Photo of the Secretaries

the Secretaries

General Info

  • Genre: Garage / Pop / Rock

    Location Edmonton, Alberta, CA

    Profile Views: 47928

    Last Login: 10/14/2011

    Member Since 8/4/2006

    Website www.thesecretaries.com

    Record Label YR MOM

  • Bio

    "The rocking-est band currently playing in Edmonton–sort of Heart meets Sabbath, but much cuter." -Tom Murray, See Magazine .. ....Biography.... A few years back, The Secretaries performed their first gig on the planked surface of the ice rink in West Edmonton Mall. There was a charity thing going on and people were exercising on really expensive machines to raise money. So it was that Colleen Brown (bass, vocals), Amy van Keeken (guitar, vocals)and Natasha Fryzuk (drums, vocals, accordian) baked up a new fan base right then and there under the sunny arena dome. We heard some rock anthems, a gorgeous lament that reminded me of Joni Mitchell being lost in Paris, and even an accordion. There was clapping and, I think I do remember, drinking. .. Since then, the band released an EP, opened for Gogol Bordello – also at the übermall – and in 2009 most notably doubled in size as a unit, simultaneously escaping the unimaginative “girl band” moniker, thanks to the three-piece, uh, “boy band,” the Brassholes … their Great Recession-dressed horn section. .. Now, the self-titled album has just emerged, a rockin’ pretty, pretty rockin’ thing that might remind you a little of Heart, making out, or even just the old days, when people would lay their feelings on the line without sounding like a pampered, sulkily misunderstood, gravel-throated man-baby. Between the fun stuff you will also note a brooding Slavic tint, which is because The Secretaries come from a city where almost everyone is at least *slightly* Ukrainian. Hoy! And pass the sour cream. .. What more can I say? Should I do the tedious “blues inventory” thing and name everyone they ever played on stage with, how many times they’ve been on CBC besides several? Talk about their fashion sense or how it’s hard in a man’s world? You can figure out that shizzle for yourself. .. The Secretaries attack with gorgeous, harmonic songs, punchy and thought out. Their shows are excessively fun parties, swaying with dented-brass choreography. When they tour your way, come up to the stage with a couple shots in your hands. The rest will be history. .. - Fish Griwkowsky .. ....Reviews of the Secretaries featuring the Brassholes.. .. ..SoundProof Magazine (Page 16), March 5, 2010.... ..Guttersnipe Show Review, Black Frog, Vancouver, October 21, 2009.... ..Herohill Album Review. October 14, 2009.... ..The National Beat Album Review, October 13, 2009.... ..Vue Weekly Cover Feature, October 8, 2009.... ..See Magazine Feature, October 8, 2009.... ..Vue Weekly Album Review, October 8, 2009.... .. ....Charts.. .. ..5 on CKUA's Top 100 of 2009!!.... 9 on CITR (Vancouver, BC) - January 12, 2010.. 9 on CKLU (Sudbury, ON) - December 8, 2009.. 9 on CKXU (Lethbridge, AB) - October 27, 2009.. 11 on CJAM (Windsor, ON) - November 24, 2009.. 20 on CFBX (Kamloops, BC) - December 22, 2009.. ..!!! Start Code To Apply Top Banner !!!!.. ...... ...... .. Custom top banner code by Eileen.. .. .. .. .. ...... ...... ..!!! End Code To Apply Top Banner !!!.. ......Logo design.......... .. Black Transparency ..
  • Members

    ..Amy van Keeken..: guitar, vocals, accordion, recorder, percussion, Robot Ass Slap .. ..Colleen Brown..: bass, vocals, Percussive Ankle Twist .... Now featuring those handsome devils ..THE BRASSHOLES... Horn section/dance crew extraordinaire!
  • Influences

    70s Heart, tequila, all night record listening/living room dance parties, Olivia Newton John, Thin Lizzy, The Darkness, AC/DC, feathers, art nouveau, puppies, sparkly jewelry, masks, wicked moves, the forest, Deep Purple, The Clash, The Sonics, BILLY JOEL/GLASS HOUSES, Neil Young, dark places, did we mention tequila?
  • Sounds Like

    .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Videos

Lazy Lover

03:42 | 329 plays | Aug 13 2009

Comments

Post a comment...
  • Alexander Stone

     I Friggin LOVE THE SECRETARIES!!!

    7 months ago
  • Mark Harrison Rodgers

    see you on the day of fools at new city

    2 years ago
  • Beverly C. Cherry


    Hello,How do you do?

    2 years ago
  • muchlight

    Colleen Brown!

                I saw you perform with Hannah Georgas, what an amazing set. I'm super shocked and excited to hear more of your music and "The Secretaries" music. You've officially converted me... Good Luck
    -Muchlight 

    2 years ago
  • Prairie Dog Film + Tele…

    Hi there!
     
    I'm writing on behalf of Prairie Dog Film + Television, an independent television production company based in Edmonton, Alberta. We would love to have your music on file to be considered for future projects. If you are interested, please email us a download link or mail a disc to:
     
    Prairie Dog Film + Television
    P.O. Box 1844
    Edmonton, AB
    T5J-2P2
     
    Please note that submissions will not be returned. Submissions will only be used for library purposes and will not be published with out further contact and discussion.
     
    Thank you for your time.
    Michelle Boyd
    michelle@prairiedog.ca

    3 years ago
  • The Constellations

    Welcome to our galaxy. Let's play a show sometime!


    -PJ

    3 years ago
  • Alberta Last Band Stand…

    THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE! IS IT YOU? Alberta Last Band Standing $50,000 Battle Submission Deadline is March 12th.

    3 years ago
  • The Skinny

    Oh my word...  Yes!  A show together would be so dreamy!!  Once we squeeze out this record let`s discuss!

    Love,
    The Skinny

    3 years ago
  • TAPHOUSE

    MORE NIGHTS OF MUSIC/NEW SOUND/NEW LIGHTING/ALL GENRES/BIG STAGE/CHECK OUT WHO'S COMING TO THE TAPHOUSE.....WANNA PLAY HERE?? YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!

    3 years ago
  • Paul Gibbons

    Hey the secretaries My debut independent album "Out With The Introspect" is finally available on iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/out-with-introspect/id338183224

    If you like epic sounding pop/rock then this is for you!! Cheers and you Rock!

    3 years ago
10 of 142More

Bio:

"The rocking-est band currently playing in Edmonton–sort of Heart meets Sabbath, but much cuter." -Tom Murray, See Magazine

Biography

A few years back, The Secretaries performed their first gig on the planked surface of the ice rink in West Edmonton Mall. There was a charity thing going on and people were exercising on really expensive machines to raise money. So it was that Colleen Brown (bass, vocals), Amy van Keeken (guitar, vocals)and Natasha Fryzuk (drums, vocals, accordian) baked up a new fan base right then and there under the sunny arena dome. We heard some rock anthems, a gorgeous lament that reminded me of Joni Mitchell being lost in Paris, and even an accordion. There was clapping and, I think I do remember, drinking.

Since then, the band released an EP, opened for Gogol Bordello – also at the übermall – and in 2009 most notably doubled in size as a unit, simultaneously escaping the unimaginative “girl band” moniker, thanks to the three-piece, uh, “boy band,” the Brassholes … their Great Recession-dressed horn section.

Now, the self-titled album has just emerged, a rockin’ pretty, pretty rockin’ thing that might remind you a little of Heart, making out, or even just the old days, when people would lay their feelings on the line without sounding like a pampered, sulkily misunderstood, gravel-throated man-baby. Between the fun stuff you will also note a brooding Slavic tint, which is because The Secretaries come from a city where almost everyone is at least *slightly* Ukrainian. Hoy! And pass the sour cream.

What more can I say? Should I do the tedious “blues inventory” thing and name everyone they ever played on stage with, how many times they’ve been on CBC besides several? Talk about their fashion sense or how it’s hard in a man’s world? You can figure out that shizzle for yourself.

The Secretaries attack with gorgeous, harmonic songs, punchy and thought out. Their shows are excessively fun parties, swaying with dented-brass choreography. When they tour your way, come up to the stage with a couple shots in your hands. The rest will be history.

- Fish Griwkowsky

Reviews of the Secretaries featuring the Brassholes

SoundProof Magazine (Page 16), March 5, 2010
Guttersnipe Show Review, Black Frog, Vancouver, October 21, 2009
Herohill Album Review. October 14, 2009
The National Beat Album Review, October 13, 2009
Vue Weekly Cover Feature, October 8, 2009
See Magazine Feature, October 8, 2009
Vue Weekly Album Review, October 8, 2009

Charts

5 on CKUA's Top 100 of 2009!!
9 on CITR (Vancouver, BC) - January 12, 2010
9 on CKLU (Sudbury, ON) - December 8, 2009
9 on CKXU (Lethbridge, AB) - October 27, 2009
11 on CJAM (Windsor, ON) - November 24, 2009
20 on CFBX (Kamloops, BC) - December 22, 2009
!!! Start Code To Apply Top Banner !!!! ...... ...... Custom top banner code by Eileen

..
!!! End Code To Apply Top Banner !!! ....Logo design


.... .. Black Transparency ....

Member Since:

August 04, 2006

Members:

Amy van Keeken: guitar, vocals, accordion, recorder, percussion, Robot Ass Slap

Colleen Brown: bass, vocals, Percussive Ankle Twist

Now featuring those handsome devils THE BRASSHOLES. Horn section/dance crew extraordinaire!

Influences:

70s Heart, tequila, all night record listening/living room dance parties, Olivia Newton John, Thin Lizzy, The Darkness, AC/DC, feathers, art nouveau, puppies, sparkly jewelry, masks, wicked moves, the forest, Deep Purple, The Clash, The Sonics, BILLY JOEL/GLASS HOUSES, Neil Young, dark places, did we mention tequila?

Sounds Like:

Record Label:

YR MOM

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