The Deadly Snakes
Encyclopedia
The Deadly Snakes were a Canadian
indie rock
band influenced by garage rock
, punk
, folk rock
, and early r&b.
in 1996, the band's final line-up consisted of Andre Ethier
on vocals and guitar
s, Matthew Carlson on guitar, trumpet
and bass
, Chad Ross on guitar, bass and mandolin
, Jeremi Madsen on guitar, bass, saxophone
and percussion, Max McCabe-Lokos (using the stage name
Age of Danger) on piano
, organ
and percussion, and Andrew Gunn on guitar and drum
s. Earlier versions of the band included Carson Binks (now of San Francisco's Genghis Khan) on saxophone, and - at different times - Yuri Didrichsons and James Sayce (both later of Toronto-based indie band Tangiers
) on bass. Greg Cartwright
, of The Oblivians and The Reigning Sound, produced the band's first two albums. He briefly joined The Deadly Snakes, playing guitar and singing several songs on the album I'm Not Your Soldier Anymore, and touring as a member of the band in support of that album.
Originally formed as a one-off band for a friend's birthday party, the Snakes kept performing together and soon became a popular draw on Toronto's live music scene. After releasing several 7" singles, the Deadly Snakes released their full-length debut album, Love Undone, in 1999 on the Sympathy for the Record Industry
label.
The band toured both Canada and internationally, and released three further albums on In The Red Records
. Their 2005 single "Gore Veil", from the album Porcella, was named the fifth best song of the year by CBC Radio 3
. The album Porcella was subsequently shortlisted for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize
.
The Deadly Snakes announced their amicable breakup in August 2006, and played their last show on August 26, 2006 at the Silver Dollar Room.
In September 2009, rumours of a full-fledged reunion began to circulate following the announcement of a one-off reunion show at the free-of-charge Scion Garage Fest on October 17 in Portland, Oregon.
Andre Ethier
has released four albums as a solo artist. He is also a painter whose work has been exhibited internationally.
Chad Ross and Andrew Gunn formed the band Quest for Fire
, who released their self-titled debut on Tee Pee Records
in 2009. Max McCabe-Lokos is an actor who has appeared in Land of the Dead
, Lars and the Real Girl
and The Incredible Hulk
.
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...
indie rock
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...
band influenced by garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
, punk
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...
, folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
, and early r&b.
History
Formed in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1996, the band's final line-up consisted of Andre Ethier
Andre Ethier (musician)
Andre Ethier is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter and visual artist, who was formerly associated with the indie rock band The Deadly Snakes. He has also released three solo albums....
on vocals and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, Matthew Carlson on guitar, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Chad Ross on guitar, bass and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, Jeremi Madsen on guitar, bass, saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and percussion, Max McCabe-Lokos (using the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Age of Danger) on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and percussion, and Andrew Gunn on guitar and drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s. Earlier versions of the band included Carson Binks (now of San Francisco's Genghis Khan) on saxophone, and - at different times - Yuri Didrichsons and James Sayce (both later of Toronto-based indie band Tangiers
Tangiers (band)
Tangiers are a Toronto-based indie rock band.Josh Reichmann and James Sayce resuscitated Tangiers after two band members left the band in 2003, adding ex-Guided by Voices drummer Jon McCann and keyboardist Shelton Deverell to the lineup.-Discography:*Hot New Spirits *Never Bring You Pleasure...
) on bass. Greg Cartwright
Greg Cartwright
Greg Cartwright, also known by his stage name Greg Oblivian, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Memphis, Tennessee. He currently fronts Reigning Sound and lives in Asheville, North Carolina...
, of The Oblivians and The Reigning Sound, produced the band's first two albums. He briefly joined The Deadly Snakes, playing guitar and singing several songs on the album I'm Not Your Soldier Anymore, and touring as a member of the band in support of that album.
Originally formed as a one-off band for a friend's birthday party, the Snakes kept performing together and soon became a popular draw on Toronto's live music scene. After releasing several 7" singles, the Deadly Snakes released their full-length debut album, Love Undone, in 1999 on the Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
label.
The band toured both Canada and internationally, and released three further albums on In The Red Records
In the Red Records
In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label....
. Their 2005 single "Gore Veil", from the album Porcella, was named the fifth best song of the year by CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...
. The album Porcella was subsequently shortlisted for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize
2006 Polaris Music Prize
The inaugural edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize presented on September 18, 2006, at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre. The winning album was Final Fantasy's He Poos Clouds.-Nominees:...
.
The Deadly Snakes announced their amicable breakup in August 2006, and played their last show on August 26, 2006 at the Silver Dollar Room.
In September 2009, rumours of a full-fledged reunion began to circulate following the announcement of a one-off reunion show at the free-of-charge Scion Garage Fest on October 17 in Portland, Oregon.
Andre Ethier
Andre Ethier (musician)
Andre Ethier is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter and visual artist, who was formerly associated with the indie rock band The Deadly Snakes. He has also released three solo albums....
has released four albums as a solo artist. He is also a painter whose work has been exhibited internationally.
Chad Ross and Andrew Gunn formed the band Quest for Fire
Quest for Fire (band)
Quest for Fire is a Canadian psychedelic rock band, consisting of Andrew Moszynski, Chad Ross, Mike Maxymuik and Josh Bauman. Moszynski and Ross were previously in the band The Deadly Snakes, while Maxymuik was formerly in the band Cursed and Bauman was previously in the band No No Zero.The band...
, who released their self-titled debut on Tee Pee Records
Tee Pee Records
Tee Pee Records is an independent record label located in New York City in the United States, made popular by the signing of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Artists :*Ancestors*Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound*The Atomic Bitchwax...
in 2009. Max McCabe-Lokos is an actor who has appeared in Land of the Dead
Land of the Dead
For the disambiguation page on anything else on this topic, come here to Land of the Dead .Land of the Dead is a 2005 horror film written and directed by George A...
, Lars and the Real Girl
Lars and the Real Girl
Lars and the Real Girl is a 2007 American-Canadian comedy-drama film written by Nancy Oliver and directed by Craig Gillespie. It stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Kelli Garner and Patricia Clarkson...
and The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk (film)
The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 superhero action film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk. It is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Edward Norton as Dr. Bruce Banner. It is the second film to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe...
.
Discography
- Love Undone (Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
, 1999) - I'm Not Your Soldier Anymore (In the RedIn the Red RecordsIn the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label....
, 2001) - Ode to JoyOde to Joy (album)Ode to Joy is an album by Canadian indie rock band The Deadly Snakes, released in 2003 on In the Red Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:* Matt "Dog" Carlson - trumpet, harmonica, bass, guitar, vocals* Andre Ethier - vocals, guitar...
(In the Red, 2003) - PorcellaPorcellaPorcella is an album by Canadian indie rock band The Deadly Snakes, released in 2005 on Paper Bag Records.The album's single "Gore Veil" was named one of the ten best Canadian songs of 2005 by CBC Radio 3. The album was also subsequently shortlisted for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize...
(Paper Bag RecordsPaper Bag RecordsPaper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label and artist-management company, founded in 2002 and based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:...
, 2005)
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...
- 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 Canadian musicians
- List of bands from Canada
- :Category:Canadian musical groups
External links
- 2006 article about the band and its demise from NewYorkNightTrain.com