Crashing Cars
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Crashing Cars

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"Crashing Cars - Show 'Em the Ropes EP"

I don’t normally listen to pop-rock so I’m not exactly an aficionado but this album has made me consider that position. There’s a lot of groove on this EP, even if the instrumental lines are a bit simple at times.
Mind you I suppose that in this kind of music there isn’t really a need for massively complicated instruments, as they very much only act as a backing line to the vocals. Although having said that the intro to ‘Say Goodbye’ is actually quite technical, as is the intro to ‘Burn This City’. Even sitting here on my laptop I kinda wanted to get up and start dancing to it.
The vocals are occasionally lacking at times, however this is their first EP and as they go this is better than a lot of stuff I’ve heard. The gang vocal shouts are excellent however, ‘Burn This City’ and ‘Chasin Vodka Down With High Fives’ (properly pop-punk) are such big rabble-rousing moments. The lyrics themselves are such archetypal pop-rock that it’s hard to find fault with them. I really hope these guys don’t lose that edge that some of the bands like them lack, I think the genre needs more of that.
If you’re a fan of typical pop-punk/rock i.e. big choruses, simplistic and yet at the same time perfectly suited instrument lines and songs you can really shout along to then definitely go check them out. You can listen to the EP here https://www.facebook.com/thisiscrashingcars?sk=app_178091127385

Definitely one to watch out for, these guys could end up being massive over the next few years.
Andar out - Andar's Corner Magazine


"Strange Days On The Music Beat"

When I first heard that Crashing Cars was looking for a writer to do a review on their upcoming show at the Hard Luck Bar, I figured, fuck those assholes. I’ve got better things to do. Then, it dawned on me, I was sitting in my underwear, wearing a denim vest and watching Titan A.E. for the 300th time. It appeared I had nothing better to do. I made a few phone calls, managed to wrangle a clean pair of pants from the floor, grabbed my notepad and set out for the big city. I had been contacted a few weeks ago by the bands guitar player, Mike, regarding the show. As I had already committed to attending, I might as well get a little work in.

The path to Toronto started as any other, with a walk up the street in the blazing heat to the go station. Public transit blows. Personally, I never ride any public transportation sober, so it’s ideal to smoke a joint beforehand. The train ride was progressing as normally as could be expected, until my car was suddenly flooded with a horde of Transit cops. They looked like some local militia ready to put the boots to anyone without a ticket. I said nothing and kept my head down. I had a show to get to. It wasn’t going to be easy it seemed. The one who appeared to be in command of this small band of skull crushers, leaned in close, and asked me a question that most likely required a simple response. What the man received was a tongue lashing at the hands of a drugged out lunatic. Turns out all he wanted to see was my ticket, which I produced hastily.

Finally, the train arrived in Toronto and it was time to disembark. I was tired of being cooped up in that moving Hell. It was time to hit the streets. I was headed to the Hard Luck Bar. An ominous name if I’d ever heard one. They say that names can be deceiving, but I hoped that this one would hold true. I was tired of easy luck. I felt the need to work for it. Walking in the hot sun is never fun when you insist on wearing black everything, though it was necessary. The warm breeze cleared my head. “I’m starting to feel normal again”, I remember saying. Less than ten minutes later, I had my head in the clouds, a smile on my face and a strong desire to watch some punk rock. Sometimes you have to stoop down low. Sometimes you have to burn in the parking lot of a hospital.

After all the hold ups, I Finally arrived at the venue. It was the kind of place you’d expect a punk rock show to be at. The clientele outside all seemed to be wearing matching leather vests with the most curious looking patches on the back. I remember thinking, these were the 1% everyone seems to be talking about lately. Watch what you say around them or you are likely to end up in a ditch somewhere, with work to do. That’s right, I have work to do! I was here to write an article or review or something. After paying the man with the green mohawk, I was escorted down a flight of stairs into what can only really be described as a basement. It smelled like a basement, looked like a basement and was down a flight of stairs like a basement, but it had a stage and a bar. It was perfect. When I got there, I could hear the band playing already. They were one song into their set and the place was already alive with sound.

Ok. So I was there. I had brought my notebook. I had a girl on my arm and I had beer. Now then, let’s get down to business…… and here’s where the problem sets in. I remember very little from the actual show. My notes were illegible, so reading them was out of the question. I do remember this much, though, Crashing Cars destroyed Hard Luck. Sonically. The building literally collapsed. Dozens were killed. It was a huge tragedy. I’m surprised you didn’t see it on the BBC or whatever. They play loud. They play fast. Enough said. When you get down to it, they are exactly what you want in a pop punk band. The guitars are down and dirty at times, with power chord chugging and drop D tuning. When coupled with the lead sections, it really brings the songs together. The energy onstage was something to be reveled at. The boys truly seem to be having sincere fun out there. They never stop moving. All four members were soaked in sweat by the end of their first song. The lighting wasn’t to blame. It actually made me feel a little funny in the pants. Bands are just so much more fun to watch when they’re having fun. Really, that’s all I can remember. It’s rather unfortunate. I can remember everything before and everything after, but during all I can picture is 4 sweaty dudes. Great, but I digress. The band is great. They play their instruments very well and sound incredibly tight live. You can tell that they take their music very seriously, even if they don’t take themselves seriously. Being the 21st century, they have all the social networking sites working for them. Check them out on twitter, and Facebook. Listen to the song, “Down, Down We Go”. It’s my favourite and it could be yours too.

My memory returns a little later. After sorting out all the gear and bodies from the rubble, we made our way into the street. The band had an interview and I needed to get out of the city. The weasels were closing in, as they say, and it was time to escape. I remember thinking, “I just have to get out of here before anything happens”. As I was thinking this, I proceeded to light a cigarette and blow smoke into the face of a very pregnant lady. Oh well. Fuck it! I link up with the band behind the club and pack another bowl. After that, the night goes hazy again. - Writings From The Edge


"Music Review"

There are bands who have true, indisputable talent coursing through their veins, but are blissfully unaware of the hard work it takes to get anywhere in the music industry. Then there are bands who work their asses off, rehearsing and promoting, but sadly lack the talent and musical skill to advance in this dog eat dog world of song.

A band in possession of both musical capability and work ethic is a gem indeed, and Mississauga's Crashing Cars is one such band.

Together as a unit for only one year, Keir Edward (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) Mike Pocock (backing vocals, lead guitar), Jon Field (bass), and Danny Foster -Roman (drums), have already perfected a unique blend of ear-pleasing, dance-til-you-drop pop, and crunchy, raw punk, festooned with little steely tastes of scorching metal. Crashing cars have released a few fairly solid demo tracks on their myspace and facebook pages, and are gearing up to release an official e.p.

As they sweat through their set (and I mean sweat; they're all drenched by the end of it) at the Hard Luck Bar in Toronto, the four fun loving guys crack jokes between tunes, proving they're good-natured and having a great time, then dive head first into the next song like true professionals, delivering tight, memorable performances of their summery, catchy songs, proving they take their music pretty damn seriously.

Thursday meets New Found Glory when huge, mathematical lead guitars slice into urgent, expert drum beats while the rhythm guitar and bass hold strong and steady, laying the perfect foundation for fun, party-esque lyrics adorned with luscious harmonies that would make Blink 182 jealous. Crashing cars navigate their way through hushed verses, swelling choruses, tricky time signatures, and flawless starts and stops, leaving the hungry kids in the audience almost as sweaty as they are.

'Take one good look at your bed/it's the last you'll get/I said I'd take you away', is Edward's melodic promise on the infectious, beachy “Down, down we go”, and he later laments 'You are the milestone of our night/ it's time to look alive/start chasin' those vodka shots with high fives', on the alcohol-fuelled rager “Chasin' vodka shots with high 5's”. The 'ballad' of the set is a beautiful, nautical ode entitled “Sunsets and singalongs”, and though it's the closest the band comes to down-tempo, it still has the amped-up crowd moving.

All eyes are fixated on the guys, who empty themselves totally on the stage with each air-tight burst of pop-punk energy, dripping sweat and oozing a genuine love of what they're doing up there. They end their supercharged set with a bang, and they're out of breath and all smiles as they follow me outside where they chat earnestly about their love of music, their desire to tour, and the fact that they want to play so loud the whole world hears them. Fans and friends alike swirl about, calling out congratulations, professing their admiration, and Crashing Cars humbly extend their thanks to all who approach them, with no trace of ego, just an obvious musical passion. It's refreshing to watch.

Pop-punk can be a tricky genre to swim with. It's a very saturated market, with tons of bands wanting to get that coveted spot in the hearts of fans and critics. What sets Crashing Cars apart is their willingness to experiment with genres, creating their own unique flavour and pulling it off with poise, permanent smiles, and those two things we talked about earlier; Pure, unstoppable talent and hard-nosed work ethic.

Let's hope they play as loud as humanly possible, because this is a band that deserves to be heard.
-Stephanie Deline
- Bloor West News


Discography

Albums:

Show 'Em The Ropes EP - April 2011 (Self Released)

Radio:

101.5 INDIFM (Hamilton) - "Say Goodbye", "Down, Down We Go"

101.5 UMFM (Winnipeg) - "Say Goodbye", "Burn This City"

92.5 CFBX (Kamloops) - "Say Goodbye", "Chasin' Vodka With High Fives"

Photos

Bio

In January of 2010, the stars aligned perfectly above the streets of Mississauga. Down below two dirtbags drummer Danny Foster-Roman and singer/guitarist Keir Edward met for the very first time and from under the city sidewalks emerged a relationship called Crashing Cars. The pair soon realized they had stumbled upon a sort of chemistry that few musicians are lucky enough to ever find.

Upon developing a strong repertoire of poppy yet gritty, politically driven punk songs Crashing Cars hit the studio to record their first EP with Ill Scarlett’s Justin Zoltek. The hooktastic debut “Show ‘Em The Ropes” EP was released in April 2011, which includes the infectious sing-along “Down, Down We Go”. The tracks “Say Goodbye” and “Burn this City” are on weekly rotation on Winnepeg, Manitoba radio 101.5 UMFM, while “Say Goodbye” has also received airplay on Hamilton, Ontario’s 101.5 INDI FM who brought on Keir for an interview. Most recently, 92.5 The X, in Kamloops BC, has picked up the band's party anthem "Chasin' Vodka with High Fives".

Crashing Cars began gigging extensively in Toronto and surrounding areas. Despite various lineup changes the group’s local following and international online following, now boasting over 4000 Twitter followers and 1000 Facebook fans, rapidly grew. 2011 concluded with a bang when Crashing Cars brought more than 50 strong to pack the Hard Luck Bar with American touring acts The Tired and True and Triumph on Tragedy. The show received critical acclaim from Canadian Music Magazine’s Stephanie Deline.

Crashing Cars began 2012 being showcased in the TV show/web series From Far and Wide as one of sixteen bands to be chosen from over 800. This gave them the opportunity to play infront of Canadian music industry heavyweights Mark Spicoluk (Universal Music, Underground Operations), Juno award winning Sean Gugula (Willie Nelson) and Katy Maravala (Distort Records). Some notable feedback was from Sean Gugula saying "There's no doubt these guys will cut a great album". The show airs June 2012.

The band has big plans for 2012, having finished pre-production for their sophomore release with a newly matured sound featuring songs about their personal struggles with music, love, politics and of course the in your face pop-punk their fans have come to love. The release will be accompanied by extensive touring and networking as Crashing Cars hits the streets hard to get their music out to you. Hop on the bandwagon while you can because these boys are coming hard and fast and won’t let anything stop them!