Idle Sons
Encyclopedia
Idle Sons is a Burlington, Ontario based rock band that formed in 1994 under the name Slurpymundae.
based rock band that has earned a devoted following in Canada
and beyond. The group was formed in 1994 by childhood friends Mike Eastick, Sean Kelly, Jer Crosskill, and Bruce Nicol. Jer Crosskill left the band shortly after its inception, and was replaced by Ryan Barkwell. Mike and Sean were on the same line on their hockey team while Bruce and Ryan were pitcher/catcher combination during baseball season. The group originally took the name Slurpymundae under which they toured extensively and released two EP
s and one full length album independently.
In the year 2001, after returning home from a cross-Canada tour with fellow Burlington band, Finger Eleven
, the group set to work recording a three song demo. Friends James Black and Rick Jackett of Finger Eleven were enlisted to produce the demo. At this time, the group began to feel that the name Slurpymundae did not have a future and so they made the switch to Idle Sons. Around this time the group also signed on with Coalition Entertainment manager Julian Gruhl.
Upon hearing the three-song demo, Atlantic Records
A&R Rep Kevin Carvel quickly brought the group to the attention of the label. The band signed their first major label recording contract with Atlantic Records and flew to Los Angeles to record their debut album with producer Gavin Mackillop. After six months of recording, the group had completed their debut effort. It was to be called ‘Hell or High Water.’
Soon after the completion of the debut Idle Sons album, Atlantic Records changed ownership.... (an internet company had owned the label, and it was sold to private interests). This change in ownership led to the reorganization of many positions within the company, namely the departure of Kevin Williamson
to Maverick Records
. As a result of this, Idle Sons were dropped and their record was handed back to them.
Despite the disappointment, Idle Sons would carry on with an intense regimen of songwriting and touring. After almost four years of writing and touring independently, the band signed a deal with EMI
Canada. The band soon departed for Vancouver
where they would work on their EMI debut at The Farm, the oceanfront, 14 acres (56,656 m²) studio complex run by producer GGGarth (Garth Richardson
), the studio whiz whose credits include Rage Against the Machine
, Trapt
, Chevelle
, Rise Against
, Mudvayne
, Kittie
, L7
and many others. The sessions would last for 20 days and the album Sixteen Seasons
was the result.
On May 2, 2006 EMI Canada released Idle Sons’ ‘Sixteen Seasons.’ The record comprises three different types of songs: Four tracks ("Bleeding," "This Evening," "Long Way Home" and "Before the Fall") survived intact from the never-released Hell or High Water. Four more ("Waiting Around," "Good Life," "Better Days" – the track that long-time fans might remember as "Push" – and "Now Forever") were reworked from their original Hell or High Water form. The final four songs (the first single "Tell Me," "Getaway," "Little Bit Less" and "Maggot") are all brand new, all products of the various jams from that seemingly endless period of limbo. Two were demoed just two weeks before the recording sessions began.
From February to December 2006, the band toured Canada in support of ‘Sixteen Seasons’ with: Default
, Rocketface, The Trews
, Seether
, Thornley
, Simple Plan
, Latefallen, Three Days Grace
, Mobile
, Marianas Trench
, Rides Again
, 30 Seconds to Mars
, Our Lady Peace
, The Tragically Hip, Waking Eyes, Ill Scarlet, Hedley, the Planet Smashers, Breach of Trust, Oliver Black, Finger Eleven, Mayor McCa, No Motiv and Theory of a Deadman
.
The first single, Tell Me, cracked the Top 20 for rock radio in Canada in July 2006.
In late December 2006 Sean left the band to pursue a career in teaching. His last show with the band was on December 16, 2006 in London, Ontario at the Salt Lounge.
The band has been nominated for a (CRMA) Canadian Radio Music Award and a Juno
in 2007.
On March 9, 2007, the band announced it had disbanded.http://artists.letssingit.com/artist-z9kg7/news/207665
Mike is now playing with a new band called "The Grave". They are set to release an album sometime around spring/summer of 2010.
Bruce is now tour managing for a number of artists including the likes of Justin Nozuka, Honeymoon Suite, Serena Ryder, Sam Bradley, Sweet Thing, Finger Eleven and others.
One of Idle Sons unreleased songs "The Fold" was re-recorded, re-worked, and re-named "Giving it all (The Fold)" by Rex Goudie and is on his album due out December 2010.
Biography
Idle Sons was a Burlington, OntarioBurlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
based rock band that has earned a devoted following in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and beyond. The group was formed in 1994 by childhood friends Mike Eastick, Sean Kelly, Jer Crosskill, and Bruce Nicol. Jer Crosskill left the band shortly after its inception, and was replaced by Ryan Barkwell. Mike and Sean were on the same line on their hockey team while Bruce and Ryan were pitcher/catcher combination during baseball season. The group originally took the name Slurpymundae under which they toured extensively and released two EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s and one full length album independently.
In the year 2001, after returning home from a cross-Canada tour with fellow Burlington band, Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1989. They have currently released five studio albums, with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream...
, the group set to work recording a three song demo. Friends James Black and Rick Jackett of Finger Eleven were enlisted to produce the demo. At this time, the group began to feel that the name Slurpymundae did not have a future and so they made the switch to Idle Sons. Around this time the group also signed on with Coalition Entertainment manager Julian Gruhl.
Upon hearing the three-song demo, Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
A&R Rep Kevin Carvel quickly brought the group to the attention of the label. The band signed their first major label recording contract with Atlantic Records and flew to Los Angeles to record their debut album with producer Gavin Mackillop. After six months of recording, the group had completed their debut effort. It was to be called ‘Hell or High Water.’
Soon after the completion of the debut Idle Sons album, Atlantic Records changed ownership.... (an internet company had owned the label, and it was sold to private interests). This change in ownership led to the reorganization of many positions within the company, namely the departure of Kevin Williamson
Kevin Williamson
Kevin Meade Williamson is an American screenwriter, best known for the horror films Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Faculty, as well as the popular television series Dawson's Creek and, more recently, The Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle.-Early life:Williamson was born in New...
to Maverick Records
Maverick Records
Maverick Recording Company is an American record label owned and operated by Warner Music Group, and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:...
. As a result of this, Idle Sons were dropped and their record was handed back to them.
Despite the disappointment, Idle Sons would carry on with an intense regimen of songwriting and touring. After almost four years of writing and touring independently, the band signed a deal with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Canada. The band soon departed for Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
where they would work on their EMI debut at The Farm, the oceanfront, 14 acres (56,656 m²) studio complex run by producer GGGarth (Garth Richardson
Garth Richardson
Garth "GGGarth" Richardson is a Canadian music producer and engineer. He is the son of renowned Canadian music producer Jack Richardson . Jack was a pioneer of the music recording industry in the 60's and 70's...
), the studio whiz whose credits include Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
, Trapt
Trapt
Trapt is an American rock band that formed in Los Gatos, California in August 1997. The group is composed of lead singer Chris Taylor Brown, lead guitarist Robb Torres, bass guitarist Peter Charell, and drummer Aaron "Monty" Montgomery...
, Chevelle
Chevelle
Chevelle is an American alternative metal trio that formed in 1995 in Grayslake, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The band was originally composed of two brothers and a local friend: Pete Loeffler , Sam Loeffler , and Matt Scott . Matt was later replaced by brother Joe Loeffler...
, Rise Against
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
, Mudvayne
Mudvayne
Mudvayne is an American heavy metal band. Their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate visual appearance, which has included face and body paint, masks and uniforms...
, Kittie
Kittie
Kittie is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in London, Ontario in 1996. A quartet of women, the group rose to success in 1999 when the track "Brackish" from their debut album Spit became a hit single...
, L7
L7 (band)
L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
and many others. The sessions would last for 20 days and the album Sixteen Seasons
Sixteen Seasons
Sixteen Seasons is the first full-length album by Canadian Rock band Idle Sons.-Track listing:# Little Bit Less# Tell Me# Maggot# Now Forever# Waiting Around# Getaway# This Evening# Bleeding# Before The Fall# Better Days...
was the result.
On May 2, 2006 EMI Canada released Idle Sons’ ‘Sixteen Seasons.’ The record comprises three different types of songs: Four tracks ("Bleeding," "This Evening," "Long Way Home" and "Before the Fall") survived intact from the never-released Hell or High Water. Four more ("Waiting Around," "Good Life," "Better Days" – the track that long-time fans might remember as "Push" – and "Now Forever") were reworked from their original Hell or High Water form. The final four songs (the first single "Tell Me," "Getaway," "Little Bit Less" and "Maggot") are all brand new, all products of the various jams from that seemingly endless period of limbo. Two were demoed just two weeks before the recording sessions began.
From February to December 2006, the band toured Canada in support of ‘Sixteen Seasons’ with: Default
Default (band)
Default is a Canadian post-grunge/alternative rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia. Since forming in 1999 they have released four albums, and have sold more than a million records...
, Rocketface, The Trews
The Trews
The Trews are a Canadian rock band from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, consisting of vocalist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek, and drummer Sean Dalton...
, Seether
Seether
Seether is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Pretoria, South Africa, formed in 1999. The band is currently signed to Wind-up Records...
, Thornley
Thornley (band)
Thornley is a Canadian post-grunge/hard rock band formed by Ian Thornley in 2002. The band was started when Ian Thornley returned to Toronto after the breakup of his earlier band, Big Wreck. With the help of Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, Thornley signed on to Kroeger's 604 Records...
, Simple Plan
Simple Plan
Simple Plan is a Canadian pop punk band from Montréal, Québec. The band has had no line up changes since its inception in 1999. Members are Pierre Bouvier , Jeff Stinco , Sébastien Lefebvre , David Desrosiers and Chuck Comeau...
, Latefallen, Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band, formed in Norwood, Ontario, Canada in 1992, originally under the name Groundswell. After a breakup in late 1997, the band regrouped in the same year under its current name and with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer...
, Mobile
Mobile (band)
Mobile were a Canadian Alternative Rock band from Montreal initially composed of Mathieu Joly , Christian Brais , Pierre-Marc Hamelin , Dominic Viola and Frank Williamson . Their debut album, Tomorrow Starts Today, was released in 2006. The band was nominated for two Juno Awards in 2007 and went...
, Marianas Trench
Marianas Trench (band)
Marianas Trench is a Juno-nominated Canadian pop punk band from Vancouver, British Columbia, formed in 2001. They have released three full length albums, the most recent titled Ever After, released on November 21, 2011...
, Rides Again
Rides Again (band)
Hollowick is a Canadian rock band from Oshawa, Ontario, formerly called Rides Again. It is composed of lead singer and guitarist Nathan Peyton, bassist and brother background vocalist Chad Peyton, lead guitarist Luke LeDoux, and drummer Frank Goerz. Their first full-length album, Into Existence,...
, 30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1998. Since 2007, the band has consisted of actor Jared Leto , Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević...
, Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace is a Canadian alternative rock band that formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1992. Headed by lead vocalist Raine Maida since its formation, the band additionally consists of Jeremy Taggart on percussion, Duncan Coutts on bass, and Steve Mazur as lead guitarist...
, The Tragically Hip, Waking Eyes, Ill Scarlet, Hedley, the Planet Smashers, Breach of Trust, Oliver Black, Finger Eleven, Mayor McCa, No Motiv and Theory of a Deadman
Theory of a Deadman
Theory of a Deadman is a Canadian rock band from Delta, British Columbia, formed in 2001. The band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as Island Records. The band also includes traits of other music styles, such as country and acoustic, as well as their post-grunge and alternative...
.
The first single, Tell Me, cracked the Top 20 for rock radio in Canada in July 2006.
In late December 2006 Sean left the band to pursue a career in teaching. His last show with the band was on December 16, 2006 in London, Ontario at the Salt Lounge.
The band has been nominated for a (CRMA) Canadian Radio Music Award and a Juno
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
in 2007.
On March 9, 2007, the band announced it had disbanded.http://artists.letssingit.com/artist-z9kg7/news/207665
Mike is now playing with a new band called "The Grave". They are set to release an album sometime around spring/summer of 2010.
Bruce is now tour managing for a number of artists including the likes of Justin Nozuka, Honeymoon Suite, Serena Ryder, Sam Bradley, Sweet Thing, Finger Eleven and others.
One of Idle Sons unreleased songs "The Fold" was re-recorded, re-worked, and re-named "Giving it all (The Fold)" by Rex Goudie and is on his album due out December 2010.
Line-up
- Mike Eastick (Guitar, Vocals)
- Sean Kelly (Guitar, Vocals)
- Bruce Nicol (Bass Guitar)
- Ryan Barkwell (Drums, Percussion)
- Jer Crosskill (Drums - 1994)
- Brendan Mowatt-Smith (Guitar Jan 2007 - March 2007)
Albums
- Splurge (1995) (As Slurpymundae - Cassette)
- Sifter EP (1996) (As Slurpymundae)
- The Sik Whisper (1998) (As Slurpymundae)
- Slurpymundae EP (2001) (As Slurpymundae)
- Hell or High Water (2003) (1. Waiting Around; 2.Now Forever; 3. Long Way Home)
- Sixteen SeasonsSixteen SeasonsSixteen Seasons is the first full-length album by Canadian Rock band Idle Sons.-Track listing:# Little Bit Less# Tell Me# Maggot# Now Forever# Waiting Around# Getaway# This Evening# Bleeding# Before The Fall# Better Days...
(May 2, 2006)
Singles
- "Tell Me" from Sixteen SeasonsSixteen SeasonsSixteen Seasons is the first full-length album by Canadian Rock band Idle Sons.-Track listing:# Little Bit Less# Tell Me# Maggot# Now Forever# Waiting Around# Getaway# This Evening# Bleeding# Before The Fall# Better Days...
(2006) - "Waiting Around" from Sixteen SeasonsSixteen SeasonsSixteen Seasons is the first full-length album by Canadian Rock band Idle Sons.-Track listing:# Little Bit Less# Tell Me# Maggot# Now Forever# Waiting Around# Getaway# This Evening# Bleeding# Before The Fall# Better Days...
(2006) - "Maggot" from Sixteen SeasonsSixteen SeasonsSixteen Seasons is the first full-length album by Canadian Rock band Idle Sons.-Track listing:# Little Bit Less# Tell Me# Maggot# Now Forever# Waiting Around# Getaway# This Evening# Bleeding# Before The Fall# Better Days...
(2006)
External links
- The Official Website of Idle Sons
- Note the website's domain has recently expired and therefore is not viewable. To see a previous version of this website please Visit:
- Cached Version of The Official Website of the Idle Sons