Stellar Radio Choir

Kootenay Music Awards Performer
Nominated: Best Rock/Punk/Metal

Thought not as well known as other nominees around here, Golden’s Stellar Radio Choir shouldn’t be overlooked in the “Best Rock/ Punk/ Metal” category. A hard working band for over two years, they’ve logged 75,000 kms in their tour van, hitting venues all over B.C. and Alberta, though never here in Nelson. Bassist Todd Menzies explains “Paul (Hinrichs) from the Royal has always wanted to book us, but despite being nearby on several tours, it just never worked out.” A solo artist himself in Golden, Todd’s bandmates Eric Larocque and Ben Caldwell are actually up for a second award, on the “Best Roots and Blues” ballot, as their other project, Broken Down Suitcase. “It’s somewhat apt,” as Todd explains, “being a really small music scene in Golden, I found myself opening up for or playing shows with Broken Down Suitcase all the time. We became friends, and eventually started discussing starting Stellar Radio Choir together to explore our more rocking material.”

Definitely “more rocking”, the trio are influenced by garage and psychedelic rock acts like Velvet Underground and The Knack, and use a lot of fuzz pedals and effects in their sound. “Seattle Grunge” is also prevalent, as many critics and writers point out, but Menzies has no problem with the comparisons. “It seems to come up a lot but we don’t mind. We were there, we listened to those bands, it’s not an issue for us.” The whole group is excited for the Kootenay Music Awards Show; not only could they take home two awards in the van back to Golden, but it also is the long-delayed live debut of Stellar Radio Choir at The Royal, during the ceremony. Whether they win or not, these rockers from Golden are stoked to finally play for us here in the Queen City. - Kootenay Quichshot

British Columbia's Stellar Radio Choir are a group trying to dial things back in the show-off department. On their debut EP, ATTACK! of the Laser Tiger, they've created some straightforward rock'n'roll ? no bells and whistles. The tracks drip with swagger and a cool attitude; it is genuine party music. Yet all of the confidence in the world wouldn't mean a thing if the tracks on this EP weren't any good. And they are good. "Sneaky Little Devil" starts with a smooth, bass-led verse that crumbles into a group-sung chorus that would be suitable for any pub. But it's actually the EP's showiest track, "Your Turn To Fall," that stands out, painting a clear picture of the group's talent. With its tremolo-laced guitar, dance punk bass line and snarky lyrics, Stellar Radio Choir are at their best when they do in fact show off. ATTACK! suffers when things slow down ("An Unfortunate Incident"), but these low points aren't common or serious enough to detract from the rest of the EP.
By Luca Morellato - Eclaim.ca

From time to time I like to swim out to the depths of my imagination and add a soundtrack to the bizarre and unlikely events of my future. For example, if I ever find myself walking into a gunfight (the wild westy kind, not the gangsta-gangsta kind), the song “Vamos” by the Pixies had better be playing in the background. And should I ever wind up with a pool cue in my hand, ready to crack some poor sucker over the head during a backwoods barroom brawl, I hope to hell that the guys from Stellar Radio Choir are throwing down a vicious jam on a stage right behind me.

The instant they went on, they brought more raw energy and force to the room than one would ever expect from 3 ridiculously nice guys hailing from the small ski town of Golden, B.C. With Eric Larocque as the frontman on vocals/guitar sporting a seriously swick moustache and Dolly Parton t-shirt, and Todd Menzies on the bass rocking the raddest pair of second hand cowboy boots I’ve ever seen, these two played off each other perfectly. For as tight as these guys sound, it’s friggen amazing that they’ve only been playing together for a couple of years.

Stellar Radio Choir bring forward the lyrics and howl of an agonized bluesman and blend that with the wonderfully unrefined guitar riffs and bass hooks that awesome garage rock is made of. Adding a psychedelic edge with the use of pedals and a passionate stage presence, it is completely fitting and almost necessary that their latest E.P. be titled “Attack! Of The Laser Tiger”.

Friends and fans, old and new, came out in droves to catch the one of the last dates of the Western leg of their tour. They ripped through some great original tracks like “An Unfortunate Incident” with mad fervor that had the audience dancing and clapping along. They also threw in a great cover of the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins classic “I Put A Spell On You”. According to a good handful of people in the crowd I spoke with, this was one of the best sounding live shows the guys had ever put on.

They will continue their tour heading east with the female duo Mobina Galore, label mates and righteous chicks from Fernie, B.C. I dunno what they’re spiking the water with in these little ski towns (my guess is Jack Daniels), but these ladies provided a big, big sound for a two piece band as the show opener.

Stellar Radio Choir ended the evening by pulling Mobina Galore onstage with them to throw down a cover of Black Mountain’s “Modern Music”, and together, the 5 of them killed it. We wish both bands all the best of luck as they head Eastbound on the cross Canada tour and hope to hear more from both bands in the future. - Green Couch Sessions

"They struck with the intensity of a brain wave frying laser beam from a distant alien race, with a wave of psychedelic distortion..." - Richard Amery, - Lethbridge Alberta Beat Arts & Entertainment Magazine

"Stellar Radio Choir's stage presence is laden with the kind of pageantry that is just ironic enough to work. Fur scarves, moustaches, and a whole lot of rock 'n roll swagger seeps off the stage as naturally as childbirth." - Matt Coté - The Force Gazette

"Bucking the trend of putting everything including the glockenspiel on stage, these guys play classic indie rock. Harkens back to simpler times when music was made by three people (hello, Nirvana?). Stripped down, guitar, bass and drums and the odd handclap. Nothing fancy here. Hope they tour through my town." - B.C Musician Magazine