Something dusty and sun spotted. Red Cedar was born out of five boys upending their previous strategies and forging a new path for themselves and their music. Coming from backgrounds of roots, country, psychedelic rock and the growing pains of too many noisy punk and metal bands these musicians were all too ready to strike out a new balance.
With an ear for the loose arrangements of psychedelic rock and paying respect to the space and restraint found in the 60's and 70's songwriter movement, Red Cedar put an emphasis on poignant material that both grooved, ebbed and flowed. They had an appreciation as much for the loudest moments as for the quietest. Woodshedding commenced in the late winter/ early spring of 2008. Red Cedar would spend 8 months rehearsing before performing their new material to an audience.
From there they set about gigging in and around Vancouver for the next year, with sets based not so much on singles but as flowing, growing pieces of a greater whole. Drenched in reverb, thick with layers, space and a lot of volume, an unspoken communication was forged.
In early spring 2009 singer/guitarist Andy Bishop, drummer Colin Jones, keyboardist Bruce Ledingham, guitarist JP Doucet and singer/bassist Shaunn Watt converged upon a tofu factory in East Vancouver to record their self titled EP with engineer Scott Bell. Independently released soon after to record stores across Vancouver, "Red Cedar" built upon a momentum the boys were eager to follow.
Restless and full of material, plans were made to meet with the venerable Colin Stewart at The Hive Creative Labs in early summer of 09', to put down a proper full length. Red Cedar focused on bigger, bolder sounds, and tighter, more confident song arrangements. Swelling and restrained, the new 9 song LP built upon the live sound Red Cedar wanted, as well as a cohesive record with flow and atmosphere.
Summer and fall were spent spreading their sound with a number of gigs around British Columbia. 2009 was full of great shows with many inspiring bands, supporting the likes of J. Tillman, Jon-Rae Fletcher, Ndidi Onukwulu, Black Diamond Bay and Rah Rah.
The future holds bright for the boys from Red Cedar. Late fall and winter proving to be especially fruitful for new material and further introspection into their sound, intention and direction. The new year will bring expanded tours into the summer and a split 7" (with new track recorded by Colin Stewart in October 09) to be released sometime in the new year of 2010.
"Inspired by the majestic mountain ranges and picturesque old-growth forests of the West Coast, the melodic outfit creates songs filled with haunting vocals and textured soundscapes. Standout tracks like “I Can Feel It Coming Down”, a meandering ballad heavy with heartache and hesitation, and the trancelike “Carry On”, which creeps along with Middle Eastern influences, display a timeless elegance rarely found in such a young act."
- Jenny Charlesworth, The Georgia Straight 03/19/09
"Red Cedar sounds like home. They play a brand of rootsy folk infused with elements of bluegrass and rock that reminds you of something you’ve heard before but can’t quite put your finger on. They cop to influences like Neil Young and Fleet Foxes, but the sound is distinctly Red Cedar, something the band is especially proud of."
- Veronica Lawrence, Richmond Review 07/31/08
You can find our record at:
Red Cat Records
4307 Main Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Phone: (604) 708-9422
Online @ Red Cat Records
Zulu Records
1972 West 4th Ave
Vancouver, British Columbia
Phone: (604) 738-3232
and
Neptoon Records
3561 Main Street (Between 19th + 20th Ave)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Phone: (604) 324-1229
hey guys :) thanks a lot for the friend request. I'm really lovin your songs, i had a listen to a few of them, and i like what I hear, keep up the music! :) emily
Andy B! I would love more than anything to see you boys live. any plans of a Kootenay tour? Or is there a time and place I should try to be in Vancouver for?? You coming this way for Shambles? If so you should come visit me on the farm for a couple days too!
