Cone Five
Encyclopedia
Cone Five was an indie noise-pop band from Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, active from 1999 to 2006. The band began as a recording project spearheaded by Matt McLennan
, Galaxy Jenny, Sean Pauls and Ryan McVeigh. Upon completion of the first album, the band's original live lineup consisted of Matt McLennan
(vocals, guitar), Galaxy Jenny (bass, backing vocals), Jason Peters
(guitar, backing vocals) and Christian Bohonos (drums, backing vocals). Upon completion of the band's third album, Bohonos and Peters left the group on amicable terms. They were replaced by Andrew Workman (drums, backing vocals, guitar, bass, piano rape, echo tube, tabla, synthesizer, jawbone of an ass, harmonica, handclaps, tuba, recorder, violin, can opener, etc.) and Leslie Oldham (vocals, keyboards, accordion), both of whom appeared on the fourth and fifth albums and innumerable live shows. Peters returned to the band in 2005, in time for the recording of the fifth and final album as well as the group's final two shows. Longtime sound engineer Ryan McVeigh is also listed in the credits of the final album as a band member.
Cone Five's signature sound was a mix of high volume and emotional content. This at times garnered them the "emo
" label, though the group was better characterized as a rather eclectic mix of art-rock, punk rock
, surf
, pop
and other styles. Live shows were energetic and chaotic, often beginning and ending in extended feedback squalls. The band gained a steady following over the course of its first three albums, piquing the interest of local label Conifera Records. Conifera helped release 2003's "Fond Of", the only Cone Five album to break the national Canadian campus top 50 (Earshot). The album, as well as the band's frequent live performances, helped to usher in and sustain the short-lived Conifera Records scene in Winnipeg which lasted from approximately 2002-2005 and which featured such artists as Effector, Nowheretogo, Boat, The Horribly Awfuls
, the Poets, and UBCLF.
The final album "Ants in the Sugar", released in 2007 on Grumpy Cloud Records, saw a dramatic shift with the sharing of lead vocal duties by keyboardist Leslie Oldham. The album is according to the group its "most extreme and adventurous outing to date" (Myspace
reference), blending styles and moods at an unprecedented degree.
Cone Five was dissolved in mid 2006 following more than two years of logistical problems (McLennan moved to Ottawa in 2003 to pursue graduate degrees in philosophy at the University of Ottawa) as well as increasingly strained personal relationships. Having slowed down considerably as a live outfit, the group recorded "Ants in the Sugar" as its testament. The official breakup was announced mid 2006 on the group's Myspace
.
Of the former members of Cone Five, McLennan, Oldham ,Bohonos and Workman have remained consistently active as musicians. McLennan released three independent solo outings in one year (from 2003–2004), all of which cracked the Canadian national campus top 200 (Earshot). Since then, he has gone on to found the psychedelic folk group Mr. Pine
with Kevin Scott, and has contributed to recordings by the Horribly Awfuls
and Transmitter Down. Oldham went on to join McLennan in Mr. Pine
, and is also a member of Winnipeg pop institution Paper Moon
. Bohonos served served a stint as drummer for the Martian Graverobbers, and currently plays with the band Breakaway Faction. Workman creates mostly unlistenable noise in his basement and one day hopes to spit on the grave of Philip Glass.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, active from 1999 to 2006. The band began as a recording project spearheaded by Matt McLennan
Matt McLennan
Matt McLennan is an Ottawa-based musician and songwriter who grew up in, and retains strong ties to, the indie music scene in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is a member of the Grumpy Cloud Records label collective, and is currently the lead singer and guitarist in Ottawa band use every part of the...
, Galaxy Jenny, Sean Pauls and Ryan McVeigh. Upon completion of the first album, the band's original live lineup consisted of Matt McLennan
Matt McLennan
Matt McLennan is an Ottawa-based musician and songwriter who grew up in, and retains strong ties to, the indie music scene in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is a member of the Grumpy Cloud Records label collective, and is currently the lead singer and guitarist in Ottawa band use every part of the...
(vocals, guitar), Galaxy Jenny (bass, backing vocals), Jason Peters
Jason Peters
-Buffalo Bills:Peters was picked up by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie free agent in April 2004. He was cut then re-signed to the Bills' practice squad. He was signed to the active roster on November 12, 2004...
(guitar, backing vocals) and Christian Bohonos (drums, backing vocals). Upon completion of the band's third album, Bohonos and Peters left the group on amicable terms. They were replaced by Andrew Workman (drums, backing vocals, guitar, bass, piano rape, echo tube, tabla, synthesizer, jawbone of an ass, harmonica, handclaps, tuba, recorder, violin, can opener, etc.) and Leslie Oldham (vocals, keyboards, accordion), both of whom appeared on the fourth and fifth albums and innumerable live shows. Peters returned to the band in 2005, in time for the recording of the fifth and final album as well as the group's final two shows. Longtime sound engineer Ryan McVeigh is also listed in the credits of the final album as a band member.
Cone Five's signature sound was a mix of high volume and emotional content. This at times garnered them the "emo
Emo (music)
Emo is a style of rock music characterized by melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics. It originated in the mid-1980s hardcore punk movement of Washington, D.C., where it was known as "emotional hardcore" or "emocore" and pioneered by bands such as Rites of Spring and Embrace...
" label, though the group was better characterized as a rather eclectic mix of art-rock, punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, surf
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and other styles. Live shows were energetic and chaotic, often beginning and ending in extended feedback squalls. The band gained a steady following over the course of its first three albums, piquing the interest of local label Conifera Records. Conifera helped release 2003's "Fond Of", the only Cone Five album to break the national Canadian campus top 50 (Earshot). The album, as well as the band's frequent live performances, helped to usher in and sustain the short-lived Conifera Records scene in Winnipeg which lasted from approximately 2002-2005 and which featured such artists as Effector, Nowheretogo, Boat, The Horribly Awfuls
The Horribly Awfuls
The Horribly Awfuls are a cowpunk indie pop band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. In four years spanning 2002-2006, they made four full-length records and one EP which is yet to be released...
, the Poets, and UBCLF.
The final album "Ants in the Sugar", released in 2007 on Grumpy Cloud Records, saw a dramatic shift with the sharing of lead vocal duties by keyboardist Leslie Oldham. The album is according to the group its "most extreme and adventurous outing to date" (Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
reference), blending styles and moods at an unprecedented degree.
Cone Five was dissolved in mid 2006 following more than two years of logistical problems (McLennan moved to Ottawa in 2003 to pursue graduate degrees in philosophy at the University of Ottawa) as well as increasingly strained personal relationships. Having slowed down considerably as a live outfit, the group recorded "Ants in the Sugar" as its testament. The official breakup was announced mid 2006 on the group's Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.
Of the former members of Cone Five, McLennan, Oldham ,Bohonos and Workman have remained consistently active as musicians. McLennan released three independent solo outings in one year (from 2003–2004), all of which cracked the Canadian national campus top 200 (Earshot). Since then, he has gone on to found the psychedelic folk group Mr. Pine
Mr. Pine
Mr. Pine are a Canadian psych folk band formed in 2003 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.-History:The band's music combines elements of acid folk, classical music, pop, and several kinds of roots music, especially British folk music. The band was formed in 2003 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by Matt McLennan...
with Kevin Scott, and has contributed to recordings by the Horribly Awfuls
The Horribly Awfuls
The Horribly Awfuls are a cowpunk indie pop band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. In four years spanning 2002-2006, they made four full-length records and one EP which is yet to be released...
and Transmitter Down. Oldham went on to join McLennan in Mr. Pine
Mr. Pine
Mr. Pine are a Canadian psych folk band formed in 2003 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.-History:The band's music combines elements of acid folk, classical music, pop, and several kinds of roots music, especially British folk music. The band was formed in 2003 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by Matt McLennan...
, and is also a member of Winnipeg pop institution Paper Moon
Paper Moon (band)
Paper Moon is an indie rock band based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, that has released three albums and an EP.- History :The band was formed from the ashes of former Winnipeg bands B'ehl, The Bonaduces and The Electrosonics...
. Bohonos served served a stint as drummer for the Martian Graverobbers, and currently plays with the band Breakaway Faction. Workman creates mostly unlistenable noise in his basement and one day hopes to spit on the grave of Philip Glass.
Albums
- Songs for Dust (1999, Dismal Failure Records)
- De-ionized Water (2001, Dismal Failure Records)
- Picture of Wheat (2001, Dismal Failure Records)
- Fond Of (2003, Conifera Records)
- Ants in the Sugar (2007, Grumpy Cloud Records)
Compilations
- Conifera Records: Friends of the Forest (2002, Conifera Records - track: Cowgrrrls)
See also
- 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...
- List of bands from Canada
- List of Canadian musicians
- :Category:Canadian musical groups