock 'n' roll."

On Vinyl are in the midst of planning their first tour to southern Ontario and back, which should take place in early March. In the meantime, check them out as they hop around the Maritimes:
# January 13 Charlotteown, PEI @ Brennan's
# January 14 Halifax, NS @ The Attic (w/Holy Fuck, Contrived)
# February 17 Fredericton, NB @ The Capitol (w/Ermine)
# February 18 Fredericton, NB @ The Capitol (w/Zen Archer)

For a full Stereophonic schedule, check out the CHMA website.


http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/01/1302.cfm - Chartattack.com

Sackville, New Brunswick is the place to be this weekend, as the third annual Stereophonic Festival kicked off on Thursday night. More than 20 acts are slated to rock the college town this weekend, to both celebrate and raise funds for their small but mighty campus radio station, CHMA. Julie Doiron, Jon-Rae Fletcher, Ruth Minnikin, Ninja High School, Peter Mansbridge & The CBCs, Sharp Like Knives and Two Hours Traffic are but a few of the names abuzz around town, along with one of the region's hottest up-and comers, Fredericton power trio On Vinyl.

We told you about their fierce new album, Strode Dodger, a couple of months ago. The boys say that stopping into Sackville en route to a stint in Charlottetown was a no-brainer.

"When Stereophonic came up, it seemed like a great lineup to be on," says guitarist Chris "Skinner" MacLean. "And it's a solid cause.

"I mean, who doesn't love campus radio? We want to play everywhere we can in the Maritimes and try to spread the good word of rock 'n' roll."

On Vinyl are in the midst of planning their first tour to southern Ontario and back, which should take place in early March. In the meantime, check them out as they hop around the Maritimes:
# January 13 Charlotteown, PEI @ Brennan's
# January 14 Halifax, NS @ The Attic (w/Holy Fuck, Contrived)
# February 17 Fredericton, NB @ The Capitol (w/Ermine)
# February 18 Fredericton, NB @ The Capitol (w/Zen Archer)

For a full Stereophonic schedule, check out the CHMA website.


http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/01/1302.cfm - Chartattack.com