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Oct 19, 2007 09:12 PM
By: Adam McLean
Unless you have seen a blender, belly dancer and police tape sharing the stage before, this isn’t your typical rock show.
If this is nothing new, you were most likely at the last Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker show.
“We perform neo-vaudevillian progressive dance folk,� quipped Ash Buchholz, half of the Markham-Stouffville duo.
A pumping juggernaut of sensory gluttony is one way to describe the spectacle that is a 45-minute set by the pair.
Stouffville’s Jay Parsons oversees the turntables and acts as the resident barker to his bandmate and master of ceremonies to a performance Mr. Buchholz describes as, “Buddy Holly playing a rave at the science centre�.
Costume changes, belly dancing, human pyramids, head stands and leaping into the crowd to dance with fans and friends holds everyone’s attention.
The fun is capped by Buchholz climbing on a stool and splattering the audience with an assault of emotion before toasting the stage lights and gulping down a smoothie made on stage. The stage lights go out on his last sip.
The danceable drum and bass sound, spliced with reggae and folk overtones, creates a unique sound to match the duo’s distinctive stage presence.
“If you have ever seen the movie Weird Science, then you will understand our band,� Mr. Buchholz said. “In the movie, these guys have this machine and they build their dream girl from different parts of women from magazine cut-outs. That is how my brain works musically.�
The band draws influence from pop-folkster Beck, Monty Python and science lectures.
Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker went on hiatus two years ago, as Mr. Parsons traveled to British Columbia and Mr. Buchholz checked into a meditation centre for more than three months. It was there the latter found what he calls his largest influence.
“It was as if I hit rock bottom psychologically and I made the decision to change my life. I always wondered where I could find the reset button and I found it in silence,� Mr. Buchholz said.
“It’s been over a year since then and I feel like we have come back stronger than ever.�
Next is a tour of Northern Ontario and the Maritimes to promote its CD Welding the C:/.
Visit myspace.com/ubiquitoussynergyseeker - Markham Economist & Sun
You will be blown away by his powerful, sincere, poetic lyricism combined with really catchy, danceable, reggae-influenced chops. - Eye Magazine
Discography
Welding the C:/ (2007) - release date July 19th 2007
Photos
Bio
Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker
The Best Band You’ve Never Heard Of
To say that 2008 has been a year of change, growth, and accomplishment for Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker would be an understatement to say the least. The Toronto-based band’s single ‘Hollowpoint Sniper Hyperbole’ quickly moved from light to heavy rotation on CFNY and has been the number 1 most spun single for the last five weeks, they were added to The Agency Group’s roster, opened up for Bedouin Soundclash, their video for 'Hollowpoint Sniper Hyperbole' has been added to Much Music, and landed the headlining spot for 102.1 The Edge’s Next Big Thing (this Friday at Sound Academy), as well as the headlining spot on EDGEFEST’s second stage this summer.
"They are no doubt, 100%, the best kept secret in Canada's independent scene" - Barry Taylor, 102.1 The Edge
"You will be blown away by his powerful, sincere, poetic lyricism combined with really catchy, danceable, reggae-influenced chops." - Eye Weekly
"A pumping juggernaut of sensory gluttony" - Markham Economist & Sun
Fronted by master craftsman Ash Boo-Schultz (vocals, guitar, erhu, beats) and turntablist hype man extraordinaire Human Kebab, this Toronto based duo demonstrate a remarkable proficiency for erupting dance floors and eliciting widespread audience sing-a-longs. Popstep, drum and strum, progressive dance folk, the music is a tremendous amalgamation of every genre Ash and Kebab have ever immersed themselves in. There are the elements of pop, drum and bass, ska, folk, and grunge with smatterings of classical symphony and world music in between.
In a time of ultra choreographed, perfectly made up vacant pop stars, USS is a welcome alternative: a raw talent, disarmingly sincere, thoughtful, self aware, and without pretense. USS has established a new model – where a live show is inspiring, entertaining and compelling, where the artists are human beings.
Check out the single ‘Hollowpoint Sniper Hyperbole' here: http://www.myspace.com/ubiquitoussynergyseeker <>
Catch the band live here:
05/30/08 – Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
06/06/08 – Hamilton, ON – The Casbah
06/21/08 – Burlington, ON – Philthy McNasty’s
06/29/08 – St. Catharines, ON – S.C.E.N.E. Music Festival
07/01/08 – Ottawa, ON – TBA
07/12/08 – Toronto, ON – EdgeFest (Downsview Park)
For reviews, interview requests, and other media inquiries please contact:
Must Be Santa
Megan Wyse
megan@mustbesanta.ca
647.891.6677
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