Brad Hart (percussion and vocals), David Celia (electric guitar and vocals), a rotating crew of bass players which includes Suzie Vinnick, Trevor Mills, Jennifer Gillmor, Joe Phillips; Beth Washburn (cornet and mini-tuba). Sometimes also in the band are Ken Whiteley (piano, organ and guitar) and Anne Lindsay (fiddle and mandolin), lately Karyn Ellis has been singing some backup vocals and playing the glockenspiel
The new album SMALL THEATRES (Borealis, 2007) features the playing, singing and musical ideas of many of these people and also Richard Reed Parry (upright bass and other stuff), Joe Phillips (upright bass), Jason Fowler (guitar), Burke Caroll (pedal steel), Pietro Amato (french horn) and Sarah Neufeld (violin); Treasa Levasseur (accordian), Jenny Whiteley (washtub bass), and a choir of a whole pile of lovely lady singers (the Fearless Kitchen Choir)
Influences
The Watersons, The Beatles, The Friends of Fiddlers Green, Meryn Cadell, Simon and Garfunkle, Stan Rogers, Frankie Armstrong, Laurie Anderson, Gillian Welsh and David Rawlings, Joni Mitchell, Cyndi Lauper, m ward, The McGarrigles, Alix Olson, Jane Sibbery, Leonard Cohen, Veda Hille, Kim Barlow, Talking Heads, LM Montgomery, Dar Williams, Penny Lang, Maddy Prior, Steeleye Span, Greg Brown, Corin Raymond, Pete Seeger, Sharon Lois and Bram, Raffi, Fred Penner, Al Simons, Culture Club, Peggy Seeger, Margeret Atwood, Ian Robb, Holly Near, The Rheostatics, Ron Sexsmith, The Magnetic Fields, Le Tigre, John Millard and the Happy Day, Emmy Lou Harris, Saul Williams, Hilary Peach
Sounds Like
"...a spoken word waterfall"
~ MazzMusicas, Belgium
"...a profound lyrical tapestry"
~Nanaimo News
"...tongue-in-cheek humour, neo-folk lingo and...a wonderful, quirky sense of rhythm and meter...." ~ CBC Radio
"A powerful social and political commentator"
~Penguin Eggs
Hi, this is me, evalyn parry. I make my home in the west end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. When I am not on the road, this is where I am lucky to spend my time, making and performing music. spokenword and also theatre.
I make music with an evolving, revolving and all-around delightful band of musicians, each of whom has who made their mark on my music and poetry. I have made three records, and after some time away from touring, I am touring again. I make theatre with my little theatre company, called the Independent Aunties; we write and perform dark and strange comedies about weird ladies.
Listen, if you want a real, official-like, third-person-style bio, then you should go directly to my website, www.evalynparry.com, and for the love of god, don't keep reading here. Since this is "myspace", I decided I'd take a personal approach here, why not.
So let's see. I think it was my ballet teachers, Jeanette and Marshall (they now run Opera Atelier -they are both extremely tall) who inspired me to become a performing artist. Since forgetting my lines in our Atelier Ballet production of The Little Match Girl (age 10, at the ROM), I have come a long way, but have never overcome my fear of forgetting lines. Also, my parents were both folk singers, which can't be under-estimated in it's impact.
I went to theatre school (Concordia, Montreal) which helped me realize i didn't really want to be an actor, at least, not the kind who auditioned for things. I started writing my own stuff and performing it...and that is what i am still doing.
In addition to my list of artistic musical and poetic and theatrical "accomplishments" (which you can read about on my website if you wish, remember) some distinguishing characteristics about me include: I am a keen thrift shopper, a guilty-pleasure mystery-novel reader, a lover of good-looking, yet comfortable shoes, a chronic multi-tasker, a trial-and-error gardener, a slow jogger, a fallen vegetarian, and I always carry a notebook. Sometimes i feel like if i don't have pen and paper at least near enough to reach if i need them, that I can't think properly. I am short-sighted, and really can't see without my glasses. I am married (legal-styles) to a very wonderful woman who sees to the heart of everything.
The first time I ever did a whole concert of all my own music and spokenword was in December 1999 at a bar called the Red Spot in the gay village in Toronto, which has since closed down. Between then and now, I've toured all over the place in north america.
My favorite places to go are the most far away from everything else. Dawson City, Yukon and St John's Newfoundland rank among my top two favorites; and I'm grateful to have had the pleasure of performing in both those awesome places.
So, right: like I said, I have made some records. Soon I will make another one. Let me tell you a little about the one's I have already made.
SMALL THEATRES (Borealis Records) was released in 2007.
It is a double album, one of music, one of spokenword; it was produced by me and John Switzer (and I would be remiss not to say huge thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council, for helping make it possible).
UNREASONABLE (Borealis Records) was released in 2004. That is the record with "Always", the song about being a maxi-pad, on it. It was produced by Ken Whiteley.
My first record is called 'THINGS THAT SHOULD BE WARNINGS' (Ponygirl Records, 2001). It was produced by Suzanne Nuttall. We thought it was going to be a demo, but it turned into a whole record; it's very low fi, but i remain proud of the guts, audacity and incredible low budget that it was made on. The first track on it is "The Gay Rover", which i think is still kind of like my biggest hit, if there was such a thing.
want to know more about my theatre company, the Independent Aunties? We have a website: www.independentauntie.ca.
I am also an associate artist with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (www.artsexy.ca), which is a really amazing theatre in Toronto where I am super lucky and happy to be working on a number of projects, writing a new show, directing some stuff and facilitating a writing laboratory for young queer creators.
As I mentioned earlier, if you want to know more about EVALYN PARRY in an official kind of way, then go to www.evalynparry.com and you'll get all the goods.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
I'm hitting the road in a couple of weeks to raise money for War Child, Coast-to-coast – 50 cities – ALL PROCEEDS TO WARCHILD. Why? 66% of all war victims are CHILDREN. Shocked like me? War Child helps these children that have been affected by war. Check out the new blog – the whole story is up there. Love to have you be a part of it.
You’ll find a Blog, Tour page and a Bio page. I’ll be blogging daily from the road.
Hello, I hope this message finds you well. I am extending an invitation to all my MySpace friends to visit my new site at www. reverbnation. com/christoshatzis, listen to 20 new audio and video tracks of my music (also included in the attached tune widget) and add their email address to my mailing list. Members of the mailing list can also download tracks at that site. Enjoy the music.
Hi Evalyn, thanks for the add. "...gifted with a sharp pen". Indeed, but also with a beautiful voice and the talent for melancholic and touching moments. Thanks to the Jacks and Jeans in the band who created a satisfying sound. Best wishes, LB
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; "Broken-roofed buildings" are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
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