Music
Press
The dark and expansive sounds of Spell Toronto
Album: "Be More Careful"
Distribution: Greenbox Records
Album art: A girl and a boy on a swing. They should be happy. But they're sad. Perhaps because there are sharks in the sandbox by their feet?
San Diegoness of sound: This guitar-heavy and screamy record sounds very San Diego circa 1993. So it's no surprise that the band names Inch, Three Mile Pilot and Rocket From the Crypt as influences.
Style: Jeans and T-shirts and lots of dark hair.
As big as Inch? The music is just as gloomy, only more accessible than Inch's. So that's a maybe.
Best Songs: "The Painter." "Fell in a Hole" if you like xylophones.
Overall: It's been a while since we heard from Spell Toronto. And it seems like the guys have gone through some tough times in their absence. This is pretty clear on the band's moody album. The thing is, while they were gone, bands started injecting a bit more pop in their rock tunes, and there aren't too many groups that still play this type of gruff, hard rock. But there's a lot of intensity and passion behind the music, which keeps you listening long enough to find lots of hidden treats like the aforementioned xylophones.
Our advice:Next time, don't go away for so long.
Go see the band: Oct. 5 at 'Canes. - signonsandiego.com
The dark and expansive sounds of Spell Toronto
Album: "Be More Careful"
Distribution: Greenbox Records
Album art: A girl and a boy on a swing. They should be happy. But they're sad. Perhaps because there are sharks in the sandbox by their feet?
San Diegoness of sound: This guitar-heavy and screamy record sounds very San Diego circa 1993. So it's no surprise that the band names Inch, Three Mile Pilot and Rocket From the Crypt as influences.
Style: Jeans and T-shirts and lots of dark hair.
As big as Inch? The music is just as gloomy, only more accessible than Inch's. So that's a maybe.
Best Songs: "The Painter." "Fell in a Hole" if you like xylophones.
Overall: It's been a while since we heard from Spell Toronto. And it seems like the guys have gone through some tough times in their absence. This is pretty clear on the band's moody album. The thing is, while they were gone, bands started injecting a bit more pop in their rock tunes, and there aren't too many groups that still play this type of gruff, hard rock. But there's a lot of intensity and passion behind the music, which keeps you listening long enough to find lots of hidden treats like the aforementioned xylophones.
Our advice:Next time, don't go away for so long.
Go see the band: Oct. 5 at 'Canes. - signonsandiego.com
You'll excuse Jason de la Torre if he seems more relieved by the release of Spell Toronto's new album than excited.
Founder and vocalist of the San Diego band (playing tonight at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach), de la Torre's tale of the making of "Be More Careful" has the air of a Shakespearean drama about it.
"When we came home from Warped Tour in September 2004, we were on a path to building a career out of things," de la Torre said by phone from his San Diego home. "We started working on the second record, but then it all turned into nothing. ... Our guitar player quit the band right when we went into the studio to start working on the album seriously ---- and our next guitarist also quit!"
It's only now that "Be More Careful" is coming out ---- almost three years after they began work on the follow-up to 2003's "The Brown Frequency."
And with the new record ---- one of eight finalists in the Best Alternative Album category of this year's San Diego Music Awards (winners will be announced Sept. 17) ---- comes a renewed emphasis on that music career for the four members of Spell Toronto.
"We're trying to find backers because we can't afford to do another record promoting it ourselves ---- we just don't have the know-how. The industry has changed so much the last five years.
"We saw that we could pay for the record ourselves and shop it, but there's not a lot out there" with the major labels, de la Torre said.
"Everybody I know who's in a band that's got a little success or a little following wants to stay away from a major label, because it's so frightening," he said.
De la Torre said several San Diego bands (whom he declined to name) have signed deals with national labels, gone into the studio and recorded an album and then seen the album either delayed or canceled altogether, with the band unable to do anything on its own thanks to the exclusive contract that labels want when they sign a band.
"There's not even a big initial payday anymore," he said of signing with a label.
"Independent is great if you can figure out a way to get noticed," de la Torre said of Spell Toronto's plans. But he explained that without that all-important promotions budget of a label, being independent makes it hard to get that notice a band needs to build a national following.
"You can get your CDs in the stores, but nobody buys CDs anymore. And getting on iTunes isn't that hard ---- it takes about a month. It's just that advertising on iTunes and advertising on MySpace is so expensive."
Growing up in Mira Mesa, de la Torre said he was always fascinated by San Diego's fertile music scene.
"I grew up on Three Mile Pilot and Rocket From the Crypt," he said.
The rest of Spell Toronto are also local: bassist Ismael Velazquez also grew up in Mira Mesa, while guitarist Chris Lewis and drummer Danny King grew up in the Poway/Rancho Bernardo area.
Interestingly, de la Torre said the growing success of San Diego County bands on the national scene is making it harder for up-and-coming local bands to get noticed ---- local audiences being a bit spoiled.
"It's an amazing city, and I love living here, but it's a tough city to play music because the weather's so nice people don't want to go out. And the city doesn't back you unless you've impressed the country already."
De la Torre cautioned that leaving town is no piece of cake, either.
"We want to tour ---- do the 250 dates a year touring thing. The biggest thing is that these days the United States is the hardest country to tour in because everything is so far away and gas is so expensive." De la Torre said the band has to use a large van to carry all their gear when it tours, and that its fuel bill piles up in a hurry.
"It cost us $280 to drive to Phoenix and back and do two shows. Even if you get decent guarantees you have to really kill it on merchandise in order to simply eat."
Still, despite listing the above obstacles for a band trying to establish itself, de la Torre didn't really seem the type to get beat down by the challenges.
"This is by far the greatest thing I've done in my life, this record.
"I've never been more proud of anything I've done."
- North County Times
You'll excuse Jason de la Torre if he seems more relieved by the release of Spell Toronto's new album than excited.
Founder and vocalist of the San Diego band (playing tonight at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach), de la Torre's tale of the making of "Be More Careful" has the air of a Shakespearean drama about it.
"When we came home from Warped Tour in September 2004, we were on a path to building a career out of things," de la Torre said by phone from his San Diego home. "We started working on the second record, but then it all turned into nothing. ... Our guitar player quit the band right when we went into the studio to start working on the album seriously ---- and our next guitarist also quit!"
It's only now that "Be More Careful" is coming out ---- almost three years after they began work on the follow-up to 2003's "The Brown Frequency."
And with the new record ---- one of eight finalists in the Best Alternative Album category of this year's San Diego Music Awards (winners will be announced Sept. 17) ---- comes a renewed emphasis on that music career for the four members of Spell Toronto.
"We're trying to find backers because we can't afford to do another record promoting it ourselves ---- we just don't have the know-how. The industry has changed so much the last five years.
"We saw that we could pay for the record ourselves and shop it, but there's not a lot out there" with the major labels, de la Torre said.
"Everybody I know who's in a band that's got a little success or a little following wants to stay away from a major label, because it's so frightening," he said.
De la Torre said several San Diego bands (whom he declined to name) have signed deals with national labels, gone into the studio and recorded an album and then seen the album either delayed or canceled altogether, with the band unable to do anything on its own thanks to the exclusive contract that labels want when they sign a band.
"There's not even a big initial payday anymore," he said of signing with a label.
"Independent is great if you can figure out a way to get noticed," de la Torre said of Spell Toronto's plans. But he explained that without that all-important promotions budget of a label, being independent makes it hard to get that notice a band needs to build a national following.
"You can get your CDs in the stores, but nobody buys CDs anymore. And getting on iTunes isn't that hard ---- it takes about a month. It's just that advertising on iTunes and advertising on MySpace is so expensive."
Growing up in Mira Mesa, de la Torre said he was always fascinated by San Diego's fertile music scene.
"I grew up on Three Mile Pilot and Rocket From the Crypt," he said.
The rest of Spell Toronto are also local: bassist Ismael Velazquez also grew up in Mira Mesa, while guitarist Chris Lewis and drummer Danny King grew up in the Poway/Rancho Bernardo area.
Interestingly, de la Torre said the growing success of San Diego County bands on the national scene is making it harder for up-and-coming local bands to get noticed ---- local audiences being a bit spoiled.
"It's an amazing city, and I love living here, but it's a tough city to play music because the weather's so nice people don't want to go out. And the city doesn't back you unless you've impressed the country already."
De la Torre cautioned that leaving town is no piece of cake, either.
"We want to tour ---- do the 250 dates a year touring thing. The biggest thing is that these days the United States is the hardest country to tour in because everything is so far away and gas is so expensive." De la Torre said the band has to use a large van to carry all their gear when it tours, and that its fuel bill piles up in a hurry.
"It cost us $280 to drive to Phoenix and back and do two shows. Even if you get decent guarantees you have to really kill it on merchandise in order to simply eat."
Still, despite listing the above obstacles for a band trying to establish itself, de la Torre didn't really seem the type to get beat down by the challenges.
"This is by far the greatest thing I've done in my life, this record.
"I've never been more proud of anything I've done."
- North County Times
So many contenders for this one -- Psychotic Serenity, Worth Every Scar, the Napoleon Complex, the Bloody Hollies, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, Naughty Nuns, Disgruntled Hippos, Ape Lust, Chimichanga and the Sour Chives, Jane Likes Dick, Nocturnal Emissions. We finally settled on Spell Toronto, known for going through guitarists the way Spinal Tap used up drummers. According to bassist Ismael Velasquez Jr. (a.k.a. "Chacho"), "The name comes from this girl we know, she told us that any guy who can spell 'Toronto' while performing oral sex on a girl is a master cunnilinguist. So, after a lot of study and practice, we earned our degrees and took the name." - San Diego Reader
So many contenders for this one -- Psychotic Serenity, Worth Every Scar, the Napoleon Complex, the Bloody Hollies, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, Naughty Nuns, Disgruntled Hippos, Ape Lust, Chimichanga and the Sour Chives, Jane Likes Dick, Nocturnal Emissions. We finally settled on Spell Toronto, known for going through guitarists the way Spinal Tap used up drummers. According to bassist Ismael Velasquez Jr. (a.k.a. "Chacho"), "The name comes from this girl we know, she told us that any guy who can spell 'Toronto' while performing oral sex on a girl is a master cunnilinguist. So, after a lot of study and practice, we earned our degrees and took the name." - San Diego Reader
San Diego’s own Indie Rocker’s Spell Toronto know how to put out a solid catchy album. Their newest release, Be More Careful, is emotionally charged and will not disappoint any listeners. Hearing this album was refreshing, real passion was present from track to track. Although the first song – Carloads of Candy was strong lyrically, it lacked the energy I was hoping for on an opening track. However, the transition from “Carloads of Candy” to “Time to Run” flowed very well. Additionally, “Time to Run” has the raw vigor that I was initially looking for on the first track. My personal favorite on Be More Careful is the “The Painter” which covers it all – great lyrics, a catchy chorus, an insightful guitar riff and powerful drumming. The catchy chorus and killer guitar riffs are evident throughout the entire CD. You should definitely go out and purchase Be More Careful which will stay in your CD player for weeks and whenever given the chance you should make it out to Spell Toronto’s live show. - sandiegopunk.com
San Diego’s own Indie Rocker’s Spell Toronto know how to put out a solid catchy album. Their newest release, Be More Careful, is emotionally charged and will not disappoint any listeners. Hearing this album was refreshing, real passion was present from track to track. Although the first song – Carloads of Candy was strong lyrically, it lacked the energy I was hoping for on an opening track. However, the transition from “Carloads of Candy” to “Time to Run” flowed very well. Additionally, “Time to Run” has the raw vigor that I was initially looking for on the first track. My personal favorite on Be More Careful is the “The Painter” which covers it all – great lyrics, a catchy chorus, an insightful guitar riff and powerful drumming. The catchy chorus and killer guitar riffs are evident throughout the entire CD. You should definitely go out and purchase Be More Careful which will stay in your CD player for weeks and whenever given the chance you should make it out to Spell Toronto’s live show. - sandiegopunk.com
Discography
Be More Careful - 2007
(nominated for Best Alternative Album - 2007 San Diego Music Awards)
The Brown Frequency - 2003
(nominated for Best Rock Album - 2004 San Diego Music Awards)
Photos
Bio
“Bring out your dead, bring out your dead”. The line quivering out of a weathered yet optimistic Jason De La Torre at the onset of the groups 2nd full-length release would come to signify all that the band has wrestled with over the years. While misleading and failed relationships abounded, and an undiscerning music business strangled nearly all that was held dear, Spell Toronto bottled these torrid elements, releasing them later through their songs. The death of a friend to an unjust war, a hap-hazard manager, numerous line-up changes and various setbacks in the recording process have pounded this foursome’s will into the ground. “Be More Careful”, the title of this San Diego native’s latest effort, could not be more fitting and directive towards their lives. No, this isn’t a laundry list of excuses as to why the band has not released an album in years; rather it is simply an accounting of the causes that would inspire Spell Toronto to create what they needed to hear most: a chronicling of their lives to make some sense of it all.
A darker take off from their previous release, “Be More Careful” offers self-inquiry, satire for our disabled social and political environment, and a loathing for a significant relationship gone sour between singer/guitarist Jason de la Torre and an ex. With engineers Christian Cummings and Joe Marlett (Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters) at the helm, Spell Toronto crafted an album for the ages. The drums batter and swoon, the bass walks and pulsates, the guitars barrage and careen, and the vocals command attention with grit and grace. “Be More Careful” garners pop sensibility complete with indie integrity and rock and roll intensity. The dynamics displayed on their record only further exemplify the enlightening experiences and disheartening mishaps that Spell Toronto has come to know. With a powerful new album under their belts and a fresh take on what it is to be human, Spell Toronto is leading the call for sincerity in a world seemingly full of dishonesty.
Links
