SUPER KICKASS HEART TOUCHING ROCK WRENCHING POWER CHIC
Right so here it is. Me and my friends Warren Bray (bass), Michael Duffield (drums), and Simeon Philip Abbott (keys, guitar, tambo) play in a band. We’ve also been known to frequent Ted’s Collision down on College Street to discuss wordly happenings and belt out Police songs as they blare out from the speakers overhead. We approach the way we play music much like a spartan would approach battle, except without the fight, we do it like it could be our last night on the planet.
One day I was walking down a lush and sunny Montreal alleyway on a seemingly quiet and calm summer afternoon, peacefully humming a tune, juggling a couple of hot St. Viateur bagels (best in the world), on my way home from my morning swim at the Y and my morning coffee at my local espresso bar, "open da night". I was truly minding my own business when a dark van screeched to a blinding halt from around the corner, kidnapped me and hence was swiftly bolted down the 401 – due West to Toronto.
I write, record, and produce my own songs, I play a red, classic Gibson SG electric guitar, and a 1972 vintage Wurlitzer. As a kid I wore out my parents red, white, and blue Beatles albums on my Fisher Price record player, started recording songs on my dad's old 4-track, graduated to 8 and 16-track, eventually made it to endless tracks, and now we've come back to the old school roots of live off the floor.
Simeon was shipped here from the Great Canadian plains of Calgary. Warren and Mike both hail from Scarborough which confirms my initial suspicions about the place; it is teeming with rare and raw musical talent. We all met and came together through friends.
We’ve also done some pretty cool stuff. We played Hillside, Canadian Music Week, NXNE, New Music West, and Pop Montreal, we hit the great stages of The Mod Club and The Horseshoe Tavern, I sang on “Bootleg Saint” and “The Resistance” on Sam Roberts’ Chemical City release, hit the stage at Live 8, and Francois “le madman” Beaujolais (of Hylozoists & Gentleman Reg) recorded our latest EP, L'étranger.
For the record, summer’s coming and we’ll be hitting the studio hard with none other than Carlin Nicholson (Zeus, 6ixty8ights, Jason Collett) at the production helm, and keeping our eyes and ears peeled for a Mystery Machine van so that we may tour guerilla styles. Voyage by day, woods and fire by night. Maybe follow the caribou...
We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for coming to our shows and being there.
Danielle, Warren, Mike, Simeon, and the dd crew James and Becca.
Hey there, just wanted to say hi & hope all is well w/u. My girls and I can't help but sing along to your beautiful tunes!! You are an insperation to my girls and I !! I hope to see you again!! Have you heard of the Rockin the Rivers concert in Three Forks ,MT? We would love to see you there!! Peace&Love, Neena
Thanks for the add Danielle. Good luck with your promising music career. I hope you will check out my upcoming CD, Dawn of a Waking Man in Sept. It will feature a song called One night in Montreal. Best regards to you.
Beautiful show Danielle. You had all of our feet moving to your beautiful songs. You and your band do more justice to your songs live and we think everyone there knew it. You also give awesome hugs. Thanks for everything. We look forward to sharing more shows and more Hue gingerbread cookies. Happy Huelidays! - hue -
As for your set at The Rivoli, in one word--terrific. Commanding musicianship, a soaring sound, rocking, catchy and layered, along with Danielle's alluring and commanding presence. You're always a sparkling presence in Toronto. One of Montreals finest daughters. Onwards and upwards in the new year.
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