Hedley: The Show Must Go...On

The obnoxiously charming, chart topping and fan favourite band Hedley released their third studio album "The Show Must Go" Tuesday, Nov. 17. Stationed out of B.C, the band has had previous hits with On My Own, Gunnin, She's So Sorry and For The Nights I Can't Remember to name a few. From the minute they hit the Canadian Music Industry, Hedley's band identity has been defined with high energy live performances, huge public support, sincere and personal lyrics, and a true love for their fans. In high anticipation, their newest creation is one of the bands most daring albums to date.

Track one, Cha-Ching, presents listeners with an up beat and danceable spoof on reality television. It was the first single to hit airways from the new record, and was soon accompanied with humourous scenes from the band on such shows as The Hills, Survivor, The Biggest Loser and even the Idol franchise in the over the top music video. The band can be seen throughout the video sporting many costumes that include money-hungry business men, Idol judges and reality show contestants. The second track on the album, Don't Talk To Strangers is the second released single. The video for this song aired on Much On Demand Thursday Nov. 19th, where the band also appeared for a quick interview. Directly in tune with the song lyrics, the video features a "cougar on the prowl" concept.

The album continues with Scream, an up-beat track that is programmed a lot like their previous material from Famous Last Words; however, there is also a presence of more electronic beats and sounds, which are also the basis of Cha-Ching, Don't Talk To Strangers and bonus track Lucky, which was available through a pre-order from itunes. Always known for his passion, Lead singer Jacob Hoggard, brings a whole-hearted vocal performance. In terms of the instrumental, both the lead up to heavier set drums from the verses to the chorus and the lead up from the bridge to the final chorus successfully stabilize the song into a real pop hit, incorporating the more produced beats with real rock undertones quite well.

In the fourth track is where the album takes a more down-beat and almost a more sincere approach in the way it's arranged. The smooth and camp-fire-esque melody dares the definition of what the band has done in the past, but reforms listeners of what the band can do now, and do well. These melodies also set the album apart from their previous work as well as what's currently out in the music scene at the moment. The unique and "head-bopping" beat along with the in and out shakers accompany the song well, setting a definite laid back and honest atmosphere.

Amazing, track five, is where the band has previously said they were able to truly showcase one of their best composed songs to date. Accompanied by the piano and slower beats, Hoggard brings a steller vocal performance and is sure to hit a high note with the female variety for singing such lyrics as "You're amazing, you're amazing and it's true, no one can save me, no one can save me like you do". The band played Amazing live at We Day when it stopped in Toronto, showcasing an already fan favourite.

The next track off the record, Shelter, has a great bass line, which accompanies the island felt melody and simplified drums. The track could be compared to Never Too Late off their second album, but definitely shows high vocal growth as well as growth within the band. The tune and whimsical lyrics create a no doubt, catchy melody that will definitely not disappoint.

Young and Stupid is a fun, no limits track that is bound to get you noticed for singing along in public. The lyrics and tone suggest that it represents Hoggards', or even the bands' growth since when they started out, being that the song as a whole is a tribute to their old days, scars and "young and stupid" behaviours, which the band is countlessly known for. However, it is clear from the lyrics in the chorus, "At least we did it our way" the song expresses no real regrets with all heads held high.
Track eight, presents a "Perfect" collaboration of superb vocal performance, instrumental strings and heart-wrenching passion that truly brings eye-opening emotion to the forefront. The small vocal changes that are seen throughout ultimately bring the simplicity that allows the piano ballad to shine through. One of the stronger songs on the record, fans can really appreciate the flow of personal experience from Hoggard with this track.

Another stand out track, Sweater Song is a story from Hoggard's heart that is really evident upon first listen. The acoustic, stripped down approach allows this song to keep its musical dignity regardless of music industry standards, definitely gaining an inch of love from listeners. The fact the song lacks the usual 'verse chorus' structure really shows Hedley's ability to keep the song the way they invisioned and how it was meant to be heard from the start. The haunting tune and vocals surround the true emotions of the song, which ultimately are the trials and feelings during a long distance seperation.

Coincidentally being track '9', 9 Shades of Red brings an easy and upbeat listen that touches on a 'fun night out on the town' with lyrics "Holla back for a planned attack, on this unsuspecting town, We may be looking pretty, but we make an awful sound". With catchy lyrics and a sing-a-long melody, the ensemble really brings a fun and care-free aspect to the album. The slower drum beat and "head-swaying" bass lines accompany the bigger choruses well.

The final track to the album, Friends, successfully ends with a slower, more stripped down performance that showcases the more raw sound of Hoggard's vocals and the simplicity is yet again a clear and pivotal aspect of their new sound. With lyrics such as "You and me will always be friends" the album completes on a seemingly higher note for fans. Previously, Tommy MacDonald, the bassist, has said this track is one of his personal favourites.

Presently it seems the band is evolving into a role-modeling, hard working band that has a duty to be responsible for themselves as well as their largely growing fan base. These personal growths and realizations can definitely be seen on this album. From the hillbilly rock anthems, to the fast and fun, and back to the emotional ballads, Hedley has made a record that is in tune with them as artists as well as them personally, which cannot be faulted against them in the least. This continuously maturing Canadian band has made rock hits and pop favourites that have hit the charts at #1, but with this album, regardless of those standards, it's sure to go as far and farther with the risky exploration of melodies, structures and compositions seen on The Show Must Go.

For more information on Hedley and on their upcoming headlining Canadian 2010 tour w/Boys Like Girls, Fefe Dobson, Faber Drive and Stereos, vist them at www.hedleyonline.com or myspace.com/hedley. Also, follow @hedleyonline on twitter. All photos by fourfourbeat (except album cover)

LIGHTS, camera, action.

Thanks to MuchMusic, we had the opportunity to attend the Lights concert in Calgary at the MacEwan Ballroom on Thursday Nov. 12. Along with the tickets we were given the chance to meet her before the show to say hi, and get a photo and some autographs.

After waiting a week to hear about the meet and greet, we received a text message telling us to be at the venue in less than 30 minutes. Unfortunately, that time frame didn’t allow us to get there in time.

After texting the coordinator of the meet and greet a couple times, it was established that we would not be able to meet Lights, but could expect some personalized signed posters from Lights herself when we got there.

The line-up for the show went the entire length of the building. Amongst the crowd, many fashioned Lights’ signature style, complete with headbands and leggings. Two guys roaming around the line were sporting tin foil costumes and signs reading “Knights for Lights.”

The line started moving around 7 p.m. Before finding a spot in the audience, we searched for two elastic bands so that the signed posters wouldn’t get crumpled. Arriving at the merch table to try and find the elastics, we encountered Seventh Rain’s Rich MacFarlane, who was selling merch for the opening band Jets Overhead.

We had never before listened to Jets Overhead, but were pleasantly surprised by their melodic sounds; Antonia Freybe-Smith and Adam Kittredge had voices that blended well together. It was a nice change to see two girls on stage (Freybe-Smith and Jocelyn Greenwood) with their fellow male bandmates.

Lights’ name was projected onto the screen behind the stage to screams from the crowd, signalling the start of her set. She opened with The Listening, and continued with performances of many of the other tracks off her full-length album. The songs had a more high-energy vibe live than they do on the record.

Throughout the show, comic style cartoons were displayed behind the stage, depicting the story of her crash landing on a strange planet. In the story, her character, Captain Lights, needed to bring music back to the creatures of the planet. This unique storyline set her concert apart from other artists that we’ve seen.

Visit her website to check out her galactic ways at iamlights.com, and follow her on twitter @lightsnoise.

The Secret's Out

Faber Drive’s sophomore album can’T keEp A SecrEt hit stores on Tuesday Nov. 10, showcasing the band’s evolution. The first single off the new record, G-Get Up And Dance, is a step up in the dance world.

The 12 track disc includes everything from traditional Faber Drive sounds seen on You and I Tonight and I'll Be There, to synthesized dance tunes Give Him Up and G-Get Up And Dance. The 12th song, featuring Jessie Farrell, is a redone version of I'll Be There, which appears earlier in the album with Dave Faber singing solo.

Faber Drive covers Just What I Needed, originally done by the Cars, brings a modern dance spin to the track. Faber's vocal performance on the song is deeper than what's usually expected from him, especially in the verses. This showcases his exploration with his voice and mixes things up a bit.

Listeners won't be disappointed with the fresh sounds that form the album, but they'll be opened up to the latest side of Faber Drive, which for most won't disappoint. Their live shows are a good way to get the most out of them and their songs, including ones from the new album. Check them out on their upcoming Canadian tour with The Latency and The New Cities in your hometown.

For more information on Faber Drive, visit them at myspace.com/faberdrive

Seventh Rain Against Bullying

On Monday Nov. 9, Centennial High School in Calgary hosted a Seventh Rain show as part of the band’s anti-bullying campaign. The band has been able to play with Canadian acts that include Faber Drive, Hedley and Ten Second Epic and have played numerous times on the Coca Cola Stage at the Calgary Stampede. They've recently released their follow-up album to Byda titled The Ghost In Me. In their anti-bullying campaigns they focus on their personal experiences with bullying, presenting at high schools around Alberta.

Drummer Phil Grossi and bassist Lucas Sheppard were severely bullied during their school years. In school, Ryan Williams and Rich MacFarlane, the lead singer and the guitarist, were friends with the ones doing the bullying, but eventually realized that something as simple as saying to those people, “Hey, what are you doing?” can really have an effect on someone’s life. As a band that has a quickly growing fan base, they saw their experiences as a way to spread awareness to a wide group of people by offering to play in schools across the province.

To start the night off, the band shared these stories about bullying with the audience. Sheppard, who couldn’t find anywhere to fit in at his new school in a small town where children didn’t accept him, and Grossi, who was constantly teased and went through severe emotional suffering due to his weight problem, told especially moving stories.

Sheppard shared his past with the audience and the affects it had on him. “We moved out to this new school and I was instantly thrown into this group of kids that had grown up together their whole life... It didn’t take long before it was decided that I was gonna be the guy to bully.” Sheppard also said being picked last in gym class, being called names, and being embarrassed were some of what he experienced early on.

“The only thing you really feel the whole time is just fear, and you’re lonely. I had horrible self esteem, and you start to believe what they have to say, “Is there something wrong with me?”

“It all changed eventually when I finally had a friend. That’s all it took, somebody just finally stood up for me and I befriended them, all of a sudden the bullies backed right off. They were just gone, not interested anymore. And it changed my life forever. All of a sudden I started feeling a lot better about myself.” He stressed the need for people to stand up and say something if they see bullying being done, because something as easy as standing up, truly changed his life.

Grossi also told his story, which had started as early as grade 3. “I had a problem...carrying all that weight, there is nowhere to hide. You get made fun of everywhere and that’s something that I had to go through most of my life.” He said kids as well as adults used to make fun of him wherever he went. He thanks Williams for giving him a chance and giving him some hope for the future. “The littlest things can make a difference.”

Grossi also explained one of the bands early career milestones and addressed their appreciation to the fans in helping them hear themselves on the radio, which the band was grateful for.

“We ended up winning the Vibe 98.5 100,000 search contest about 4 or 5 years ago, and it was such an amazing experience... Not only were we able to further our careers in music, we got to be played on radio, and a lot of that is attested to you guys...I wanna say, and I know the rest of the guys wanna say, thank you very much.”

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The atmosphere quickly changed when the bands hit the stage. The Love Cats, who were given the opportunity to play after winning the school’s battle of the bands, opened the show to a round of applause. After they played some original tunes and a couple of covers, Seventh Rain took the stage.

As is commonplace at a Seventh Rain concert, the band gave a powerful performance which was only emphasized by the messages they delivered earlier that night. Opening with One To Fall, the first track off their new album, the band started to get the crowd pumped. The excitement grew throughout the show, leading to an encore consisting of one of the band’s own songs and a cover of The Black Eyed Peas’ I Gotta Feeling, to which the entire crowd was enthusiastically jumping and singing along.

All the images by fourfourbeat. For more information on Seventh Rain Against Bullying, and on the band and their music, visit myspace.com/7thrain or http://www.seventhrain.com/

Halloween with Marianas Trench & guests

Calgary’s Mount Royal University hosted an all ages Halloween bash Saturday Oct. 31^st to a sold out crowd at the Wyckham House.

Marianas Trench, The New Cities, Carly Rae Jepsen, and The Mission District performed, stopping for the night in Calgary on their Beside You Tour.

Tickets for the event were $23.50 from Ticketmaster.

The New Cities, originating from Quebec, brought a high energy performance to the stage with their electro-pop sounds. The Mission District, also originating from Quebec, fashioned zombie make-up and opened the event.

Carly Rae Jepsen and band came out as the Rice Crispie Trio, Snap, Crackle and Pop, while The New Cities came out with matching, horror-like masks.

Headliners, Marianas Trench, had an epic entrance to the stage with Josh Ramsay, lead singer, in a blue knee length dress and a blonde shoulder length wig creating a “Little Bo Peep” costume. He was also sporting some heavy stage make-up, including blush, lipstick, and foundation.

The crowd roared from the sight of Ramsay’s Halloween costume.

The other members of Marianas Trench, Mike Ayley on bass, Matt Webb on guitar and Ian Casselman on drums wore black leotards and white shirts with Velcro fluff to represent Ramsay’s “lost sheep” to complete the group costume scheme.

Attendees wore a variety of costumes, which included a Pikachu, the Teletubbies, many vampires and a few traditional witches were also present.

Aeron Mundell, 18, came to see Marianas Trench and was thrilled with the costumes that the bands came out with.

“I hadn’t heard of the other bands,” said Mundell. “But everyone’s stage presence was good. The songs were really good too.”

Mundell dressed up as a witch for the event supporting the Halloween themed bash.

“I loved the costumes, and my camera got some great documentation of them.” said Mundell, happy at capturing the night.

Mundell was situated on the balcony, and saw the show “brilliantly.”

Many kids were pulled from the mosh pit during the performances. One girl had even hit her head before quickly being pulled out along with her sister, who were later deemed fine.

“I was somewhat concerned about that, largely just wondering why so many people were being pulled out.” said Mundell.”I later learned that it was hotter than an oven down there, which made much more sense.”

Doors to the event opened around 7:30 p.m. The show ran until around 11:30 with daylight savings in consideration.

All four acts stayed to sign autographs and meet with fans following the concert. All could be found at their merchandise booths, where fans could get t-shirt, stickers, albums and pictures with the bands.

For more information on Marianas Trench, visit myspace.com/marianastrench
For more information on The Mission District, visit myspace.com/themissiondistrict
For more information on The New Cities, visit myspace.com/thenewcities
For more information on Carly Rae Jepsen, visit myspace.com/carlyraemusic