Moncton's The BackYard Devils release their debut album tomorrow.

I didn’t know a thing about The BackYard Devils when I accidentally happened upon one of their shows maybe a year ago, but the band was tearing it up in Moncton’s Plan B Lounge.

Erik Arsenault joins us this week for a chat … (more…)

Bookmark to:

David Myles (by Mat Dunlap)

Fredericton native David Myles has built a reputation as a great songwriter, blending folk, blues and jazz in recent years (he’s also known for just being a really nice dude), but as great as his albums are, it’s a special treat to see the guy play live where his warmth, charm and showmanship really go front and centre.

So if you haven’t heard already, you’ll be happy to hear that Myles’ new album, Live at the Carleton, was released a month ago. It was recorded over four nights at the Halifax bar/restaurant. Perhaps the coolest part was, Myles and the band – Alan Jeffries on guitar and Kyle Cunjak on bass – didn’t know the gigs were being recorded.

As Myles explained on his website, “… at the end of the four nights, Jonathan Cornwall, the Carleton’s sound man, handed me a memory stick and said ‘here you go, I recorded all four shows!’ Beautiful. What better way to make a live record. No chance to over think things or get extra nervous just cause we knew it was being recorded. We didn’t. We just played, had a blast and, as the sweet result of Jonathan secretly pressing ‘record,’ have a live record that I’m really excited about. I hope you enjoy it.”

We caught up with Myles recently as he was about to hit the road … or, the air, I guess, on a trip overseas for several dates in England … (more…)

Bookmark to:

3-Across-Dee-Eye is a group of four Cape Bretoners (three teachers and a carpenter) currently freezing in Yellowknife.

The band, which performs an eclectic mix of tunes, consists of brothers Paul and Nathan McGrath (from Sampsonville), David Dowe (Port Hawkesbury/Cheticamp) and Stephen Richardson (Grand River). The band formed in 2007 and has one album to its credit, 3-Dinkie-Pile-Up. The album is available through iTunes and other digital distribution sites.

A second full-length album, Sock Puppet Serenade, is in progress, and several of its tunes are available for streaming online.

What follows is a lengthy, interesting and, at times, odd interview with all four guys pitching in. Enjoy … (more…)

Bookmark to:

The Grass will play its final show tonight.

As I write this, the boys in Dartmouth’s The Grass is likely gearing up to perform for the last time in Halifax. The band is at The Seahorse with Charlottetown’s Raccoon Bandit and Halifax’s Gigas.

As we reported a few weeks back, after six years, four albums and several line-up changes, the four-piece of brothers Willis and Dylan Ryan, Daniel Baldwin and Ryan Stanley are done. (more…)

Bookmark to:

FiveStoreyFire

Based in Moncton, FiveStoreyFire is Andrew Chatham (guitar, vocals), Colin Gauvin (bass, vocals), Amy Chatham (keys, vocals) and Adam Bauckman (drums, vocals).

The band has (more…)

Bookmark to:

Jay Smith

Halifax-based Jay Smith is known to east coast music fans for his time as singer/guitarist in Cape Breton band Rock Ranger and as a member of Matt Mays band. He shares songwriting credits with everyone from Gordie Sampson to Jimmy Rankin to Dustin Bentall and he’s accompanied Sampson, Willie Nile (NYC), Matt Epp (Winnipeg, MB) and Christina Martin on guitar, touring throughout North America.

He’s branched out with the recent release of his self-titled solo debut, an album of upbeat, three-minute pop-rock tunes that would fit right alongside fellow east coasters Sloan, Joel Plaskett or Mays.

Smith is touring in support of the record (dates below), but he took time this week for a chat with East Coast Noise …

1. Tell us about your new record. Why did you decide to finally do a solo record and how did it come together?

I wanted to make this record since I started writing songs. I’ve always written three-minute pop songs, even when I was in Rock Ranger, but I never had much confidence in my songwriting. It wasn’t until was I was 30 that I told myself, ‘if you don’t do this thing now, it’s never gonna happen.’ So, I sold my house in Cape Breton and moved my family to Halifax to make a record and start a band.

2. Was there a certain sound or feel you were going for with the record? Did any particular influences go into it? (more…)

Bookmark to:

Chantal Caissie sings in Halifax band Audrey & The Agents.

Punk and rock-influenced Audrey & The Agents are one of the newer bands on the Halifax scene. They have some upcoming dates with The Motorleague, Pewter City, The Bad Bad Bad and Red Rum.

The band is made up of Chantal Caissie (vocals), Shawn Mackenzie (guitar), Ben Manuel (bass), Jordan Murphy (drums), and the foursome is currently working on its debut EP.

Caissie joins us this week for Fridays with … , but first, (more…)

Bookmark to:

The North Lakes

Charlottetown rock band The North Lakes are set to perform tonight at Wilser’s Room in Fredericton before hitting up Ottawa, London and Toronto over the next week.

The band features Nathan Gill (vocals, guitar), Mike Carver (drums), Gillian A. (vocals), Chris Francis (bass, vocals), Chris Robison (lead guitar, vocals) and Roger Carter (organ).

The band’s debut, Cobra, was produced (more…)

Bookmark to:

Rawlins Cross recently released a new album. (Chr!s Sm!th Photo)

Since reuniting in 2008, seven time East Coast Music Award-winner and Juno Award-nominee Rawlins Cross has released a hits collection in Anthology and a brand new record in Heart Head Hands. The Newfoundland band is set to embark (more…)

Bookmark to:

(Due to schedule changes, Fridays with … may be undergoing some changes [perhaps a name change?] in the coming weeks. I’m considering running it a different day or just tossing one up at random during the week without a set schedule. Not really sure yet. If you have any feedback on this, please feel free to toss me a line. In any event, I’ll do my best to continue to provide the feature each week as it seems to be well received. Thanks for your continued support! – Eric)

———-

Moncton metal band Tempting Tragedy has been around since about 2004, releasing two albums in its lifetime. The band, made up of Marty Surette, Denis Guitard, Fernand Brideau, Steven Basque and Ray Leger, released its sophomore album with a show this past weekend in (more…)

Bookmark to: