Cordcalling: Press
CORDCALLING DOING MORE WITH LESS
PHOTO COURTESY OF CORDCALLING 1
PHOTO COURTESY OF CORDCALLING
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Email the author August 28, 2008
Jason Schneider
for NightLife
With a name derived from a belief that all humanity shares a common connection, on top of each individual having a specific purpose, Cordcalling certainly doesn't shy away from big ideas when it comes to their music.
However, it's all done within the limitations that London-based husband and wife Brian and Denise Conway have set up for themselves as a guitar/drums duo.
The pair recently released their debut three-song EP, When I Scream, which shows a lot of diversity in a short amount of time, from early '90s grunge, to more experimental passages based on some highly evocative lyrics. What also defies convention is that Denise handles the lead vocals while also keeping time behind the drum kit.
"We started out working with a few drummers, but none of them ever really stuck with it," she says. "I mean, being married, Brian and I already have a commitment, so it was hard to find someone we could have that same kind of musical connection with. I was playing bass, but one day about two years ago I said, 'Well, why don't I just play drums? I've always had a feel for a lot of different instruments, so it didn't really scare me at all."
The Conways have spent time with other bands in London, playing everything from swing to reggae, but Denise says forming Cordcalling was their chance to finally put their personal stamp on something. "I think we started this band with the intention of having complete creative freedom," she says. "The feedback we get most often from people is that they never know where our songs are going to go. The time changes are unpredictable, and we generally try to make each song different from all the rest. When we picked the songs for the EP, we were conscious of having them fit together in some way, but the other songs we have ready to record go off in a lot of other directions."
Denise says they plan to start recording a full-length album in the fall, although at this point it should still be a reflection of their live sound. "We're kind of purists that way," she says. "We don't want our live show to be that different from the recording, because we hate seeing bands where we expect this big sound and it's not there. We just want to present ourselves as we are."
While Cordcalling's approach may be unique, they're still part of a growing trend of two-piece bands, something the pair is just beginning to realize.
"It does get a little tiresome being automatically compared to The White Stripes all the time when in reality we don't sound anything like them at all," Denise says. "We've done gigs, where out of frustration, we'd play the riff from Seven Nation Army and then abruptly go into one of our songs. Normally that gets the message across that we're trying to do our thing, and people are more receptive after that."
CORDCALLING PLAYS FRIDAY AT THE CIRCUS ROOM IN KITCHENER WITH GUESTS THE ECSTATICS. COVER IS $5 AND THE SHOW STARTS AT 9 P.M. TO HEAR A SAMPLE, GO TO WWW.MYSPACE.COM/CORDCALLING.
Scene and Canadian Music Week salute local talent
LONDON, ON. -- Now celebrating its 7th Anniversary, the London Music Awards (LMA) continues to honour and promote London-area musicians, along with individuals and organizations who support London's vibrant music scene. The LMA give fans the opportunity to nominate their favourite musicians and other industry players and then cast their vote for the eventual winners. This year, Scene received over 650 nominations from London music fans -- about 10% more than last year! The nominations included a wide variety of musicians in over 20 categories of music and music-related activities.
Now that the nominating process is completed, voting will commence on January 29. Fans can either vote online or via paper ballots in Scene. Those who receive the greatest number of votes will receive a London Music Award in their respective category. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 p.m. at the 2009 London Music Awards Ceremony to be held at the The Wolf Performance Hall. Tickets are available at the Grand Theatre Box Office (471 Richmond St.) or by phone at (519) 672-8800.
In addition to honouring musicians in their hometown, the London Music Awards also promotes London-area musicians at three key music festivals in North America. They are Canadian Music Week International (CMW), The North by Northeast Music Festival (NXNE) and the South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW).
First up is Canadian Music Week (CMW), Canada’s leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country’s music, media and entertainment industries. Now in its 26th year, Rogers Wireless CMW combines two information-intensive conferences; a cutting edge trade exposition; five awards shows and the nation's largest New Music Festival. Scheduled for March 11 – March 14, 2009, CMW will take place at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and at over 45 live music venues in downtown Toronto. Gene Simmons will be a featured artist keynote speaker at this year’s CMW on Thursday, March 12, 11:00 a.m. Simmons will speak about his various business endeavours and experiences as the co-founder of the rock super-group KISS.
As far as local artists are concerned, Scene is proud to once again sponsor a special showcase for London musicians at the CMW. The five bands/performers who received the highest number of nominations for the LMA received special invitations to take part in the showcase. The Scene Showcase will take place on Thursday, March 12 at Holy Joe's (651 Queen St. West) in Toronto. This showcase is the perfect opportunity for new London bands and musicians to display their talents to both fans and record company A&R reps on the lookout for next year's stars.
The line-up at this year’s CMW Scene Showcase includes: singer-songwriter Justin Plet (9:00 p.m.), alternative rock group Pilgrim (10:00 p.m.), indie rock duo Cordcalling (11:00 p.m.), hard rock power trio Redinger (Midnight) and alternative rock group Elworthy (1:00 a.m.). Although they will not be performing at the Scene Showcase, other London artists slated to appear at CMW include Baptized In Blood, Basia Bulat and The Job.
For $35 a limited number of early bird Canadian Music Fest wristbands are available now and can be purchased at www.canadianmusicfest.com or by calling (905) 858-4747. Your wristband gets you into the CMW Scene Showcase, as well as exclusive gigs, afternoon shows, club nights and after parties throughout the course of this four-day event.
The Joys unplugged @ the Wortley where we meet The Takeoff & Cordcalling followed by the latest from the Medway Valley heritage forest & an impassioned plea that Sandy Levin be added to The Free Press Citizen 1 list of honour
Posted: 2009-01-23 08:32:07 Last updated: 2009-01-23 08:32:07
There were three of The Joys - bassist Ken Ross (cool Specials ska hat), guitarist Mike McKyes (tight-fighting black hat) and singer/guitarist Sarah Smith (fine looking tattoo) - playing at the Wortley last night. With drummer Kevin Komatsu stranded with car problems in Hamilton, they were a little nervous about how it sounded. I thought it sounded fine, especially hearing new versions of songs from Unfold, including the title track & Fly.
It was all new to them, Sarah Smith said after the first set. She has one of the great voices in London rock history & even over all the talking you could hear her in a nicely powerful but not overpowering room-filling way. Which if you have heard her isn't entirely a surprise.
Everyone was having fun (always a fine Thursday night idea) but the talking really surprised me. I was over in the part of the bar where you could stand & watch the Knights lose & presumably weren't there solely for The Joys. Actually, there were at least two duos right there too so they were listening for sure. I'll get to The Takeoff and Cordcalling in a minute.
Mike McKyes had a long rockabilly roots country solo on Me & Bobby McGee (I guess Janis Joplin was being referenced about the same time on last night's 30 Rock episode which I'll watch today) & that got the first more or less universal cheer. Sarah asked about people who had to work tomorrow (ie. Friday) & people who didn't & later there was a big singalong about what's going one & once again London's hardest-working band triumphed.
Actually, The Joys may not see it that way, what with the unplugged (Ken Ross on electric bass, playing quietly, with the two guitarists on acoustic instruments) idea being an experiment. I would like to hear this fine experiment repeated in, oh the London Music Club, where there would be joy in the land with their drummer & car safely arrived & the fans could listen & party & cheer when Sarah Smith thanks them for coming out on a Thursday night. Which they did last night at the Wortley come to think of it.
Anyway, the first duo I met proved to the two likely lads known as The Takeoff . They are guitarist Mike Ridder and keyboard player Pat Dryburgh. The Takeoff was to take the stage between two Joys sets last night & the last Impala to Sherwood Forest needed its driver so I missed them. I do like their attitude. After some discussion, Mike & Pat suggested Matchbox 20 as someone they might sound like & then went on to add: "Adult pop . . . the kind of concert you'd take your mom to . . . look out, Michael Buble."
Good to hear. I gather The Takeoff represents a meeting of musicians from other bands & they will be playing Winks later this month. Listen up.
Sitting just in front of me were the two members of a more established duo Cordcalling. We had a nice talk (okay so I did some of the talking during The Joys, too, but I used my soft sepulchral voice) & as always I was impressed by Cordcalling's commitment to getting their music out there & the serious joy they take in listening to other performers on the London music scene.
Before all that, I had been at a community meeting at Orchard Park public school over a proposal to put a bridge & further pathways in our beloved Medway Valley, These developments, detailed by city hall staff who were there, would connect our bank of the mighty Medway to the east bank near the old Elsie Perrin Williams estate. The figure of $200,000 was thrown around with some disgust (my hearing might be bad on the actual number) by neighbours who didn't see the need or value in the project given the economy, the environment etc.
I arrived v. late - which didn't stop me from speaking, it seldom does - & so need more details on what's going on. Later, I will check the community association's website - www.orchardparksherwoodforestratepayers.ca - for more information.
I can say two things. First, anyone who tells you the environment has vanished as an issue is wrong. The passion with which neighbours from our quiet & once remote part of London spoke about the Medway Valley & the need to preserve it was beautiful & inspiring.
Second. Hooray for Sandy Levin. It turns out the former city councillor, who once represened Ward One under the old boundaries, is the president of the Orchard Park Sherwood Forest Ratepayers. As someone who was president (playing a tiny role) when the neighbourhood was involved in a major fundraising campaign to help the city will some enhancements in the valley (a stairway, lookout & a much smaller bridge), I am proud to see Sandy leading the organization.
I miss his thoughtful & thorough approach on London council. But he is the same calm, consensus-builder willing to ask the questions that need to be asked & get the clarifications required. Our councillor Nancy Branscombe was also at the meeting & once again impressed me with her willingness to listen to all sides & work with people.
I'm not sure that Sandy Levin has been mentioned in The Free Press's v. good honour roll called Citizen 1. The requirements defy easy summary. As an honour roll, Citizen I has boundaries vast enough to take in greatest Londoner ever Sir Adam Beck and former UWO football coach Larry Haylor. That would seem to make it an informal hall of fame which would welcome Sandy Levin as one of its most esteemed members.
Powers that be, please consider this a nomination for Sandy Levin as a Citizen 1. If he is in there already, please consider it an endorsement of that choice.
CMW 2009: Cordcalling
Posted: March 10, 2009, 10:06 PM by Mark Medley
Music, CMW
Canadian Music Week '09 kicks off in Toronto on March 11. Chances are you've not heard of many of the bands playing the fest, so we sent out an email Q&A to help everyone get acquainted. We'll be presenting several of them here on The Ampersand as a preview to the festival.
CMW 2009: Cordcalling
Describe your music in ten words or less.
Raw; passionate; creative; alive
Where do you call home?
London, ON
Is this your first CMW? If yes, tell us what you expect from it? If not, give some advice to a band whoís playing it for the first time.
Yes, this is our first CMW. We are excited to be a part of the festival since we will meet a lot of people in the industry and just have a blast!
Had you had been invited to play at Barack Obama's inauguration, which of your songs would you have chosen to play and why?
Wicked Desires since it is basically about ridding ourselves of our self-centered motivations. I believe that Barack would agree with this message.
If your live show was a colour, which colour would it be?
I think it would be a mosaic of colours reflecting the diversity and creativity in our music.
With so many bands playing CMW, why should people come see you?
Because we are different..in a good way. If there is one thing that weíve heard about our music, it is that it stands out, but, not just for the sake of being different..itís just who we are. We will mess with their ideology about music, life, etc.
Finish this sentence: When I'm on stage, I.....
am lost in a world of anger, love, peace and adrenaline.
What's the most memorable thing that's happened while you were on tour?
Managing to cram 2 guitars, 2 amps, a drum kit, etc, plus the occasional extra person and the two of us into a Honda Civic before we got a van!
Cordcalling: Music brought this London duo together
Posted By Ben Benedict
Posted 8 hours ago
As the ‘arts reporter’ I get sent invitations and requests to see, read or listen to a variety of creative outputs. Over the past several months I’ve received several new CDs and with our hectic summer festival season on the wane, I thought this would be a great time to catch up on my listening and offer up my critical thoughts.
Artist and their production companies send out CDs to media outlets for a variety of reasons, primarily to get reviews and media attention, with the hope this will in turn generate sales.
Others, like Great White’s Back to the Rhythm that came out last summer, was sent as background prior to my interview with Jack Russell in preparation for the Rock the Park story, but with the same end in mind.
I enjoyed Great White’s CD but I’ll save the page space for London artists. However, I will add that the band put on an amazing show with the entire Rock the Park line up and park layout working exceptionally well while raising money for charity.
I also received Algerian-French punk star Rachid Taha’s Rock El Kasbah: The Best Of, in promotion of a London concert on July 6 that was later cancelled. The cancellation was truly unfortunate because Taha’s music would have broad appeal in London with its world beat influences and dance, punk and funk sounds sung in Arabic, French and English.
While language could have been perceived as a barrier, I found the music with its blending of old and new world sounds compelling in a way that transports you to that place that only music can.
I also receive unsolicited Canadian releases like Alana Myles new CD Black Velvet that will eventually find its way into assistant editor Sean Meyer’s collection as he indicates he has “all her previous releases.” Her sound is adult contemporary with a solid Canadian rhythm and blues soul.
Fans, and those of us 40-something and still ‘in the game’, will connect with track three, Prime of My Life, while track 11, Trouble, is reminiscent of previous releases with that signature Alana Myles sound.
Then there’s Vancouver’s The Painted Birds, formed in 2005, which played the London Music Club’s Cellar Lounge on Feb. 28 and the Bristol Pub on June 4 with their inaugural CD So Much For The Rain. They have been compared to Cold play but at times it felt like a Canadian fusion of the Northern Pikes and Sloan. Like those bands, it’s music that quickly grows on you.
In terms of Londoners, or in this case a former Londoner, there’s DO Iomega’s I'm Your Man, released in Canada on May 27, scheduled in the U.S. Sept. 27 and in Europe in October. This is his second CD and a follow up to Love Stories in 2006. The production is solid as is DK’s soulful lyrical voice in his approach to the classic jazz materials chosen for this CD.
Most recently I received a three-song maxi-single from Cordcalling, When I Scream, consisting London couple Denise and Brian Conway. While the recorded songs are not about their relationship, Denise says it’s a big part of how they came to play together.
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“It’s one of the reasons it works out well,” she says. “We met through music and Brain does art and I write poetry also. We’ve worked with other musicians but nothing ever really stuck. After a while we realized that it worked out best for the two of us. We’ve also considered using some electronic instrumentation.”
In their biography they claim their “unpredictable time changes and fusion of musical styles make their live performances beam with raw energy,” which is exactly what I thought while I was listening to the CD – as art house rockers they would be great live but as a guitar and drum duo those unpredictable time changes and sound fusions would benefit from a few more instruments and polish if they were hoping to move into the mainstream. However, everyone involved in the recording is pleased with the results.
The three-song maxi-single was recorded at MAC Studios by Robert Nation and engineered Matt Grady. They had also hoped to return to the studio this summer but a heavy tour schedule has pushed that back.
“We had most of the control (during the recording) because we don’t like people telling us what to so with our music but we did take some suggestions and we’re all pleased. Matt liked the raw grunginess of the sound,” Denise says. This is our first CD together as a duo and just recently got on CHRW Radio Western’s play list. Our full length CD, was set to be recorded this summer but has been set back because we’ve had so many gigs this summer.”
WANT MORE INFO?
¦ You can see Cordcalling perform live Friday, Sept. 26, 8 p.m. at The Embassy Hotel with Zealots Desire, Meath, The Randal’s, Underwater Solitaire and Twisted Alliance, $5 admission.
¦ For more information on visit their My Space page or their recently launched website at www.cordcalling.com.
Article ID# 1172840