Pilgrims of Brock

"(This album) has a really great feel and you can hear the band's identity shining through. Good job pulling all of those songs together; some of them are epics." - Independant (Bidiniband, formerly Rheostatics, Novelist/Journalist)

Pilgrim of Brock’s self-titled album debut is a strong one for this Toronto-based indie trio that combines folk-roots with low-fi pop. For more than a year this west-end outfit has been working select music venues and steadily building an audience while recording this disc with producer Adrian Lawryshyn (Red Barn, Mad Violet, Zoe Bliss).

Singer/songwriter Andrew Masse and his charges (bassist Chris Rellinger & drummer Wil Greco) have put together a tidy 12-song collection of subtle, hummable and memorable tracks. Personal in its approach both musically and lyrically, the record grows on you with repeated listening. Standout tracks: Mood in ‘G’, Converbian, and Padre.

-- Liam Lahey (Twitter: @Lahey13)
- Independent (Former Editor of Scene and Heard.ca)

The seeds of west end band Pilgrims of Brock were planted years ago in a Brampton basement. Now, with a debut CD in hand, the band is making the rounds in the Parkdale music scene. Andrew Masse, guitar and vocals, and Chris Rellinger, on bass, grew up in the suburb of Brampton and have been friends since the age of 15.

"We started playing in my basement with various guys and girls for the next four or five years," Masse said. "Then in high school we had two separate things going on."

They each met moderate success in their hometown with their bands and worked on separate projects and CDs, but music and circumstance brought Masse and Rellinger back together to form their latest musical venture.

Masse moved downtown in 2000 to attend college and Rellinger followed in 2003. The pair took up residence in an apartment on Brock Street. With that, the Pilgrims of Brock was born.

"Then it was just a matter of filling in the pieces," Masse said.

Enter Gavin Kistner on keys and percussion and William Greco on drums.

Greco lives at Jane Street and Weston Road while Kistner, who also grew up in Brampton, still lives in that area.

"Gavin (Kistner) has never been a live band kind of guy, but he is a huge lover of music and a music teacher," Masse said.

When the band's former guitar player left the band, Masse said Kistner was at the ready and completed the band's current lineup, which the men said has worked really well.

"I have been in bands before, where it is like being married to three people and you have to manage three relationships at one time," Masse said. "I have a hard enough time with one."

However, these four men have an open dialogue with each other and easygoing nature that makes their lineup work for them.

"Overall we have very similar personality types, we are all really laid-back and get along really well," Masse said. "We are passionate about music, obviously, but I think the fact that we all know each other makes it easy."

Their debut 12-song, self-titled album, which has a unique pop-country style and is distributed independently, was released in January at a sold-out show at Cameron House on Queen Street West. Since the release of their CD, the men said they have been making the rounds of local live music venues.

"Before the CD, it (was) kind of tough," Masse said. "It is kind of like trying to get a job without a resume."

But with their CD in hand, Pilgrims of Brock have recently played shows at The Local on Roncesvalles Avenue and The Press Club on Dundas West. Upcoming shows include Mitzi's Sister on Queen Street West on March 16 and C'est What at Front and Church streets on April 29.

"We are keeping busy," Masse said. "And now that we have paid for the CD we've got to try to make some money back."

The album is available at emusic.ca and iTunes.com. Visit www.myspace.com/pilgrimsofbrock for more information on the band.

By: Erin Hatfield

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/621612--piligrams-of-brock-release-debut-cd

- InsideToronto.com