The Antidote - Show 21, Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk

Calgary indie-folk band Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk joined me in the studio this past Wednesday.  Lauren, her husband and bandmate Zoltan, and two other band members squeezed into the studio with me for a conversation about their music. We had a great time discussing her soon-to be-released CD, Over Land and Sea.  

Listen to the show with Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk here

Listen to The Antidote live on Trent Radio 92.7 FM, Wednesdays from 9 - 10 EST. You can also access a live stream here.

Be sure to tune in next week as my son Josiah and I bring you: Ska Lives!. I recorded an interview with Five Iron Frenzy guitarist Micah Ortega.  We spoke about Five Iron being reformed and what's happening with the band. Plus, listen to an hour's worth of excellent ska tunes. Next Wednesday come out of the closet and admit that you really are a fan of ska!

Lauren Mann & the Fairly Odd Folk Peterborough concert

Indie-folk band, Lauren Mann & the Fairly Odd Folk are currently on the Ontario leg of their North American tour. For Peterborough, ON locals the band is performing in town this Wednesday night, Feb 22.  You can see them at The Garnet  231 Hunter St. W.  Tickets are a bargain at only $5. Show starts at 10pm.  Prior to that they will be joining me in the studio at Trent Radio, 92.7 FM between 9 and 10 for a live interview on The Antidote.  

The Antidote - Show 20, downhere

The February 15th show featured the Canadian rock band, downhere. In addition to songs by their band we also aired an exclusive two part interview The Antidote had with downhere.  Marc Martel answered some questions regarding his new role in The Queen Extravaganza tour, plus you can hear his cover of Queen's "Somebody to Love"


Listen to the show with downhere

Listen to The Antidote live on Trent Radio 92.7 FM, Wednesdays from 9 - 10 EST. You can also access a live stream here.


Next Wednesday night the Calgary indie-folk band Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk will be joining me in the studio.  You'll be able to hear all about their upcoming CD, Over Land and Sea.

Interview with After Edmund

A few days ago I posted a link for the band After Edmund and their fundraising campaign for their upcoming album.  I recently had the opportunity to have an email interview with the band. Check out this interview with After Edmund.

Christian Rock Files:  First things first.  Can you explain how the name "After Edmund" came about?


After Edmund:  OK...."After Edmund"  is a reference to C.S. Lewis' book "The Chronicles Of Narnia."  In the book, Edmund's character is a metaphor for humanity; our temptation, sin, and eventually our redemption from sin through Jesus (represented by Aslan, the lion character)  So..."After Edmund" means that because of our sin we are like Edmund in our need for Jesus.   Hope that makes sense!


CRF: Your first label release "Hello" in 2008, was a big success for the band. What was it about "Hello" that garnered After Edmund not only a Dove nomination, but a Grammy nomination as well?


AE:  Ya'know to be honest I don't exactly know…since we didn't do the nominating!  ha!  It WAS a really different album at the time.  We were exploring a deliberate departure from typical pop/rock textures musically, while trying to retain a familiar since of melody and song form.  We were combining synth elements with big guitars and rock drums in ways loved from our favorite records.  We really felt like it was a great album and hoped that music fans would really be into it too.  After the release people started coming out of the woodwork for shows, but the album didn't get much radio love; and it didn't sell a gazillion copies.  I guess that could be blamed on the label, the economy, us, the kind of album it was, who knows?  So when we got the news about the Grammy nod we finally felt like the art we made on "Hello" was validated.  It was a great feeling and a huge push for us to continue exploring different artistic avenues with the music.


CRF:  You've always had a rabid fan base. What has the band be doing, since the "Hello" release in '08, to keep those fans satisfied?
  
AE:  Since "Hello" we've toured like crazy!  AE fans know that a HUGE part of what we do is the live show.  We kept writing and making demos throughout the tours too.  So it became obvious that we were going to need a new release to get the music out.  Because we had no budget and parted way with our label, we decided to self-produce a live album.  "Spaceships and Submarines" followed in '10.  We felt really strong about the self-production process so we decided to do an EP for the next batch of new songs…."Times Have Changed" came out in Feb of '11.  We did a Christmas EP in '11 as well.  And now we're working on the new album!


CRF:  After Edmund had its start back in 2001.  What's changed with the band over the past decade? 


AE:  A lot has changed since we started the band.  People and musical direction mainly changed.  Ben and I are the only original AE members still in the band.  It feels more like the band family has just grown though.  Adam, Yates, and Matt are all still good friends!


CRF:  Your previous full length CD was on Slanted Records, now you're back to being an independent artist.  Can changing from a label supported band to an independent be a positive?


AE:  I think if there ever was time that it's an advantage it's NOW!  I don't know if we'll stay independent…but we'll be making music and touring whether we partner with a label or not.


CRF:  You've started a Kickstarter campaign to generate funding for your upcoming CD. How has that process been working for you?


AE:  Great so far!  We're looking forward to making a record the fans will be proud to support and glad they're a part of.


CRF:  How can fans find out more about your Kickstarter project?


AE:  Visit http://www.afteredmund.com/kickstarter


CRF:  What's happening in the studio with the new recording? 


AE:  Well, we've already recorded 4 songs with producer Rusty Varenkamp.  Planning on recording 8 more.  4 ourselves and 4 with producer Scotty Wilbanks starting in March.


CRF: After Edmund has released dance-inspired alt/pop track such as "Dance Like You’re From the Future" and "Birds'. What can After Edmund fans expect from the new album? Will it be your original art rock vibe, dance alt/pop, or something different?


AE:  There will FOR SURE be the familiar After Edmund sounds….but we've also just fallen in love with melody more and more.  So lots of vocal driven hooks and melodic pop songs will make an appearance as well.


CRF: Have you given the album a name or release date?


AE:  No name yet; and we're shooting for an early May release!


CRF: If After Edmund could accomplish only one thing as a band, what would that be?


AE:  We want to make the best art we can that expresses love for our creator, love for people, struggles, triumphs, failures, pain, joy, who we are, and we want to inspire people to think about who they are.

The Antidote - Show 19, Love

Valentines Day is Feb 14.  Yes, we've only a couple of more days to go.  To you guys who are romantically challenged, this show might provide some inspiration.  However love covers a lot of ground.  Show 19 includes songs that not only describe romantic love but familial love, spousal love and the greatest love of all, Christ's love.


Listen to the Valentine show here.

Listen to The Antidote live on Trent Radio 92.7 FM, Wednesdays from 9 - 10 EST. You can also access a live stream here.

The February 15th show will feature the Canadian rock band, downhere. In addition to a number of the songs you'll be able to here an exclusive interview The Antidote had with downhere.  Marc Martel will also answer some questions regarding his new role in The Queen Extravaganza tour.

For Today - Lego music video

I've never seen anything like this before.  An animated Lego music video featuring For Today's song "Devastator".  Every scene done with Lego characters!  This is not an "official" video, but was fan created. Could anything be more awesome than this?
 

After Edmund set to release a new album...with your help

From local concerts and small town origins to a Grammy nomination in 2009 for their Hello album, After Edmund has been busy. Most recently they’ve self-produced, recorded and released a pair of EP’s, as well as putting an explosive video on Youtube.

Such accomplishments have left this group of Georgia natives with a grass roots fan base stretching across North America. Self-described “super-fans” are checking in with the band regularly via social media from even as far as way as Europe and South America.

Their latest project has them raising money for a new album through the Kickstarter website, a platform designed to help crowd-funded different initiatives. Some recent efforts on the website include the reunited Five Iron Frenzy setting a record for most funded music project of all time - pulling together a whopping $200,000. Another success was the fan based fund raising to complete directior Steve Taylor's screen adaptation of Donald Miller's best selling book "Blue Like Jazz".

In the past year After Edmund has written over 50 songs, about a dozen of which they plan to pick to include in their not-yet titled album due out this spring. Productions on several of those songs have already begun, with the band travelling to Nashville this month to record with acclaimed producer Rusty Varenkamp (Mutemath, Tenth Avenue North, Toby Mac).

“We are gathering together all our fans and friends to raise about $30,000 for this new album,” says lead-vocalist Mitch Parks. “We’ve wanted to do this for a long time, to give our fans an opportunity to be as big a part of this record as we are.”

Hopeful words that come at a time when the music industry is at its lowest point in years. Fortunately with the help of start-up companies like Kickstarter, independent artists have been able to create a strong-foothold with their fans in what has quickly become an over saturated market.

One of the things that Kickstarter brings to the table is that campaigns must reach 100% of their goal by a chosen deadline – in the case of After Edmund they are looking to raise around $20,000 by February 24th.

Setting the bar so high may be a daunting challenge for some artists, but After Edmund has already seen over-whelming support. Raising almost 25% of their goal in the first week, Parks is quick to offer up praises for supporters, saying “The progress so far has been incredible. I can’t believe it… from the bottom of our hearts we are blessed to have you guys as friends and as fans.”

Join in on After Edmund's campaign now!

Jason Dunn leaves Hawk Nelson

Last Wednesday, the pop-punk super band, Hawk Nelson, made an announcement on their website that lead vocalist Jason Dunn will be leaving the band this spring.  Here's what the band had to say:

We want to officially announce that Jason Dunn will be leaving Hawk Nelson at the beginning of May to pursue his solo career.

“For 10 years we have climbed this mountain together. Hawk Nelson has gone through thick and thin, challenges and blessings. Jason is a brother, and we will miss everything he brings to the band. We know that God has a plan for him as well as for the future of Hawk Nelson. We’re excited to share about the future of Hawk Nelson very soon, and we constantly give God all the praise and glory.” 

Dunn has been busy recording a solo effort at Profile Studios in Vancouver, B.C. with producer Steve Kravac.  Dunn's new band is called Lights Go Down The upcoming album, Abandon Progress, will be available this summer.

The Antidote - Show 18, Peter Furler

If you are a newsboys or Peter Furler fan this show was for you! I had a chance to do a short interview with Peter when he came through Peterborough, ON on his "On Fire" tour.  The entire show features music performed by Peter Furler, bands that have appeared on his Inpop record label, and other bands where he has acted as a producer.


Listen to The Antidote with Peter Furler here.

Listen to The Antidote live on Trent Radio 92.7 FM, Wednesdays from 9 - 10 EST. You can also access a live stream here.

The February 8th version of The Antidote show is all about love.  Don't forget Valentine's Day is just around the corner, maybe you can garner a bit of inspiration from this show.

downhere in concert, Mississauga

My wife and I headed down to Mississauga on Saturday to see the band downhere perform at The Portico Community Church.  It was debatable for some time about going.  One of the few significant snowfalls we have had this year decided to let loose on Saturday January 28, the day of the concert.  We put the SUV into four-wheel drive and drove out of the heavy snow entirely within 30 minutes.

downhere had previously agreed to a fifteen minute interview that will be airing on The Antidote.  It was great to have some direct conversation with the band members.  Unfortunately for me (but fortunately for himself), Jason Germain was at home with his wife, expecting the imminent arrival of their new child.  A fellow (can't recall his name) filled in for Jason on the keyboard and provided some vocals during the concert.  downhere is a dynamic band and has two superb lead vocalists with Marc Martel and Jason Germain normally alternating taking the lead vocalist role.  Glenn Lavender handles bass for the band and also took out his trumpet later on in the show.  Not to be forgotten is downhere's long standing drummer, Jeremy Thiessen (and no, Jeremy is not related to fellow Canadian and Relient K vocalist, Matt Theissen).

I've spoken with a number of people in the Christian music industry about this band and they all rave about downhere's obvious talents.. Style-wise they bear a similarity to Casting Crowns and MercyMe, but that's where it ends.  As a well-known music industry individual said "there's no comparison".  Lyrically, vocally, and musically this band stands ahead of it's peers.

Marc Martel

Marc Martel has garnered a lot of attention in the media over the past few months and has become a youtube sensation with his performance of Queen's "Somebody to Love".  Last time I checked it was at 5.7 million views. Marc will be taking the role of Freddie Mercury on stage for the Queen Extravaganza tour this summer.  A recurring comment on youtube is that Marc IS Freddie Mercury.  The similarity in vocal styles between Martel and Mercury is astonishing.

The evening was entitled "Journey to Jamaa" and was sponsored by World Vision.  downhere took the stage to provide a few choruses that the audience participated in.   Next up was the short film "Jamaa".  The film is inspired by the real life story of Margaret and Derick, two orphaned children from Uganda who make the journey from Kampala to Kasangombe in search of their aunt after the death of their mother to AIDS.  Produced and filmed by Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird, the story illustrates the positive effect of Christ's love and how child sponsorship can enable children living in dire circumstances to succeed.  An intermission allowed the audience time to view information packages for children who are waiting for sponsorship.

Glenn Lavender

The Juno Award-winning Christian rock band returned to the stage for a second time and dialed things up with a number of songs from their new release, "On the Altar of Love" and few tracks from their previous releases.  The crowd vocally participated during each of the songs.

It may have been a surprise for some to hear downhere include a cover of Queen's "Somebody to Love" during their encore, but considering the recent media attention on Marc Martel, it was understandable.  What I want to know is if downhere was to open for the Queen cover band on The Queen Extravaganza tour, would Marc get double pay?

Seriously, if you never seen downhere, do so.  This is an incredibly talent band musically, lyrically and vocally.  They are not to be missed in concert.

Set List:

How can any band exist without a merch guy?

 1.  For The Heartbreak
 2.  The More
 3.  My Last Amen
 4.  Living a Dream
 5.  On the Altar of Love
 6.  Let Me Rediscover You
 7.  How Many Kings
 8.  Bleed For This Love

Encore:
 9.  Somebody to Love - Queen cover
10.  Mighty To Save - cover of Hillsong