The Easy Bleeders

Up third were Cape Breton mad men The Easy Bleeders; never has there been a group of guys who were more jacked up to play a battle of the bands. Observing them before the show revealed that they were an aggressively social group; their enthusiasm was infectious, they were inviting people to parties, practicing old sea shanties that they had no intention of playing live, and generally acting like full on crazed capers. On stage they definitely had the advantage when it came to energy, all members were getting the audience involved (the Bleeders brought a cheering squad from CBU) either by yelling at them during songs or throwing huge hand claps from behind the drum set. Their set was totally original and drew influences from everywhere; from metal to country to folk to rock, these guys covered it all. The last song even featured drummer Grant Carabin stepping out from behind the kit to play Mandolin for the finale. The Bleeders were truly entertaining and are definitely worth paying to see live. - Stan Beland

Saturday at Governors, Carl Mackenzie will host an afternoon Ceilidh, while the evening will see one of the hardest working bands around, THE EASY BLEEDERS, take the stage. - Cape Breton Post

Band of blood brothers print this article
Local open-mic vets The Easy Bleeders open up about their debut album and their chance to Rock the Dock

LAURA JEAM GRANT
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — An open mic night opened up an exciting new opportunity for five local musicians who are set to put out their first album as a group.
The Easy Bleeders featuring brothers Brent and Grant Carabin, Matt Fahey — all from Dominion — and Garett Lahey and Shaun Robson —both from Mira — will release their debut, self-titled CD Aug. 2 at the Sandbar Lounge in Dominion.
Grant said he, Brent and Matt had been playing together for years when they met up with Garrett and Shaun at an open mic show about a year ago, and the five of them just seemed to gel right off the bat.
“We were having open mics at the Sandbar in Dominion and then they were having open mics at Daniel’s in Sydney so we heard about it, decided to go out and let them hear our stuff and then they started coming out and we heard their stuff and we loved it,” explained Grant. “So, we just started learning each others’ songs and it kind of developed from there.”
The Easy Bleeders has been going non-stop since, competing in and winning a battle of the bands at Cape Breton University, performing regularly at local bars and continuing the open mic shows where it all began. Through it all, they’ve built a solid fan-base.
“It’s pretty nice to get up there and play your own songs and have someone sing along with you. It’s really good. People are really receptive to the songs,” said Grant.
And for the first time, those fans will have a chance to pick up a CD from the band.
“We have the CD release coming up and that’s pretty much a dream come true, having your name in a CD. You’re in history now is the way I look at it. That’s there forever,” he said.
The group began recording the album in April at Sonic Temple in Halifax and has worked hard to pull it all together in time for a summer release.
“It’s a really good feeling to sit there and listen to it and think ‘Holy geez, this is me and my buddies here.’ It’s a great feeling,” he said.
From hard rock to hand-clapping, foot-stompin’ anthems, Grant describes the album as alternative folk rock.
“There’s something for every ear. Anybody can get into it,” he said, noting they hope to promote and tour in support of the CD this summer and fall. “Once the album is out, we’re going to try to get it on as many radio stations across Canada as we can. We would love to get a Maritime tour going to try promote the album. I want The Easy Bleeders in as many MP3 players and CD players as we can.”
In addition to their CD release party Aug. 2, The Easy Bleeders have a full schedule of performances over the next couple of weeks.
They’re playing Friday at 4 p.m. on Charlotte Street in Sydney as part of Summerfest, Friday night at 10 p.m. they’ll be at the Sandbar Lounge in Dominion, Tuesday night they’ll be making their regular appearance at Daniel’s in Sydney, Wednesday night they’re at at the Dominion Fire Hall, and then on Aug. 6 they’ll be making their Rock the Dock debut.
“That’s another dream come true. I have been to pretty much every Rock the Dock so far and I’ve seen a lot of really good acts and every time I’ve gone all that I could think was ‘Man, I would love to play up on that stage.’ The crowds are always really good and a lot of people are always out,” said Grant. “We’re playing with a lot of big names, Rawlins Cross is playing that night, so it’s an absolute honour to play on that stage.”
Rock the Dock three-night super passes, at a special price of $25, as well as individual nightly tickets, which are $20 in advance, are now available at all Rolling Phones-Bell locations, Mac’s Convenience on George Street, Cape Breton Curiosity Shop on Charlotte Street, and the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre box office or by phoning 539-2300.
For more about The Easy Bleeders go to www.myspace.com/theeasybleeders. - Cape Breton Post

The Easy Bleeders perform during the nomination announcement for the 2010 East Coast Music Awards at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, Wednesday. From right are lead singer Shaun Robson, bass player Brent Carabin and guitar player Matt Fahey. The Easy Bleeders have been nominated for alternative recording of the year for a self-titled album. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

MEMBERTOU — A new wave of Cape Breton artists will lead the way when the 2010 East Coast Music Awards, Festival and Conference is staged on the island in just three months.
Several up-and-coming island musicians and groups received their first ECMA nominations Wednesday as the full list of music and industry award nominees were announced at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre.
The Easy Bleeders, Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel, Mista Mack, and Dawn and Margie Beaton are among the first-time Cape Breton nominees who will have a chance to win the distinctive treble-clef trophy at home when the ECMAs are hosted in Sydney, March 4-7.
“It’s amazing. We really weren’t expecting it. We didn’t know what to expect when we came here but we’re totally pumped about it,” said The Easy Bleeders’ Shaun Robson, who along with bandmates, Brent Carabin, Grant Carabin, Matt Fahey and Garett Lahey, gave those in the audience a glimpse of why they’re nominated with a performance of Ain’t No Friend of Mine during the announcement.
Robson said the nomination in the alternative recording of the year, for their self-titled debut CD, comes as a result of a lot of hard work.
“It’s huge news because we’ve been doing a lot of the work on our own here with just the help of friends and stuff like that so we’re really excited,” he said. - The Cape Breton Post