Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
February 26th, 2004
James Sinclair
Locals develop their own hybrid theory
On stage Kyle Avery, lead singer of Ottawa's newest "nu-metal" band Q-Publik, is a vision of intensity. Wailing vocals on top of hard, crunching guitar, the austere crooner pops more veins in his neck and forehead than Henry Rollins mid-sermon. Offstage, however, the laid-back youngster comes off entirely different: affable and modest, he's the picture of congeniality, conversing with newfound fans and friends.
On this particular night, after a set at Zaphod's, he's talking to a fan comparing his sound to the all-too-overexposed nu-metal acts Linkin Park and Korn. I half expect the bulky lead singer to turn on the fan with the same intensity he displays on stage. But Avery yields, taking it all as a compliment.
"We get a lot of that," he tells me. "No matter what you do, you're going to get compared to other bands. When we get a comparison like say Finger Eleven or something, I take that as a huge compliment because I'm a huge fan of theirs. A band like Korn, you can't take that as an insult. I'm not a huge Korn fan but if somebody wants to say you've got some Korn elements that's awesome. That's flattering for sure."
Q-Publik (Art Robillard on bass, Matt Kirby on drums and Kyle's brother Chris on guitar) may have a penchant for heavy-hitting instrumentation but Avery is a rock balladeer at heart, only occasionally unleashing metal's primal screams. With his pierced brow and dyed blond hair, he could easily pass for a double of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington. And while he doesn't mind
the mainstream associations, he does take offence at the metal and nu-metal tags.
"I like to stay away from the metal label. We get called a metal band all the time - it bothers me a little bit. I think metal, I think Priest," he says. "And there's the whole nu-metal title. It's kind of played out. It's pretty four-years-ago kind of thing, you know. It's not really that 'new' anymore."
About a year into it, Q Publik has yet to release even a demo (a lone MP3 can be found on their website) and yet have developed a sizeable following in Ottawa, a town that Avery admits doesn't have a huge scene for his genre of music. And what genre might that be?
Perhaps new nu-metal?
Q-PUBLIK W/ BREACH OF TRUST
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 9 P.M., $8
ZAPHOD BEEBLEBROX
- Ottawa Xpress
February 26th, 2004
James Sinclair
Locals develop their own hybrid theory
On stage Kyle Avery, lead singer of Ottawa's newest "nu-metal" band Q-Publik, is a vision of intensity. Wailing vocals on top of hard, crunching guitar, the austere crooner pops more veins in his neck and forehead than Henry Rollins mid-sermon. Offstage, however, the laid-back youngster comes off entirely different: affable and modest, he's the picture of congeniality, conversing with newfound fans and friends.
On this particular night, after a set at Zaphod's, he's talking to a fan comparing his sound to the all-too-overexposed nu-metal acts Linkin Park and Korn. I half expect the bulky lead singer to turn on the fan with the same intensity he displays on stage. But Avery yields, taking it all as a compliment.
"We get a lot of that," he tells me. "No matter what you do, you're going to get compared to other bands. When we get a comparison like say Finger Eleven or something, I take that as a huge compliment because I'm a huge fan of theirs. A band like Korn, you can't take that as an insult. I'm not a huge Korn fan but if somebody wants to say you've got some Korn elements that's awesome. That's flattering for sure."
Q-Publik (Art Robillard on bass, Matt Kirby on drums and Kyle's brother Chris on guitar) may have a penchant for heavy-hitting instrumentation but Avery is a rock balladeer at heart, only occasionally unleashing metal's primal screams. With his pierced brow and dyed blond hair, he could easily pass for a double of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington. And while he doesn't mind
the mainstream associations, he does take offence at the metal and nu-metal tags.
"I like to stay away from the metal label. We get called a metal band all the time - it bothers me a little bit. I think metal, I think Priest," he says. "And there's the whole nu-metal title. It's kind of played out. It's pretty four-years-ago kind of thing, you know. It's not really that 'new' anymore."
About a year into it, Q Publik has yet to release even a demo (a lone MP3 can be found on their website) and yet have developed a sizeable following in Ottawa, a town that Avery admits doesn't have a huge scene for his genre of music. And what genre might that be?
Perhaps new nu-metal?
Q-PUBLIK W/ BREACH OF TRUST
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 9 P.M., $8
ZAPHOD BEEBLEBROX
- Ottawa Xpress
By Brian
Published 2004-02-20 18:22:46
Going into this show, I'd heard only GLD (Ground Level Defied), and neither Q-Publik nor Iconoclast. I was seriously looking forward to GLD because I love their demo CD (which I reviewed here ). All three bands are local to Ottawa, and all three have an established fanbase and a very mature sound. In light of that, I was surprised with the slow turnout, but there are factors...
So on with the show. Iconoclast opened up nicely. They have a sound that gives me and inkling of what Nickelback would sound like were they more creative. Guitarist Mike impressed with his crazy stage antics while keeping up some pretty nifty guitar chops. The Nickelback comparison comes from singer/bassist (another Mike) and his incredible vocal style range. At times he did sound like Chad. I know he's going to hate me for saying it, but I'm saying it like it's a good thing. Sorry Mike.
Marian Dej makes up the third and final member of Iconoclast, on drums. For a three piece, their sound is incredibly full and big. Easy to like, fun to listen to, this band has a straightforward hard rock identity that is going to take them places.
GLD was next in line, and boy did they rock out. I was disappointed by the sound quality of the venue; lead vocalist Sean has such an incredibly unique and powerful voice and it was difficult to hear. I knew before the show that this would be the case. GLD deserves to play top-of-the-line equipment, because they are top-notch talent.
GLD's sound is (as I've mentioned in the past) impossible to classify. They are rock, hard and heavy, with original and catchy vocal lines and harmonies. At times they remind me of Boy Hits Car, but more electric. Sometimes they remind me of Skypark. Always they remind me that there is such overlooked and unnoticed talent in this city; more than enough to shake a stick at.
GLD played all the songs I know from their demo and a number of songs I'd never heard but all of which will be on their upcoming full-length album. If you find it, buy it. I guarantee it will be worth any price.
Q-Publik was last to take the stage. They were more than impressive. They were tight, energetic, and skilled. If you take Finger Eleven, throw in a tiny bit of Korn, shake it around, and top it off with some primo extras like the drummer singing and the guitarist sounding like two guitarists... you may get an idea of Q-Publik. Their show must be seen to be fully understood.
Singer Kyle had very confident stage presence and always made excellent contact with the audience. I would definitely pay to see this band as many times as I could. - www.onegoldenspoon.com
By Brian
Published 2004-02-20 18:22:46
Going into this show, I'd heard only GLD (Ground Level Defied), and neither Q-Publik nor Iconoclast. I was seriously looking forward to GLD because I love their demo CD (which I reviewed here ). All three bands are local to Ottawa, and all three have an established fanbase and a very mature sound. In light of that, I was surprised with the slow turnout, but there are factors...
So on with the show. Iconoclast opened up nicely. They have a sound that gives me and inkling of what Nickelback would sound like were they more creative. Guitarist Mike impressed with his crazy stage antics while keeping up some pretty nifty guitar chops. The Nickelback comparison comes from singer/bassist (another Mike) and his incredible vocal style range. At times he did sound like Chad. I know he's going to hate me for saying it, but I'm saying it like it's a good thing. Sorry Mike.
Marian Dej makes up the third and final member of Iconoclast, on drums. For a three piece, their sound is incredibly full and big. Easy to like, fun to listen to, this band has a straightforward hard rock identity that is going to take them places.
GLD was next in line, and boy did they rock out. I was disappointed by the sound quality of the venue; lead vocalist Sean has such an incredibly unique and powerful voice and it was difficult to hear. I knew before the show that this would be the case. GLD deserves to play top-of-the-line equipment, because they are top-notch talent.
GLD's sound is (as I've mentioned in the past) impossible to classify. They are rock, hard and heavy, with original and catchy vocal lines and harmonies. At times they remind me of Boy Hits Car, but more electric. Sometimes they remind me of Skypark. Always they remind me that there is such overlooked and unnoticed talent in this city; more than enough to shake a stick at.
GLD played all the songs I know from their demo and a number of songs I'd never heard but all of which will be on their upcoming full-length album. If you find it, buy it. I guarantee it will be worth any price.
Q-Publik was last to take the stage. They were more than impressive. They were tight, energetic, and skilled. If you take Finger Eleven, throw in a tiny bit of Korn, shake it around, and top it off with some primo extras like the drummer singing and the guitarist sounding like two guitarists... you may get an idea of Q-Publik. Their show must be seen to be fully understood.
Singer Kyle had very confident stage presence and always made excellent contact with the audience. I would definitely pay to see this band as many times as I could. - www.onegoldenspoon.com
Discography
The Fall single - This 2 song sample CD was recorded at little chicago studios, smiths falls, ontario. Engineered by Tim Greencorn, produced by Q Publik and Tim Greencorn. Mastered at Joao Mastering in Toronto.
© 2004 Q-Publik
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Q-Publik was formed in the fall of 2002 as the brainchild of Chris and Kyle Avery after the collapse of their former hard rock outfit, Thirteen. The brothers Avery had been playing and writing music together for over a decade and were still hungry for more. The Avery’s had met Arthur Robillard in the summer of 2002 within the Ottawa club circuit where Robillard was playing with the rock and roll extravaganza known as Dynasty. When it came time to recruit a bass player for the new project, Art was an obvious choice. After several writing sessions with former Thirteen drummer Sandy Hunter, Hunter had to pull out of the project for personal reasons. Left without a fourth and key member, the now trio auditioned several drummers before Robillard suggested a former band mate named Matt Kirby. Robillard and Kirby had worked together in the Ottawa based funk-rock band Loose Colors. It has been said that Kirby had the gig before the end of the first song of his audition…Q-Publik was now complete and ready to begin writing the songs that would form the basis of the QP library, a library that would prove to be more fluid and changing than any of the members could have imagined.
Anxious to get back into the local club scene, Q-Publik wrote relentlessly with no idea what kind of sounds would come out of the fresh quartet. Those sounds proved to be loud. Chris’ gigantic guitar tone with the huge bottom end of a drop-tuned 7-string meshed well with Kirby’s pounding rhythms and Robillard’s intricate and melodic bass lines. The younger Avery adapted the wailing vocals and passionate screams that he had honed in Thirteen to fit the new sound. Q-Publik became a heavy hitting force with melodic vocals and a thunderous bottom end.
Before a full set had been constructed, Q-Publik booked their debut show at Ottawa’s Zaphod Beeblebrox for February 3, 2003. The impending deadline forced QP to write and rehearse the new tracks tirelessly. It paid off and the debut show was a huge success and created a buzz in the local scene that could be heard for weeks after.
Since then Q-Publik has never stopped evolving and growing, constantly writing and playing. The sound progresses and grows. No two songs sound alike, yet they all have that unmistakable QP flavor. This sound, combined with massively entertaining stage presence makes for a display of creativity, emotion, and aggression not to be missed.
Links
