The Randalls

They may be on a roll, winning competition after competition, but you can bet local band The Randalls couldn't forget their hometown roots even if they tried.
They are, after all, named after the Milton street where they practise.

Randall Crescent. It's the place where, at band member Jonathan Volpe's house, The Randalls have rehearsed their way to victory in numerous recent competitions.

"It has a cool kind of sound to it," said lead guitarist Alex Frank of the band's name.

To say the members of The Randalls have been busy lately is an understatement to be sure. But that's just the way they like it.

The Randalls are made up of lead vocalist and back-up guitarist Volpe, lead guitar and back-up vocalist Alex Frank, bass player Matt Buck and drummer Jarred McCall.

They're all 20 or 21 years old and graduates of Milton District High School, except for Buck, who attended E.C. Drury.

Their recent successes are almost too much to detail in one story.

"We're just taking it as it comes, trying to move from one gig to the next," said Frank, who attends the University of Guelph along with McCall.

Just last Friday, The Randalls won the Paragon Spotlight Competition, which netted them $10,000 worth of prizes, including recording studio time and appearances at next year's Canadian Music Week and other events.

They've also been nominated for an Ontario Independent Music Award for best alternative rock song, and will perform at the awards ceremony November 15 at the Phoenix in Toronto, as well as contribute a song for an accompanying compilation CD.

September 15, they won the preliminary round of a competition entitled Last Band Standing at the Reverb in Toronto, and they'll compete in the finals November 3.

And last month they competed in the Battle of the Bands at the Sharp Cuts Independent Music and Film Festival and placed first, winning studio time and a music video.

"We've always been very confident in our music, and when we get this good news, it's reassuring and keeps us focused," Volpe said.

The Randalls formed about a year-and-a-half ago, but have only been performing as a band for a little while; they spent their first seven months together simply writing songs.

Their on and off-stage friendship is an important piece of what makes the band work, they each said.

Three of them are childhood friends, having attended Hitherfield School together. In fact, Volpe said he and Frank played violin together at the age of five.

Frank and McCall are from Campbellville, while the other two are Milton residents.

They're managed by local familiar face Donna Danielli, who they say has been invaluable in helping them get gigs and stay organized.

If it's difficult to categorize their music, The Randalls have accomplished what they set out to do.

"One of our strengths is our originality," Frank said.

Added Volpe: "We like to think it's new rock 'n' roll with an old rock 'n' roll influence. It's the past meeting the present."

Their targeted demographic is between 14 and 30.

The band's songs are all original tunes; Volpe said he's not a fan of regurgitating other artists' songs.

"We want to expand our horizons and if we're playing covers, we're not moving ahead," he said.

They're in the process of recording their first CD, and are looking forward to doing a university tour.

This past Saturday, they played in a fundraising concert at the El Mocambo, the same music venue that's hosted scores of music legends including The Rolling Stones and U2.

"It was really an honour to be on the same stage as so many greats," Volpe said.

One of the biggest challenges for the band is being taken seriously, Frank said, explaining there are so many bands out there.

But, as McCall said, the fact they've been nominated for an Independent Music Award gives them some extra credibility.

"It put a bit more seriousness in what we're doing, demonstrating that we're not fooling around," he said.

Although most of their gigs these days are in Toronto, McCall said he and the other band members definitely won't become strangers to their hometown.

"We won't forget about Milton, that's for sure."

- Canadian Champion - Stephanie Hounsall

Street Beats – October 24, 2007

When you find yourself standing in a crowded bar, well into the wee hours of the morning, not once, but two nights in a row – well, it has to be because you are a fan of the music.
And I will admit it – I’m a fan of The Randalls.
There I said it.
And don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking – isn’t she a little old for this kind of thing? (Okay, at least you’re kind enough to just think it…my husband is openly commenting on it, although I think (hope) that he’s only kidding)
In my defense though, if you or he had been in the Revival Club on Friday October 19, you would know just how easy it is to get caught up in this unbelievably talented band.
It was the final stage of the Paragonyx Spotlight Competition –with seven extraordinary bands competing in front of judges Mike T. Fox - EMI Music Publishing, Jason Furman - Feldman and Associates and Kori Skeffington - Universal Music for an estimated $10,000 in prizes.
The vibe in the room was incredible as two bus loads of fans, all proudly displaying their Randalls buttons cheered on their hometown favourites.
After a boat load of exceptional music, and maybe a beer or two as we passed the time – the winner was finally announced just after 2 am.
The entire bar went wild as The Randalls were crowned champion. And just as a side note – I learned a valuable lesson that night about being between the stage and the fans when the winner is announced – I haven’t been crushed in that kind of morass of people in years. Painful? Well, yeah a little. But being caught up in that kind of energy and exuberance… that was an incredible experience. Although, it would be nice if people would be aware that they’re holding a beer in their hands before they throw their arms up and cheer.
What was also incredible to me was the show The Randalls went on to do the next night. Playing a charity fundraiser for AMREF on the lower level of the El Mocambo (yes, the same stage The Rolling Stones have been known to play a gig or two on) The Randalls pulled their exhausted but triumphant selves up in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd and once more played their hearts out.
I have to really admire that in a band – that ability to get up and give it your all, no matter how worn out you may be. That’s just one of the many things that is going to take these remarkable young men – Alex Frank, Jonathan Volpe, Matt Buck and Jarred McCall – far in the music industry.
I had a chance to speak to one of the judges afterwards who commented “if these guys aren’t signed to a label within three years, there’s something wrong with the industry.”
If you haven’t heard their music, check them out on www.myspace.com/therandallsofmilton. Or you can see them perform live at the Phoenix Concert Theatre for the Ontario Independent Music Awards on November 15. This is a free show for those aged nineteen and up, although donations to the Toronto Wildlife Centre would be greatly appreciated. If you’d like more details, just drop me a line at ddanielli@interhop.net and I’d be happy to answer any questions.
Hope to see you there…Make sure to say hi….I’ll be the one being crushed in front of the stage, snapping photos and loving every minute of it.
- Halton Compass

Back to Basics
The Randalls are heating up with nod to classic rock


Joseph Czikk

Last Tuesday night The Randalls brought their act to the Vinyl, giving the Guelph music scene a taste of their experience. Although they have only played a few shows in Guelph, notably at Van Gogh's and the Vinyl, they are certainly giving the the city a glimpse of what their future holds.

After winning the Jägermeister Release the Beast concert on Friday night in downtown Toronto, the boys from Milton are getting serious consideration for a sponsorship by Jägermeister. For fans of straight rock n' roll, The Randalls have been showing the Milton, Guelph, and Toronto areas what they're all about in the last year, and people only seem to be coming back for more.

I first became acquainted with the band two summers ago when I had just graduated from high school, and even after seeing them for the first time, I knew these guys were gonna be big. The band originally went by name 300 Randall, a reference to lead singer Jonathan Volpe's house where the jam sessions continue to this day.

Although it's hard to describe in words the intensity and magic these guys create when they hit the stage, I'll start by introducing the band members.

Lead guitarist and U of G student Alex Frank shows night in and night out why these guys may be the best young live band if you're looking for a fine mixture of classic and innovative rock. With songs like "The Trip", listeners get to see the magic at work when Frank displays his skills on the organ to create a Doors-like atmosphere.

While he does provide back-up vocals to lead singer Jonathan Volpe, Frank generally lets his guitar do the talking, and one can only experience this by coming to see them.

Volpe's lead vocals do not fall short of intensity and heart, either, as the confident young singer/songwriter only seems to refine his skills with every show. Volpe has a knack for getting the crowd into the show, and his on-stage antics and personality never fail to deliver to the fans what they came to see.

Meanwhile on bass, the soft-spoken Matt Buck is a great musician with intense bass lines. At a recent show in Toronto at which The Randalls received a perfect score from one judge, another judge mentioned the band's "inspiring and innovative" sound to go along with Buck's "big, prominent, and appreciated" bass.

Last but not least is Michael Volpe, the elder of the two Volpes, on drums. Although he only started playing shows a few months ago, it's evident just how far this drummer has evolved with the rest of the band.

Originally influenced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix, and Neil Young, the guys emphasize rock n' roll at its purist and most simple level.

When I sat down to talk with Frank, he emphasized the music as first and foremost for the band, and said that "Rock and roll is still alive." The guys want people to know that if they love rock and roll and want to see a revival of sorts, they should come out and see The Randalls.

When asked about the experience of performing live, Frank emphasizes, "You're so into it, you lose yourself," while explaining the performer/listener combination as a pleasure-based experience. "We should bring the listener serious pleasure and that's what we try and do as a band, that's what psychedelic rock is about. We really want to give the listener that intense experience."

At the same time, he emphasizes that their music is straight rock, which really gives their music a broad appeal. Another judge at a recent competition attested to this when he described the band's music as "straightforward, no BS. Putting the music first is so apparent and appreciated." This effectively sums up The Randalls' live performance.

Recently the band won an award for Best Alternative Rock Song from the Ontario Independent Music Awards for their track "Revolver", a fan favourite.

Moreover, the victors of the Paragon Spotlight competition received a healthy $10,000 in recording time and other gratuities as first prize a few months ago.

But it doesn't stop there for the Milton boys. With Frank graduating from university this spring, the band will be together a lot more beginning this summer. As if they weren't just beginning to seriously heat up in the indie music scene, their status should propel even further beginning this April.

They also began recording their first full-length album last Monday, which is set to be available come fall semester.

With hopes to do a university tour come fall semester, the talented quartet is enthusiastic about what the future holds. When it comes to the bottom line, though, listeners who come out to see the up-and-coming Randalls will know that they are all about the music.

"If people like classic rock and they want to hear that experience, they need to come out," Frank said. "We're bringin' it back".


- The Ontarion, Univ. Of Guelph

Written By Ken Foster
August 25, 2008
At last, a Britpop inspired band that knows how to write and construct decent melodies rather than being over concerned with the strutting and posing often seen by the numerous exponents in the UK. The Randalls are from Ontario and they come across as a bunch of songwriters who are unconcerned with image or bravado.

In spite of the Britpop reference (thanks Stuart Maconie by the way for clearing up the origins of the term in his excellent book Pies and Predjudice) the first band that came to mind as the opening track 'It Won't be Easy' gathered steam was Weezer. It's jangly, melodic but more rock than pop. 'Revolver' which won the 2007 Ontario Independent Music Awards, has an infectious bassline (Primal Scream/Stone Roses style). Ok you get the idea by now Roses, Beatles, a hint of Psychadelia and yes I know there are a thousand bands out there trying to do the same thing but The Randalls have it polished to a tee with a whole clutch of original melodies, some mindblowing lead guitar and bass and some great vocals (with a caveat). On one or two songs here the vocals seem a bit stretched. I'm of the opinion that this is more to do with the recordings than any deficiencies in style and after seeing them live in Toronto recently can confirm that they are pitch perfect in a live environment.

'The Trip', changes tack as we cross the atlantic for a Booker T groove and Doors style keyboard soloing. We've entered the Woodstock/Isle of Wight era and 'Good Evening 9am' is into Jimi Hendrix Experience territory. 'Compromise' is a little pedestrian but one gets the feeling that this is a band finding it's direction. Unsure if the comment 'That was shit' left on at the end of the track is indicative of this sentiment.

In the good old days this band would have been signed up by a major and polished up to within an inch of their lives. The good thing about the industry in 2008 is that bands like the Randalls can evolve without commercial pressures and to see them grow with a small indie will be in everyones best interests.

Stand out tracks: It won't be easy, Revolver, The Trip, Good evening 9am


www.myspace.com/therandallsofmilton

Rating: 4/5
- Independent Music Reviews and Media