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Local Guides
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INDIE SEEN
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by Carrie Humphries
January 21 - 27, 2010 |
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THE JOYS
Unmistakably talented, well-known and ready to drop another
record for our perched and listening ears, The Joys are answering
the call to come back to the tri-city region and put on some kick-
ass shows. Humbly referring to themselves as a “hard–working
rock band”, the quartet with a leading lady whose incredible
chops rank among the best in the country, have spent time the
last year putting the finishing touches on this March's release of
Adventure's In. With an imminent tour to coincide with the record
drop, The Joys will be moving west through the country, starting
in Vancouver and making a stop at SXSW for their second time.
Now turning up at the Warehouse on January 23 with local indie
rock sensation Mary 5E and then onto Maxwell's Music House
January 30 for the SOUNDFM launch, The Joys say they're excited
to be back in the tri-cities. “We have met some great people there
and will continue to perform there as long as we are wanted. We
would like to think that you have seen The Joys before and are
coming to see us again. Bring out some people who have not had
the experience. And let's see how much we can grow this thing!”
Growing this thing has undoubtedly become an easy target –The
Joys have garnered serious attention across the country as they
continue to crisscross for eager fans ready to soak them up. But
not all media attention has been on the band the way they
would've hoped. In the summer of 2009, lead vocalist Sarah had a
vicious run-in with some violent people during their time in
Winnipeg. The incident created headlines all over the country with
an outpouring of support from fans who were thankful that she
wasn't further hurt. “It was a crazy time in all of our lives but we
will not let anyone except ourselves get in the way in which we
want to live it. I think we have all moved on since then and I know
Sarah has no regrets about the past and she will continue to live
her life (how)she would like. You cannot stereotype anything. She
knows she happened to run into a couple of people who took
their anger out on her, and she hopes that they can find their
happiness in a more peaceful manner next time around,” they say.
With the right attitude, the right amount of rock and the talent to
blow audiences out of the water again and again, it's no wonder
that The Joys are ready to break the mold in today's new-rock
genre and take the world by storm. “We're officially releasing the
record on March 6 at the Blahirecks in London, and there's a
couple of tracks people can preview if you go to
www.ourstage.com/ go/lilith and sign up under 'FAN',” they say.
“It's a whole new record and a couple of years worth of
experience, growth, understanding and every stitch of being that
encapsulates being human all balled up into a kick ass recording.
The whole experience was amazing.” See The Joys live on the 23
at the Warehouse or for the SOUNDFM launch party at Maxwell's
Music House with the Wormwood Scrubs on January 30.
myspace.com/thejoys
CAROLE ALLISON
The Groove Kitchen is steadfast on their Thursday night blues
lineup and no stranger to making incredible blues music is Carole
Allison based out of London. Trinidad-born and an Ella Fitzgerald
fan, Allison has come into her own as a smooth, sultry and
ultimately magnetic singer/songwriter. From her opening chords
to her final note, Allison will keep you chained to your stereo or
your seat, shushing those around you. As a multi-instrumentalist
(also playing bass, drums, piano and guitar), her repertoire as a
songstress has lead her to award nominations and impeccable
credibility in her field. Her voice hearkens back to the early stages
of jazz and blues, a testament to her influences and her deepest
kudos. Now coming to Cambridge for the first time on Thursday,
January 21, Allison promises a live show you won't forget. “Blues
and jazz have been my bread and butter for years,” she says.
“What I find particularly interesting is the fact that many younger
people are accessing the blues through music history programs
or Blues In Schools. That coupled with the access to information
and recordings that the internet provides, is creating new
generations of blues lovers.” With three release to date, (sold
directly “available outta De Bass Case”) Allison offers you your
favourite covers mashed with her originals. “We like to keep you
dancing,” she says, “but we don't want you to break anything!”
For a solid dose of Canadian blues and jazz, keep your calendar
open for January 21 at the Groove Kitchen.
caroleallison.com
DANA JANE PHOENIX
First lady of nufunk, K-W bred Dana Jean Phoenix is tearing a
hole in the new genre, and is firing up to take on Caesar Martini's.
Sharing the stage with Jully Black, Fergie, Joe, and Divine Brown,
among countless others, this powerhouse graduate of Eastwood
Collegiate has recently dropped Learning To Fight, a collection of
funk hits that will get your ass moving, dancing and creatively
keeping you begging for more. Counting Michael Jackson as one
of her ultimate influences, Phoenix's ear for tangible funk tracks
has made her a leader in her genre – an unstoppable force of
nature eager to snag listeners off of the first beat. “Indie artists
are in the best position to control their careers now more than
ever. Because to get signed, you have to have developed yourself
already, there’s very little incentive for most artists to give up the
autonomy that you attain through that self-development,”
Phoenix explains. “When you sign with a major label, you basically
say that you are ready to accept somebody else’s version of you.
Making it for me is to put out the art that I feel best represents
who I am. It means me being able to live with myself and make a
living for myself.” And she's well on the path to keeping this nine
to fiver her every day career. Her record has soared on iTunes and
HMV, creating a buzz over the lady who has reinvented pop, R&B,
jazz, electronica and soul. “(I'm also) influenced by David Bowie,
Madonna, Bette Midler, Prince, Journey, and Stone Temple Pilots.
Locally, I’ve been very influenced through my work with Jully
Black, Joni Nehrita, God Made ME Funky, Melanie Durrant, PHATT
al, Adam Bowman, and Rufus John. Canada is so full of talent, it’s
beautiful,” Phoenix shares. Now as she plans to land at Caesar's
on January 22, Phoenix has dedicate the proceeds from the show
to the local food bank. An incredibly talented young lady from
Toronto coming to our fair city and doing it for charity? Say it ain't
so! “I always like to involve a charity aspect to my shows because
I’m so fortunate to have come from such a nurturing, and vibrant
community that has allowed me to pursue my dreams, that I want
to give back any way that I can,” she explains, “That’s why I
donated a dollar of every CD sold at my CD release party at
Maxwell’s Music House in November, to Anselma House. It’s a
cause that is really important to our community in helping to
empower women and their families. My album is called ‘Learning
To Fight’ so I want to give back to everyone who is also learning
to fight to be who they want to be and shine.” Watch for Dana
Jean Phoenix on January 22 at Caesar's.
myspace.com/danajeanphoenix
KING ROLLER
The kings of rock in the tri-cities are taking the time to drop in at
Starlight on January 28 with Eddie Orso. As a five-piece rock indie
force to be reckoned with, the boys have made a steady name for
themselves since their formation in late 2005. With their self-
titled release in March of 2008, King Roller has taken back their
genre, reinvented it and labeled it with the essence of the way
rock should be performed, listened to and enjoyed. “We are five
guys who love to play music, and we have a lot of fun playing
together. We don't focus on getting signed (although that would
be great); we focus on the music that we make,” they simply.
“We've been able to play in some great festivals over the past few
years. Last year we played the NXNE festival and also Beerfest
down in Toronto at the CNE Grandstand which was a great time.
We've released an album, and are currently working and writing
the next album. We've learned a lot about the business side and
also the creative side. And we've made some great friends along
the way.” Citing their influences from genres such as old country,
blues and rock, King Roller says that people wouldn't be shocked
in any scale for the music that inspires them to keep originating
their sound. “(We) don't think there would be any artist that
people would be surprised at knowing we listen to. We all come
from a very broad range of musical interests and tastes. When
you come to see King Roller you will hear a wide range of music,”
they say. Counting the Starlight as one of the best venues in town
to play at, King Roller states, “There has been quite a number of
great acts that have played the Starlight. You can feel an almost
musical history to the place, kind of like the Horseshoe in
Toronto, even though it is still a young venue.” So what are you
waiting for? January 28, Starlight. Uptown Waterloo. Mark it down,
'cause it's exactly where you want to be. myspace.com/kingroller
If you’re interested in being featured in Indie Seen, forward your
online press bio to i.r.i.s.entertainmentis@gmail.com with the
subject line “Indie Seen”. To think of all that we’ve been through!
All of the yelling. All of the lazy Fridays. All of the faux British
accents. We’ll always have bunny clips.
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