Date: June 18th, 2010
Show Time: 8:00pm
Tickets - $20
Sunparlour Players - Rock / Alternative / Folk
"One of our own!" One of the band members, Dennis van Dine, is from Haileybury and opening for the Sunparlour Players is Mark Bradford, of Punch Me Hard and Sabrina Roberts. This is an opportunity for the Classic to showcase "one of our own" on our stage!!"
TORONTO - This May 19, 2009, the Sunparlour Players release their sophomore album Wave North on the Outside Music label. While the word 'sunparlour' paints a picture of a warm front porch solarium, the nod is in fact to the Sunparlour district of Canada - the southernmost mainland of the country, the largest growing climate in Canada and the place where the band of this name began.
Formed a little over three years ago, the band has two EPs and one previous full length releases to their credit: 2005's solely-independent EP release Mersea , 2006's live EP Alive at the Tranzac and 2007's critically acclaimed Hymns for the Happy. The now three-person band of multi-instrumentalists - bandleader Andrew Penner, and co-conspirators Dennis Van Dine, and Michael "Rosie" Rosenthal - recorded their new album at Blue Rodeo's Woodshed Studio and the Fembots Junkshop between Dec 2008 and Feb 2009. A choir and horn section were recorded at Toronto's Factory Theatre.
Once described as "...the Arcade Fire with more banjo" (METRO), the new album furthers their alternative style, peppering the tunes with a tip of the hat to Randy Newman, Tom Waits and perhaps even some Buffalo Tom. This was in turn aided by producer Jeremy Backofen (Felice Brothers, Frightened Rabbit, Mice Parade) whose cross-pollinated experience with some of the most innovative folk and rock musicians today gave them a definitive approach to the recording of the album.
With Andrew Penner acting as chief songwriter, the 13 track album finds confrontation and re-building as central themes. Focus track Battle of 77 tells the tale of a local earth-driven family feud. The 24 second Mersea Community Horn Club refers to Penner's Mennonite hometown (since re-named the 'township of Leamington'.) Nuclear is an apocalyptic song which imagines what would happen to the neighbourhood if the nearby Fermi 2 reactor were to melt down.
The band's approach to Wave North was organic. Starting with a stripped down the sound, they added drums, organs, guitars, banjo, glockenspiel, vibes, distorted bass, accordion, piano, and clarinet. They also brought in a horn section, and a string quartet.
Known for their intense celebration of a live show ("a must see!!" - CBC 3) the Sunparlour Players continue to bring their unique sound to the masses. Come out and see for yourself.
Punch Me Hard
