Attack in Black
Encyclopedia
Attack in Black was a Canadian indie rock band
from Welland
, Ontario. They first signed to Skate Ahead Records for their self-titled album debut in 2005. In spring 2006, they signed with Dine Alone Records
. In late 2008 Ian and Daniel along with Steve Lambke
(aka Baby Eagle) of the Constantines
, formed their own label, You've Changed Records
.
, guitarist Spencer Burton, and bassist Aaron Murphy, the band recorded a self-titled EP themselves for Grimsby
, Ontario label Skate Ahead Records. After its release in 2004, Murphy quit and was replaced by another Welland-area musician, Matt Ellis. Ellis did not stay in the band long, and was replaced by Ian Kehoe, who had previously been in a band with Burton. Kehoe immediately took on the job of writing most of the lyrics for the band. Solo artist Kendra Foord played keys with the band briefly, but left shortly before they toured western Canada due to creative differences.
Closely following the lineup change, Attack in Black toured to the west coast of Canada. Upon their return, they spoke with promoter Joel Carriere, who had just founded Dine Alone Records. He offered to sign them and put out their next EP, and, in early 2006, the band accepted. The four-song Widows EP resulted from this new agreement and was released September 16, 2006.
When the time came to record their first full album, they went to Chemical Sound Studios
in Toronto with Ian Blurton
for a two-week session (the band's first and last studio & producer experience). Immediately upon completion of the recordings, Dine Alone insisted that the record did not meet their standards and the band was sent back to the studio with local producer Dan Weston.
The album, entitled Marriage
, was released on July 31, 2007, coinciding with sold out record launch show at the Horseshoe Tavern
in Toronto, Ontario. Three months following the release of Marriage the band also released the self-recorded album The Curve of the Earth
. This record was written and recorded over two nights in Spencer Burton's sun room. It was recorded through a two input tape machine onto an 8 track recorder. Each member of the band sang three songs on the record. It was released on vinyl and digital download only. In 2008 it was released in Germany on the Zeitstrafe label
While on tour with Ladyhawk and Shotgun Jimmie
, the release of "Fall Tour Split" was sold. Released on Dine Alone Records on 7" vinyl only. "Fall Tour Split" featured songs by fellow tour-mates; Shotgun Jimmie and Ladyhawk.
Band members Daniel Romano and Ian Kehoe along with Constantines guitarist Steve Lambke started the You've Changed Records
label in late 2008. The label's first release was a record by Shotgun Jimmie called Still Jimmie. It was recorded in the bands home studio and features all the members of Attack in Black as Jimmie's backup band.
The third album Years (by One Thousand Fingertips)
was released on March 10, 2009 on Dine Alone Records. The album consists of 16 tracks recorded by the band.
Following this release was split LP with Baby Eagle
, the solo project of Constantines
guitarist Steve Lambke, in May 2009. released on You've Changed Records. Romano subsequently collaborated with Frederick Squire and Julie Doiron
on the collaborative folk
album Daniel, Fred & Julie
, released December 1, 2009. He also released a solo album, Workin' for the Music Man, which was supported by a cross-Canada tour with Jason Collett
. His newest solo effort, Sleep Beneath the Willow, was released on April 5, 2011 on You've Changed Records.
Guitarist Spencer Burton released Eulogy of Her and Her under his solo side project Grey Kingdom on March 1, 2011.
Bassist Ian Kehoe also performs as Marine Dreams.
While their fourth album is complete, the band is currently on hiatus, with their final show having taken place on August 27, 2011 at the Mansion House in St. Catharines, ON with Diamond Rings
.
In October 2011, Dine Alone Records and You've Changed Records re-released the Fake Love Songs tape with one bonus track.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
from Welland
Welland, Ontario
Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada.The city has been traditionally known as the place where rails and water meet, referring to the railways from Buffalo to Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and the waterways of Welland Canal and Welland River,...
, Ontario. They first signed to Skate Ahead Records for their self-titled album debut in 2005. In spring 2006, they signed with Dine Alone Records
Dine Alone Records
Dine Alone Records is a Canadian independent Record Label founded by Joel Carriere. The Label specializes in a wide range of alternative rock. Dine Alone was until recently closely associated with Distort Entertainment's president Greg Below.-History:...
. In late 2008 Ian and Daniel along with Steve Lambke
Steve Lambke
Steve Lambke is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He is a vocalist and guitarist for the indie rock band Constantines, and releases solo material under the name Baby Eagle.-Biography:...
(aka Baby Eagle) of the Constantines
Constantines
-History:The band was formed by Steve Lambke, Bryan Webb, Doug MacGregor, and Dallas Wehrle in 1999, following the break-up of Webb and MacGregor's emotional hardcore band Shoulder...
, formed their own label, You've Changed Records
You've Changed Records
You've Changed Records is a Canadian independent record label, owned by Daniel Romano and Ian Kehoe of Attack in Black and Steve Lambke of Constantines....
.
History
The band members began their careers playing punk shows. The band immediately had a following in the Welland area, due to having performed in other local acts prior to Attack in Black's formation. Originally composed of brothers Ian and Daniel RomanoDaniel Romano
Daniel Romano is a Canadian visual artist and musician, who has released material both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Attack in Black, and also as a frequent collaborator with other musicians, including City and Colour, Julie Doiron and Frederick Squire.Romano is also a partner in his...
, guitarist Spencer Burton, and bassist Aaron Murphy, the band recorded a self-titled EP themselves for Grimsby
Grimsby, Ontario
Grimsby is a town on Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. Grimsby is a part of the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. The majority of residents reside in the area bounded by Lake Ontario and the Niagara escarpment...
, Ontario label Skate Ahead Records. After its release in 2004, Murphy quit and was replaced by another Welland-area musician, Matt Ellis. Ellis did not stay in the band long, and was replaced by Ian Kehoe, who had previously been in a band with Burton. Kehoe immediately took on the job of writing most of the lyrics for the band. Solo artist Kendra Foord played keys with the band briefly, but left shortly before they toured western Canada due to creative differences.
Closely following the lineup change, Attack in Black toured to the west coast of Canada. Upon their return, they spoke with promoter Joel Carriere, who had just founded Dine Alone Records. He offered to sign them and put out their next EP, and, in early 2006, the band accepted. The four-song Widows EP resulted from this new agreement and was released September 16, 2006.
When the time came to record their first full album, they went to Chemical Sound Studios
Chemical Sound Studios
Chemical Sound is a recording studio located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1992 by record producer Daryl Smith , it is known for its “no frills” interior design, a large selection of vintage recording equipment and API mixing console.In 2006, the original location...
in Toronto with Ian Blurton
Ian Blurton
Ian Blurton is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was born in Chicago in 1965, and moved to Toronto in the mid 1970s.He has been a part of Toronto's indie music scene since the early 1980s, playing drums in the original line-ups for Cowboy Junkies and A Neon Rome before becoming the lead...
for a two-week session (the band's first and last studio & producer experience). Immediately upon completion of the recordings, Dine Alone insisted that the record did not meet their standards and the band was sent back to the studio with local producer Dan Weston.
The album, entitled Marriage
Marriage (album)
Marriage is the debut album from Canadian rock band Attack in Black, released July 31, 2007. The album was released by Dine Alone Records as both a CD and through digital download...
, was released on July 31, 2007, coinciding with sold out record launch show at the Horseshoe Tavern
Horseshoe Tavern
The Horseshoe Tavern is a concert venue located at 370 Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, and has been in operation since 1947. Owned by "JC", Ken Sprackman, Craig Laskey and Naomi Montpetit, the venue is a significant part of Canadian musical lore...
in Toronto, Ontario. Three months following the release of Marriage the band also released the self-recorded album The Curve of the Earth
The Curve of the Earth
The Curve of the Earth is an album by Canadian band Attack in Black, released on November 13, 2007. The album was released on one thousand 12" vinyl records, and was also available for digital download...
. This record was written and recorded over two nights in Spencer Burton's sun room. It was recorded through a two input tape machine onto an 8 track recorder. Each member of the band sang three songs on the record. It was released on vinyl and digital download only. In 2008 it was released in Germany on the Zeitstrafe label
While on tour with Ladyhawk and Shotgun Jimmie
Shotgun Jimmie
Shotgun Jimmie is the stage name of Jim Kilpatrick, a Canadian singer-songwriter. Formerly associated with the band Shotgun & Jaybird, since that band's breakup he has released several albums as a solo artist....
, the release of "Fall Tour Split" was sold. Released on Dine Alone Records on 7" vinyl only. "Fall Tour Split" featured songs by fellow tour-mates; Shotgun Jimmie and Ladyhawk.
Band members Daniel Romano and Ian Kehoe along with Constantines guitarist Steve Lambke started the You've Changed Records
You've Changed Records
You've Changed Records is a Canadian independent record label, owned by Daniel Romano and Ian Kehoe of Attack in Black and Steve Lambke of Constantines....
label in late 2008. The label's first release was a record by Shotgun Jimmie called Still Jimmie. It was recorded in the bands home studio and features all the members of Attack in Black as Jimmie's backup band.
The third album Years (by One Thousand Fingertips)
Years (by One Thousand Fingertips)
-Personnel:Attack In Black*Daniel Romano – lead vocals, guitar*Spencer Burton – guitar, organ, vocals*Ian Kehoe – bass, vocals*Ian Romano – drums, percussionAdditional musicians*Julie Fader – guest vocals on "Birmingham"...
was released on March 10, 2009 on Dine Alone Records. The album consists of 16 tracks recorded by the band.
Following this release was split LP with Baby Eagle
Steve Lambke
Steve Lambke is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He is a vocalist and guitarist for the indie rock band Constantines, and releases solo material under the name Baby Eagle.-Biography:...
, the solo project of Constantines
Constantines
-History:The band was formed by Steve Lambke, Bryan Webb, Doug MacGregor, and Dallas Wehrle in 1999, following the break-up of Webb and MacGregor's emotional hardcore band Shoulder...
guitarist Steve Lambke, in May 2009. released on You've Changed Records. Romano subsequently collaborated with Frederick Squire and Julie Doiron
Julie Doiron
Julie Doiron is an award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter of Acadian heritage.-Background:Doiron started playing guitar in Eric's Trip at the age of eighteen, having joined the band at the insistence of her then-boyfriend, Rick White, also of Eric's Trip...
on the collaborative folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
album Daniel, Fred & Julie
Daniel, Fred & Julie
Daniel, Fred & Julie is an album by Canadian indie rock musicians Daniel Romano, Frederick Squire and Julie Doiron, released December 1, 2009 on You've Changed Records....
, released December 1, 2009. He also released a solo album, Workin' for the Music Man, which was supported by a cross-Canada tour with Jason Collett
Jason Collett
Jason Collett is a Toronto based singer-songwriter. He has released four solo albums, and is a member of Broken Social Scene. His latest album, Rat a Tat Tat, was released in March, 2010.-Early life:...
. His newest solo effort, Sleep Beneath the Willow, was released on April 5, 2011 on You've Changed Records.
Guitarist Spencer Burton released Eulogy of Her and Her under his solo side project Grey Kingdom on March 1, 2011.
Bassist Ian Kehoe also performs as Marine Dreams.
While their fourth album is complete, the band is currently on hiatus, with their final show having taken place on August 27, 2011 at the Mansion House in St. Catharines, ON with Diamond Rings
Diamond Rings (musician)
John O'Regan is a Canadian artist and musician best known by his stage name Diamond Rings. In addition to writing, recording, and producing his own music, he is also noted for transcending traditional representations of gender and identity in his live performances and videos.-2003 - 2008: Early...
.
In October 2011, Dine Alone Records and You've Changed Records re-released the Fake Love Songs tape with one bonus track.
Current members
- Daniel RomanoDaniel RomanoDaniel Romano is a Canadian visual artist and musician, who has released material both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Attack in Black, and also as a frequent collaborator with other musicians, including City and Colour, Julie Doiron and Frederick Squire.Romano is also a partner in his...
– vocals, lead guitar - Ian Kehoe – bass guitar, vocals
- Spencer Burton – backing vocals, guitar
- Ian Romano – drums, percussion
Discography
| Date of Release |
Title | Label |
| 2005 | Attack in Black | Skate Ahead Records |
| 2006 | Widows EP | Dine Alone Records |
| 2007 | Northern Towns EP | Dine Alone Records |
| 2007 | Marriage Marriage (album) Marriage is the debut album from Canadian rock band Attack in Black, released July 31, 2007. The album was released by Dine Alone Records as both a CD and through digital download... |
Dine Alone Records |
| 2007 | The Curve of the Earth The Curve of the Earth The Curve of the Earth is an album by Canadian band Attack in Black, released on November 13, 2007. The album was released on one thousand 12" vinyl records, and was also available for digital download... |
Dine Alone Records |
| 2008 | Fall Tour Split 7" | Dine Alone Records |
| 2009 | Years (by One Thousand Fingertips) Years (by One Thousand Fingertips) -Personnel:Attack In Black*Daniel Romano – lead vocals, guitar*Spencer Burton – guitar, organ, vocals*Ian Kehoe – bass, vocals*Ian Romano – drums, percussionAdditional musicians*Julie Fader – guest vocals on "Birmingham"... |
Dine Alone Records |
| 2009 | Attack in Black/Baby Eagle Split EP | You've Changed Records |
| 2009 | Fake Love Songs Tape | Self Released |
Singles
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Young Leaves" | |
| 2008 | "Hunger of the Young" | |
| 2009 | "Beasts" | |
| "Liberties" | ||
Awards
| Year | Event | Won | Nominated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | CASBY Award CASBY Award The CASBY Award is a Canadian award for independent and alternative music, presented annually by Toronto, Ontario radio station CFNY, currently branded as 102.1 The Edge. The name CASBY stands for Canadian Artists Selected By You.... s |
Favourite New Artist, NXNE Favourite New Indie Release (Marriage) | |
See also
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- List of bands from Canada
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...