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October 18, 2008
Lydia interviews: The Hometown Hecklers
Lydia:
The Hometown Hecklers are the definitive pret-a-port punk-rock band. They play live often. They jam often, and write songs nearly every week. Tonight they are preparing for a show with local band Bake Sale, and two imports from Manitoba; The Gorgon and The Angry Dragon. 
Although the band has a break in shows in the coming month, I decided to take time to interview them shortly after their release party. Coping with line-up change, and then the quick success of their album in the midst of non-stop gigs does not seem to faze them. This incarnation (the Hecklers name has been around a while) was formed mid-2007 and only recently enlisted a new drummer. With an album already fresh off the press, "The Heart and Downstroke Foundation", this is one band that works fast.
What did you all think of recording The Heart and Downstroke Foundation? Did you enjoy it?
Josh - Well, you are recording right now, and I enjoy it. The album was pretty much the same.
Matt (laughing) - I wasn't on the album. I was in just before the release party.
Ruggy Ride - I love recording! Paul played drums for the album. We had a friggin' Blast!
KeeKee - Totally love recording! Totally. Some songs were a little tense, a little much. But it was awesome.
Lydia - Of course, it went pretty fast though right?
KK - Yeah, probably the fastest album out of North Bay lately.
RR - No man, it was like...
KK - Four months?
RR - Five months? Yeah, that's fast I guess.
KK - Super fast.
Me - I understand you are already sold out of discs... is that true?
RR - We sold out at the release party!
KK - Yeah, we sold out pretty fast, got more printed.
Russell "Ruggy Ride" Collins and Kelly "Kee-Kee" Allan have been core members of The Hometown Hecklers since the 2007 revival which originally included Paul Rothwell, of Sobriety's Rejects fame. Josh "Lambo" Lambert was added as rhythm guitarist in January 2008 and the latest addition Matt Dent joined recently to replace Paul on drums.
The Hecklers have rotated drummers quite a bit since Paul. Have all my favorite drummers in town jammed with you?
RR - Nah, we have only had Chucky, Paul, Kevin, and now Matt.
Josh - I played for one show, we jammed a couple times with me on drums, but yeah, we jammed with alternates sometimes.
KK - Yeah, and Sterling and Scott filled in too.
RR - Just for jams though. Only four official drummers, I think. And now Matt!
Lydia - Yes, Matt, how many live shows have you been at now?
Matt - Rothfest, the CD Release Party, the Can Change Festival, October 3rd...
Josh - Matt's first show was Rothfest
RR - Yeah, our last show with Kevin was the Pig Roast.
Matt - Yeah, Rothfest was like, a week after the NPR Pig Roast.
Non Partisan Records is a loose artists co-operative formed by members of OMOS, 24 Sussex and Power-Stance Merchandise who regularly organize shows Lately, most shows are private affairs as there is trouble securing venues in North Bay. With luck, NPR is able to hold two shows a month with a full line at the merch booth with cd's, shirts and stickers for most of the bands they support.
Speaking geek for a minute, what make and model do you all play?
RR - I have an Ibanez SG style, it's like a Gibson knock off or whatever But Kel bought me it so I love it.
KK - Ernie Ball style Jay Turser and I love it and his name is Jimmy The Con!
RR - What did I name mine? I forget!
Matt - I play... um... drums!
Kel - Druggys rum kit!
Lydia - Yeah, the slut kit, eh?
Josh - It's a Taye, good Canadian company actually...
Matt - Yup, it's a Taye. Yes, it's a great kit really.
Josh - right now, I use the Tele, which is a great guitar, I like playing that. Not using my other guitar
Matt - oh, what kind is that?
Josh - I have no idea. B? It has a B on it, weirdest guitar ever.
I have seen Matt, Josh and Ruggy all play different instruments, so what does everyone play?
Josh - I started on drums but no one in the band I was in wanted to sing, so I figured I would just do it. The first tune I learned on drums was Rockin' in the Free World!
Matt - I play drums, bass and guitar
Lydia - Formal training on any, or all self taught?
Matt - Yup, all self taught.
Kel - I have been playing bass a year and a bit.
Lydia - You dabbled in guitar and have been singing forever...
Kel - Yeah, choral, country and gospel singing. Guitar... not so much.
Ruggy - Guitar, Bass, Drums... I taught myself. I had a few guitar lessons but...
Matt and Josh (laughing) - but what?
Ruggy - But it sucked! He was a nice guy though...
The Hometown Hecklers have a massive choice of material for set-lists. Each show sounds fresh when coupled with the bands love of playing off one another. There has been a shift in songwriting in the last few months, as Kelly and Lambert are beginning to flesh out songs they have written. There is a unique sound to the Hecklers as it is, so the new material fits into the current roster seamlessly - just as the personalities of the band members mesh particularly well.
RR - So what did you think of Shimmy Bop?
Lydia - I liked it, I didn't recall it being played at your last show - You have a lot of songs, don't you?
RR - At least enough for an EP probably enough for an album in a month.
KK (laughing) - Or tomorrow! We want an album out with Matt pretty bad!
Matt - Definitely!
Lydia - Is there anything you would like to add before we head for beer and wings? Future Plans?
RR - I hate that new Kid Rock song.
Josh - Timmins perhaps, I want to do a show in Timmins pretty bad... you see, 'cause it's close to home. But it's hard to play shows there 'cause there's a lack of interest. It's a hip-hop town...
RR - I thought it was an AC/DC town?
KK - No, North Bay is an AC/DC town. We proved that one night.
Matt - More shows, recording...
KK - I really want to hit Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec city. Recording.
RR - More shows. More songs.
Posted by i220 at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2008
Shows: Canada
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sat.Oct.11/07pm The Hometown Hecklers @ 211 Highland, North Bay.
Posted by i220 at 06:30 AM | Comments (1)
October 02, 2008
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Five Years and Counting.
Monthly Newsletter 47 - Promoting YOUR music. VISIT US | JOIN US
WELCOME new members: Kelly *173 strong* 500+ hits daily, worldwide.
Concert ListingsCANADA
Fri.Oct.03/07pm The Hometown Hecklers @ 211 Highland, North Bay.
Sat.Oct.04/07pm beatzMASSIVE* @ The Kathedral, Toronto.
Fri.Oct.17/09pm The Coggs @ The Rainbow Bistro, Ottawa w/ SPEAKING TONGUES
Fri.Oct.17/10pm Dig Newton @ Cecil's, North Bay.
Sun.Oct.19/05pm White Squirrel @ Banasiaks Big House, Toronto.
Fri.Oct.31/08pm beatzMASSIVE* @ Upstairs Bar Italia, Toronto.Artists
The Hometown Hecklers: North Bay, Canada PUNK
The Ben Robinson Band: U.S. INDIE BLUES ROCK
Kanarek: North Hollywood, U.S. PSYCHEDELICMusic
The Mike Plume Band: "Silver Lining" Nashville, U.S. ALT COUNTRY
LAST MONTH: Last month saw our resident blathermouth, Mattyy review the new CD by the Hometown Hecklers, "The Heart and Downstroke Foundation". Check here for review: http://www.themusicalrevolution.com/weblog/reviews/index.html
The band put their heart and soul into this one, check here for a sample: http:www.myspace.com/hometownhecklers
We also have a taste @ http:www.myspace.com/MUSREV
IMPORTANT!: Well, it was 5 years ago today that we launched this group with 14 members and an email newsletter. For a look at those first newsletters, check: http://www.themusicalrevolution.com/weblog/presite_newsletters/index.html
A year later we launched the website. Today we are over 170 strong and enjoy upwards of 2000 hits daily :D Future plans include a more user friendly interface, an online radio station and an online recording company. Hey, I live this every day -- Thanks for checking in and being part. BIG Love.
NEWS: Once every election cycle, Rage Against the Machine reunite, do a tour and get shut down by the Po-lice.. ahh tradition... See Jack (White) write Bond theme. See Coke use it in their ad campaign. See Jack get $. See Jack bitch about the ad. See Jack give the $ back.. JK... NYC has commissioned Philip Glass to write an operatic tribute to Walt Disney. Wouldn't it have been funny if Beethoven would have composed a symphony in memory of Jim Henson?.. Feist's latest Canadian tour will be one for the people. All proceeds from her merch will go to charity. And.. I got nothin'. That's pretty cool...
PROPAGANDA: Going once.. Going twice.. SOLD! The Stone's famous lips logo has been auctioned off to the highest bidder. Keith's next... Seems that Kanye West recently got in trouble for punching up some paparazzi. What's this world coming to when a corporate rap star can't beat on his boyfriend?.. Looks like Eminem's ma is
finally getting her own back. Bitch gone wild! She's writing a tell all book about young Marshall and promises to include lots of naked baby bath pics and a video of Slim singing "Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah"... Ex Blink drummer Travis and DJ AM almost died in a plane crash this past month. Randy Rhodes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Big Bopper, Richie Valens, Buddy Holly... I guess he DOES only take the good ones...
Love,
TheMusicalRevolution ;)
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Posted by i220 at 12:27 AM | Comments (0)