LEATHERFACE TRIBUTE + NEW BAND!
March 6, 2023
It’s been 15 years since Rubber Factory Records released the Leatherface Tribute compilation. And to celebrate this milestone, the compilation was officially released digitally (on YouTube). As well, 4 of us were asked to contribute new covers for a companion piece to the comp titled Local Chaps. You can check out my cover of “Springtime” on Bandcamp, or YouTube. I can remember 15 years ago being part of the production line of friends that assembled the gatefold double CD’s of this comp. I’m also proud to say I play on 3 different tracks on the Tribute. In addition to my solo track, I also appear with Sinkin’ Ships, and 2-Pump Louie.
Last month I put together a new acoustic band, and this past weekend we played our first gig right here in Toronto at Rod, Gun & Barbers. The venue is a barbershop by day, and a bar by night. Very rad place to play and I highly recumbent checking it out when in Toronto. The new band is currently called Cactus & Co. but that could change. On bass is my long time friend Rob Fiasco. Rob and I actually went to high school together. On drums is one of the most creative musicians I know, Andrew Howlin Heule. There’s plans to record this spring. Potentially as easy as April or May.
RANCID TRIBUTE + BACKSTAGE WITH K3NN3DY & PLANET LIZZDOM INTERVIEWS!
November 24, 2021
Hey hey! Last week I officially release LET ME GO: AN ACOUSTIC-PUNK TRIBUTE TO RANCID. Featuring 20 Canadian bands and artists all doing acoustic covers of Rancid songs. The line up features The Matchup, Chuck Coles, Emily Bones, Cactus Vella, Ty Trumbull, Andrew Yeo, Stacey & Phil, Mudie, Cindy Caron, Calhoun, Hackles, Jon Creeden, Dragon City Radio, John Di Marco, Valerie Knox, Cud Eastbound, The Little Deaths, Boxcar Sh’onn, Mikey And His Uke, and Chris Veinot. The comp is a free download available on bandcamp at this link. The good people at That’s Good Enough For Me recently did a track-by-track review of the comp. It;s a long, but fun read, and can be found right here.
I was recently a guest on the Backstage with K3NN3DY show for a second time. Check it out here. As well, I was also a guest on Planet Lizzdom. We talked for an hour about all sorts of stuff. You can watch it at this link.
“YONGE” EP AVAILABLE NOW + MUSIC VIDEO, INTERVIEW
September 4, 2020
Hey everyone. I am stoked to let you all know that my new 2-song EP “Yonge” was released last week by Little Rocket Records. We had a great first week! Thank you to everyone who’s checked it out. It’s available on all of your streaming platforms like Spotify, and YouTube. It’s also available to download on iTunes and Bandcamp.
Equally exciting is the release of my new music video for the track “Ship Wreck”. The video was directed by Dominique Girouard (who also directed my video for “Touch The Ground”), and was shot in my tool shed. We shot during the peak of COVID-19 and locations weren’t an option. Neither was having a crew. Dom handled all of the production duties himself. The video was a lot of fun to film and I think it shows in the final edit. Our friends at Punknews.org premiered the video last Friday on their site.
I was recently interviewed on the Apologue Podcast hosted by my old friend Simon Head. It was a great interview as Simon and I have some history together. I was one of the first artists to record in Simon’s studio back in 1997. We talk about that and many other things. The podcast is available everywhere you would fins all of your favorites at. Or click here to check it out.
NEW RELEASE + PODCAST INTERVIEWS
August 25, 2020
Hey everyone, it’s been a while. I hope everyone is staying safe during this pandemic.
It’s with great pleasure that I can finally announce that Little Rocket Records will be releasing my be digital single this week! I’ve been a big fan of LRR since day one, and I am beyond stoked to be a part of their family.
The two songs will be “Ship Wreck” and an OCMS cover “I Hear Them All”. The songs were reocrded in my home studio last year and feature back up vocals from Jesse LeBaurdais and Boxcar Shawn. I also shot a music video for “Ship Wreck” with the same director who shot my previous video for “Touch The Ground”.
As per the usual, I’ve been doing some promo work in anticipation of the release. I was recently the guest on the Backstage With K3nn3dy Podcast. You can check it out right here. I went straight to the barbershop after watching this interview and proceeded to have my beard trimmed. More links and news to follow soon. Take care friends.
LIVE VIDEO + STREAMING PLATFORMS
November 18, 2019
Good day everyone/ I played a fun little gig this past weekend and my good pal JDM was there to capture some of it. Check out this video of Boxcar Shawn and myself covering Pink Floyd’s “Goodbye Cruel World”.
I recently got Sailin’ On and Cactus Sings Springsteen back on streaming platforms. Both recordings can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Google Play/YouTube, Amazon, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Instagram/Facebook, Anghami, MediaNet, Deezer, ClaroMusica, KKBox, Napster, Saavn, Tidal, TikTok.
And finally, my new two song single for “Ship Wreck” b/w “I Hear The All” will hopefully be available this December. I’m just waiting on the guest back up vocals to be completed. Stay tuned for more details.
POST-POUZZA BLUES
June 6, 2017
Pouzza Fest 7 was everything that is great about Punk Rock Fests! It’s awesome bands, good people, great beer, a variety of food and all happening in a wicked city.
I was fortunate enough to once again get to play twice this year. First on the Friday night with Plan 37. We played to a packed Foufs 2.0. It was only my second gig back with the band and it felt awesome. We had a few minor challenges with the back-line that was provided but like true punk soldiers we locked in on our sound and groove and delivered a solid 30 minute set. My first gig back with Plan 37 took place a few days earlier in Toronto when we supported Off With Their Heads at The Bovine Sex Club.
Saturday at Pouzza was mostly Megan and I hopping around from venue to venue catching some great bands including a stellar set from Iron Chic with guest vocals from RVIVR. I was also interviewed by the great people at Bucketlist Music Reviews.
Sunday afternoon I performed my solo set at the Foufs BBQ and Merch Tent. I had a nice crowd come out and got to perform a Leatherface cover for Graeme from Leatherface. No pressure there of course… After my set Seth Anderson did his thing. Seth was amazing as always.
By the end of the weekend Megan and I caught roughly 25 performances, ate several slices of pizza and crushed a ton of PBRs. As always its a great so amazing to get to perform at these kinds of events for such passionate people. Montreal is a beautiful and I can’t wait to return.
HBD EJV
GIGS, PHOTOS & NEW MARKET MEMORIES
April 11, 2016
We’ve been having a fun year so far playing some great gigs and getting some rough mixes of our debut album. We recently played shows with The Headlines, The Queers, The Boids and so many others. Here’s a link to some photos from the Queers show. As well, here’s a link to photos from the Boids show.
We recently played a great show in New Market, Ontario. It’s been a while since I’ve been there. I’ve always had a great relationship with New Market. Bombshelter played a few shows there, as well Sinkin’ Ships. The Ships played there at least a dozen times.
I played New Market twice with Bombsheter in the 90s. The first time was in 1997 with Warface. It took place in the basement of an Internet cafe. I had no idea what an Internet cafe was at the time. I remember a lot of guys in track pants playing computer games and drinking cans of Diet Coke. But that was upstairs. Downstairs was a different scene. I can’t recall the opening bands, however I do recall someone shooting off a fire extinguisher midway through Warface’s set and the place clearing out pretty fast. When we all filed back in Bombshleter took the stage for our set. A lot of beer bottles were smashed that night and the promoter lost his deposit. No one got paid. None of us cared.
We returned one year later, this time we had 2 Pump Louie opening for us. We played some outdoor park. JJ’s parents were there. It was a weird vibe, like really weird. The York Region police showed up while we were playing and tried to shut us down. I remember us playing with some serious ferocity in front of those cops. Every song suddenly became about them. That may have been our last show. I believe Bombshelter broke up shortly after. That’s enough old-time memories for now… However, if that story makes you feel inclined to listen to Bombshelter, you can do some here.
Coming up we have a gig in Toronto supporting The Mahones, a Barrie show with the Murderburgers and a gig with The Copyrights as well. I’ve been loving the Copyrights these days since my wife turned me on to them a couple of years ago. She always has the best taste in punk rock.
After those shows I’ll be taking some time off from Plan 37 to focus on starting a family. My wife and I are expecting a child in June and we couldn’t be more stoked! I’m still planning on playing the record release show whenever that happens. But a break is needed.
Speaking of the record, the mixes have been coming in and they’re sounding pretty cool so far. I’ll be sure to provide an update as soon as things become more clear.
Cactus Vella Music 