The Famines are a Canadian 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 formed in 2008 in Edmonton

Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...

, Alberta

Alberta

Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...

, 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...

. The two piece band uses a modern and minimalistic approach that draws comparison to mid 1970's protopunk

Protopunk

Protopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...

 and fuzzy 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...

.

History

The Famines band name is meant to be a commentary on the continued feeling of emptiness and lacking in a society that is materially fulfilled. The Famines toyed around with the idea of recording together since 2006, but a busy schedule, including marriages and tryouts with other bands kept the duo from producing anything until the summer of 2008.

The band also wanted to take their time recording, choosing not to “practice” the songs in front of live audiences, and only played their first show after their first release on July 18, 2008 at Edmonton’s Pawn Shop. They have since started a second tour across western Canada in support of their release. The Famines’ debut EP consists of four songs on double seven inch vinyl put out independently. The EP was also available on cassette and eight-track, as well as online through multiple music sites, with the help of Put Out The Jams Distro and Pop Echo. Conspicuously missing is a CD version of the EP. Accompanying the EP is a 26 page bound booklet of art by Biesinger. The booklet, as well as a 30 page second addition, titled A Visual History of the Famines is available for purchase separate from the debut singles. The four songs range from raucous post punk to minimalist experimental music, with socially conscious themes. The track “I Like Some of the Things You Do” for instance, refers to the aspects of Islam the Biesinger liked, or disliked, inspired by his honeymoon in Turkey at the end of Ramadan.

Members

The band has two members, Raymond E. Biesinger on guitar and vocals, and Garrett Heath Kruger on the drums. Both members of the band have a history in the music industry, Biesinger being an ex-member of Edmonton band The Vertical Struts, and Kruger formerly of The Wolfnote. Kruger also works in the record business running an independent record distribution company called Put Out The Jams, while Biesinger works as a graphic designer.

Discography

- The Famines-2x7" (independent) Released July 2008
500 copies on vinyl (limited edition 8 alternate covers in editions of 25)
100 copies on cassette
15 copies on 8-track
Track List

1. I Like Some of the Things You Do (2:30)
2. TWA Flight 553 (4:21)
3. Gimme Some Numbers (3:34)
4. Faux Wealthy (2:34)

- The Famines-'14 July 2008' Cassette (independent/Belgravian Press)to be Released on April 28, 2009
-300 copies of cassette accompanied by a 268 page bound book
Track List

1. I Like Some of the Things You Do (2:25)
2. Gimme Some Numbers (3:44)
3. Hi Hi Hi (3:53)
4. Faux Famous (2:16)
5. TWA Flight 553 (4:58)
6. Got Lies if You Want Them (3:46)
7. the Rumour Mill (5:54)

- The Famines- upcoming 2 song 7" to be released on Reluctant Recordings

See also

• Music of Canada
  Music of Canada
  The 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 rock
  Canadian rock
  Canadian 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

• http://www.thefamines.ca - Official website
• http://profile.myspace.com/thefamines - Band Myspace Page
• http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/12785 - album review, The Gauntlet
• http://seemagazine.com/article/music/music-review/cds-famines-plus-nerd-hold-steady-and-bob-sinclar/ - album review, See Magazine
• http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=9004 – release review, Vue Weekly