The Free Press :: The Band

Wrecking Pennsylvania

2009-04-19T01:12:00.000-04:00

As we walked off the stage from our show tonight, one of the event programmers (think of him as a VP or CEO of this rock festival) grabbed my hand, shook it passionately and said:

"You guys are the best band in the festival. Bar none."

"That was...f#&*!ng religious!!!"

What a difference a day can make.

Whether any of that is true or not is beside the point. It was just nice to hear. Last night we were the ugly step sister and today we were Cinderella (Mick has always had a thing about wanting to be Cinderella. Or Prom Queen.) Maybe the pet cemetary shrine (it guarded the washrooms in Senorita Burrita where we played last night) in a mexican restaurant should have tipped us off that things were amiss and evil was in the air. But hey...we're optimists. You have to be in this business. We played our show, regrouped and came back today looking to leave our mark on Pennsylvania. Preferably something in black and blue. But almost immediately after our arrival at the conference hall, several of the event organizers made an effort to find us and apologize for the misunderstanding (but no mention or apology for the creepy shrine). And how can you not understand? These guys were ambitiously mounting the inaugural Launch Festival. 150 bands in 15 venues is a lot to chew on. As Alex said, "You're going to break a few eggs making the omlette." All in all they did a remarkable job. We met some great folks, saw some great bands and did our best to leave our mark in Pennsylvania. Hopefully we didn't wreck it too much. But if we did, it's as much the fault of our host, Jeremy, as it is our own. Despite the fact that he'd lost his voice, he insisted on buying us drinks, taking us to see another one of his favourite acts, having passionate discussions about music and the music industry and stopping anyone of even the vaguest importance to introduce us. Ie.

"Paul! Paul. This is The Free Press. Best band at the festival!"

At which point he'd give away one of the cds he bought from us and repeat the cycle in another two minutes. He's good people.

Some futher Saturday highlights were a few panels, including a demo derby. This is where you put your cd in a box and they draw out cds. Then severl panelists (music biz experts) proceed to dissect them. Usually pretty thoroughly. They drew us second last and we had submitted, "It's Killing Me That It's Killing You." It's always interesting to hear these cats talk because they hear music ALL the time. If your stuff isn't up to spec your experience can go pear-shaped for you very quickly. We've been on the other end of the Simon Cowell stick and it's a painful place to be. Today however, they loved us. They used phrases like 'bright future,' 'these guys are going to sell a lot of records' and 'maybe they can lend me some money after they're rich.' Again, really nice things to hear from a panel of pros.

We also did some wandering around Lancaster. This included a trip to the Central Market. It's like the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto - a lot of stalls selling their goods ranging from meats and cheeses to baked goods and hand made clothing to amish furniture and jewellry. However, the Lancasterians (and perhaps all Pennsylvanians) are a lot more serious about their celery than we are in Canada. There was one stall dedicated ENTIRELY to celery and literature on celery. There was even a $6 (US!) bundle of celery. I didn't look closely but my guess is that it washed your car and made you dinner before dicing itself and submerging itself in a nice soup. Mmm. Soup. There was also a stall that sold vegetables and 'herbs.' I know the question has been posed, "What's in a name?" In this case, I believe the answer is, "a lucrative side business." Note the sign in the bottom right. I'm not sure he imports, but give him a call if you're in a jam.

Amish Stuff Etc.

2009-04-18T03:42:00.001-04:00

Maybe it's the beer talking.

Maybe it's the hour of the day (it's 2:30 am).

Maybe it's that we're 8 1/2 hours from home.

But we're baffled.

It's been a baffling day. We were in our Toronto beds this morning and now we find ourselves in the Olde Amish Inne (I'm not kidding) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It's off the highway just past the store called Amish Stuff Etc. (Again, not kidding).

We're here playing at the Launch Music Festival and it's proven to be a wild ride so far.

The problem with playing these festivals is that they're run by musicians. Musicians don't tend to be fans of reading, logic or reality. So. When you tell a festival (that's 8 1/2 hours from home) that there are five of you in the band and that you need five microphones, five microphone stands and all the equipment that would typically accompany five guys who make music you're taking your life in you own hands. But you hope that they'll get it. You hope when you type a lengthy letter detailing (in detail) what you need for a show that SOMEONE in the festival will prove to: a) speak english, b) read english, c) live on the planet earth. So. When you arrive in said town (may I remind you that it's 8 1/2 hours from home) and find a stage the size of a postage stamp, with two mics, two stands, a hope and a prayer, you get baffled.

The story only gets longer, angrier and more quizzical from here. So. Let me summarize.

1. Everbody at a festival starts late. That means if you're playing at a Mexican restaurant (which is where we were playing) and you're last, you're going to get screwed after you get baffled.

2. Staff at a festival are akin to Tim Horton's employees. That is to say; simple, challenged and baffled.

3. When point #1 meets point #2, there is bound to be fireworks. In this case, #2 happened to be a youngish fellow who looked like Mitch Hedberg. (Mitch is a dead Minnesota comedian who isn't that funny, at least not since he died. Neither is his Lancaster doppleganger.) He decided to unplug ALL of our gear after 4 songs (and I'll take this opportunity to remind you that we drove 8 1/2 baffling hours to play here). This is what Mickle would call Triple Plus Uncool. That is to say that when five men drive 8 1/2 hours to play a rock and roll festival, they want to PLAY at said festival. If some young Mitch Hedberg who makes a career serving tacos unplugs your shit after four songs, you tend...well, you tend to lose your shit and get loud, angry (baffled, of course) and hostile. So. We got all those things because that's exactly what happened.

Needless to say, that was not cool. It sort of soured the delicious Pennsylvania/Amish Etc. taste in our mouth. But we headed over to a place called the Chameleon Club to see a Winnipeg band called The Duhks. After a few beers and some good, Canadian, music life got better.

This whole diatribe is slightly unfair, though. (But only slightly) Just before we played was an incredibly cool band called Parkwright. Really nice and talented lads from Philadelphia. One of the reasons you make these trips is to make new friends and find reasons to keep going. It's easy to put those guys in both of those categories. But beyond Parkwright, The Duhks and Yuengling Lager Etc, this place needs Billy Bob Thornton to come in and shit on it. And you know what that means. A lot of mashed potatoes. With gravy.

PS - We've just returned from a late sojourn to the Waffle House and just so we don't waste Billy Bob's time, he doesn't need to come here and shit. Some cows or horses have done a thorough job for at least two square miles around our Amish hotel. Of course I'm not kidding.

In Like a Lion

2009-03-30T18:02:00.003-04:00

April is almost upon us and The Free Press is well rested (after experimenting with hibernation) and ready to cause some trouble in your neighbourhood all spring and summer. Some of you might be lucky enough to remain trouble free until the fall.

There's a bunch more podcasts on the way, a pile of shows up on our tour schedule (with more coming) and we're shooting a video this month for, "It's Killing Me That It's Killing You." We're working with longtime friends, Steve Burley (director) and Alex Nadon (if you were dazzled by the lights and video at most of the big Canadian award shows or rock and roll tours in the last three years, chances are that Alex did it) and all the plans are very near completion. It should co-incide with a spring release of a digital single for "Killing Me" which will have a new tune and a live tune included.

So rake your leaves, plant your gardens and hide the bananas. Chances are we'll be in your backyard soon.

TFP

Winterlude

2009-01-23T17:02:00.005-05:00

After a short time of rest, the TFP machine has begun to make steam again. We're playing our first Toronto show in a good while at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern next Friday (January 30, 2009). We're supporting our good friends, Jets To Ground who are releasing a much anticipated EP.

We're also trying a bunch of new things this year. Every Monday starting on February 2nd we'll be airing a new episode of the podcast we've been working o. It's entitled: Internet! The Podcast!! It took a two thousand dollar marketing team to put that name and the whole package together, so hopefully you'll enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. The idea was for us to talk about music, sports, news, food and life every week and then play a song for you. One week it'll be a song you recoginize instantly and the next it'll be an artist that we love who you probably haven't come across. There will be special guests, inflammatory remarks and pointed misbehaviour. It's everything that we, the band - good and bad - do. Sort of like Regis & Kathy Lee meets Conan O'Brien meets VH1 Storytellers but in Alex's house. We hope to have both Regis and Triumph the Insult Dog on in the near future.

Hope you're all having a happy new year so far and hope to see you soon.

TFP

A Skyline Christmas (with HD video)

2008-12-23T12:24:00.007-05:00

I've lived in the city a long time now but I still remember being baffled by my first christmas in Toronto. I would walk one block downtown from the university I was attending and there was beauty everwhere; lights, decorations, music and laughter. But if I walked one block in the opposite direction, there were things that made me feel ashamed; cold, hunger, quiet and despair. It was an incredibly powerful dichotomy for a 19 year old to take in. And despite the fact that I've been here more than ten years now, I can't let it go. I probably shouldn't. That said, anyone who's been here long enough finds it all too easy to walk past a person asking for change. But this is supposed to be the time of year we think less of what we want and more about helping others. Particularly those in need. A musician has little to offer other than music. So, the lads and I wrote a song for christmas. Of course, we wrote it the way we write most of our stuff; the bitter mixed in with the sweet. It's up on Facebook or Myspace if you want to have a listen and we've prepared a little video for you...it's a little "christian-children-funds-25cents-a-day" in its tone but the message is still an important one:

I'd encourage you to go to you tube page here and watch it in hd by click 'watch in hd' on the bottom right corner of the player. It's worth it.

The main reason we wrote it is because there are a lot of folks out there in genuine need of a meal, some clothes or a warm place to sleep. We don't want any money for the song but we'd love it if you gave some - whatever you can - to help out people who are really struggling. Here's a few links to people doing great work in and around Toronto. Or maybe there's someone closer to home - wherever that is for you - that you feel more comfortable helping out. That's cool, too. My cousin recently got the idea to give to a native charity on the reserve where our family is from and he said words couldn't express the gratitude those people felt at even the little amount of help we were able to give. Make a difference if you can, folks. That's what christmas should be about. Happy holidays.

j.d.

www.covenanthouse.on.ca
www.kidshelphone.ca
www.toronto.ca/homelessness

New Video: Live: National Pride : Kitchener, ON

2008-12-15T21:08:00.004-05:00

Facebookers, click 'view original post' to see an embedded video or click here to go directly to the you tube page.

Also available in HD so click "watch in HD" on the bottom left hand corner of the player for beter quality.

Video Episode: The Free Press in "How Hard Is It To Use A Camcorder?"

2008-12-01T01:02:00.002-05:00

Facebook viewers please click 'view original post' for emebedded video.

This is what happens when you don't spend a lot of money on your camcorder. Hoorah!

New Video Episode

2008-11-22T18:33:00.002-05:00

We're hoping to be making a lot more of these for you now that we have a fun new camera. Facebookers, you might need to click "view original post" to see the embedded video.

Appetite for Destruction

2008-11-18T05:03:00.001-05:00

Only two shows left and then it's back home for a partial musical break. There's some recording to be done (work on the single coming out in the spring and hopefully an EP for next year as well) and the video shoot for "It's Killing Me That It's Killing You" but that's interspersed with some vacations, some downtime and possibly some major, reconstructive surgery. You know. Par for the rock and roll course.

We rolled in to St. John this afternoon. We were prepared for the worst. I think the famous "once bitten, twice shy" rule applies here. Only we were bit by a gaint, angry horde of wolves on the first occasion, so I think that quantifies about 358 acts of shyness before we'll approach the proverbial dog again. If anyone doesn't know what I'm talking about, please see the journals from early June and you'll quickly discover what I'm talking about.

The last time we departed St. J was with gigantic size headaches (and for anyone not familiar with the size of J.D's head, imagine a migraine the size of Montreal, as his head is a comparable size) and what olympic atheletes would call 'severe dehydration.' This was entirely our own fault. We behaved like sixteen year olds at their first party with alcohol. The company we kept ran in different circles than us. They were more the 'Animal House,' 'Old School' crowd, but in real life. And they were east coasters and they're superhuman when it comes to 'partying'. I'm prepared to enter into debate with any scientist who denies they have a different gene structure than us.

The debate will go like this:

"Science guy, please be seated."

"East coast guy, please be seated."

They sill sit and I will force them to re-enact the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Marion drinks the butch woman under the table. I'll pour shots and they'll put them back. The first person to fall down drunk or dead, loses. In this case, Marion will be the east coaster and the butch woman will be the scientist. I will place a large bet on Marion and I will win a fortune. In fact, I may seek government funding for the endeavour. It also seems like something MuchMoreMusic would air. Apparently, they're desperate for programming. This was made clear to me when I flipped through and saw "Party of Five" repeats on the channel. I guess Jennifer Love Hewitt did have one cd, didn't she?

Regardless of my tangents, we just weren't prepared for what happened the last time we were here. You'd have thought that a five year prohibition just ended the way we carried on. So, it was with steel wills, full stomachs and a large bottle of advil that we rolled into St. John.

But our evening turned out to be quite the opposite of what we'd expected. We had a civil dinner (the Blue Olive is an incredible restaurant as well as an incredible music venue), a luxurious amount of time to set the stage, the lights and sound and then we rocked our pants off for just shy of three hours. Like Bruce Springsteen, but without the arena full of people, the thirty years of songwriting (we're only about twenty behind him now) or any blistering saxophone solos. (Although, it should be noted, there has been serious and increasing discussion about J.D. picking up the sax and adding it to the live show. It's on the 'to do' list over the xmas holidays, so we'll let you know what happens there.) We left our equipment set up (because that's what real rockstars get to do when they're playing any show that's followed by the word 'stand.' In this case, it was only a two-night 'stand' - not exactly the Rheostatics at the Horseshoe, but it's a start.) And then we went home to our friend, JM's, house - who was kind enough to house us for a few nights - and we had a nightcap and a civil discussion until the wee, wee hours of the morning.

There's always tomorrow to hurt ourselves.

Afternoon Delight

2008-11-14T09:58:00.000-05:00

A fun-fact about New Brunswick. They probably have the greatest quantity of Dairy Queens per capita in North America. The amount of DQ's we've seen is simply astonishing. Including all stops for food, gas, etc, I would estimate that we've stopped in 14 towns and cities across NB. No less than 12 of them had at least 1 Dairy Queen. At least three of them had multiple DQ's. Had we explored the other two towns more thoroughly, I'm confident they would have turned up at least one each as well. East coasters love their ice cream.

Another fun fact about New Brunswick - and generally speaking - the east coast. Pizza Delight is the preferred pizza restaurant. Sure you'll find an occasional Boston Pizza, Pizza Hut or a ma & pa but these are few and far between. Pizza Delight reigns here and the restaurants are built accordingly. Palatial, wondrous houses of deliciousness, warmth and love.

We took in a little afternoon delight in the Moncton PD today. Pizza? Delicious. Prices? Incredibly reasonable? Service? Attentive and efficient. And to top it off, we got to grill our own garlic bread. Seriously. They have a large grill in the middle restaurant and a bread bar beside it. You select as much bread as you want and grill one side. Then you butter the grilled side (with your choice of cheese, butter, garlic butter, red pepper spread, etc) and cook the other side. Voila. Free garlic toast and you've killed most of the time you'd spend waiting for your food.

That said, the road isn't all wine and roses. There's been an ever increasing problem. Dusty.

Twice now we've found him passed out deep into the dashboard. Typically - as those of you who frequent this report will know - he stands proudly and protectively just on top of the instrument panel. He acts as a guardian and navigator; pointing the way home and radiating an aura of pride and hope. So, to see him lying on his side - without pride, without hope and without dignity - is troubling. . We weren't sure if it was depression or fatigue or perhaps just the flu. But regardless, there is nothing sadder than a wallowing rhino.

The problem was clarified when I came into the hotel after running some errands and found the picture below.

I would have tried to discuss it with him, but I was both puzzled (by the plastic spoons) and somewhat frightened (by the swiss army knife he was branding). We've called a band intervention. Hopefully the local authorities won't need to get involved.

Houston...We Have a Problem

2008-11-13T11:43:00.000-05:00

I said this several times during the debreifing that occurred following yesterdays journey (video footage to follow shortly) but I feel it bears repetition again here. I have not spent a more tense 30 minutes in this band despite our 4+ years of amusement-park-like ups and downs. Even Dusty - our stoic, unflappable rhino - was rattled.

Let me paint the scene for you. We have had a shitty day. There are too many reasons to outline exactly why that's the case. Just believe me when I say we have had a shitty day. No one has died to this point, but that seems the next logical level. I will skip to the end of our story because in this case, that's the important part.

We have had a shitty day. It is well after 3 am. The full moon is buried behind an ominous wall of clouds. As such, it's dark. Scary movie dark. It is snowing lightly. It is quite cold. We have just played a show in a largish town called New Glasgow. In the last 36 hours we have driven approximately 22 hours, played music for 2 hours and moved heavy equipment for another 2 hours. Some of us are on drugs (prescribed, not recreational). Some of ice are injured (there was one ice pack and one sling applied or worn during this particular drive.) We are hungry and tired. And lost. Our GPS robot (TomTom) has - metaphorically - shrugged his shoulders and thrown his hands in the air for the last half hour. As far as he is concerned, we are in outer space and boldly going where no one has gone before. All of this adds up to trouble. Big trouble.

A not-so-fun fact about Nova Scotia and - generally speaking - the east coast. They do not believe in keeping gas stations open past midnight. This would have been a great piece of information to know BEFORE midnight, but we weren't so fortunate. This causes serious problems for any rock band leaving a show post 12 am with a shortage of gas in the tank.

The first hour was fine. The usual banter, chatter and joking about our own foolishness at leaving things to the last minute. That all stopped when the gas light went on and we were in the middle of a farmers field with no civilization in sight. In fact, I think it's fair to say a small amount of panic crept into the bus. A glimmer of hope arose when we saw lights on the horizon. We drove towards the town in silence with each man praying to his deity of choice. Though all four gas stations were closed, we managed to find a small hotel. Len darted in and returned with instructions. "Drive down the road about five minutes." Off we went.

Five minutes passed and the lights faded behind us.

Ten minutes passed. Darkness. Alex shut off our life support systems and heat. We considered the lights but they were voted as being 'necessary.'

Twelve minutes passed. Mick broached the topic of turning around.

Fifteen minutes passed. Darkness. Strained silence. We unanimously agreed to turn around.

We drove back in more darkness. The silence was broken just once when Alex engaged in a brief, audible chat with Jesus.

As we pulled back into the hotel entrance, Len (brimming with Irish anger) and Jesse both went in for instructions and possibly a good hiding of the proprietor. They returned with a key new piece of information. "20 km down the HIGHWAY." I can't tell you how useful that tidbit would have been on our first sojourn through that fellows establishment.

Regardless, we pulled on to the highway - still without heat, without life support and almost without hope. Twenty kilometres may as well be to the moon and back if you've already been driving on no fuel for 35-40 minutes. I did some quick math. The fellow had originally told us five minutes down the road. If he thought we could get 20 km in 5 minutes, we'd need to maintain an average speed of 240 km/h. This is difficult in a sports car. In a min-van with 1000 lbs of man towing a trailer with 1500 lbs of rock and roll gear, this is impossible. And - more than likely - illegal.

There was no question. Despair had sunk in. And, as in all great bedtime stories, that was the moment we were saved. Not 4 minutes down the highway (and less than 6 km), shining like a beacon through the deep, dark night was a glorious "IRVING" sign. Jubilant, exhausted and crying, "Hallelujah" we pulled off the highway, onto the overpass and then into the station that dispensed the sweet, combustible nectar that would carry us on to our next adventure.

The band van is a 2003 Dodge Caravan. Its fuel tank capacity is 80 litres.

We put 80.65 litres into the tank.

What's the moral here? Sometimes the math is horseshit and you just have to go on hope and faith. Probably why we're in a rock and roll band.

Lest We Forget

2008-11-11T23:16:00.002-05:00

A riddle for you. What has ten thumbs and starts a tour or Remembrance Day?

These guys. (The Free Press, that is).

Now, I'm not going to get all Don Cherry on you and weep while talking about those 'beautiful boys' but one has to acknowledge such an event. 90 years ago today we ended the first bout of global insanity. Let's hope that we're capable of repeating our past successes since we're clearly capable of repeating our mistakes.

The world aside, we really did start another tour today. A pleasant 12 hour drive through Ontario, Quebec and just into New Brunswick. Highlights included Len doing something he dubbed 'the anti-gravity dance' (he really did appear to be defying gravity) as we waited for the bus to get its oil changed, J.D. (with heavy moral support from Mick) fighting the overwhelming urge to vomit (more on this later) and all five of us sitting quietly in a Boston Pizza somewhere in Quebec waiting for Godot. It took them 25 minutes to try and find someone who spoke English - they never did. So, we opted for the far more local St. Hubert where the service was friendly and we have finally convinced Len that vinegar is not just for cleaning. (For more on Len's dislike of vinegar, see some older footage in Halifax).

I had thought of keeping this low-key, but that's probably not going to work since we're rolling video sporadically. I will be conducting this tour with a far more 'Hunter S Thompsonish' mentality than I have in the past. No, I am not working for Rolling Stone. Yes, I am working on a novel. No, I am not Johnny Depp's successor in the next HST film. I think I shall leave the mystery there for now, but the truth will become apparent all too soon.

"As your attorney I advise you to start drinking heavily."

Two Outta Three Ain't Bad

2008-09-28T23:59:00.001-04:00

Hey folks,

Just wanted to let you know that we've finally started to get some ink for the record. The music industry is a pretty relentless grind and it's fairly unforgiving to those trying to make it. It's even crueller to those who do make it. Constant scrutiny, criticism and questioning. Makes you wonder why we aren't all rock stars, doesn't it?

That said, there are always kind people, allies and those who just love music. A few of those folks wrote some literature on the band recently.

The first is a great piece by a fellow named Adam Grant at the Echo in the Kitchener/Waterloo area. It's just like a Rolling Stone interview but it's not in Rolling Stone; intelligent questions, informed opinions and a point to the piece. Read it here. http://www.echoweekly.com/viewstory.php?storyid=7355

The second piece is a disc review from a paper in Edmonton. Why Edmonton? We have no idea. We're bigger out west, I suppose. The first two stations to play us were in the Yukon and we considered an immediate tour until we discovered it was 5200 km. We may have to wait a big longer on that one. Regardless, this review has some unusual new insight into the way the band works. Read it here. http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=9464

The third is a critique from Bryan Borzykowski who was freelancing for NOW. I think it's fair to say that he didn't like our music. Of course it's also fair to say that we didn't like his writing. However we wish him well in what is certain to be a burgeoning career as a Sears copy writer. Read his review here. http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=164314&archive=27,49,2008

August & Everything After

2008-07-24T15:04:00.002-04:00

Hey folks,

It's a busy time for us as we try and keep the momentum rolling from the cd release at the Horseshoe a few weeks ago. Thank you to all the kind souls who came to show support at the party. I can't tell you how inspiring it is to see a legendary bar like that full of people bopping their heads to the beat and occasionally singing along. Scrumtralescent.

The summer and fall will see us touring the bejesus out of Ontario so keep checking in to see when we're coming to rock your town. Hopefully it's soon. Take care.

25 Jul 2008 Live Lounge, Ottawa
16 Aug 2008 Jimmy Jazz, Guelph
22 Aug 2008 The Boathouse, Kitchener
23 Aug 2008 Pepper Jack Cafe, Hamilton
29 Aug 2008 Bassline Station, Ottawa
13 Sep 2008 Johnny O’s Fantastic Fun Farm, Kitchener (Private Party)
19 Sep 2008 Maxwell’s Music House, Waterloo
TBA Sep 2008 The Harbor, Owen Sound
TBA Sep 2008 The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
11 Oct 2008 Cafe Campus, Montreal
TBA Oct 2008 Peterborough
TBA Oct 2008 The Townehouse, Sudbury
TBA Oct 2008 Norma Jean's, London
TBA Oct 2008 Bombshelter, Waterloo
TBA Oct 2008 Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC

CD Release Out of Town Bus Details

2008-06-20T13:17:00.001-04:00

TORONTO CD RELEASE PARTY BUS TRIP
Friday July 11 – Horseshoe Tavern

London Departure
Location: Norma Jean’s (1332 Huron Street London)
Time: 6:30pm

Woodstock Departure
Location: Quality Inn Hwy 59 & 401 (Side / North Parking lot)
Time: 7:15pm

Brantford Departure
Location: Wendy’s / Tim Hortons (Garden Ave / 403)
Time: 7:45pm

RETURN
Leaving Toronto at 2am

Cost is $30 and includes your ticket for the show. You must purchase your ticket in advance. The bus will be a Grey Hound Coach. You can purchase tickets one of the following ways:

1. Buy a Ticket at any The Free Press or Joys show

2. Send a cheque payable to The Joys to (6337 – 2100 Bloor St. W, Toronto, On M6S 5A5) Please include your full name and contact number as well as your departure location (London, Woodstock, Brantford) Cheque must be received before July 11th.

3. Send an e-mail money transfer to mark@watsonentertainment.com

Brighter Hell

2008-06-12T12:05:00.002-04:00

Tonight marked the last night of the tour (apart from the appalling 20 hour drive home, of course). We had a late departure from Liverpool (what a surprise) and after another great meal at the Mersey house we tasked our GPS system (Tom Tom) with the top priority of finding us a DQ. Glenn and I had been jonesing since the US when he discoverd the M&M Blizzard (superior, I am told, to the Smarties Blizzard) and I discovered the Butterfinger Blizzard (superior to the Crispy Crunch Blizzard). Now, Glenn had been a little 'off' altogether since the 'accidental' freebasing accident that occurred shortly after he bought a 4 lb. bag of M&M's in a Walgreens for $4.99. But every man has his vice so we all sought the DQ with the help of the Tomtizzle.We had success about 45 minutes out of Liverpool (and halfway to Halifax) and we gorged ourselves on frozen, sugary goodness. You know - what all bands who have 5 guys that sing should do. Why didn't we just pour cream and wax down our throats as well?

Dusty and one of his groupies.

It got really, really cold as we pulled into Halifax and a fog fell over the city. I've not been to London but it's as I imagine the London fog would be. We had trouble backing up the van (and trailer) because we could barely see 6 feet behind us. The venue was pretty amazing. We played in Hell's Kitchen which is the baby bar associated with the Marquee Club (the gorgeous upstairs room that has an 850 person capacity). Jesse described it as 'strangely reminiscent of Jabba's palace' and he couldn't have been more right. It was well documented on video but we won't see that until Alex gets off his lazy bum and edits some video (in his defense this IS a tedious endeavour because we swear like a thousand, angry truckers all the time we're on the road).

The show itself was great. In the classic tradition of east coast generosity, our friend Jason MacIsaac (who got us on the bill) switched the order of the bands. We were set to go first but he said, "Nawww. We'll go first. We play here all the time and if you guys go second there'll be more people here to see you." I assure you that kind of thing never happens in Ontario. That was the best night of music I've been a part of in a while. As good as some of the bands were that we played with on the road, these guys were the most honed, the most entertaining and the most enjoyable. The other two acts (Jason's band, Silvergun and a great local act called, Alert the Medic) were just fantastic and I think we played our best show of the tour. It was a proper farewell show for a good crowd that will included a classic - almost Gord Downielike - rant from yours truly. I highly suggest searching for the bootleg. If you can't find that, just buy the record and I'll come to your house and do a rant in person. I don't know what happened, but the spirit just moved me and I went on a little sojourn in the latter part of 'The Beginning of the End of the World.' I had the crowd shouting, "I feel good! I feel strong! I feel good! I feel strong!" just before Len channelled the remainder of his M&M sugar-high into a face-melting solo. Seriously. Some folks left there with less than half a face.

Just some folks that were at our show in Halifax. (Actually they're from the exhibit at the Smithsonian I saw in Washington - sad that with a space shuttle next door to me I was more excited about R2, 3P0 and the original Kermit the Frog puppet.)

And now the long, long road home.

Destruction Addendum

2008-06-12T12:03:00.003-04:00

This is an appendix to the note known as 'Prepare to be Destroyed.' It occurred to me (as I flipped through my pictures) that I had failed to give context to the evening. Perhaps this is why it seemed so funny to us and so bizarre to the other 99.999999999% of the populace. Now, I hate to behave like a teenager and boast about how badly I hurt myself but I believe this is one of those situations where I should save my thousand words. I'll put the picture in the note, too, for future generations to enjoy and puzzle over.

Welcome to Saint John! Prepare to be destroyed.

Show a Little Mersey

2008-06-08T03:44:00.005-04:00

I know. The titles are getting lamer and lamer. This has to do with a complex math equation:Less sleep + More booze + Even more paperwork + Too much driving + Writing blogs in a van = A serious decline in the quality of pretty much everything.Pretty much everything except the rock and roll, that is. Amazing how the circumstances just get more and more stupid and the band gets better and better. We played for 3 hours last night and though it wasn't remarkable for the WHOLE 3 hours, there was certainly some of the best individual song performances we've ever had.

As you may have guessed the camera still isn't working. This kitten's name is Earnest T. Bass. What a great name for a cat. Can you dig him?

Today began (for me) at 9am. This is particularly unfortunate because I went to bed at 7am. I was up doing FACTOR paperwork. Seriously. It had to get done because we (and by we, I really mean our producer, Rick - he's a genius with the material but he's not terribly interested in semantics like paperwork and deadlines) blew out 4 deadlines in the last year. If someone gives you five figures of money I suppose it's reasonable to expect they want a product no more than a year after the original deadline (and three subsequent). So, I stayed up late doing paperwork and got up early to find a Staples in Saint John to finish it. It got done. Like the titles of these blogs, it's not pretty but it's done.

After that is was the long drive to Liverpool. We had originally intended to take the Ferry but were a bit naive about the cost of it. For 5 blokes and an extended-mini van hauling a trailer the cost was $495. Unless they serve champagne, caviar, steak and high priced escorts on the trip it just didn't seem worth it. And I could find no literature on the internet that guaranteed those things were included. As such, we drove.And when we arrived - six hours later - it was just the homecoming we'd hoped for. Michael & Heather were just as entertaining and generous as we remembered. The show was supposed to start at 9 but no one was there. So, we waited. The show was pushed to 10 but no one was there. At this point Len & I went out on the deck of the Mersey (which faces the main street) and began - essentially - to busk. We played two or three tunes and by the time we had finished the house across the street (that was having a party) had a crowd of people gathered at an open window to hear us play. By that time a small crowd had grown inside and we played the show proper. The first set was for a relatively intimate group but it swelled for the second half and all kinds of folks were dancing, grinding, drinking and singing along with the band (our hostess included). It was a great vibe and a great group of folks and once again I was really happy with the way the boys played.I think I found my bed @ 5am. We were - boy this is getting old - once again up until 4am with our host and hostess and a few others just having a good time. The acoustic guitars stayed out after the proper show and we went through what was essentially a 3rd and 4th set as we sat around, caught up and told stories. I guess we'll sleep when we're dead.

This kitten may look confused because he saw an unusual sight at 5am. Whoever said rock and roll was glamourous did not draw the short straw and have to sleep with a Portuguese man in a king sized bed with red, satin sheets. This cat is now a believer.

Prepare to be Destroyed Again

2008-06-05T11:57:00.001-04:00

Two words.

Fucking. Awesome.

We have never failed to have a great time in Saint John. Tonight we played at the Blue Olive again. Probably the nicest stage we've ever played. The sound system is top notch, the stage itself is roomy and there are LED lights, a hazer and a mirror ball. In short, everything that you want (apart from the crowd) in a rock and roll show.

The camera wouldn't work today (kind of like the band in the late morning/early afternoon) so I've decided to sprinkle the note with kittens instead. Cats are very rock and roll. Seriously. They're independant, sort of disinterested in you and all they want is to be fed and given attention on their terms.

Chris – the proprietor of the Olive – has been in a longstanding email and phone argument with us over who's more awesome. We think he's more awesome and he thinks we're more awesome. He's wrong. He wrote an article about us in the local paper discussing how he's been in the music business for a long time. He claims to have a good eye for talent and a good track record for success stories. He also promised to buy a drink for anyone who didn't think we were great. I have to tell you that was a lot of pressure on us. That could have been a lot of drinks for Chris. There's no greater endorsement than someone who sees that much music and puts their money where the mouth is for a band. In fact I had several folks tell me they were going to buy HIM a drink because they were so happy he'd coaxed them down to see us. I've got to tell you that's truly affirming as an artist to have that kind of feedback from an audience member and that kind of belief from a bar owner who has earned your respect. And the thing is he means it. Sincerely. He's a quiet, gentle and incredibly generous person. Every band comes across a handful of people that help them rise from the bogs of obscurity to the lights of the marquee. Chris is one of those guys. He will be mentioned in the book. He will be forever posted on a website (because the food is EXCELLENT in addition to his kindness and thoughtfulness). He will be played by George Clooney in the movie version of our lives. That's just the kind of guy he is.

This guy is particularly fierce. Sort of like Glenn after a few beers.

We had a great show and – despite our plans to leave early and get some work done – we stayed until the wee hours of morning laughing, telling stories and enjoying the company of Chris and his lovely head bartender, Kathy (who incidentally boosted the dead battery in our car and found us food at 3am in addition to caring for us all night). Kathy suggested a place called the Colonial Inn for good eats and crack whores (seriously). Being as we're a rock and roll band it seemed like a pretty obvious decision. But we've never been content to make the obvious choice. We make our own destiny. As such, we chose the FAR more rock and roll decision to head back to the hotel and finish the mountain of paperwork that was due in less than 18 hours. We are sooo badass.

Prepare to be Destroyed

2008-06-01T23:18:00.003-04:00

Fredericton is a great, little city. I'm continually awed by the size of the country and the stark contrasts that occur with geography and season. The last time we were in Fredericton it was bitter, cold and dark. This time it was light, warm and welcoming. In fact, due to the civility of the town I can write and upload this little journal as we sit parked on the street and I can post it as we sit and eat in the delicious Pizza Delight. Apparently Fredericton decided that the whole city should be Y-Fi and that everyone should have wireless interest for free. Last year they implemented such practice and now we enjoy the benefits. Toronto councilors take note.

We made the easy push to Saint John after the scrumtralescence of Pizza Delight. Tonight was to be a re-union with an old friend, Jeff. Jeff used to have a Celtic band called Finnigan. Three TFP members are alumni of said band and a good deal of tomfoolery, dirty jokes and alcohol went into the forging of that friendship. Having met Jeff's two brothers (one in Fredericton and the other in Saint John) AND his mom all in 12 hours, it's easy to see where he comes by his generosity and kindness. Maybe it's just something in the water here. If it is, it should be pumped into the Great Lakes as well.

Jeff, his wife and their three kids put us up for the night. Unless you've ever been camping, sailing or backpacking for more than a week you can't imagine the relief that comes with four proper walls and a stove to cook your own food on.

Several things happened after the agreement to put us up.

1. Jeff put for the idea of a bonfire but confessed that they almost lit the bell phone line on fire the last time such a blaze was set (it probably didn't hurt that there was a giant dresser on the top of the fire).

2. Jeff brought for a great deal of alcohol. When that seemed to slow, Mark (Jeff's brother) magically created more. Like stupid, foolish, nineteen year old boys – we consumed all of it. When several of us declined a beer, Jeff brought one anyway. This happened on at least a dozen occasions. Somewhere in there came the quote of the night. Jeff said, "You don't fucking come to fucking Saint John and not get fucking destroyed." Testify.

3. Jeff was discussing the 'culture' of Saint John (see above) and had a suggestion for its new tourism campaign. The provincial license plate (and perhaps the commercials) should read: Saint John. Prepare to be Destroyed.

700 km is NOT for Driving

2008-06-01T23:13:00.002-04:00

Dusty at the hotel

We left the confines of our homey hotel in Wakefield, MA and made the long drive to Fredericton, NB. Needless to say that with 5 imaginative men in an enclosed space (that's hurtling along at 100 km/h) for more than 8 hours terrible things were discussed. Chose an offensive topic, multiply the darkness by a factor of ten and you probably have a van ride with a band that's been on the road for a week. We've all agreed that we'd very much prefer it if someone was driving the bus the next time we make such a drive. So, if anyone has a bus lying around, please let us know.

We had no show booked tonight but we headed down to a place called The Capital to hit an open mic jam. In Toronto that means a host will stand up and play his own material (or 5 Zeppelin covers) and then you get to hop up and play a couple of songs before someone else has to get up and do a few of their Zeppelin covers. Again I bring up the stark contrast of societies and behaviours in the same country. When the host, Richard, heard we were from Toronto he got very excited. We asked if we could play a few tunes and he said, "Sure – you can play 5 or 6 if you want." So we ended up playing a stripped down acoustic set for a nice sized crowd and had a blast. It was one of those nights that's heartening. Just to see strangers listening, drinking, dancing and enjoying the music. We've all decided to make a conscious effort to bring some of that kindness, generosity and agreeable temperment back to Toronto.

Can you smell what Barack is cooking?

Return to Beantown

2008-05-30T04:19:00.003-04:00

Sunrise started at 4:02 am today. No shit. I can say that because I was driving a van full of drunken idiots back from Brattleboro, VT. After all the villagers captured, stuffed and hung the dwarf we celebrated until the wee hours of the morning. I abstained from the alcohol in case they tried to steal, sacrifice or slice one of us up into little pieces. They did no such thing. They showed us nothing but kindness and generosity. Shame about their little people prejudice.But I digress. I was talking about the sunrise at 4:02 am. Everyone in the band dislikes STILL being awake when you begin to hear the birds chirping. If they wake you up that’s one thing. They’re a nuisance you can feel justified berating. If they start their incessant chatter when you’re still awake it feels like you’re being both taunted and chastised. Well, the birds can suck it.I still digress. I was driving the bus through the mountains in northern Massacheussetts and the sky began to lighten. At 4:02 am. It was eerily beautiful to see the trees silhouetted in the morning light while dipping and diving across the state road that took us back to the hotel. It looked like the trees were very slowly being set on fire.We got back to the hotel shortly before 6 am and everyone was in bed pretty quickly. There was a fun surprise waiting for us in the parking lot, however. There's a video (that Alex still hasn't posted) from our last tour where I talk about the concept of 'F*$k You parking.' The concept is simple: If you're vehicle is big enough you can park wherever you'd like to. Usually we think we're being dinks because we take up 3-5 spaces. Imagine our surprise when we discovered a large tour bus (clearly parked by a master of the FYP philosophy) taking up TEN spaces! TEN!!! We had a good laugh and then went to bed.

The work of a master.

It was a rest day for us, so we got up late and did all the usual things one is supposed to do. We went to the mall, we went to a movie, Alex killed 23 moose in one sitting and we went to the city for a walk around Boston commons and the downtown core. It’s amazing how desolate American cities become after the sun goes down. Perhaps we’re just ignorant of the dangers (and maybe that’s for the best) the city holds or maybe it’s just a cultural difference. Regardless, we had a meal about a block from the Orpheum theatre (bigger than Massey Hall and a venue we fully intend to play in less than two years. ☺) After that it was back to the hotel and a bit of work; making plans for the summer tour, sussing out some new material (Len & J.D.) and the continuation of the Derek & Clive bender (both the booze and the comedy) that Mick & Alex have been on for about 72 hours now. Tomorrow we head back to Canada and terra firma. Let the good times roll.

Alex and the moose hunt.

The Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA. See you in a couple of years!

Bullets Over Broadway Part III

2008-05-29T13:01:00.003-04:00

ACT THE THIRD

(TFP is on stage playing ‘Love and Wonder’ for the second time – as requested by a cute young woman who is dancing down front like she’s trying to shake the demons out. Some old friends from Boston sit at the bar, enjoying the show and talking to a some pretty ladies from Connecticuit. Pixus sleeps beside the bar.)

Annie: It IS big, isn’t it.

Nikki: I wonder whose is bigger.

Shawn: Ask them.

Andrea: It’s hard to tell from this angle.

Jeremy: I’m going to play the Star Wars pinball machine again.

Shawn: I’ll come with you.

Andrea: Is it me, or is Mick’s shaped like a Rhombus?

Annie: I was JUST thinking that.

Nikki: Alex’s looks like a f#*$!ing silo!

Annie: You can see that even in the dark?

Nikki: I have good night vision for that sort of thing.

Andrea: What about J.D.?

Annie: Tough to say with any certainty. There’s a lot of hair there.

Pixus: Are you talking about those melon-heads up there?

Nikki: Yes.Pixus: There’s a lot of skull on that stage tonight. Looks like abunch of candy apples with guitars and drums. Or scarecrows searching a pumpkin patch for new heads. Atleast they don’t suck. They asked me to jam with them but it’s not really my thing.

Andrea: What do you play?

Pixus: Keys. Maybe I could do one…(He stops suddenly and begins to sniff rapidly).Do you guys smell that?

Annie: Smell what?

Pixus: Dwarf!

(At this point, Pixus leaps on stage and knocks J.D. out of the way. The band grinds to a halt.)

Pixus: We have a situation everyone. I smell a dwarf about twoblocks away.

Patron # 1: No!

Pixus: I’m afraid so.

Patron # 2: When will they learn?

Pixus: I don’t know. But until they do, we take care of business. What do we do with little people?

Angry Mob: Stuff them! Hang them!

Pixus: Right! Light the torches, grab the tranq guns and let’s roll.(There is a roar of assent from the crowd and the nearly full bar empties in less than ten seconds as the mob follows Pixus into the night. The Free Press take a moment to absorb and then quietly begin to dismantle the set-up. Alex begins to speak but as he inhales, he comes to the realization that words are probably inadequate. As TFP continue to put their things away, the old man comes in and pours himself a beer.)

Old Man: Hey!

(Curtain).

Actual band photo of The Free Press.

Authors note: Ok, maybe that’s not exactly how the night played out but if Hunter S. Thompson taught us anything, it’s that gonzo journalism is impossible. We record the events as best we can remember them, but there is invariably some details that are stretched or warped to benefit the story. I have certainly used hyperbole in a few places. The old man really didn’t look that much like Einstein.

Bullets Over Broadway Part II

2008-05-28T16:10:00.003-04:00

ACT THE SECOND

(The Free Press cautiously enter the darkness of the bar called The Weathervane. They walk through the long, narrow bar. Hanging from the walls are the taxodermied bodies of the cities smallest and most eccentric looking people. They hang as a warning to outsiders: You are being Watched. Furthermore, they serve as a reminder that Brattleboro doesn’t tolerate small people. Small people are for hanging and stuffing.)

Clearly an ancient casualty of Brattleboro.

A small lady who was shamed before she was stuffed and hung.

(TFP slow as they reach the stage that is to support the evening’s rocking. The stage is in the usual state of disarrayLying – sleeping – on the stage is a large black and white dog. He seems non-plussed by the five scruffy men studying his slumber.)

Pixus, Jazz Legend and Keeper of Brattleboro.

J.D.: That’s a new one.

Mick: That IS a new one.

Alex: Do you think he knows Neverland?

(The bartender notes the interest in the dog.)

Bartender: His name is Pixus.

Len: Pixus?

Bartender: Pixus.

Alex: Pixus, do you want to sit in on Neverland?

(Pixus opens one eye to survey the deadbeats.)

Len: It’s in the key of G.

(Pixus opens his other eye).

Jesse: It’s a pretty simple four chord progression.

Pixus: Dude, it’s irrelevant.

(Pixus closes his eyes.)

Mick: Uhhh…

Bartender: Oh, sorry guys. He’s a blues man.

(Curtain)

Bullets Over Brattleboro Part I

2008-05-28T16:03:00.002-04:00

The weather has been gorgeous here the past few days and it continued as we made our way through lush, green, forested mountains and valleys that were cut with winding streams and lazy rivers. Northern Massacheussetts and Maine could easily be considered God's country. If a John Williams score had been playing in the background, it would have looked just like something out of a hollywood movie about pioneers or spanish explorers.The show at Brattleboro was really a show in three acts. The following is a Reader’s Digest Abbreviated version of the actual events.

Brattleboro falls and mountain.

ACT THE FIRST

(The Free Press van comes slowly into view. It heads towards the mountain and turns, passing a waterfall. As it snakes up a giant hill it lingers at an old movie theatre before continuing to limp towards the venue. Arriving out front of the Weathervane our heroes file out of the tourmoblie. An old, drunk, Einstein-looking-crazy-motherf$*!@r staggers out of the bar and attempts to focus on the band.)

Old Man: Hey!

(TFP manage a nod and a polite smile as they squeeze out of the van.)

Old Man: Hey!!

(TFP repeat a somewhat diminished version of their previous actions.)

Old Man: Heeeyyy!!!

(TFP exchange looks and drop a cool silence).

Old Man: HEYYYYY!!!!

(TFP lower the temperature to create a frosty silence. Jesse - TFP’s 6’3” guitar player - chooses this moment to direct a lingering look of interest at the crazy, old man.)

Old Man: Are you going to hit me?

(A beat.)

Jesse: Not yet.

(Curtain)

The theatre. Should have been our first sign that we were walking into a Stephen King novel.

Duck Sauce

2008-05-26T06:21:00.003-04:00

Day 3 came cruelly - as it always does in any work week, bender or playoff run. There's the inevitable beginnings of fatigue, some bumps and bruises and the fond remembrances of home. The only member of our party who seems immune to the rigours of the road is Dusty, who stands as diligently and proudly as always. That’s just good advice, by the way. When the opportunity arises, take a rhino on the road with you.

Dusty on guard.

We played a show in Portland, Maine tonight. The two bands in front of us were outstanding. Line of Force (lineofforce.com) and Adam & the Waxmen (adamandthewaxmen.com). The kind of guys you dislike immediately because of how nice AND how talented they are. Not only did they help us load in our 2000 lbs of equipment but they introduced us to some fans and promised to get us on a bigger show here next time around. And that is truly one of the under-discussed pros of life on the road. You meet so many kind people. It’s what keeps you moving through the dark days when things aren’t rolling as smoothly as they should be.The exclamation point on the evening was the post-rock dinner at a nearby Chinese restaurant. The food was clearly portioned for Andre the Giant, there was a mysterious “Duck” sauce that seemed to be the answer to any question asked of the staff and – as is so often the case – there was a wonderful discovery in the bathroom. A video on that later.

Alex and Mt. Ricemore

We got a great piece of news today. Well, actually two if count the favourable reviews for the Indiana Jones movie. But the REAL piece of good news is that Half Truths & Whole Lies is officially available on iTunes. We have no idea why or how (as they told us it would be 2-3 months) but it's up and ready for the global masses. We can only assume they thought it was so f#$*!ng good that it simply HAD to be put on sale immediately. My regard for Steve Jobs & Apple has increased again today. We salute you! (And we'd love a commercial or a sponsorship.)

Half Truths & Whole Lies. Download our music or the terrorists win!

Pawtucket? I don't even know it. You brought it, you pawtucket!

2008-05-24T13:42:00.002-04:00

First, some TFP fun facts for those of you into stats.

In the first 48 hours of the tour:

20 hours of sleep (collectively through 5 guys)

3 large glasses of Hi-C fruit punch

1 Blowdart

322 expletives

In the first 72 hours of the tour:

5 Peanut Butter sandwiches

5 shots of Jack Daniels

2 Goose Eggs

3 felonies (these are debatable and I can't comment on whether we witnessed or participated in said felonies)

14 Sam Adams products consumed

We had a great day and a great show yesterday. The weather was incredible and the venue was absolutely gorgeous. Picture the loft apartment in the movie 'Big', triple it in size and you have the room. It even had a 'Monsters of Rock' pinball machine! Full of stone, wood and unimaginable ghosts. The vibe of the room was just fantastic. We also shared the bill with a couple of excellent reggae/ska bands; The Uplifters (www.myspace.com/areggaeband) and Innocent Uprising (www.myspace.com/innocentuprising). All in all a great night of music in a remarkable room.

The Blackstone Pub in Pawtucket, RI

Monsters of Rock pinball machine!!!

And as it was Alex's birthday we decided to explore all that Pawtucket had to offer. We scoured the streets and stores of Pawtucket looking for just the right gift to bestow on our beloved drummer. Just when hope was ebbing and faith was faltering the heavens opened and the perfect present was revealed to us. The Barak Obama pillowcase. Dig it.

Brand new! The Barak Obama pillowcase and headboard set. Guaranteed to offer a night of sweet, secure love making followed by a refreshing and respectable rest.

Do You Like Apples???

2008-05-23T14:29:00.002-04:00

It is impossible to convey the Boston experience in the written form. I can describe the miles of beautiful, old, colonial housing and the imposing Fenway Park standing vigilantly downtown as well as the tranquil beauty of driving along a city dividing river that's crowded by skyscrapers and parks. But all of that means nothing unless you give it context. Give it colour. Give it sound. And the sound of which I speak is the Southie accent.

Nothing on the face of the earth sounds like the southie accent. It instantly lends a humorous quality to anything that is said. The show was good last night but it was my experience in the bathroom that made the night for me. I can't possibly do it justice here. As unfair as it is, you'll all have to wait and we'll do one of two things. 1. You can ask me when I get home to recount the story for you (which I'll happily do ad nauseum) or 2. I will make an audio recording when we have some free time in which I will play both Bostonians who had the conversation.

Apart from that, yesterday was all you'd expect after driving for 11 hours and then playing a rock and roll show. There was an incident involving Denny's and blowdarts, a peaceful hotel that's cozily situated beside a swamp and a major highway, some cursing of the Adirondack mountains for being in the f#*$!ng way, an accidental free-basing experience involving m&m's, the usual strangeness of a Walgreen's, a reunion with a few old friends and a sweaty show for a good sized crowd of thirsty Bostonians. Dig it.

Darker Days

2008-02-25T02:29:00.003-05:00

"Darker Days" is one of the last tunes that got cut from our record. It certainly fits with the bleak landscape of the songs that did make it, but it just didn't fit perfectly. It was written about Brantford, but it could have been written about St. John as well. A once vibrant and hopeful, small city now with pockets of it shut down, boarded up and forgotten. We had a great time in St. John. We played at the Blue Olive (where Ron Sexsmith had played only a few months ago!) and the staff and crowd were beyond kind to us. There's nothing as encouraging to a performer as 6 or 7 couples getting up and dancing to a song they've never heard before (The Only Way Home in this instance).

But despite the joy we found, we couldn't shake the feeling of sadness that permeated the city. It's also the home of a darker secret. Or at least it was when we got through with it. In classic TFP fashion, we crossed the line, drew a new one and crossed it again. The item in the pictures and video you are about to see is the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms. One of our members (who may or may not be pictured) found it on the wall of the hotel and decided it might make a suitable companion for this portion of our journey. Although it was not harmed in the making of this tour, it came perilously close.

I couldn't help but note #12.

"Everyone has the right not to be subjected to any cruel and unusual treatment or punishment."

Note the pizza sauce...and remember.

An Old Friend Pt 2

2008-02-23T03:47:00.001-05:00

I'm not a big believer in God. I wax and wane on whether or not I believe in Fate or the greek mythological idea of a god for each facet of human behaviour. But today it was hard not to believe. As we crossed the bridge from PEI and hit terra firma moose country, we drove for a short while and hit the gas station we had filled up at the day before on the way to Charlottetown.

He was right where he fell out.

Exactly.

22 hours earlier.

This kicked off a remarkable turn around for the last two days of the tour. The shows were great, the mood lifted and the world seemed conquerable once again. Long live Dusty!

An Old Friend Pt 1

2008-02-23T03:41:00.002-05:00

The mood of the tour was somewhat dour as we headed towards Fredericton. Tempers were a little hot, people were over-tired, cold and hungry. The fact that the show in PEI started at 11pm was also a factor when the morning came.

Personally I was a bit down because I lost a friend on the way to Charlottetown (despite the new one I gained ;). His name was Dusty. He was a small but proud rhinoceros that warded away evil and kept silent, steady watch over us and all the possible things that could fall apart. Dusty was the proverbial rug that tied the room together.

I lost Dusty.

Taking a picture of a large, horrifying moose sign.

At a gas station parking lot at the edge of the world.

He jumped from the van into the darkness quite possibly because the idea of a 15 km bridge was just too ridiculous and terrifying to endure.

I was crestfallen.

But I went on as one has to in this business.

A Bridge Over Troubled Waters

2008-02-21T11:41:00.006-05:00

Seriously. It took us 20 minutes to cross a bridge today. No traffic, no bad weather, no accidents - just a long-ass bridge. It was a pretty stunning sight to pass over it at night (with the full moon out and the lunar eclipse building) but I'm really looking forward to seeing it by the light of day.

The mood varied from hungry to grumpy to awed to grumpy today as the magnitude of what we were attempting to achieve hit home. Just before we rolled into our third province of the day and saw that we had put 3000 km onto the van, we asked the question (for the 64th time), "What have we done?" The point was further re-inforced by the most terrifying, blunt sign that any of us had ever seen. These signs - in an attempt to continually raise your blood pressure and anxiety level - went on for about 15 km. They only ended when you got to the entirely new reason to feel anxious. You know, the giant bridge that runs through the ATLANTIC OCEAN and connects the continent of North America to a tiny island 20-30 km off the mainland. Un. Buh. Lievable.

The show was cool. A really nice turnout and two other really good acts (local boys, The Meds and a band from Montreal called Hot Springs). The only strange thing was the reaction of the PEI crowd. They were attentitve, they were looking at us and listening but they rarely clapped after a song. It felt as though we were in a Frank Sinatra impersonator dinner theatre matinee and they were slightly annoyed that the music wasn't continuous enough for them to finish their dinner before clapping. We thought it was just us. And then the local boys got up - the band that most of the crowd came to see - and the crowd was just as attentive, non-plussed and quiet. I wondered if we'd had a bad show until I went to the bathroom. Apparently that's where business is conducted in Charlottetown, because I had 5 people tell me that we put on an incredible show as I urinated, washed my hands and attempted to slip out the door. Just a different culture, I guess.

Halifaxilicious

2008-02-20T12:03:00.002-05:00

It's a recent phenomenon to add 'licisious' to any word to give it instant credibility and coolness factor. Hopefully that applies to Halifax as well. We were just watching the US election primary results from yesterday and we couldn't help but steal a quote from CNN who was talking about Obama. Just like him our favour and message is "widening and spreadening". That's right, widening and spreadening!

We had a long day of rehearsal, which wasn't so fun. You'd think that when playing for 8 nights straight, you'd probably get the day off of rehearsal. Well, you'd be wrong. We just want to keep doing the work, stay tight and make sure we're in good shape for our Friday show where we're playing for 3 1/2 hours! It will be our first Dave Matthews Band/Bruce Springsteen length concert.

The show was a good time. People we're actually chanting "ToronTO, ToronTO" by the shows end and we felt pretty good about our rock and roll representation of our city. The venue was a bit on the dodgier sign in a dodgilicious part of town (there was a glassed off area that used to be for smoking but has now been turned into a mini-Casinorama) and there was a cop car parked outside for 1/2 the show providing a free light show. But the other bands were very, very cool (Brite Vu, Chalkboard Assassins & Little Known Facts) and it was another indication of the generosity of the folks out here that a band from Toronto can be so warmly included on a bill with only 24 hours notice. Dig it.

The only concern of the tour so far is my bruise. There is discussion that it may not be a bruise at all but may, in fact, be an alien. We have decided to photo-journal its birth and/or death and if you don't hear from any of us again, it's because Mick was right and all the guys were killed in the van when the alien burst from my abdomen. Pray for us and pray for Charlottetown.

The Morning Comes Too Early

2008-02-20T03:38:00.002-05:00

I can't possibly articulate the events of today, given that it's 4:39 am here and we just got home about a 1/2 hour ago. Apart from the lateishness of the hour, I'm suffering a 3rd degree jalapeno burn from an overzealous (but doggedly slow) Subway employee and a serious case of post-rock brain freeze (we had a 5 hour rehearsal and THEN a show tonight - that's a lot of rock for a kid 2000 km from home). It's a deadly combination and it proves to make this a boring-ass blog. Really it's just a place-holder and an excuse to complain about the Subway dude who - although incredibly generous with his toppings - took 23 minutes to make 5 subs. Un. Buh. Lievable.

The full story tomorrow.

Just the Two of Us

2008-02-19T01:39:00.003-05:00

And everyone else who loves rock and roll in Halifax.

Where to begin when talking about the official day 4 of the tour. We left Liverpool in the early afternoon with the intention of discovering the worlds first outhouse museum. Sadly, it was closed and we opted to head for Peggy's Cove just SW of Halifax. Our lovely friends Heather & Michael at the Mersey House had given us the parting gift of a contact (and subsequent show) in Halifax tomorrow night and imagine our surprise when the phone rang at @ 5 pm just before we took the highway turnoff to the cove. It was the nice fellow (Jason MacIsaac) who had found us a gig in Halifax at Gus' Pub for tomorrow. He said, "Yah, boy, I'm runnin' a bit late at work and was wondering if you guys would mind filling in for me and doing an acoustic set?" Thirty seconds of discussion settled it and we were off to play an acoustic show at the 'Just Us Cafe' in Halifax. (It should be noted that there is TWO of them in said city and this caused confusion for both patrons and performers). It was a wonderful evening. Just the kind of thing that makes you believe in the fates, a god or a higher power orchestrating this dance on earth. We played with the very cool, very kind and very talented Cas MacRae (sorry if we spelled your name wrong) as well as the exceptionally generous, gifted and lovely Christina Martin. We had such a great time that we asked everyone in the cafe to take a picture with us. That's the laughing, joyous group you see on the stairs.

Apart from the great show, it was Halifax (I'm told) as usual; torrential downpour, great east coast bargains and a lot of micro-brewery beer at a local pub (this resulted in an age old vinegar drinking contest between Alex & I that may be posted on the internet if we can edit out all the swearing and screaming - don't hold your breath). Also, like any good team on the road, the bumps and bruises are starting to show. That's a picture of dallas' rib-cage/hip where someone's guitar speared him. Rock and roll, doggie.

Tomorrow is a full day of rehearsal, finishing up some detailed work on the record (artwork, bg vocals and acoustic guitar) and a show in downtown Halifax. Un. Buh. Lievable.

j.d.

Mersey, Mersey Me

2008-02-18T00:06:00.003-05:00

Well, we ended up staying at the Mersey House in Liverpool. This happened for a variety of reasons.

1. Heather & Michael (who own and run the joint) may be the most kind and generous people on earth.

2. Heather & Michael just love music, love people and make you feel loved. I can't remember the last time I've spent two consecutive nights sitting up for 4 or 5 hours and talking until the wee hours of the morning.

3. Heather & Michael (who may be the most and generous people on earth) said we could 'just lay our heads' here again. How often do you get to 'lay your head' in a 3 story mansion with 14 foot celings AND play a rock and roll show? If you're fuzzy on the answer, it's simple. Not very often.

It felt very rock and roll to have a mini-residency at such a great venue. The crowd was intimate again tonight, but I suppose it usually is for a baby indie rock band on a Sunday in Nova Scotia in the dead of winter in a town of 3100 people.

We stood in the ocean, we finally had some pizza (it was delicious) and there were some great deals at the Pharma-Save. A good day all around.

Tomorrow we're off to explore other corners of Nova Scotia like the cour de bois of old. Destination #1 is the worlds first outhouse museum. Hard to believe that we won't find a story there.

Yer Not the Ocean

2008-02-17T18:08:00.004-05:00

Oh, wait. You totally are. I swear to God that we were listening to the Tragically Hip tune named the same as the above title as we rolled up to...

The End of the World is Beginning

2008-02-17T02:43:00.004-05:00

Day # 2 began as Day # 1 did. In the cold, too early in the morning with a lot of miles ahead of us. It also began pizza-less. I should clarify. We tried to make an emergency grocery stop last night at a place called the "House of Pizza" in Obscuresville, Maine. They were just closing as we rolled through @ 2am. Much to our delight, we found this restaurant at our hotel. However, as we trooped out of bed, loaded the van and went for some food, we found the doors shut. As Alex said, it was closed both times. Un. Buh. Livable.

We trucked from Woodstock, NB all the way to Liverpool, NS with little incident (aside from a lot of rather menacing and disturbing signs about Moose and an equally severe and puzzling series of signs discussing smuggling bees into Nova Scotia; seriously). The trip looked a lot like the picture for the WHOLE way (apart from the small rhino named Dusty). It would have been a solid 7 hours of driving if I hadn't made two navigational blunders in and around Halifax. As such, there were an extra two hours of driving and grumpiness.

All that fell away when we got to the venue. A couple of folks named Heather & Michael run what is - in our experience - the most artist hospitable venue we've ever come across. Although the initial turnout for the start of the show was light, Heather very much re-enacted the "It's your cousin, Marvin Berry" scene from Back to the Future. We were halfway through our first song and she made a phone call. By the end of the second song, a group of folks piled in from the cold and Heather & Michael insisted we start over for the new arrivals. You really can't makes this stuff up. Un. Buh. Lievable. And awesome.

We're just getting ready to hit the pillow now in a three story mansion that's 105 years old. It is haunted, has 30 some rooms and a gigantic library lining the walls of the entire second floor. It's Un. Buh. Lievable. And awesome. More tomorrow when I can see straight.

j.d.

Eastern Promises

2008-02-16T05:45:00.003-05:00

Yes, your clocks are correct. It's 6:45 am here in Woodstock, NB which is our 2/3 rest stop before our gig in Liverpool, NS tomorrow evening. After that, we're playing in Wolfville, Charlottetown, Fredericton, St. John & Sydney. We're excited, tired and f#$*!ng cold.

After an 18 hour journey here (that involved one live deer and one decidedly not, a circuitous journey through rural Quebec that no young fan of 'Le Chandail" should miss and an abandoned, creepy hotel in Bangor, Maine - yes, that IS where Stephen King lives) we're beyond fatigued and looking forward to a few hours of sleep. We've already taken some fun shots and shot some video footage and we'll throw it up as soon as we find the time. Well wishes from the Beginning of the End of the World.

j.d.

The Home Stretch

2007-11-21T21:49:00.000-05:00

We're almost there. The song choices were finalized last week (11 songs) and we're down to three or four names for the record. Artwork is still a minor debate, but we'll get there. A few more days of recording next week and then the mixing (which is 75% done), mastering and manufacturing. We're hoping to have everything in place for mid-February when we hit the road. Look for a slew of shows in Feb/March. They're starting to pop up on the calendar already.

We were recently included in a very cool podcast by our internet friend, Gabor. He resides in the UK and runs a fantastic program called Electrical Language. Storms was included in an earlier podcast, but on the celebratory 100th episode, you can hear J.D. talking about 'Love & Wonder' and Mick talking about nonsense (in a very entertaining fashion). The link below should take you to the site.

http://www.electricallanguage.co.uk/2007/11/podcast-no-100.html

Indie Week

2007-10-14T22:15:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all who came to our shows at Indie Week. It was great to meet a lot of new faces and some cool new bands. It was so nice to see so much support for independant music. We saw our old friends Joe & Mary (From http://www.indiecan.com/ and Meg-A Music Toronto www.myspace.com/megamusictoronto respectively) and we spent some time with our long-time pal and supporter Cara from http://www.indielove.ca/. We also got some very kind things said about us from our new friends at Toonage. Click the link below to read the article.

http://www.toonage.ca/features/oct1107_the_free_press.shtml

For those of you who didn't make it out to the show, there's a pretty good video of the Rivoli who at http://www.synchronicitylive.com/. Just put The Free Press in the search bar and we'll pop up. Not HD, but it's the next best thing if you couldn't make it.

Appetite for Destruction

2007-10-10T01:43:00.000-04:00

Hey folks, it's J.D. here. To answer the three most common questions tossed my way recently:

1. Yes, just extra cheese.
2. Yes, I believe the Leafs will make the playoffs.
3. No, the album isn't finished yet. (Sigh)

After reading a Rolling Stone article about Guns 'n' Roses making their first record (and the unbelievable trashing of the house they were staying in), we decided to spend a few days out of town while working on the record. The result was a dangerous brand of comedy that ended with the near death of a microwave and several pieces of Pepi's pizza flying out of a 9th story window towards an enviornmentally unfriendly vehicle in the parking lot.

The album is receiving similar treatment. Things have been tossed out, smashed and built in a newer, better shape. New material has been brought in and tested and some of it stands taller than the first 26 songs that we recorded. The result is, sadly, that the record won't be finished until the years end since we have 30 songs recorded and (depending on who you talk to) 25 of them are going on the album. This is incredibly complicated math because we're not sure how to make 25 turn into 12. If anyone has NASA's phone number, we may need to put in a call.

We're all getting a bit punchy and impatient, but we stopped that the other day when our producer, Rick, used the words 'world class record.' It's easy to forget that this is forever. As such, decisions have to be weighed with a good deal of care and thought. We're just in a rush to put out a record to promote. He's not. He's listening to us play better and play more confidently. And he's not going to stop recording us until he thinks we should stop. AND we keep bringing new material in. Maybe we're just sick. Maybe we're addicted to recording. Maybe we should seek help. I don't know. We debated not playing the new stuff for Rick, but he's just a very open and patient man and he said of course we should audition the tunes. So we played two new songs on a couple of acoustics (the way we write 95% of the time) and ten minutes later, he was scheduling time to record them next weekend. It's ridiculous and wonderful, because a lot of really good songs are going to be left without a home on this record. But - as Rick keep saying - this is a good problem. So, shut up and sing. Fair enough.

At least now we know what we're getting you all for christmas.

j.d.

Love and Wonder

2007-08-12T20:28:00.001-04:00

Love and Wonder is the tentative title for our first, full length record. The hard work is finally paying off and we're beginning to hear rough versions of all the material so we can whittle it down to one phenomonal debut. The tentative date for the record is now mid-November. Everyone's excited and hopefully that contagiousness will be evident in the demos of the new tunes. We'll throw a few of them up on the myspace page (www.myspace.com/freepressmusic) as they come down the assembly line that makes huge, number one hits. :) The first one (Love and Wonder) is up now. Hope you dig it!

Crazy From the Heat

2007-06-13T01:58:00.000-04:00

Yes, we just quoted David Lee Roth. Why not? Tight pants, scissor kicks over the drum kit, big hair, sweaty sex symbol and one of the best rock yells of all time! That's the sort of thing that's kept us busy and kept us up nights since the last piece of news. In fact, those of you who caught any of our last few shows would say check, check, check, check and check (Len had a particularly soulful holler at our NXNE showcase at the Savannah Room). To those of you who did catch one of our last few shows, thanks for coming out. For those of you who didn't; shame on you. We'll see you June 23rd in Burlington or July 14th at the Rivoli. If not, we'll see you on your doorstep with some of the Sopranos who are now out of work. Just a warning: a lot of them have got a little too 'into their character' if you know what we mean.

The record is coming along beautifully. Still no official timeline for its release, but we're hopeful that it'll be out in the late summer. Our producer is hoarding the tracks like a Leprechaun hoards gold, so there's nothing to post yet, but he's got to sleep sometime. And as soon as he does, we'll steal a track or two and post it up here. Hopefully you'll agree with us that it's worth the wait. We couldn't be more excited about getting our mitts on the record.

In the meantime, stay cool, stay hydrated and pray for Paris.

Confession #1

2007-03-04T14:36:00.000-05:00

The good news is our next record is going to be fantastic (we can only say this, because Juno award winner Rick Hutt told us so!) The bad news is that we've now upped our total songs that we're considering to 37. Yes, that's about three album's worth of material. Sooooo, we're going to be recording for a few months to come. We promise it'll be worth the wait. And if not, we'll give you Rick's address and you can take it up with him.

A big thanks to the Mix 106 - our good radio friends in Owen Sound. TFP played a gig up there last Friday and they were relentless and shameless in their promotion of the show. Jesse & J.D. stopped in and did an interview with Rico Zorzati. Good fun was had by all. Highlights included; a biblical storm, a rousing version of Billie Jean and an hour and a half of TFP Rock and Roll. Yes, those should both be capitalized. For pictures of us kickin' at the Harb, follow the link below.

http://www.mix106.ca/pictures.php?pid=544

One Simple Word

2006-11-25T21:23:00.000-05:00

Just a few pictures to let you know what we've been doing the last month or two. You can see us hard at work in the studio and there's a few live shots of our show last month at the Jimmy Jazz where we played with our pals in Vacuity, www.vacuity.net and Mandippal Jandu, www.mandippaljandu.com. We're working hard and hoping big things will happen with the completion of our first full-length record. We'll post a few of the demo versions of the new stuff somewhere soon. I think Alex summed up our last few months (and our next few) pretty succintly when he wrote on the window (which he also climbed through to get at his drum kit) at the gig. The word, my friends, was 'Rock'.

Studio Photos by Chris Torbay
Live Photos by Sara Desjardins

Kicking at the Darkness...

2006-10-03T01:33:00.000-04:00

Hey folks,

We've had some emails, so we wanted to tell everyone that, "Yes, we're alive." There's been some vacations, family problems and work that's taken us away from the music for a few weeks here and there, but the changing of the leaves brings us back to the studio to buckle down and record one of the best rock/pop records in the history of music. It's a lot to live up to and it's why we keep going in and out of recording land - to improve the songs and make them strong enough to beat down all the crap that's on the radio these days. We've narrowed it down to about 16 tunes for the album and we'll keep you updated on what's going on.

There is one gigantic piece of news that seems pretty important to share with you. The Free Press is no longer a 4 piece band. Alex, J.D., Len & Mick are pleased to welcome our good pal, Jesse Pitcher, into The Free Press fold. He's good people, he's a great guitar player and he's a 7'3" Australian. All good reasons not to say no to a guy when he tells you he's joining the band. That's a picture of him below (not actual size). He'll play his first show with us this week when we head into IndieCan radio (www.indiecan.com) to record a show this week. And then he'll play his first live show with us at the Jimmy Jazz in Guelph on Friday, October 13th. Welcome him with open arms and stiff drinks.

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall...

2006-07-17T19:55:00.000-04:00

Come on out August 13th to see The Free Press play at the Beer Festival @ the Historic Fort York in Toronto. Some of the festival organizers saw TFP play at NXNE and - because of the enigmatic performance - offered them a chance to play with up and coming bands like Wintersleep (currently on tour with Pilate) and Holy Fuck (come on, that's a GREAT name and a Blue Rodeo side project). Anyway, the boys intend to take several down, pass them around and then see what happens. We'd love it if you could join them.

Lots of things going on in TFPville. After successful shows in London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Sault St. Marie and Kitchener in the past month, the lads are looking forward to another handful of great shows coming up in July/August (Guelph, Toronto @ Lee's Palace!, Waterloo, Hamilton & Bala) before returning to the studio to continue work on their debut full-length record with the much-decorated producer, Rick Hutt. If you'd love to hear one of the new songs, sign up for the mailing list and send an email with the subject, "Give me your music, you wankers!" If you're already on the list and you want to hear one of the new songs, send the same subject title with the derogatory name of your choice. Hope to see you all soon.

On the road again...

2006-05-30T16:04:00.000-04:00

TFP is playing all over the province in June/July, so keep checking back if there's no firm date for your city yet. Wash your fancy, rocking clothes, book the next morning off work and get ready for a sweaty summer. See you soon.

June 3 - Palette Cafe in Cambridge
June 10 - Aout & About in Hamilton
June 10 - NXNE 'One Night Stand' Showcase at The Rivoli in Toronto
June 14 - The Revival in Toronto
June 15 - The Circus Room in Kitchener
June 28 - Salt Lounge in London
July 3 - The Underground in Hamilton
July 6 - Townehouse Tavern in Sudbury
July 7 - Downbeat Lounge in Sault St. Marie
July 10 - Zaphod's in Ottawa
July 15 - Bala Indiefest in Bala
July 22 - Jimmy Jazz in Guelph
July 28 - Lee's Palace in Toronto
August 19 - Starlight Cafe in Waterloo
July TBA - The Foundation in Barrie
July TBA - The Harb in Owen Sound
July TBA - TBA in Peterborough

Out of the blue, into the black...

2006-05-05T15:01:00.000-04:00

It's official. The Free Press are leaving the open skies of May to enter the secrecy and darkness and mystery of the studio to begin work on their first full length album. We'll probably post some of the early stuff here so you can get a sample of our new tunes. We're really excited about the next few months. Let the Rick Hutt sessions begin!

Since we're working underground in May, the show scene is pretty quiet. However, there's a ton of gigs going up all over Ontario for June & July so be sure to keep checking the site for updates. See you soon!

TFP

Virtual Ink...

2006-04-03T08:46:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to let you all know that the boys are keeping busy and working on a provincial tour for the late spring/early summer. Expect to see some demos of new songs up on the website soon. We'd love your input.

In the meantime, here's a fun little interview J.D. did for the first re-vamped edition of Virus Zine. It's a fantastic independant culture publication that illuminates all kinds of talent from across Canada. Follow the link to check it out.

www.viruszine.com/_noise/2006/march/freepress

More from the boys soon!!!

"Harmony driven, good lyrics, good tunes"

2006-03-09T14:05:00.000-05:00

The Free Press was cited as one of the most notable up and coming bands on the Toronto music scene by Tim Cassidy (Manager and Talent Scout at Jeff Healey's bar). Given the amount of talent that walks through that room weekly, the boys are more than flattered. They'll be looking to live up to the praise at their next show, which is March 16th at the El Mocambo.

Check the link to hear Tim talk about the rock and roll, The Free Press and Worst Case Scenario. It's the 2nd Podcast and if you're impatient, skip to the 48 minute mark.

http://www.indiecan.com/podcast.htm

TFP Take Cambridge

2006-03-02T13:53:00.000-05:00

Friday March 3rd, The Free Press play The Palette Café and Art Gallery, on Grand Avenue in Cambridge, with Mandippal Jandu and friends. This marks TFP's first date in Lamebridge so far. Bass player Mick Torbay once called Cambridge home. Now its claim to fame is being the home of DJ H. Come out for an evening of acoustic music.

WATCH OUT

2006-02-11T10:12:00.000-05:00

In a recent interview with Torontoindie.com The Free Press were flagged as the next big thing to 'watch out for' in Toronto.

To read the full article, click here.

The Climb Continues

2006-01-30T13:25:00.000-05:00

Hey sports fans,

Thanks to everyone who came out to support an incredible evening of music at the Healey's battle of the bands finals. We took home dough and played what some in the band and fans are calling our best show ever. That's all you can really ask of yourself as musicians at this point; twelve it all on stage every night... and we did.

If you missed this one that's ok cause I think the joint was to capacity already. However SHAME on you all the same. However you can make it up to yourself by joining us, Broadside and The Undecided at The Reverb on February 4th!

This is a special message to all the working stiffs out there who complain about not enough prime time weekend shows. This is a Saturday night show and we're going on late so you have virtually no excuse and if you do it better involve surgery! :)

Advanced tickets will be available in the coming 24 - 48 hours. Keep an eye on your inbox.

Battle of Bands Finals Tonight

2006-01-25T01:45:00.001-05:00

Hello friends,

Just a reminder that we'll be playing tonight night @ Healey's as part of the final round of their battle of the bands. Come cheer us on!

Cheers,
TFP

NO PRAYERS FOR NOVEMBER TO LINGER LONGER

2006-01-25T01:45:00.000-05:00

The leaves are down, the clocks are turned back and TFP boys have used the extra hour of sleep to rest up for the big show at the Horseshoe that’s coming up on Thursday, November 10th. Doors open at 9 and the band is set to take the stage at 9:30 sharp. You can expect some re-workings of the EP album material and maybe even a new song or two (the band’s been working really hard on some new stuff after some pre-production and in depth discussion with their new producer, Rick Hutt. To say they’re excited with the new tunes and working with Rick would be a dramatic understatement). Looks to be a fantastic show!!!

A special thanks to our friends, The Populars, Alcona and The Management Trust for including us in their great evening at The Drake Hotel. If you haven’t been to an Elvis Monday there, you should check it out. Great, cheap food, quality, free music and the venue is absolutely stunning. It’s more than worth a few hours of your time.

We’re still working on a getting a few live recordings to throw up on the website. Check here or in our forum for any updates.

SUMMER... CAN WE STILL BE FRIENDS?

2006-01-25T01:44:00.002-05:00

And the boys of The Free Press said goodbye to summer with four fantastic shows in Toronto (at the Horseshoe supporting 'Boy'), Brantford, Toronto (at Healey's with The Daftness) & Oshawa (Catch 22 w/ 'Kessel Run'). If you haven't taken the time yet, check out the forum and see what everyone's saying about the amazing live show this band has. If you caught a show, add your voice, too. The band would love to hear what you have to say.

If you haven't seen TFP yet, circle Friday, October 14th on your calendar. The lads will be supporting 'House of Not' at the Hard Rock Café - Club 279.

After much discussion and thought, The Free Press decided the time is right to begin work on their first full length cd. And they couldn't be happier about it. The rest of the month will be spent rehearsing and preparing for the new project the band has eagerly agreed to begin with producing legend J. Richard Hutt (who was the 2000 CCMA Producer of the Year, The Northern Pikes, The Skydiggers & Tom Cochrane.) The band plans to spend most of October going through the heap of material that will be considered for the record (Len & J.D. have been busy, busy, busy - they have at least 25 songs that are in consideration!!!) Look for some of the rehearsal tracks to be posted in the multimedia section soon!

WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS!

2006-01-25T01:44:00.001-05:00

You're going to need the nap, after taking in the next few weeks of TFP rock and roll. It's infectious, it's energetic and it's nothing you need to see your doctor about. If you haven't seen the boys live before, September is the month!!!

Lots of new doings in TFPville. First and foremost is the big show with Maple Music artist Boy (www.boytheband.com) that's coming up on Saturday, September 24th! TFP are pretty damned happy to be opening for these guys and Vacuity (another Maple artist). If you haven't heard of them yet, you're not alone, but they'll be all over the place by the end of the year. Count on it.
Thanks to Broadside who made the Kee Rock Star Search experience as entertaining as possible (onstage AND off!) Both TFP & Broadside were widely thought to be overlooked as the winners of the contest, but we're convinced bigger and better things are on the way for both bands.

The video for 'Storms' is still in and out of pre-production hell (much like Star Wars and Apocalypse Now). If anyone has a friend with a lot of money, please give us their phone number and we'll be on the horn this afternoon. Although there's been some snags, we're confident it'll happen soon and we'll let you know the moment it's done.

Finally, a big round of applause for TFP drummer, Alex, who keeps this website alive in the big, bad www. If you haven't taken the time to thoroughly look around, you'll find lots of fun pictures, song outtakes, blogs and stuff here. Our newest section is the 'Forum' where you can play some trivia, discuss/insult/defend the band or just chit-chat with other folks in The Free Press world. TFP - yours to discover!

AUGUST AND EVERYTHING AFTER

2006-01-25T01:44:00.000-05:00

Once again the TFP boys played their hearts out at The Kee to Bala and won their way in Kee Rock Star Search Finals on Friday, September 2nd. They played a fantastic, energetic set that turned a lot of heads. Len in particular was in his element in all the love and all the lights. There was also a great deal of talk about Mick’s tie. Regardless, they were the unanimous first choice by all of the judges to move on to the most talented and upcoming eight Canadian bands that will make up the finals. This will mark the boy’s FIFTH performance at the legendary Kee in the last year; something to be really proud of.

And now begins the month we’ve all been waiting for. If you don’t hear about The Free Press this month, you’re broken and you should check yourself directly into the cemetery. Seriously, it’s a big month for the band. It looks like TFP will be added to radio stations in Sudbury, Owen Sound & Barrie (on the strength of their Kee performance!), their national television debut is later this week, a video shoot for ‘Storms’ is happening in the middle of the month and there’s a TON of shows around Ontario & Quebec this month. The biggest – of course – being the cd release party at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern on August 24th. Check the shows section for more details. Hope to see you all soon!!!

SO YOU WANNA BE A ROCK AND ROLL STAR?

2006-01-25T01:43:00.001-05:00

TFP are proud to announce they've once again been selected to play at the Kee to Bala Rock Star Search in Bala, Ontario on Friday, July 29th. Last year they made it to the final 8 bands (and over TWO HUNDRED entered!!!) This year only 24 bands have been chosen and TFP were again counted among the best upcoming bands in the country. But aside from the competition, they're just itching to get back on the stage that's hosted the diverse likes of Chubby Checker, Blue Rodeo, Louis Armstrong, Sam Roberts, Spirit of the West and countless others over the last century. It's one of the best places in Canada to see a show and the boys leapt at the chance to play there again. Tickets are only $5 and Mick will buy you a beer, so it's worth the drive to Bala!

ON SILVER SCREEN'S AND IN MAGAZINE'S

2006-01-25T01:43:00.000-05:00

Well, there's no magazine's just yet, but TFP's small screen debut is fast approaching. They'll be appearing on the OMNI Television series METROPIA on Friday, August 5th at 10:30 pm (Omni 2) and Sunday, August 7th at 11:00 PM (Omni 1). For those who don't know, the band's own James Dallas Smith plays 'Garth' on the series and in a strange instance of art imitating life, his band (called The Free Press - fancy that!) is playing at a loft party. Lots of scandal, lots of drama and lots of fun (if truth be told, most of the band - we won't say who exactly - spent the filming day drinking in their trailer! THAT'S rock and roll!!!) Anyway, they tear through a version of 'All the Beautiful People' (see if you can spot Alex's glasses flying off his face!) and underscore the rest of the episode with a great performance of 'Storms'. Check it out.

Also, TFP began planning to shoot a video for 'Storms' this week. Filming is scheduled for late August and we hope it will be onto Much & Much More Music by the early fall. Our good friends Steve Burley & Alex Nadon (a gifted film director/actor and brilliant lighting designer/musician/director of photography) are lending their hands to the project. It's an exciting time to be part of TFP family. We'll keep you posted on the progress.

STORM WATCH

2006-01-25T01:42:00.002-05:00

We've been overwhelmed with the kind and positive response to STORMS. We've sold almost 300 copies in our first week and we want it to keep finding new ears every day. In fact, the title track has just been added to a few radio stations in Southern Ontario. Tell your neighbours! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Call your favourite local radio station and request 'Storms' be added to its rotation. Let's get it on the radio everywhere!!!

A couple of new show dates have been added. We're playing a show with our good friends 'The Populars' in Wakefield, QC on August 20th and then we're coming home on August 24th to have a CD release party at the Horseshoe!!! Book the next day off of work right now! It's going to be a great night of rock and roll and we want a sea of faces singing along to the new album. Check back soon for more news.

READY FOR THE ROCK?

2006-01-25T01:42:00.001-05:00

Mark this day on your calendar! DO IT!!! June 28th, 2005 marks the release of the long awaited album, STORMS. Although a bar full of folks at the Atria in Oshawa got an early preview last Friday, the album is officially available today. Yes. No trick, no lies, no more delays. It's in our hands and we're eager to get it into yours. The best way to do that is to go to www.cdbaby.com , www.amazon.com (coming soon) or come to one of our shows (where we'll sign it, seal it or smother it with DNA if you'd like). Barring that, come to one of our houses and we'll give you dinner AND a cd. (Hope you like pizza!) We're playing at Healey's every Tuesday in July and we're working on a slew of shows for August. Stay tuned!

So So So Close

2006-01-25T01:42:00.000-05:00

Any day now, any day now, we're ever so close to having the record in our hot little hands. The second it arrives you can be sure we'll be blasting our a message.

TFP have had a run of good shows. Last Sunday @ The Rivoli might have been ones of their best shows yet. Thanks to Chasing Arcadia and The Junior Vice Presidents for coming out and laying down the rock.

TFP have also announced some new show dates. On June 24, The Free Press will be returning to Oshawa at The Atria (59 King St. E.) with Shiver and Still Life. This show is being touted as a sell out so be sure get there early.

Finally, TFP are very happy to have discovered the Healey's Tuesday night Jam Night. Having played last Tuesday, it was a real joy to have a large audience, excellent sound and no need to bring equipment :-), as it is next door, TFP have decided to make themselves regulars. You can catch them for the next few Tuesday's at Healey's @ Queen and Bathurst in Toronto. They'll be presenting 2 new songs every week until they hit the bottom of the well.

April 1 - NO FOOLIN'!!

2006-01-25T01:41:00.001-05:00

It's done... it's done.. it F#&(*ing done! The Free Press' debut EP, Storms, is recorded, mixed and shipped off to be mastered by multiple Juno award winner Richard "Rick" Hutt. Everyone is over joyed to finally get this out to the public. Unfortunately, due to some frustrating but uncontrollable delays in the final mix, TFP are unlikely to have it back from the presses in time for the show at The Horseshoe on April 13. Speaking of which, we've had our set time confirmed. The rock beast will let loose @ 10:40pm. For all the upcoming show info please check out the shows section.

TFP Make The Final

2006-01-25T01:41:00.000-05:00

TFP are very happy to announce that they will be performing in 13th Annual Bandwarz @ Oshawa's Le Scratch restaurant and pool hall. The boys are confident that their distinct sound will carry to them to victory over the rock known as 'emo'... from the Latin meaning "tired". For more information you can check out the promoters website.

The Lads Hit The Big Screen

2006-01-25T01:40:00.000-05:00

Some of the new Metropia episodes were given an exclusive screening at the Regent Theatre in Toronto and J.D. was lucky enough to attend the event. One of the featured episodes was episode #75 - in which The Free Press performs 'All the Beautiful People' and 'Storms'.

J.D. said of the evening, "It looked and sounded fantastic. And the response was incredibly warm. Dozens of people sought me out after the show to congratulate me. It was kind of overwhelming, but immensely gratifying. We definitely surprised a lot of people and gained a theatre full of new fans."

As soon as an air date is in place, we'll tell you ad nauseam right here.

Richard Hutt to Master TFP EP

2006-01-25T01:32:00.001-05:00

More good news about the album! The award winning J. Richard Hutt (Producer of the Tom Cochrane, Skydiggers & the Northern Pikes) has agreed to master The Free Press' Six song EP 'Storms'. We're just a couple weeks away from finishing the songs and after all the bells and whistles are added, we should have a finished CD in a month. It was just confirmed today that we're playing another show at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern on April 13th and we should have the CD for you eager ears and sweaty hands come the night of the gig. Mark it on your calendar! April 13th, 2005!

Wiarton Style Rock n' Roll

2006-01-25T01:32:00.000-05:00

Well, Groundhog Day came and went and the little bugger (Wiarton Willy is a friend of ours) saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter and - you guessed it - six more weeks in the studio. It seems the album is destined to stay inside until the snow melts. Not a bad idea, really.

In all seriousness, we did have some delays in the studio - but they're all the best kind of delays. We're about 80% done right now and we've shipped our songs down to NYC to let the gifted Chris Brown (Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, BNL) add some colour to the songs. As soon as they come back, we'll add the finishing touches and breathe a heavy sigh of relief. The record sounds absolutely fantastic and we couldn't be more excited about getting it out to all the people who have expressed interest. Thanks to everyone. Just a bit more patience and we'll make it worth your while. All good things to those who wait.

Zeroing in On The Target

2006-01-25T01:31:00.000-05:00

After extensive playing and discussion with our producer, Lurch, we've finally narrowed it down to the six songs that will appear on the EP: Storms, Parasites, All the Beautiful People, Fight, Worst Case Scenario & A Body of Trouble. Three of the songs are finished and the other three are tracked (that means Alex gets to sit back and make fun of everyone else's mistakes now) and should be finished up in the next few weeks. Thanks again for all your patience and you can look forward to a finished EP by the months end or early March. Happy Groundhog Day!

Mick Turns 29 Again!

2006-01-25T01:30:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to the Mink!!! He turns an undisclosed age today and when asked for comment, said only, "It's my breakout year! Turn it up!!!"

OMNI 1 Asylum Inmates Take Over

2006-01-25T01:29:00.000-05:00

Sorry to inform folks that the airing of the Metropia episode that the free press shot has been delayed until the early spring. We've been told it will most likely air in mid May. If you're hoping to see it sooner, please write desperate, angry or pleading letters to Omni and maybe they'll appeal to the masses.

J.D. got to see an advanced screening of the episode (#75, 'Loft Party') and said, "It was really interesting to see our material - particularly 'Storms' - used as a soundtrack for someone else's story. It's affirming to see that the themes we were trying to articulate come through so clearly and can be so easily dropped in a setting other than that for which it was written.