The Canvas Waiting
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The Canvas Waiting

Austin, Texas, United States | SELF

Austin, Texas, United States | SELF
Band Alternative Rock

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"The Canvas Waiting - A Season's Change"

Time is such a strange thing. And while I won’t enter into the argument of whether or not time is truly a universal constant, I will say it sure seems to have a mind of it’s own sometimes. When I get to work in the morning and have so much to do, the clock seems to be frozen and each minute lasts a lifetime. But by the end of the day, when I’m rushing to get everything done that I need to get done… the minutes seem to fly past at an alarming rate. Looking back on life is a lot like that. In the beginning we’re so anxious to grow up and be on our own and experience new things. We have great intentions and dream great dreams of purpose and accomplishment. And the none day you find yourself looking back and wondering where all the time went. Asking yourself what happened to the dreams and all the aspirations that we felt so compelled by in our youth. It’s a sobering realization that time passes whether we’re noticing it or not… and seasons change… and opportunity passes. If this EP has a theme, either consciously or otherwise, that would be it. Time passes and seasons change… so live your life and appreciate what you’re given.

The Canvas Waiting is a 4-piece out of Austin, Texas that plays a jangly brand of indie rock. Some songs are a little popish. Some songs are a little more folkish. And some songs are a little more rockish. At least in my ever so humble opinion. Style-wise, I think that you could safely describe The Canvas Waiting’s sound as a cross between Holiday Parade, Windsor Drive, and Promise of Redemption. Granted, that’s a pretty broad description and none of the bands mentioned truly define The Canvas Waiting in and of themselves. It’s more that they each incorporate certain similar elements into their music and so I mention them for sake of comparison. Think of them as encouraging indie rock with a sound that’s familiar and yet very fresh.

One of the things that I really liked about “A Seasons Change” was that each of the songs had a very distinct feel to it. This doesn’t come off as disjointed but rather works well to showcase the band’s diverse set of musical skills. It’s refreshing that each song can stand or fall on its own as opposed to them all being basically variations of each other.

Lyrically, The Canvas Waiting is pretty much focused on giving the listener glimpses into life lived in a very real world. They convey it with accuracy and authenticity. The spiritual aspect of life is included to a degree, but is not overly obvious unless you’re looking for it. The Canvas Waiting is just one of those bands that seems to have a knack for creative lyrics that come across very natural and without a lot of pretense. Consider the song “Martyr” which says, “I would like to die a martyr / but some days I don’t know which side I’m on / it’s been years / since I could say that I’m happy / right here / right now / what a place to be / when your life’s lived in reverse / one night it hit me / like a moving train / and I woke up and realized / all the days that I have wasted away / so give me a cause / and I will go and start a war / give me a gun / just tell me who this bullet’s for / you can bleed me dry / even if it takes all night”. Or how about “River Hymn”, the folk tinted track that closes the EP, “take me down to the river and make me whole / lay my body in the water / and put that chill in my bones / you know we ain’t gonna sleep ‘til the morning comes / so don’t try to tell me where I belong / ‘cause I’ll prove you wrong / skippin’ our lives away down at Bull Creek / well the rope swing days have long since gone / and so have we / did Cooley ever make it back to Florida / oh we’ll never know / but I hope he found some peace”.

Standout track was “American Tourister”. Hands down. It’s a beautiful ode to the happiness in life in spite of lost dreams. It’s one of those songs that ring so true that you kinda cringe when they hit a little too close to home. “Mercy” is also worth mentioning as a runner up. this track, which opens the CD, reminded me of Making April in a weird way.

Overall: The Canvas Waiting has put out a quality 7-song EP in “A Seasons Change” that is definitely worthy of adding to your collection. Simon says, check it out. - Indie Vision Music


"Full Review: The Canvas Waiting - A Season's Change"

I think I started this review ten different ways, all of which, just trying to get out how great I thought this record was. In the end I think it’s enough to simply say that ‘A Seasons Change’ propels this band beyond anywhere I would have guessed they could be with one of the best EP’s to come out so far in 2009.


The band has refined their sound from what used to be shy and blurring rock into defined, and all around solid rock ‘n roll. There is just enough alt. country flavor in some of the tracks like “Stepping Stone” as to add a little variety but I still don’t think I would call it a sub-genre for them. “Mercy” leads off the album with a warm greeting, although heart breaking in nature, the song shows off great dynamics and a memorable chorus. The thing which sticks out when listening to “Mercy” is the fact that this track spent dealing with faded love does so in a positive way, something in lyrics that’s not the norm.

The album varies between upbeat and slow songs, neither of which overshadows the other. “My Dying Day” steps up in a strong way early on pulling on the heart strings but uses a cool doubling effect with the vocals that adds a lot at the song’s end. The real stand out track is “River Hymn”. One of the first lines, “Take me down to the river and make me whole, and lay my body in the water and put that chill in my bones…” actually is able to spark a chill coming from Nathan Medina’s vocals and the hauntingly somber tone. While this album doesn’t revolve around any single song, “River Hymn” comes close to being that song.

As much as a good band name or album cover count towards the overall presentation, being swept away by the first few moments of the album’s opening song goes a long way towards falling in love with a great collection of songs which is what ‘A Seasons Change’ is. - The Album Project


"Self Promotion Spotlight: The Canvas Waiting"

The Canvas Waiting do plenty right. So much, in fact, that it seems strange to see them in this feature. Nathan Medina's intricate pop-rock compositions have always seemed destined for away messages and intimately lit (yet spacious!) clubs. The band recently released A Season's Change, an EP that has brought them acclaim in one of indie rock's hallowed grounds: Austin, TX. When the band joins together to sing, "Tonight I'll find a way," on "Mercy," you can't help but believe every word they so passionately sing. Enjoy them here in the Spotlight before they're plastered all over your sister's bedroom wall. - Absolute Punk


"The Canvas Waiting - In Search of Beginnings"

There's normally a good reason why small bands are small. With the amazing whizz-bang technology of the internet at our fingertips, the buzz can build up in a matter of months, national tours can be organised and major labels will lap up whatever milk will grant them that extra little bit of income. So if, despite all this, a band still remains small, with only a local notoriety at best, 99 times out of 100 it's because they deserve to be. Reviewing such albums is horrible. It's never nice trashing someone else's creative output, but if it's not worthy of a higher score then there's nothing a reviewer can do. This makes it all the better when you come across a band who seem so small they're practically non-existent and completely fall in love with the record they've laid out in front of you. For me this was the case when I first listened to The Canvas Waiting's In Search of Beginnings.

I had no expectations when I came to this album. I simply fancied trying out some new music and picked In Search of Beginnings entirely at random. What I ended up listening to was easily one of the best debuts I've heard in a long time. Stylistically, The Canvas Waiting echo bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Dashoard Confessional, their songs being generally mournful and sad. Although certainly not as full of despair, In Search of Beginnings has a very similar effect to Chris Carrabba's The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most, putting a chill in the spine and a hole in the stomach. "Carousel Ride" looks back on the regrets of a wasted youth, "Ruby" remembers a lost love and "I Hope the West Treats You Well" deals with family problems, offering a stronger variety of themes for heartbreak than usual. On occasion the mood lifts somewhat; "Exit 1028" offers hope for rekindling what was lost and "These Familiar Arms" displays a desire to make up for previous faults. However, the overall theme, as well as the personality with which these songs are woven, does not suggest that a sunny disposition instigated the writing of these songs, and anyone who finishes listening to the album with a broad grin on their face must be able to boast a brain chemistry I can't fathom. That's not to say the album is crushing or depressing though, balancing finely on the edge while never falling in. It's a wistful album, provoking personal memories easily relatable to the gamut of issues being dealt with on the album. It makes you think, remember and, more often than not, mourn an age old loss, but it never leaves you without some degree of hope.

Musically, the band are very impressive. The four final tracks are acoustic, and are much more raw as a result. However, the tracks featuring the full band are where The Canvas Waiting really shine, and show they know exactly when to drop the pace and when to up the ante. The quiet and loud dynamic is perfectly balanced, and the whole album is immediately accessible. Some occasional tracks are more upbeat, at least musically if not lyrically. "Exit 1028" really gets moving by the end and is a refreshing change of pace, and the same could be said for "Opener". In general though, the music is created to reflect the lyrics, and this means simple, slow, brooding numbers in general, occasionally lit up by the huge voice of the lead singer, and these vocals are where In Search of Beginnings really shines. While often understated, when they're really let go they soar high above the music, with a tone and pitch that never breaks or even wavers. It's not a typical "alternative" voice, being much more mainstream than Dallas Green or Chris Carrabba's perfectly honed high-pitched efforts, but it suits the sound perfectly.

Lyrically the content is strong but nothing different from the standard. They are incredibly corny on occasion, talking about always being able to count on love, and how an ex-girlfriend used to grow azaleas and read the Bible. In general though, they're exactly what you want them to be. Being of a typical nature, it's easy to believe that each word was written for whatever experience we associate with that particular song and it's that kind of personal bond that has allowed Chris Carabba to reach the heights he has. The production for a band as small as this is close to immaculate. It may lack the sheen of a major label equivalent, but it certainly sounds very accomplished and not in the slightest bit rough and unfinished.

In Search of Beginnings may not quite be perfect and it won't appeal to everybody, but I really can't understand why The Canvas Waiting aren't bigger than they are. If there were any justice in the world, Brokencyde would be dropped immediately and every little push they received would be send towards The Canvas Waiting and the few bands like them who truly deserve a wider audience. Maybe it's just me; perhaps other people who listen to this album will fail to hear what I have, to be moved in the same way. I hope not though, because if you give The Canvas Waiting a chance, just an hour or so out of your day, I'm sure you'll find your new favourite band. While they may be small, their scope and vision transcend their humble surroundings. We may have to find another diamond in the rough, but hopefully that means this particular one can be brought up to shine for all to see. - Absolute Punk


Discography

In Search of Beginnings E.P (2005)

In Search of Beginnings - Limited Edition (2007)

A Season's Change (2009)

Chasing Color - (2010)

This City - (2012)

Photos

Bio

OnePulse Artist Agency EPK URL - tcw.onepul.se

Having mastered the strikingly rare ability to craft genuine yet substantial music, The Canvas Waiting has garnered a host of loyal fans since their formation in 2005. With their first release, In Search of Beginnings, the passion and talent of singer Nathan Medina was undeniable and captivated audiences both on the album and through his convincing live performances. With the addition of Colin Campbell on guitar, and Jordan Spillane on bass, the group’s sound has matured into a collection of reflective and unforgettable melodies rooted in intelligent songwriting.

For fans, The Canvas Waiting’s lyrics and themes, both deeply personal and universal, are the backbones of what separate their music from the current industry standard. Their second release in March of 2009, A Seasons Change, more than met these high expectations, giving listeners a platform to contemplate loss and growth. With this album’s unforgettable guitar riffs and driving sound, they were able to expand to reach a much broader audience than their Texas home.

The concept and music for their newest release, Chasing Color, began taking shape over a year ago and represents the band’s observations and experiences during that time. Beginning in March of this year, the album began to truly solidify with the help of Grammy-winning producer Stephen Short (Augustana, Camera Can’t Lie). After months of refining and honing the message of each song, the band spent a week with Short at Sonic Ranch Studios in West Texas. Upon returning home, they enlisted the help of Austin-based CJ Eiriksson produce (U2, Matchbox 20, Blue October) to co-produce and mix the record.

If A Seasons Change set the standard of intensity and depth that this band is capable of achieving, Chasing Color certainly surpasses that. With rich layers and intricate melodies, they have mastered the art of creating something that sounds both immense and accessible, giving listeners the sense that they are experiencing rather than just listening. This album is a truly relatable testament to the human condition, tackling elements of being together, being apart, and the search for joy in an imperfect world.

The band has been busy for the past six months writing for a new release. The first single "This City" will be available everywhere online on June 5th. In March, the band played an official SXSW showcase where they were chosen by Candlebox and LIVE to perform as direct support.

They hit the road with Candlebox in June and will be touring the Southeast in July with Neulore from Nashville, TN.

"The Canvas Waiting are going to blow up with Chasing Color."
-www.TheAlbumProject.net-

"Their scope and vision transcend their humble surroundings."
-James Ding, Absolute Punk-

"In a time when I so easily review a CD and then pass is along or let it sit on my shelf, I have decided that this one will actually be ripped to my computer and added to my CD wallet."
-Eric Pettersson, www.IndieVisionMusic.com-

"Track after track of this seven song E.P. is filled with melodic rock and pop sensibility without ever compromising intelligent songwriting."
-Matt Conner, CCM Magazine-

SHARED THE STAGE WITH:

LIVE
Candlebox
Young the Giant
Mute Math
Sister Hazel
Toadies
The Rocket Summer
The Format
Matt&Kim
Kevin Max
Girl Talk

VIDEOS:

Chasing Color-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ4mRltJx8o

An Island Now -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PngDqFnSekA

Ghosts -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_rYiv11-9g&feature=related

Martyr/Mercy -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7XPbMsooN0&feature=related

Visit our Facebook for Current tour dates:
www.facebook.com/thecanvaswaiting