Ten Metre Band is a big group with a big sound and big dreams. Nine people have come together to create the unique pop-jazz band, and each member has become a vital asset in establishing Ten Metre’s upbeat and catchy sound. The Montreal-based group blends rock, blues, pop, country, and jazz styles, resulting in distinctive and agile arrangements.
The nonet consists of a vocalist, three horns, two guitarists, a pianist, a bassist and a drummer. Coming from a city known for its cultural diversity, Ten Metre Band’s sound is a result of the musical breeding ground that Montreal provides. Their members are from around the island of Montreal as well as the South Shore, the West Island, and Repentigny; and each of them are studying at either CEGEP or university in jazz, classical or pop stream music majors. The members of the band believe that a magnetic force, brought on by the passion of music, is what drew them all to the same music school in 2007. The band’s members’ close friendship and dedication has kept them together and has helped them inspire one another through the songwriting process as well as through life’s rough battles.
The band began with Jess Croft, the Bone Raider, and her vision to have a band. She was bored of raiding bones with her free time and was looking for something more meaningful in her life. Being a bone raider, she had a few trombones available and so she took one with her and met some musicians after class, at Vanier College, where she was currently studying. One of these musicians included Jonny Storm, the Human Torch, whose flaming breath gave him the power to play trumpet with infinite range. At that point Jonny Storm was only starting his career as a trumpet player, but his skills developed quickly and he became the foundation of the band’s horn-driven music.
Soon enough Jess invited her friend Radioactive Nick to these weekly practices and things really started rolling. Radioactive, who emitted high energy levels on a regular basis, used his powers to create an ultimate beat machine with his limbs, providing the band with solid, high energy beats. His girlfriend, Jenna the Redhead Wonder, was soon invited to join the band. She amazed everyone with her super strength and her ability to fly, although for the band she focused on applying her enhanced velocity abilities to become a dextrous classical piano player, playing Bach fugues and inventions at breakneck tempos.
Jess was troubled with her role at taking charge of the band; she was struggling to provide musical direction to her band mates, and the band was still missing a guitarist. She begged Jonamus Prime to join the band, and one Friday afternoon, he reluctantly showed up to a practice. Jonamus took charge from there; his insight on the band’s sound, along with his skillful guitar playing, brought the band a new sense of hope.
Jonamus became the brain behind the project: being a musical sponge, he absorbed everything he learned and heard, and could arrange charts for the band faster than lightspeed. His guitar playing was mind-blowing, and although he will never admit to his bandmates what his exact capabilities are, he has shown to have ultrasonic hearing. (It is suggested that in 2006, after an injury to his left hand, a power was passed on to him enabling him to retract his hand and replace it with a glowing energon axe, thus enhancing his playing and writing dexterity beyond the capacity of any human musician.) In any case, his direction proved to be just what the band needed. Now all they were missing was a name.
One drunken night at the Redhead Wonder’s house, (Jonamus alone being intoxicated) the band debated upon a title for their group. Suggestions included Friedl Poo, The Sugar of Atomic Spoons, Planet Shnozberries, Fancy Monkey Milkbone and The Arms of Rubber Gloves. No one could agree on a name. After much debate amongst the group members, Jonamus got up and to pulled out a book from Jenna’s shelf. The book was discussing the ten metre radio band which once linked together the minds and souls of their ancestors in a time prior to the information revolution. Jonamus then proposed what would be the group’s identity from then on: TEN METRE BAND.
Soon, friends of Jonamus joined the band: Bionic Aaron, the superhuman guitar player, Doug, the Chocolate Thunder, playing sax at unprecedented levels of velocity, and Gabecules, the groovy and solid bass player of ultimate strength. Pritamonster joined the band soon after and astonished everyone with her astronomical vocal range that went beyond the solar system.
Unfortunately, Gabecules lost his cules and couldn't play bass with the band after a while, so Astro Andy replaced him and gave the band a new-found groove that was hip beyond planet Earth's capabilities.
To this day Ten Metre Band remains driven to spread their music and their message:
ya for sure! was really fun playing with you guys, sorry for the late responce hahah been working pretty hard on finishing some tracks and all, but ya, let us no if ya wanna hit up a gig again, would love to play with you guys sometime soon, takecare, brent
Hello Good Friends! We're releasing our album Next Week! October 22nd at Le Divan Orange We're hoping you can swing by and pick up a copy... Thanks and Take Care! Kevin, Rosa, and Brandon
We'll soon be taking off on our magical journey across the ocean to the UK, but before we do so we'll be playing one last show at Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent) on Wednesday August 13th at 9PM.
The night will include local acts Danny Lutz and Olivier NJ.
We're counting on you to come support us before we leave!! :-)
After our recent performances in Toronto, we're back for another great gig in Montreal on Wednesday July 9th at Casa Del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent Blvd.)at 10pm!
We'll be performing with one of Montreal's best instrumental/experimental band Sweet Mother Logic who are currently supporting the release of their EP The Ascension Island.
Finally, visuals will be provided by Minnesota's own VJ Bandit.
Howdy! Come on out to Le Divan Orange this Wednesday (June 25th) for the last OKgiraffe show of the summer! We'd love to see you there... Thanks and Take Care
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