Currently:
Robin Buckley (drums and backing vocals), Samir Khan (bass and vocals), Shaw-han Liem (keyboards and backing vocals), and Julien Beillard (guitar and vocals).
When attached to the animals that bother to grow them, the tusk is sharp and stabby in their constitution. When dislodged by humans, a tusk is often carved into jewelry for the use of debutantes, or, alternatively, molded into the piano keys that a similarly narcissistic beast (commonly known as “the musician”) will play.
“TUSKS” (in the singular) is the name of a rock and roll band from Toronto. Electricity enables these men to give melody to their strange thoughts, where mother fear their sons and courtrooms love their convicts. And what varieties of melodies can they conjure? Many! From “razzle-dazzle” to “pitter-patter”, TUSKS are highly musical practitioners of emotional ambidexterity, rhetorical whimsy, and sonic reciprocity.
Among the men in TUSKS, there are no childhood friendships to speak of. All relationships were formed well after puberty, and are thus mature and collegial.
Over years, members of the band have chugged and continue to chug under many musical outfits, including Kepler, Wooden Stars, I am Robot and Proud, Sea Snakes, Snailhouse, Clark/ Metal Kites, Hilotrons, and the Ben Gunning Band. Between them, they have opened for Madlib in Japan, sired a male baby, attended the 1993 World Public Speaking Championship (as an alternate), and obtained a Ph.D. in Philosophy.
That was a great set at Sneaky Dee's. Like breezes on a prairie plain, going from gentle coasting to gale-force, the sound is a pictorial collage of alt-roots-pop that radiates like uncovering a sunken treasure. Genuine and heartfelt, weaving together featherlight vocals and sparkling melodies, exposing the bare soul of Americana infused with uptempo energy, creating a rootsy medley that's both classic and contemporary. The light always shines through.
Hey – just a reminder to listen in SUNDAY night at 7-8:30 pm CST to hear songs from KEPLER on “This Great White North” an ALL CANADIAN music show from Austin, Texas ! It’s on 91.7 KOOP-FM Listen HERE Cheers, Doug The Canuck
