Music
Press
The Ethers
Early Winter
Independent
From anthemic opening to dirge-like fadeout, Early Winter's appreciation "for the steel grey winter sky" and "those winds that tear across the plain," places these songs in a recognizably Canadian landscape. For as surely as summer morphs into winter, the Ethers understand the redemptive power of love but remain cognizant of the ephemerality of relationships. This may be the alt-country, Toronto-based band's first CD, but its songwriting abilities are already fully mature. Lyrically ("just because my friends don't live close by doesn't mean they're distant"), thematically and instrumentally (Jeff Quick and Thomas Dole make their guitars shimmer, jangle, chime and crunch, depending on the song's needs), the Ethers know who they are. A pretty good approximation of what a Canadian Wilco would sound like if they'd appropriated Arcade Fire's penchant for incantatory spiritual yearning.
Rating 4
Podworthy: Higher
MARK TREMBLAY
Early Winter is available at cdbaby.com - Montreal Gazette
The Ethers
Early Winter
Independent
From anthemic opening to dirge-like fadeout, Early Winter's appreciation "for the steel grey winter sky" and "those winds that tear across the plain," places these songs in a recognizably Canadian landscape. For as surely as summer morphs into winter, the Ethers understand the redemptive power of love but remain cognizant of the ephemerality of relationships. This may be the alt-country, Toronto-based band's first CD, but its songwriting abilities are already fully mature. Lyrically ("just because my friends don't live close by doesn't mean they're distant"), thematically and instrumentally (Jeff Quick and Thomas Dole make their guitars shimmer, jangle, chime and crunch, depending on the song's needs), the Ethers know who they are. A pretty good approximation of what a Canadian Wilco would sound like if they'd appropriated Arcade Fire's penchant for incantatory spiritual yearning.
Rating 4
Podworthy: Higher
MARK TREMBLAY
Early Winter is available at cdbaby.com - Montreal Gazette
This past Saturday night, March 28th, The Ethers landed in Wakefield, Quebec to play before a packed house at The Black Sheep Inn. The Toronto-based band has played in and around Toronto for the past three years, never having taken their brand of country-rock music beyond the confines of the Greater Toronto Area.
I came up from Montreal at the recommendation of a friend from Toronto and was pleasantly surprised. The crowd was treated to a great show. The band's sound is tight and their songs are both catchy and well-crafted. These guys are great musicians. It's no surprise that band member Jeff Quick played for several years in the Good Brothers band before starting The Ethers with Tom Dole. Having just launched their debut album, Early Winter, the Ethers should start taking their music outside Toronto because they have serious talent.
The band cites the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen as influences and you can hear it in the highlights of the show, which were the jangly "Years Ago", the ballad "All Farewells Should be Sudden," and the anthem "Early Winter." The band has great harmonies and guitar fills. Along with everyone in the crowd, I sat transfixed as they powered through great song after great song.
If you weren't there, go to the band's website www.theethers.com to hear what you missed.
This band could go a long way and be around for a long time to come. The Ethers are another Black Sheep success and, surely, ripe for Junos.
I returned to Montreal a fan - sporting the band's t-shirt, windows down, and their new CD cranked!
Will Scully
- Ottawa XPress
This past Saturday night, March 28th, The Ethers landed in Wakefield, Quebec to play before a packed house at The Black Sheep Inn. The Toronto-based band has played in and around Toronto for the past three years, never having taken their brand of country-rock music beyond the confines of the Greater Toronto Area.
I came up from Montreal at the recommendation of a friend from Toronto and was pleasantly surprised. The crowd was treated to a great show. The band's sound is tight and their songs are both catchy and well-crafted. These guys are great musicians. It's no surprise that band member Jeff Quick played for several years in the Good Brothers band before starting The Ethers with Tom Dole. Having just launched their debut album, Early Winter, the Ethers should start taking their music outside Toronto because they have serious talent.
The band cites the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen as influences and you can hear it in the highlights of the show, which were the jangly "Years Ago", the ballad "All Farewells Should be Sudden," and the anthem "Early Winter." The band has great harmonies and guitar fills. Along with everyone in the crowd, I sat transfixed as they powered through great song after great song.
If you weren't there, go to the band's website www.theethers.com to hear what you missed.
This band could go a long way and be around for a long time to come. The Ethers are another Black Sheep success and, surely, ripe for Junos.
I returned to Montreal a fan - sporting the band's t-shirt, windows down, and their new CD cranked!
Will Scully
- Ottawa XPress
The Ethers CD Release Party
@ The Dakota Tavern
July 28, 2009
The Ethers' debut album, Early Winter, has been in regular rotation since I first landed a copy of the record a couple of months ago. Tuesday finally saw the record release party for this talented Toronto four-piece country-rock outfit.
Led by singers Thomas Dole and Jeff Quick -- who spent nine years touring with The Good Brothers -- The Ethers seamlessly alternate between their own blend of folk-infused rock, melancholic country (Walls), and pure pop gems (Up Against the Line) that would make Joel Plaskett smile. While it's a tired exercise to describe a new band's sound by comparing them to others, here goes: The Ethers evoke a bit of Wilco; occasionally The Sadies; The Band; Cuff the Duke; Okkervil River.
Thankfully, the album translates wonderfully to a live setting, and the Dakota Tavern is the ideal stage for this quartet. Drummer Jamie Habkirk and new bassist Anthony Bullock provide a solid rhythm section, which was even more impressive when I learned it was the latter's first show with the band. Quick and Dole split vocal duties pretty much evenly, though each has forged his own musical identity: Quick seems more comfortable with poppier numbers, while Dole, channeling a young Steve Earle on tracks like the standout The Otherside, veers more country. The Ethers aren't tethered to their country roots, however. Several songs, such as Early Winter build to euphoric crescendos and rousing hymn-like endings.
Early Winter was produced and recorded independently, but it's as strong a release from Toronto's already-strong alt-country scene as I've heard this year. It's no wonder the Montreal Gazette's Mark Tremblay raved "This may be the alt-country, Toronto-based band's first CD, but its songwriting abilities are already fully mature ... the Ethers know who they are."
Mark Medley - The National Post
The Ethers CD Release Party
@ The Dakota Tavern
July 28, 2009
The Ethers' debut album, Early Winter, has been in regular rotation since I first landed a copy of the record a couple of months ago. Tuesday finally saw the record release party for this talented Toronto four-piece country-rock outfit.
Led by singers Thomas Dole and Jeff Quick -- who spent nine years touring with The Good Brothers -- The Ethers seamlessly alternate between their own blend of folk-infused rock, melancholic country (Walls), and pure pop gems (Up Against the Line) that would make Joel Plaskett smile. While it's a tired exercise to describe a new band's sound by comparing them to others, here goes: The Ethers evoke a bit of Wilco; occasionally The Sadies; The Band; Cuff the Duke; Okkervil River.
Thankfully, the album translates wonderfully to a live setting, and the Dakota Tavern is the ideal stage for this quartet. Drummer Jamie Habkirk and new bassist Anthony Bullock provide a solid rhythm section, which was even more impressive when I learned it was the latter's first show with the band. Quick and Dole split vocal duties pretty much evenly, though each has forged his own musical identity: Quick seems more comfortable with poppier numbers, while Dole, channeling a young Steve Earle on tracks like the standout The Otherside, veers more country. The Ethers aren't tethered to their country roots, however. Several songs, such as Early Winter build to euphoric crescendos and rousing hymn-like endings.
Early Winter was produced and recorded independently, but it's as strong a release from Toronto's already-strong alt-country scene as I've heard this year. It's no wonder the Montreal Gazette's Mark Tremblay raved "This may be the alt-country, Toronto-based band's first CD, but its songwriting abilities are already fully mature ... the Ethers know who they are."
Mark Medley - The National Post
The Ethers
Early Winter
Independent
Cameron Gordon (CHARTattack)
08/07/2009
Toronto roots rockers The Ethers offer a bit of everything on their debut long player, Early Winter.
The album works in its familiarity and with echoes of Blue Rodeo, Son Volt and Fables-era R.E.M., it's a bit of a throwback to the days in which countrified indie rock ruled Queen Street, all urban twang and affected intonation.
There's a ton of yearning in tracks like "Walls" and "Higher" and within a listen or two, The Ethers will no doubt draw you into their likable, earnest approach to rock 'n' roll.
Much credit must go to the band's vocalist Thomas Dole and yet his bandmates prove his perfect foil, amping up on the peddle steel and organs and doing so with a ton of technical prowess and heart.
They're certainly a band to keep an eye on, especially if you're predisposed to tunes on the timeless side.
- CHARTattack
The Ethers
Early Winter
Independent
Cameron Gordon (CHARTattack)
08/07/2009
Toronto roots rockers The Ethers offer a bit of everything on their debut long player, Early Winter.
The album works in its familiarity and with echoes of Blue Rodeo, Son Volt and Fables-era R.E.M., it's a bit of a throwback to the days in which countrified indie rock ruled Queen Street, all urban twang and affected intonation.
There's a ton of yearning in tracks like "Walls" and "Higher" and within a listen or two, The Ethers will no doubt draw you into their likable, earnest approach to rock 'n' roll.
Much credit must go to the band's vocalist Thomas Dole and yet his bandmates prove his perfect foil, amping up on the peddle steel and organs and doing so with a ton of technical prowess and heart.
They're certainly a band to keep an eye on, especially if you're predisposed to tunes on the timeless side.
- CHARTattack
Discography
Early Winter
Photos
Bio
Don't be fooled by the moments of sweeping synth landscapes and crackling electronic static that emanate from The Ethers. They can also crank out a straight up rock song with the kind of jangly guitar, vocal harmony and pulsing rhythm that would make the mods AND the rockers smile.
Jeff Quick spent 9 years touring North America and Europe with The Good Brothers, and before that he spent time in some of Toronto's early 90's bands that made the jump from "cow punk" to "alt.country".
Tom Dole spent his childhood living in various countries all over the world. Through all the moves the only constant was music. His first live music experience was playing harmonica in a blues band at the Swedish embassy in Tanzania at the age of 13. Until he met Jeff, Tom had been writing and recording on his own.
Jamie Habkirk was a drummer Jeff had played with in pick-up bands throughout the years, and his rock solid timing was exactly what the band needed. The Ethers then hit the jackpot when 4 Time World Guitar Hero Champion Anthony Bullock agreed to play bass.
The Ethers are happy to announce the release of their first full length album, Early Winter, recorded by Stew Crookes at the Rogue Studios in Toronto, ON.
Band Members
Links
