Saint Alvia
Burlington, Ontario, Canada | MAJOR
Music
Press
4/5 ALTERNATIVE PRESS
So we liked A Poet's Life, Mr. Rancid's first solo-and primarily ska/reggae-album, which
reminded us we love this punk-flavored spin on the roots and island sound. But sorry, it
wasn't the kind of pioneering work found on the refreshingly non-punk punk self-titled
release of the Saint Alvia Cartel, which is bubbling with pop/ska/punk crossover appeal,
all with a re-imagining that is totally fresh. Reminiscent of the frontiers Big Audio
Dynamite's Megatop Phoenix broke through, TSAC are fearless in their toying with punk
and pop tropes, combining danceable roots aesthetics with Pabst Blue Ribbon-gruff
vocals ("Try To Forget"). There's poppier crossover stuff ("Time To Go") and delay-
washed ditties ("Business As Usual") that would make the Edge's lawyers squirm. But the
Saint Alvia Cartel, who look as though they would sound like Latterman, are anything
but business as usual. (STOMP) Casey Lynch - Alternative Press Magazine
4/5 ALTERNATIVE PRESS
So we liked A Poet's Life, Mr. Rancid's first solo-and primarily ska/reggae-album, which
reminded us we love this punk-flavored spin on the roots and island sound. But sorry, it
wasn't the kind of pioneering work found on the refreshingly non-punk punk self-titled
release of the Saint Alvia Cartel, which is bubbling with pop/ska/punk crossover appeal,
all with a re-imagining that is totally fresh. Reminiscent of the frontiers Big Audio
Dynamite's Megatop Phoenix broke through, TSAC are fearless in their toying with punk
and pop tropes, combining danceable roots aesthetics with Pabst Blue Ribbon-gruff
vocals ("Try To Forget"). There's poppier crossover stuff ("Time To Go") and delay-
washed ditties ("Business As Usual") that would make the Edge's lawyers squirm. But the
Saint Alvia Cartel, who look as though they would sound like Latterman, are anything
but business as usual. (STOMP) Casey Lynch - Alternative Press Magazine
Discography
o Don't Wanna Wait Forever Single (Stomp/Warner)
o Self titled Debut (Stomp/Warner)
o Between the Lines LP (Stomp/Warner)
o (above distributed in US by Fontana/Last Gang)
o Jonxer 7” (Paper+Plastick Records)
o German Release of Self titled on Gunnar Records (does Gaslight Anthem as well)
o Japanese release of Self titled on Surf Rock records (Pony Canyon)
o Borrowed Tunes II : A Tribute to Neil Young (Universal 2007)
o Jonxer / Get Up And Go 7" (Paper+Plastick Records, 2010)
Photos
Bio
Canadian punks Saint Alvia quickly gained momentum after forming in 2006. No strangers to the business, the make up of Alvia are founding members of seminal hardcore band Grade (Victory Records), Boys Night Out (Ferret Records), Jersey (EMI/VIRGIN), and The Video Dead (Stereo Dynamite). Fused with the spirit of the Clash, the eclectic nature of The Band, and a boundary pushing attitude, they've managed to create a sound that has been critically acclaimed, and repeatedly said to defy genres. The band has garnered the respect of the music industry with a slew of awards and nominations, relentless touring, recording, radio play, videos and reinventing.
The band is focused, committed and determined to push the limits, and pioneer a new take on the old. Saint Alvia spent 2010 writing new songs, and playing some exciting US tour dates with Flogging Molly and Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, and a few festival performances at the legendary Punk Rock Bowling fest in Las Vegas in the spring, and a special Hallowe’en performance at The Fest in Gainesville, Florida.
The band released a new deluxe 7” vinyl single on US label Paper+Plastick Records last spring, and are now writing the songs for their next full length album.
The band has been nominated for two Juno Awards (Canada’s Grammys), been featured in Alternative Press Magazine, had top 20 songs at Canadian radio, and have been hand picked by the artists themselves, to tour with The Gaslight Anthem, Rise Against, Bedouin Soundclash, Billy Talent, Against Me, Kevin Lyman of Warped Tour, The Bouncing Souls, Youth Brigade, and many more.
Full List Of Accomplishments:
• Best New Artist 2007 at Hamilton Music Awards -Winner
• 2008 CraveFest, Best Overall, Best Song, Best Production, Punk/Rock/Metal -
Winner
• 2 Juno Awards (Canadian version of Grammy’s) for Best Rock Album 2008 and
best video. 2009 - Nominated
• Much Music Video Award 2008 - Nominated
• CMW Indie Awards for Best Punk Band 2008 - Nominated
• Chart Magazine Cover Sept 08
• 102.1FM Edge Toronto Casby Award for Best New Group 2007 - Nominated
• 102.1FM Edge Toronto FU Award for Best Song 2009 - Nominated
• CBC Bucky Award for Catchiest Hook 2007 - Nominated
• Hamilton Music Award for Best Album and Best Punk Recording, best Video
2008 - Nominated
• “Don’t Wanna Wait Forever” voted by listeners as “Song of the Summer” on
Edge 102.1.
• “Don’t Wanna Wait” charted on the Canadian Top 20 Modern Rock BDS.
• Videos for “Don’t Wanna Wait” and “Time To Go” " Blonde Kryptonite" "
Between the Lines" and "Walk Before You Run DMC" were in ultra heavy
rotation on Much Music, Musique Plus, and Much Loud.
• Have performed live on MTV 3 times, and BT on CityTV Winnipeg, Edmonton
and Calgary
• Exclaim Magazine’s Voted top Punk Album of the Year, and No.5 on Reader’s
Poll
Sold out the Edge’s Next Big Thing show at Lees Palace in Toronto
Hand Picked by
• Billy Talent for a East Coast Canadian Arena Tour
• Bedouin Soundclash for Canadian National Tour
• Against Me! for National Tour
• The Gaslight Anthem for East Coast Tour
• Kevin Lyman for Vans Warped Tour USA/CAN 2008
• Manu Chao for Montreal Show for 40,000
• Rise Against for Molson Amphitheater Show with Rancid
• Alternative Press to play “Bands You Need To Know” stage at SxSW 2008
• CIRPA to play the Asian Trade Mission in Tokyo
• Approved for the maximum amount for grants on 4 videos, and every submission
for tours, recording, marketing etc.
REVIEWS
4/5 ALTERNATIVE PRESS
So we liked A Poet's Life, Mr. Rancid's first solo-and primarily ska/reggae-album, which
reminded us we love this punk-flavored spin on the roots and island sound. But sorry, it
wasn't the kind of pioneering work found on the refreshingly non-punk punk self-titled
release of the Saint Alvia Cartel, which is bubbling with pop/ska/punk crossover appeal,
all with a re-imagining that is totally fresh. Reminiscent of the frontiers Big Audio
Dynamite's Megatop Phoenix broke through, TSAC are fearless in their toying with punk
and pop tropes, combining danceable roots aesthetics with Pabst Blue Ribbon-gruff
vocals ("Try To Forget"). There's poppier crossover stuff ("Time To Go") and delay-
washed ditties ("Business As Usual") that would make the Edge's lawyers squirm. But the
Saint Alvia Cartel, who look as though they would sound like Latterman, are anything
but business as usual. (STOMP) Casey Lynch
- INK 19 Starting things off with a bang, "Karma Kill Me Again" finds the missing link
between The Who and Rancid. The follow-up tune, "Don't Wanna Wait Forever," has a
Trojan Records ska groove overlaid with electronic effects. It sounds hideous, but it's
actually quite innovative. The vocals on this and most other songs are shared by multiple
voices, each with its own distinct style. "Business as Usual." Listen closely and you'll
hear a bit of U2 and The Thompson Twins blended into
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