AWmusic

Having seen this., play live twice before I was already confident that I was in for a major treat, but this time they were not the opening band, they were headlining the entire show. I was actually going to have to wait a while this time before I could actually start rocking out to one of my now favourite bands. I knew from the time I got there this wasn’t going to be like all the other times, this time was going to be different.

The show was set to start at around 9pm that night so I got to The Black Swan along the Danforth in Toronto at around 7:30pm because I had also been searching for an apartment downtown earlier that same day. Had a beer at the bar and watched the tube before the actual venue opened up upstairs and decided to head up and it turns out that I was basically the first person to show up who wasn’t either part of one of the bands or working the show.

First person I was greeted by was my bud Sebastian De Villa, guitarist and vocalist for the band this.,and suffice to say, he is genuinely one of the most awesome guys you’ll ever meet. Chilled with him for most of the night since I basically didn’t know anybody else there save for Daryl whose also from the same band. So basically got to chill with Ian and Daryl until they went on stage that night, Darryl and I had a couple beers together and then did a shot of Bailey’s each and I’m pretty sure everyone in the entire place was drunk by the time this. got on stage to perform but it just made the whole experience all that much more fun.

While I was chilling with my two newfound friends Darryl and Ian, the opening bands started to come on and although I did find them entertaining, I also found myself for the first time not going up to the stage to watch them play or take pictures of them for keepsakes. I’d say they were decent at most, can’t even remember the names of the opening bands, but even though they didn’t get me all riled up and pumped up and on the dance floor, I did enjoy their music from afar while sipping on a nice cold one.

As soon as I saw Darryl heading to the stage to set up his bass I knew what was going down, so I got myself front row with my beer ready to rock out like never before. Even though there may have not been that many people up and about, I knew they were going to be missing out on something spectacular.

They played all my favourites, everything from “War Ain’t Over” to “Silencer(Waiting For)” and they ended the whole show off with “Wake Up” which is actually my all time favourite song performed by them and was waiting to hear it the whole night. They also played some new tracks that I had never heard them play before and hoping that those new songs will be on their new CD coming out sometime next year which I am more than stoked about.

The best part of the night was getting a shout out from Darryl during one of the songs and it just got me even more pumped up then I already was that night. My day had been a total bore until I got to The Black Swan, and I think if I hadn’t of gone out to support this. that night I don’t think I would’ve had anywhere near the great night I had rocking out to them. It just always feels so good to know that the ringing in my ears after hearing a band like this. play is that ringing is going to last for a good day or two and you know that it’s because you were front row having a good time listening to one of your favourite bands just playing their hearts out for you.

All in all it was a totally amazing night and I cannot wait to go out and see them play live again. It’s always an awesome time hanging out with those guys and next time I’ll be buying the rounds for them or in this case, this. Only part of the evening that went wrong was afterwards when I got into a huge car accident and stuff went pretty weird after that point but then again that’s a totally different story.

That’s it for now but tune in next week when I go in depth about my VIP experience at Cutting Edge Music Festival in Grand Bend ON over the long weekend. Keep on rocking.

So this week I thought I would change up the pace a bit so I called up good ol’ Sebastian De Villa, gutarist and backup vocalist for Toronto based band this., and sat down to ask him all about this. and their upcoming plans for the future.

Adrian: Hey Ian thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me. I’m sure this will be an eye opener to those who have yet to even taste what this. is all about.

Ian: Sweet.

Adrian: Now for my first question to start things off, how did this. exactly come into existence?

Ian: Paul and Daryl were in a named Glib back in high school while me and my brother Chino were part of a band called Acquired Equation. Chino and I met Paul in high school, and we did a thing in Rising Star in 2003 and after that we got a bass player named Eric who totally screwed us, and then Daryl joined us as our bassist 3 years ago.

Adrian: What do you feel makes this. unique from most bands out there in the world today?

Ian: A combination of both harmonies, 80’s style solos and screaming, melodic screaming and not just you know barking in the mike just like an actual melody. We also have very catchy lyrics which is also a good thing too.

Adrian: What bands would you say have influenced you the most as a whole?

Ian: Foo Fighters a lot and we follow in their footsteps and just grunge basically. I mean each of us do have mixed influences, like a little of this and a little of that, something different in each of us, but basically the Foo Fighters for the most part.

Adrian: Now you just got off tour with Sons of Butcher touring all of Western Canada, what was that whole experience like?

Ian: It was awesome, made a lot of new friends, saw a whole lot of new things, and got to see basically all of Canada for pretty much the first time, had an awesome time, Sons of Butchers are awesome guys, awesome times with them and yeah basically just an awesome time the entire way.

Adrian: Now let’s talk about your new upcoming album, how’s it coming along so far, and does it have a title yet?

Ian: Don’t really have a title yet, 14 tracks and it’s fully recorded, 6 tracks have already been released as an EP, and it’s just pretty much been a fun time. Been working on it over the last 5 years, done independently, with just a bit of help on the side but it’s basically been financed out of our own pockets.

Adrian: Any release date yet on the new album and would you guys consider going on yet another full out tour to promote the new album?

Ian: I don’t know yet. We’re aiming for next year to release the whole 14 tracks. We’re just working on some new album artwork, we also need to get some loose ends tied up and then when we’re ready we may head south and maybe Europe or something sometime next year.

Adrian: Now let’s face it, you guys have a pretty loyal fan base, myself including, you guys seem to take more time out to chill with the fans than most other bands do, you think more bands should do this sort of thing?

Ian: Definitely because the fans are the ones paying to get into the shows, and buying merchandise, and everything like that. They’re like the bosses, that’s how I feel and it’s always a good time to chill with the people who like you.

Adrian: One question that has also been on my mind, rockers such as yourself must end up getting quite the attention from the ladies?

Ian: I wouldn’t say that but there is some attention, just be careful who you’re going out with but I’m sure the ladies mean well , just got to be careful.

Adrian: If you could have any super power in the entire world what would that superpower be and would you use it for good or for evil?

Ian: Mind control because if you have mind control you could pretty much do anything and I would use it for good like if someone’s trying to blow up the world I could just stop them and stuff because it’s my world your messing with, just keep the world from chaos pretty much.

Adrian: Finally where can everyone check out your band for more information on this. ?

Ian: There’s our website www.thismusic.ca which is under construction at the moment but should be back up in the next little while with more content, banners, and much more.

Adrian: Awesome talking to you Ian, look forward to the new album and more amazing rocking concerts, I think this will show everyone out there what this. is all about and more. Oh and by the way Happy Birthday tomorrow.

Ian: Thanks bro, and glad you’re still in one piece from that accident, thanks for the support man and look forward to seeing you again at our shows in the future.

So that wraps it up for the interview but be sure to tune in next week when i review their concert I attended on Saturday the 26th at The Black Swan. Keep on rockin’.

Now it comes as no surprise that most people have never heard of the band this. before but they are definitely one of Canada’s best kept secrets and their first self titled debut album comes off as one of the best albums I’ve come to hear as of late.

Hailing from Mississauga, Ontario this. is something entirely new and different and releases this energy inside of you that you never thought could be possible. They’re just a pure adrenaline rush to the head that you wish would never end, and their debut album promises all this and more.

I first saw them open for Sons of Butcher back at the Casbah in Hamilton a couple days before Halloween, they just opened my mind, took my brain, rocked it in a blender, threw it around a couple times before finally ending their set and placing my brain back in its upright position. I then got a chance to actually talk to them this past May 31st up in Sudbury where they once again opened up for Sons of Butcher. Each and every member of the band is just as chill and friendly as the last with Sebastian ‘Ian de Villa and Paul Godfrey on guitars and vocals, Darryl Hogan on bass, and Santino ‘Chino’ de Villa on drums, these guys are just a true sight to behold.

From start to finish this. debut album promises nothing but the best and a very bright future for them with golden tracks such as “War Ain’t Over” and “I Can’t Dance”. The album isn’t that long, a whopping six songs in total and approximately just over a half hour in length and after that half hour is over, you’ll be begging for more. The tracks sound clean and professional and every single instrument comes in clear and perfect like they were right there in front of you rocking out for you live in your very own home. Each song explodes with more rocking sauce than the last and each song is entirely unique so it doesn’t sound like your listening to the same song over and over again like some bands I’ve come to know. The album tends to grow on you as fast as a pimple grows on an oily, greasy, McDonalds’ loving teenager. When it comes to debut albums, I’ve heard many that break a band for good, but this album is the complete opposite, it spells a proud future for this bands and its spelt t-h-i-s.

The album is not out in any music stores as of yet, but they play many shows across the Toronto and Hamilton area, so if you ever get a chance I strongly recommend going to one of their many upcoming concerts and picking up their debut album and just listening to it all the way home after a long night of already rocking out to them live in concert.

Soon enough this. i’m sure will become one of those household band names such as Alexisonfire or IllScarlet who were unknown at first and then boomed into uncontrollable popularity, so go see them soon before they start playing sold out shows and become way too busy to just take the time and chill with fans. Just don’t forget to pick up a copy of their latest debut album because their next one is on the way very shortly and promises to be longer and even more spectacular than the first.

War Ain’t Over

I Can’t Dance

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