Acclaimed indie-rock act Dog Day releases their sophomore album, Concentration (Outside Music) on Tuesday, April 28. The highly anticipated follow up to the band’s celebrated debut, Night Group, was mixed by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr).
Retreating to their basement studio in Halifax, N.S., Dog Day recorded the majority of Concentration in the fall of 2008. The band was meticulous with each track, carefully piecing together synth tones and guitar squalls to create the sound they had in mind.
“We had a clear vision of what we wanted the record to be like, as well as a bunch of production ideas we wanted to try … the kind of ideas you really don’t have time for when you’re paying for studio time,” frontman Seth Smith said in a press release. “The last record was a never ending labyrinth of studio work, it took us forever to get in there and actually finish it.”
Once the album’s tracking was complete, the band took the songs to John Agnello. Working at Water Music Recorders in Hoboken, N.J., the project took its final steps toward completion.
“John had a window of two weeks and liked the material,” says Smith. “Everything he did was great. He’s got great taste and is a total pro … that’s because he is a Virgo, we knew that going in.”
Dog Day began in 2005 as a recording project for Seth Smith’s frail folk songs following the demise of his former band, The Burdocks. Soon after, he was joined by Nancy Urich (also of The Burdocks) and KC Spidle & Crystal Thili of hardcore act, The Hold. The new line-up led Smith’s songs down a more punk-influenced path of power-chords and one-note leads. Dog Day’s debut EP, Thank You, debuted at #8 in Canada on the !earshot campus radio charts quickly earned them national attention.
The band returned in 2007 with its acclaimed debut LP, Night Group (Tomlab/Black Mountain).
Following the release of Night Group, Dog Day toured relentlessly throughout Canada, Europe and the US, including a two-week stint with Eric’s Trip in the summer of 2008. The group revisited the relationship this March, when they recorded a four song EP with Rick White, including a song that White had written specifically for the band. The record will be released in the summer of 2009 on 7″ vinyl by Divorce Records and digitally by Outside Music.
More new east coast records
A few other east coast records that I neglected to point out were released recently:
● Sackville, N.B.’s Shotgun Jimmie released Still Jimmie (You’ve Changed Records) last month. The album was borne from a partnership with Ontario rockers Attack in Black. The band, so won over by Jimmie’s previous solo album The Onlys, invited Jimmie on a recent national tour. Leading up to the dates, the two acts regularly performed together with Attack in Black acting as Jimmie’s backing band. His tunes took on new dimensions with the four-piece behind him. Following the completion of the tour, the acts decided to document the chemistry they had developed, and set out to record in Attack in Black’s home studio.
● Also last month, Fredericton five-piece The Slate Pacific released its debut six-song EP Safe Passage (Forward Music Group). The group is centred around the songs of principal songwriter, Logan Hawkes, who recruited Zach Atkinson on drums (Share), Stephen Dunn on guitar (Force Fields, All of Green), Heather Ogilvie on bass (The Names and Faces) and Brad Perry on keys (The Names and Faces).
East Coasters win Junos
At the Junos last month, both Old Man Luedecke and Sarah McLachlan took home awards. Luedecke, a first-time nominee took home Roots & Tradition Album of the Year for his album Proof Of Love.
McLachlan, celebrating the 20-year anniversary of her triumphant music career and who has eight Juno Awards to her name, added one more as she received the 2009 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. The Award, named after CHUM Ltd. founder Allan Waters and made possible by funding from the CTV/CHUM benefits package, recognizes her outstanding contributions to charities and organizations at home and internationally.
Joel Plaskett talks to East Coast Noise
In the midst of a hectic cab ride in Fredericton, Joel Plaskett spoke to East Coast Noise about touring with his father, his new three-disc record Three and more. Check back later this week for the scoop!
