The Alter Kakers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | INDIE
Music
Press
For the week of Sept 5-12, 2011. The AK's Charting at #3 Jango Radio with their song Treading The Boards. - Jango Blog
Sports Illustrated chooses The AK's "Hungry Like The Wolf" as Music Video of the Day - si.com
An energy charged sound that encapsulates everything from The Band, Rheostatics, to Blue Rodeo, delivered as blues-toned roots rock. A barn-burning stage presence infused with a traditional songwriter spirit, The Alter Kakers are no frills, all heart. - Lonely Vagabond
The AK's Charting at #2 Jango Radio - Jango Blog
The AK's Charting at #5 Jango Radio - Jango Blog
Cover songs are awesome. Cover songs that are accompanied by cool videos shot at the Imperial Pub are even more, um, awesomer.
So I'm not sure what else can be said about Toronto band The Alter Kakers' take on "Hungry Like The Wolf". You have to see it for yourself really. - T.O. Snob's Music
I have to admit to not being too familiar with Toronto band The Alter Kakers. The band released an EP, Painting from the Past, in the spring.
What I've learned from the EP is that the Alter Kakers play melodic rock with few gimmicks. Tracks like "Fading Away" and "Where Did The Time Go" show that the band have a knack for the hooks as well.
The band seem to have an affection for '80s Canadian rock. You can hear the influences on "Try It Today", which has a desolate Northern Pikes kind of aura around it. With it's Gowan-ish vocals (but not in a cheesy way) "Still In My Mind" gives a big old nod to the past as well.
The exquisite reverb on "In a Dream" definitely gives the track the dreamy feeling. However, the song cries out for an ending that shakes you out of your trance. That ending doesn't materialize and the result is a little too restrained to be as effective as it could have been.
The EP wraps up with a cover of Duran Duran's massive "Hungry Like the Wolf". Aside from cranking up the wattage this version stays rather faithful to the original.
The Alter Kakers' take on rock may not be the most original or revolutionary, however, there are so few bands on the scene doing it this way that it somehow seems fresh. Worth a listen for sure.
Best tracks: "Hungry Like the Wolf", "Where Did the Time Go"
Track listing for Painting from the Past:
* Fading Away
* Where Did The Time Go
* In a Dream
* Try It Today
* Still In My Mind
* Hungry Like the Wolf - T.O. Snob's Music
Discography
Five - March 2010
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/five/id360103666
Painting From The Past - June 2011
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/painting-from-the-past/id441934600
http://www.jango.com/music/The+Alter+Kakers?l=0
Photos
Bio
The Alter Kakers (pronounced Alta Kuckers) are one of Toronto's most popular rock bands. Their sound is s mixture of styles including rock, alternative, folk and country fueled by the traditional singer/songwriter mentality. The summer of 2011 is finding them increasingly busy and in demand having just released their second EP "Painting From The Past" on June 11, 2011.
The album includes 5 originals and 1 cover of the classic Duran Duran song Hungry Like The Wolf and has been garnering some nice attention. Their video of Hungry Like The Wolf has been featured on Sports Illustrated.com as "Music Video of the Day" receiving over 9000 plays in 24 hours!
The Alter Kakers were founded in Toronto by Steve Bronstein (Guitar) and Cary Covair (Bass) after the two met playing together in another band. The plan was to ask a few friends to come out and have fun jamming some songs and working on ideas. Soon one thing led to another and in came Dan Barsi (Drums) and Matt Dratva (Vocals), both whom Cary and Steve had played with previously. It didn't take long for them to put enough material together to start playing live and recording.
The Alter Kakers are rapidly becoming a popular live act on the Toronto scene with years of experience and an energy charged sound that captures everything from The Band to Neil Young to Blue Rodeo. With a great local following and no shortage of live venues to play The Alter Kakers are finding themselves constantly in demand delivering their blues-toned roots rock with a barn-burning stage presence.
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