The Scope

City Stench Face-Off

Thursday, September 2, 2010

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Some things are rotten in the City of Legends.

New Music 2010

Sunday, August 29, 2010

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A brief introduction to some of the most active new bands and musicians in the city...

Got questions about bikes?

Monday, August 2, 2010

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Ask our special guest expert.

Answers by Benjy Kean How and when did the you start producing the stuff you’re working on now? I have been making music for the past 6 years or so. I have recorded or produced like maybe close to 100 songs/ideas/beats or so, and I have never really played them for anyone. It is kinda weird to [...]

Worker

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Answers by Brian Oliver How and when did you start making music as Worker? I started making music when I was in my mid-teenage years, probably around the age of 14. I always had an ear for electronic sounds- weather it be electro-dancey stuff, drum and bass, or hardcore-gabber styles- and I wanted to lean how to [...]

LowDEF

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Photo by Becki Peckham Answers by Pat Dunn Answers by Pat Dunn What name are you going under with your original stuff? LowDEF is my moniker for performing my live experiments… Using computer software to render music in realtime is a challenging venture, no doubt, and experimentation is the name of the game at these early stages of programming [...]

Repartee

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Photo by Darrell Edwards Answers by Megan Warren How and when did the group get together? We started jamming in March 2009, and we had our first gig in July 2009. The group originally formed as a threesome (me, Andrew McCarthy – drums and Paddy Byrne – bass) when I was intending on doing the RPM challenge in [...]

Benjamin Rigby

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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“The style of banjo that I play is old time clawhammer, which is rhythmically driven with what I like to call the ‘illusion of complicated melodies,’” explains banjoist Benjamin Rigby, formerly of Dead Language. “I think my sound is derived heavily from the nature of the instrument itself: woody, resonant, and full.” How and when did [...]

The Newish Klezmer Ensemble

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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“In Yiddish terms, all members of this ensemble are goyim (non-Jewish people) so our name readily advertises that fact,” says the Newish Klezmer Ensemble. Starring Celina Barry, Allison Corbett, Darren Browne, Noah Bender, and Billy, Ilia, and Jake Nicoll, this group plays fun, thoroughly danceable traditional klezmer, from mournful doinas to contemplative nigns. How and when [...]

Tied Down

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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“There aren’t too many women in punk bands here,” says drummer Jeff. “Bee’s voice can strip paint off walls.” Fronted by Bee Traverse, with Juls Mack on guitar, and Jonathon Kennedy on bass, Tied Down is definitely standing out. Adds Kennedy, “We have good glasses, too. That’s important.” Answers by Bee Traverse, Juls Mack, Jonathon Kennedy, [...]

St. John’s Ukulele Orchestra

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Photo by Chris Hibbs Really, the name says it all. Begun during some experimental winter plucking between Matt Grant and Jon Montes, they put out a call for members via Facebook. Playing both traditional and original songs, they’re typically at least five members strong, and are always looking for new blood. Answers by Matt Grant How and when [...]

Vicar

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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“Vicar started a little over a year ago when I decided to put out an EP as an experiment,” explains Tyler Lovell. The band now consists of two guitarists, two synths, a drummer and a bassist. “I think it’s basically rock music that sounds very chaotic, usually through noise or electronic elements.” How and when did [...]

Monsterbator

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Described by The Scope’s own Patrick Canning as “primal and belligerent” (from him, that’s a huge compliment), Monsterbator has been putting people off or pulling them in, with few in between, with their “really trashy, loud, heavy, messy, but tight as shit” sound, courtesy of blaring guitars, synth, and frontman Andrew Waterman’s unbridled howling. They’ll [...]

Polina

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Rising from the ashes of the Narrators and Some Houses Like To Sleep, Polina draws their influences from 90s screamo, post-punk, math rock, and noise rock. “Influence-wise, we’re unique in this scene,” they say. “We don’t fit anywhere, yet we are comfortable playing wherever. Hardcore shows, CBTG’s shows, houses, art marathons…” Answers by Nick How and when [...]

Kick Gut

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Photo by Eileen Robinson Kick Gut is in a long-distance relationship. One half of the two-piece, Andrew Robinson, currently lives in Gander. The other, Jen Squires, lives in St. John’s. “I like the term wiener-punk,” says Robinson. “I usually think of punk rock as a tough-sounding style, but I don’t think we come off as very [...]

The Long Distance Runners

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Looking for singer-songwriter Chris Picco? You’ll find him in the Long Distance Runners, alongside Matt Hender, Dicky Strickland, and Adam Cardwell. “If Brian Wilson, Nick Cave, Ray Davies and Jeff Lynne could have an illegitimate child together, it would probably look and sound like the Long Distance Runners,” laughs Picco. Answers by Chris Picco How and when [...]

Clocked In

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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“We play hardcore punk,” says lead singer Rob Forward. “We probably sound more like Litany-era Fucked Up than we’d care to admit.” Formed in January, they’ve already released an EP. “We’re more concerned with remaining an active part of the St. John’s hardcore scene,” says Forward. “We’re a part of something great and wouldn’t try [...]

Brutal Youth

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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“Brief, angst driven punk/hardcore a la Kid Dynamite,” is how Patrick Neary, aka Patty O’Lantern, describes the sound of Brutal Youth, a nod to the Elvis Costello album of the same name. Neary wrote the songs while away in B.C. last year and, upon returning to St. John’s, assembled a kickass band to play them. Answers [...]

The Living Daylights

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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The Living Daylights are a three-piece playing what they describe as “rock,” but without and electric guitar. “Electric guitars and gear confuse me,” says guitarist Tim Barnes. ”I can play guitar, write songs, and sing. That’s about it for my knowledge of music technology.” Answers by Tim Barnes How and when did the group get together? We came [...]

House and the Hooligans

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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“We stand out because we play honest, straightforward rock that’s rooted in the best of rock and roll’s past,” says Adrian of House and the Hooligans, formerly the Connexions. “Also because we’re naked on stage.” Okay, not really, but their sound, self-described as “The Ramones meets The Beatles,” does set them aside. Answers by Adrian House How [...]

Gore Puppy

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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“We describe ourselves as GoreCore, but we are basically a metal band with some hardcore overtones,” explains Gore Puppy. “When deciding on a name, we turned to the Internet. After a Google search we stumbled upon a random band name generator for metal bands.” Two hours and a vote later, Gore Puppy was born. Answers by [...]

Kicking the Help

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Kicking the Help are decidedly unapologetic about their influences. “U2, Tori Amos, Muse, Meatloaf, Jack’s Mannequin, and shitty 80s hair metal,” reports Adam Carter. “A typical show includes off-kilter humour, Phil and Melanie forging a united front against my bad taste, and the entire band forging a united front against Rob’s bad scarves. Oh, and [...]