Prize Fighter

PRIZE FIGHTER SAY THIS IS THEIR TIME -- COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

December 27, 2007
JASON SCHNEIDER


They may be the local music scene's best-kept secret at the moment, but with a finely honed, radio-friendly sound, K-W rockers Prize Fighter probably won't be for long. The quintet's most recent release, the Come Hell Or High Water EP, has been championed by 91.5 The Beat all year, and singer-guitarist Zubin Thakker says the band is ready to take things to the next level now that its members have all completed their post-secondary educations.

"We've actually been a band since 2001, but we only became Prize Fighter about a year ago," Thakker says. "Being in school was also a big reason why we've sort of been under the radar until now, but we're all ready to make the band a permanent thing. This EP took a long time to make for various reasons too, but the attention it's been getting has made us even more proud because it was basically recorded in my basement and at our friend Sean Riley's place in Cambridge."

The punchy sheen of songs like Hold On Tight and Fire & Snow certainly don't sound like usual home recordings, and Thakker makes no apologies for wanting to write hits. He admits this philosophy has set Prize Fighter apart from other independent Canadian bands, but the rabid fan base they have built up in their hometown is proof that it's working.

"We don't take the view that trying to appeal to radio makes us any better or worse than bands that don't, but that's the kind of music that truly gets all of us," Thakker says. "We love the radio, and I think Top 40 is a beautiful thing. It has its downsides of course, but most of what gets played is by some of the world's best songwriters.

"I've always been drawn to how some songs are able to connect with so many people, and that's what I continually strive to do with what I write."

Although Prize Fighter's approach has allowed them to share stages with the likes of Hedley, The Trews, and Kalan Porter, Thakker says that they are willing to be patient until the right record deal comes along.

"We're starting to get more and more interest from the industry, but it's an interesting game to play. Mainly we're just trying to stay focused on new material and playing shows."

He adds, "In the end, you can't count on anything to happen because this business is so fickle. Right now we're able to manage ourselves, book our own shows and record at home. But if something were to come along, we'd gladly embrace it because you can only go so far on your own."

As the band prepares its next recording, Thakker is hoping to get more airplay from Union Station, the EP's most stripped down track that reveals a different side of Prize Fighter.

"That's my favourite track and it was the last one we recorded. Everything was pretty much done, and this song turned out to be one of those late-night acoustic guitar things that happen once in a while," he said.

"I think it shows the essence of what we are, in contrast to the other tracks that we worked really hard on. Ideally, I'd like our next record to be that way too, where we have the luxury of being able to take as much time as we'd like in the studio."

LIVE CITY OF KITCHENER'S NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION DEC. 31 CITY HALL, KITCHENER OPENING FOR JULLY BLACK FREE 9:30 P.M. WWW.PRIZEFIGHTERROCK.COM - The Kitchener/Waterloo Record

By Shawn Bell - Staff Reporter

Zubin Thakkar, guitarist for Prize Fighter, earns the crowd’s adoring stares at Bomber.
Who says that live music on campus is dead? No one told Prize Fighter. Perhaps the Polar Jam people would be wise to look to these guys for direction. If you bring out the girls, the boys will come too.

Early February 2, as DJ Intelligentsia and the Bomber’s $6.99 pitchers got the crowd warmed up, the bar reached capacity and in the SLC the line stretched out down the stairs past Tim Horton’s. It was then I knew something was up.

"We never could have expected this," guitarist and backup-vocalist George Carothers said of the crowd, as two members of Knock Knock Ginger, with acoustic guitars, took to the stage under those nice blue lights to take over from the DJ. “There’s something about a live performance that cannot be replicated in the studio. There’s an energy and a difference that comes with a live show. It’s just you and the crowd; you connect and everyone has a good time.”

"I think," he added, “tonight is going to be a mind-blowing, crowd-blowing show.”

This was the CD release party, and a party it was indeed. The only person not there was the Warner rep, who was snowed-in in Toronto.

The disc, Come Hell or High Water, is an independent creation that took eight months to produce and looks, and sounds, very polished.

"While we recorded we put away our indy records, and listened only to the radio." Singer-songwriter-guitarist Zubin Thakar said, “We’ve got our sights set on getting on the radio.”

Knock Knock Ginger finished, the lights fell low and a buzz started through the crowd. When I looked back, the five guys of Prize Fighter were silhouetted on stage, instruments in hand. Thakkar, with his Fender Telecaster, front and centre; Carothers to his left, beside a rack of guitars and behind the second microphone. Justin Currie on bass, in the middle of the stage; Darren Thomas, on keyboards and tambourine, over on the far right; and Mike Snyder in back on drums.

"When we first got to stage," Thakkar said, “it was like, holy shit. We thought it would be a typical Bomber show, with people 12 feet from the stage. Totally not. So we got up there, and said ok, we’ve got to turn it on. We brought it, because they brought it too.”

The lights flashed on, the guitars took off, the drums crashed and the crowd surged forward. The band, wearing black suits with white belts and white ties, ripped through their opener, sweat rolling down faces. The crowd, dancing and sweating right along with them, was drunker by the end of the song and everyone was smiling. Girls, girls, girls. They pushed towards the stage, shaking their hips with eyes rapt on the band. Thakkar had them all in hand, soaking in his every word.

When they finished the introduction and the band took a breath, Thakkar turned to thank the crowd for coming. A wonderful aspect of this Bomber show — the band and the audience were right there, two feet apart. Cheers and applause and whistling from the girls greeted his words.

Without further adieu the band jumped back in, rocked through a handful of songs, and then slowed the pace with Scott McKnight on cello, Carother’s on acoustic, and beautiful piano solos. I can’t imagine an easier scene to pick up in.

Soon enough they turned the volume up, seamlessly moving between songs, for the remainder of the set. When it was done and the lights went down, Prize Fighter didn’t have time to get off the stage before the crowd demanded an encore. So they played one more and the crowd went off; when it was all said and done, the band wandered through the crowd, slapping hands and kissing cheeks, while the girls looked up at them dreamily, saying "You guys are awesome."

"It was an incredible evening," Thakkar said. “You couldn’t ask for anything better.

"It is great for band morale, to have that confirmation — yeah we’re on to something good. It gives us more confidence; this was our fourth show and it’s really nice to have that response early on. It gives you enough energy to keep going forward to the next level. It pushes the people in the band, pushes yourself, and pushes other people in the industry to get you good shows and help you out."

Prize Fighter all graduate from UW this April. Then they’ll be full-time musicians, busy pushing the disc.

"The plan right now," Thakkar said, “is to work over the summer, and then everyone quit their jobs as of September. Then we’ll go on tour, at least in Canada. The idea is that I have to do it. Try it out. Or else I’ll die a bitter old man.”

If the Bomber show was any indication, the girls will love them. As all sharp record label executives know, the crowds, and the money, follow the girls.


- Imprint (University of Waterloo)