The Stogies
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The Stogies

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | SELF

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | SELF
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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Big Bands, Big Hair and Big Sounds"

Setting the bar for Nova Scotia’s birthday bash, The Stogies took to the stage and gave a blistering set of high energy and hard-hitting classic rock chalk full of squealing guitar solos and properly and excitingly placed church organ – oh the sweet irony.
I wish beyond wishing that there had been a larger crowd to catch this gem of a band. With spectators still slowly filing in at 5:30 p.m., it was far too early to put up such a great band. That being said, front man Blake Johnston, with his Meatloaf quality (I say this in the most respectful and complimentary way I can possibly muster) worked the crowd wonderfully and left them hungry for more (no pun intended), while keys player Jason Keddy seamlessly led the foray into The Who’s “Baba O’Riley”. They took the show by the reigns and rode it hard the whole way through. Between their explosive entrance and exit, I nearly forgot that there were five more bands to come. As U2 and The Simpsons once said, “The garbage man can”, and The Stogies with their “Garbage Man” song took out any thought of trash to come. They’ ve got an EP out for sale – check out their website for details. - GUFF Magazine


"The Stogies w/ Wintersleep at Q104 Keith's Natal Day Fest"

Before the crowd could get a dose of Wintersleep’s postmodern guitar cyclone, or invigorating post-fireworks sets by Rich Aucoin and Stellarton/Halifax band Alert the Medic, there were a few chances to hear some vintage rock styles reworked by a trio of East Coast acts.

The Stogies came close to getting the opening slot for the Tall Ships concert, with Hey Rosetta! on Georges Island, making the final four, but getting picked for the Natal Day weekend show wasn’t a bad consolation prize. With thick-cut slabs of guitar and a ’70s Motor City vibe, the Stogies may have had some wondering if Grand Funk Railroad had commandeered a time machine to appear on the harbourside stage.

Sweaty anthemic rock is the Stogies’ stock in trade, and they proved they’ve done their homework with a raw-voiced version of the Who’s Baba O’Reilly, calling on the concert’s host, Q104’s Tom Bedell and even yours truly to belt out the “teenage wasteland” chorus. - The Chronicle Herald


"Paragon Show Review"

For full Review click:
http://noiseography.blogspot.com/2010/05/light-brights-do-halifax-music-club-w.html

This week Tiff and I went to the Paragon Theatre for their Halifax Music Club. The HMC happens every Wednesday and features the house band The Light Brights sharing the stage with local artists ranging from comedians to singer/songwriters and rock bands. This time around the musical guests were The Stogies and Mike Trask. The entire concert was streamed live on Haligonia.ca.

The Stogies got things started right by delivering a wickedly entertaining set of old school rock & roll with a little reggae and blues. They put on the most energetic show of the night and I loved them for it. Their songs were direct and well written with dirty 70’s style guitar riffs. They’re one of those bands that sound great live. The music has a raw edge and lead singer Blake Johnston’s voice suits the material to a T. He belts the songs with passionate, blues rock immediacy. Although the crowd was pretty small, the Stogies gave set the room on fire as if they were playing to a packed house.

- Review by Isaac Thompson
- Photos/Video by Tiffany Naugler

www.noisography.com - Noisography.com


"Review- “No Couth No Class No Nothin’”- The Stogies"

It takes a certain kind of band to be able to put out an EP with four rock songs and a country-sounding song laced with profanity. That band would be The Stogies.

The four-piece band from Halifax is another band that embodies the classic-rock vibe and does it well. Even their name is reminiscent of an era gone by.

The EP begins with “Skeleton Crew” which begins with the trademark rock n’ roll opening- loud guitar riffs and powerful drums. The vocals are delivered with swagger, making the opening song one that will grab listeners’ attention.

Next up is “Any Old Friends” which is probably the strongest of all five tracks. It captures the specific vibe of 1970's rock. The opening guitar riff is slightly more refined and the vocals this time are a little more scratchy. This sounded to me like the song they probably end their set with.

“Rock N’ Roll’s A Zombie” is the aforementioned country-sounding song. It is backed by a simple acoustic guitar riff. You might at first thing it’s a charming number but then the singer calls people who think rock n’ roll “assholes.” The chorus goes: “Rock n’ roll’s a zombie that wants to eat your brain/So start listenin’ to country ’cause folk singers are fucking lame/But what you all don’t know is that shit’s all the fucking same/Rock n’ roll’s a zombie and it’s feeding on my brain.” Got enough of a picture of the song yet?

Next up is “Chain Smoking” which returns to the swagger-filled rock of the first track. It’s another enjoyable song.

Finally there’s “What’s For Dinner Jack?” which starts with just a simple guitar riff and the thumping of a foot pedal. The vocals are reverbed and take a background to the instruments at first. The song eventually turns into a full-band number and fades gracefully to an end.

This is a good start for this rock n’ roll act and I hope to hear more songs comparing rock n’ roll to mythical creatures. Maybe vampires next? Trolls?

Get No Couth No Class No Nothin’ as a FREE download via Bandcamp.

Top Track: “Any Old Friends”

Rating: Strong Hoot (Good) - Grayowl Point


"Noisography's Review of 'No Couth No Class No Nothin'"

Album Review: The Stogies – No Couth No Class No Nothin’
By GDK

Who can’t dig some serious sounding flat-out balls to the ball rock n’ roll? The elderly and Dick Nixon. Well it’s a good thing that neither of their opinions matter anymore because for just over 45 minutes The Stogies play some seriously tasty rock n’ roll!

Consisting of Blake Johnston – vocals and guitar, Sean Carver – bass, Dave Driscoll – guitar, and Dave Lidstone on drums, The Stogies are riding a rockin’ train straight from hell and into your ear drums! These 4 foul-mouthed rockers from the heart of Canada have released an album that can be called nothing less than badass. Filled with catchy hooks, sizzling solos, and some memorable riffs No Couth No Class No Nothin’ is an album that belongs in everyone’s collection.

It’s clear that The Stogies took a fine-tooth comb through all of history’s greatest rockers and has taken elements and inspiration from each and mixed them into one to form their own unique sound. I’m actually not quite sure how The Stogies haven’t been signed yet. It’s no shocker that they’ve been around the block a couple times; you can hear it in the quality of the sound and the incredibly tight musicianship.

If you want to rock everywhere you go than you need this album. No matter your taste this album is necessity!

The Stogies – No Couth No Class No Nothin’ rocks and curses itself a solid 4.5 strums out of 5! - Noisography.com


"No Couth No Class No Nothin' EP Review"

The Stogies, No Couth No Class No Nothin’
Do you like hard hitting rock with catchy riffs that you can shout and drink to? Well Halifax based Rock N Roll group The Stogies are here to do just that, and to kick your ear bud’s ass! The rough vocals cut right through the music, making a lasting impression. The old western type feel they have is very predominant and really defines their sound and style. The vocals are distctively similair to Maylene and the Sons of Disaster’s Dallas Taylor with a definable Southern, Old School Rock N Roll feel. The solos are well laid out, always with perfect placement and show how talented The Stogies are. This “Rock N Roll’s A Zombie” is sure to be an anthem within Halifax and one of the many reasons you should get this release; “So start listening to Country, cuz Folk singers are fucking lame. What you don’t know is that shit’s all the fucking same…” that line alone definitely won some points with me. This release shows that there is still room for improvement; at times it is a little repetitive and predictable but still really fucking catchy. - Visionthenet.com


"The Stogies EP Review"

I wish every artist in Canada were as remotely talented, hip, clever and succinct as the Stogies. Blake Johnston (vocals, guitar), Dave Driscoll (guitar, backing vocals), Sean Carver (bass), and Dave Lidstone (drums) have crammed an entire career worth of awesome into a five song EP.

This is rock and roll the way it should STILL be played. Imagine Mountain’s intensity, KISS’s bravado, Zeppelin’s riffolas and Bob Rock’s production and you’ll start to get a picture of what the Stogies sound like. It’s big, brash and in your face. This is the kind of shit that makes fathers hide their daughters.

Vocalist Blake Johnston gives us his best Vince Neil (Motley Crue) meets Dan McCafferty (Nazareth) meets Jon Bon Jovi (before he started taking estrogen supplements) meets Noddy Holder (Slade) and turns songs like Any Old Friends and Chain Smoking into anthems for the 21st Century with requisite gang vocals included for singing along. Driscoll’s searing slide work elevates Skeleton Crew and What’s For Dinner, a song that Carver and Lidstone turn into the greatest Zeppelin-groove since Kashmir but 100x BIGGER. As my wife likes to say – this track will “sear your face off”!??As phenomenal as these four songs are, the single best track on the disc, and possibly the best song I’ve heard in a decade is their blue-grass country lament “Rock and Roll is a Zombie” which could be the long-lost successor to Showdown’s “The Rodeo Song”. This tune is filled with flambouyant cussing and f-bombs and elicits giggles and chuckles as the band complains about how rock and roll is ‘eating my brain’.

If you still like your rock and roll the way Mama used to consume it, get the EP at http://www.thestogies.com - Cashbox Canada Magazine


"The Stogies' Blake Johnston talks about the EP (audio available)"

Halifax – October 1, 2011 – The Stogies sound is a welcome blast from the East Coast! They recently released "Any Old Friends" the debut single from their new EP “No Couth No Class No Nothin.” The record was tracked at Fortress Studios under the direction of Troy Arseneault (producer) and Brad Stevens (engineer) and is being mixed at the Heartbreak Hotel with Mike MacDougall (executive producer/engineer). We spoke with Blake Johnston who admits they have ambitions of making a big impression during Music Nova Scotia week in Yarmouth.

You can tell this is a hardworking, hard rockin band. “Any Old Friend” is as solid a song you’ll find anywhere. Crank up the volume and listen to it on our Soundcloud file below!





- East Coast Kitchen Party


"The Stogies Paragon Show Review"

This week Tiff and I went to the Paragon Theatre for their Halifax Music Club. The HMC happens every Wednesday and features the house band The Light Brights sharing the stage with local artists ranging from comedians to singer/songwriters and rock bands. This time around the musical guests were The Stogies and Mike Trask. The entire concert was streamed live on Haligonia.ca.

The Stogies got things started right by delivering a wickedly entertaining set of old school rock & roll with a little reggae and blues. They put on the most energetic show of the night and I loved them for it. Their songs were direct and well written with dirty 70’s style guitar riffs. They’re one of those bands that sound great live. The music has a raw edge and lead singer Blake Johnston’s voice suits the material to a T. He belts the songs with passionate, blues rock immediacy. Although the crowd was pretty small, the Stogies set the room on fire as if they were playing to a packed house. - Noisography


"The Stogies Set To Release Album"

Blasting away the stereotype of an East Coast kitchen-party sing-a-long band, Dave Driscoll and The Stogies offer a true rock ’n’ roll experience.

“When we plug in, it’s a loud, sweaty rock ’n roll show that brings people to the front of the stage and turns a few skeptics’ heads,” he says.

Driscoll, guitarist for Halifax’s The Stogies, performing at The Seahorse this Saturday, knows he and his boys bring a raw, rock show.

“There’s no other local band that plays ‘60s- and ‘70s-style rock and sticks to the roots.”
Driscoll chooses to focus on the music and let it speak for itself.

“We are supportive of the local scene and industry, but we don’t think we need an award to set ourselves apart,” he says. “Our fans see us at our best and our worst and we have nothing to hide.”

The Stogies have focused their efforts to produce their first album, expected out mid-summer. Inspired by bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes and The Clash, the album hopes to parlay the energy the boys show on stage into your speakers.

“To give that ‘live feeling,’ we recorded the drums and base live,” says Driscoll. “There’s a lot of feedback that we don’t cut out or clean up.”

Having toured to Toronto and back, booking gigs in top spots like The Horseshoe Tavern, Driscoll and the boys like the element of surprise that an East Coast band can carry outside of the Maritimes. However, the band is looking forward to the credibility a new album can bring.

“Up until now we haven’t had an album to push; we’ve had to book shows based on hearsay, which only goes so far,” he admits. “We’re hoping the EP we release will help change that.”

Metro Halifax
Jenna Conter - Metro News


"The Stogies at Riverfest. A review"

Very kind words from some very kind people

- welovemetal.com


Discography

No Couth, No Class, No Nothin' EP

Released August 19th, 2011

Debut Single "Any Old Friends"

Released August 23, 2011 to Radio in the Maritimes, Ontario and select stations nation wide.

Upcoming Summer 2013:
The Honour, the Pleasure, the Blister and the Blemish EP

Photos

Bio

Every now and then a band comes along, unwilling to accept the notion that Rock N' Roll is dead. It may be dormant or slowly evolving but The Stogies are here to wake that beast up and shake it by its burly beard. Long hours spent in a hazy, rural Nova Scotian shed listening to Zeppelin, the Stones, the Black Crowes and even the White Stripes have fuelled their penchant for creating genuine rock n' roll, chock-full of loud guitars, thunderous drums and wailing vocals.

After recording a few demos and auditioning drummers in 2010; Blake Johnston (vocals/guitar), Dave Driscoll (guitar/vocals), Sean Carver (bass) and newly recruited, Dave Lidstone (drums) played as many shows around Nova Scotia as they could. One of these included, Riverfest where they were awarded the People's Choice Award for best band at the festival as they left the parking lot. The boys were soon spotted at New Music Tuesdays at the Seahorse Tavern by Troy Arseneault who offered to produce an EP for them with co-producer/ mixing engineer, Mike MacDougall and engineer Brad Stevens. The band then spent most of 2011 recording at Fortress Studios and touring the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario. Their debut EP "No Couth, No Class, No Nothin" was released in August 2011, supported by the release of their first single “Any Old Friends” and a maritime and Ontario release tour leading up to a showcase at Molson Canadian Nova Scotia Music week 2011.

“I wish every artist in Canada were as remotely talented, hip, clever and succinct as the Stogies. This is rock and roll the way it should STILL be played”
Cashbox Canada Magazine

“No Couth No Class No Nothin’ is an album that belongs in everyone’s collection.”
Noisography.com

While making use of the winter months to write more music, The Stogies expanded their roster adding young NSCC Music graduate, Jason Keddy on piano and organ. The band kick started 2012 with the new lineup and new material, headlining their first sold out show at The Seahorse Tavern. Relentless touring followed in the spring and summer months including an Eastern Canadian Tour and slots at multiple Canadian festivals such as the acoustic Suitecase at the 2012 ECMA's in Moncton NB, Come Together Music Festival 2012 in Durham ON, Q104 Keith's Natal Day Festival in Halifax, NS and North by North East 2012 in Toronto. Recently, The Stogies won the Road to Indie Week battle series for the east coast, gaining them some cash and a headlining slot at the East Coast Showcase at Indie Week 2012 in Toronto. They went on to place 2nd overall among 9 other finalists at the Tattoo Rock Parlour. In addition, the boys have managed to secure supporting slots for some nationally recognized acts such as The Stanfields, Wintersleep, The Mahones, The Mudmen, Steven Page, Carmen Townsend and Gloryhound.

"They were smoking onstage in a psychedelic, Wolfmother-ish kind of way. A good start to the weekend!" - Gilles Leblanc -Musicemissions.com - NXNE Review

“With thick-cut slabs of guitar and a 70’s Motor City vibe, the Stogies may have had some wondering if Grand Funk Railroad had commandeered a time machine to appear on the harbourside stage. – Stephen Cooke – The Chronicle Herald

Showing no signs of stopping, the boys kicked off 2013 with a sold out NYE show with the Stanfields at the Seahorse and a Canadian tour surrounding multiple showcases at both East Coast Music Week and Canadian Music Fest. Upon their return they were voted as one of Halifax's "Best Bands to Turn up Loud" in The Coast's Best of Music Readers' Poll.

"Definitely worth seeing live, The Stogies made me forget about any other plan B venues I had in mind and lit the fuse for a fun night!" - Christina Dirlea - Newsandwriters.com - CMW 2013

"An energetic and hard rocking set that left the ElMo wanting more." - T-Mak World - CMW 2013 Recap

The Stogies are now in the studio at the Heartbreak Hotel recording their follow up to “No Couth, No Class, No Nothin”. The new album should be available late 2013 and will be supported by a Canadian tour.