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.
THREE-SONG LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO!
April 5, 2022
The last time I performed in front of people was November 30, 2019. It was a private gig at the Rehearsal Factory on Richmond Street right here in Toronto. I played a set with Boxcar Sh’onn accompanying me on ukulele, Chris MacDonald also played a set, as did our good friend David Lee Burdon who was in town visiting. JDM set up a couple of cameras to document the night. We all played a few sets, as well as collaborated on some tracks as the night went on. Here’s a three-song video from my set. What makes this even more special is that the building where this was filmed is no longer a rehearsal space.
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.
DOGS “NIGHTRIDER” MUSIC VIDEO
April 19, 2014
Back in 2006 the Dogs recorded what was supposed to be our debut album at Rumenal Records. The sessions were lost and we were left with the raw unmixed recordings. We never released them. Recently JDM put together this music video for the track “Nightrider”from that very session. The song and video are a tribute to the 1979 movie Mad Max. Click here to check out the video.
Last month we returned to the recording studio, this time choosing to work with Dave Baksh at the Gentlemens Den. We recorded three songs and plan on releasing them as our debut 7inch this summer on Rubber Factory Records.
EXCLAIM TV PERFORMANCE
June 5, 2013
Posted by http://exclaim.ca Tue June 4, 2013
Over the past two decades, Toronto rocker Cactus Vella has been spreading his passionate brand of punk, but has recently shifted his focus to acoustic music. He has merged this newfound passion with his old one, and accordingly, labeled it “acoustic punk.”
The term fits his new music perfectly, as we learned when he came by our back patio to record a session. The song, “Ship Wreck,” has yet to appear on an album, but its full of Vella’s trademarks, including a strong nautical theme, gruff vocals, and a simple-yet-effective chord pattern. Watch the video below. Read the rest of this entry »