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Mississauga News: July 14, 2017 - Mike Beggs
This weekend, it’s the long-running Eclectic Revival pretty masterfully playing a cross-section of folk, country, rock and comedy.
They faithfully render hits by Great Big Sea, Tragically Hip, the Eagles, and the Proclaimers — while the Beatles’I’ve Just Seen A Face has been turned into “a slow love song,” and the traditional Irish ballad Star Of The County Down has been rocked up.
Twelve years in, they can read an audience.
“We write set lists specifically so we can ignore them,” jokes singer/acoustic Chris Kerba, joined by electric guitarist Nick Brodie and saxophonist Kevin Buchan. (The full band is a five-piece.)
And when it comes to stage banter, well, Kerba studied comedy at Humber College, and all three members moonlight as actors.
Eclectic Revival won a 2015 Hamilton Spectator Readers’ Choice Award. But beyond the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area circuit, they’ve appeared at the past five Grey Cups, and toured around Canada and the U.S.
“It’s a lot of fun, a lot of miles on the car,” adds the Gordon Graydon Secondary product, who now resides in Steeltown.
After releasing two covers albums, they got serious in 2014 with the release of the original effort Life and Love, produced by Brian Hewson (known for his work with Stompin’ Tom Connors). They’re pleased with the reaction, with online sales from as far off as Australia.
The title track is fun, bright, and catchy, while Sailing Away has a Celtic flavour reminding of Spirit Of The West in its better days.
For them, a gig like this will be a 50-50 split between covers and originals.
“We find we have more fans coming out for our shows. We really appreciate it. And all of a sudden they’re singing along to our songs — they know the band’s stuff,” he says.
Eclectic Revival plays Port Street Market at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (Lakeshore and Hurontario).
This weekend, it’s the long-running Eclectic Revival pretty masterfully playing a cross-section of folk, country, rock and comedy.
They faithfully render hits by Great Big Sea, Tragically Hip, the Eagles, and the Proclaimers — while the Beatles’I’ve Just Seen A Face has been turned into “a slow love song,” and the traditional Irish ballad Star Of The County Down has been rocked up.
Twelve years in, they can read an audience.
“We write set lists specifically so we can ignore them,” jokes singer/acoustic Chris Kerba, joined by electric guitarist Nick Brodie and saxophonist Kevin Buchan. (The full band is a five-piece.)
And when it comes to stage banter, well, Kerba studied comedy at Humber College, and all three members moonlight as actors.
Eclectic Revival won a 2015 Hamilton Spectator Readers’ Choice Award. But beyond the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area circuit, they’ve appeared at the past five Grey Cups, and toured around Canada and the U.S.
“It’s a lot of fun, a lot of miles on the car,” adds the Gordon Graydon Secondary product, who now resides in Steeltown.
After releasing two covers albums, they got serious in 2014 with the release of the original effort Life and Love, produced by Brian Hewson (known for his work with Stompin’ Tom Connors). They’re pleased with the reaction, with online sales from as far off as Australia.
The title track is fun, bright, and catchy, while Sailing Away has a Celtic flavour reminding of Spirit Of The West in its better days.
For them, a gig like this will be a 50-50 split between covers and originals.
“We find we have more fans coming out for our shows. We really appreciate it. And all of a sudden they’re singing along to our songs — they know the band’s stuff,” he says.
Eclectic Revival plays Port Street Market at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (Lakeshore and Hurontario).
Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : (Hamilton, April 27)
Local Favourites ECLECTIC REVIVAL To Make National Impact With First Original Album - Appearing Saturday for Intimate Show At Hamilton's Rebel Rock
ECLECTIC REVIVAL have had a strong presence in Hamilton for awhile now . They were the Platinum winners for Local Musician in the 2015 Hamilton Spectator's Readers' Choice Awards and songs from their previous CDs, "One More Round" and "Last Call", were featured on Hamilton's 93.3 CFMU and TheHazeFM in Mississauga.
True to their name, the band has an eclectic collection of influences. They cite Great Big Sea, The Beatles, The Barenaked Ladies, Mumford and Sons, U2 as some musical inspirations, and go on to say they "leave no genre left untouched." They're best known as a Canadian Folk/Celtic music group, though. A passionate group of friends that hail from Hamilton, Brampton, and Tottenham, the band is known for their high energy stage show and comedic audience interaction. You can go to an ECLECTIC REVIVAL show alone, and feel you've made a bar full of friends by the last call.
While their previous two CDs primarily consisted of cover songs, with a few great originals, ECLECTIC REVIVAL is proud to present their newest, "Life & Love" - their very first all original collection.
"We're really excited about this album. I feel it really demonstrates our versatility as a group with our ability to play an eclectic genre of music. We didn't set out to write a specific style of music, we just let it happen. There's a bit of everything for everyone on here with a wide variety of emotions. We really hope our fans enjoy what we've put together for them. said Chris Kerba., the band's guitarist.
The band says that the journey to this album has been a very heartfelt and soulful experience for all of them - not just collectively but also individually. It has brought them to discover who they really are as a band, what ECLECTIC REVIVAL's sound is - where they want to go from here.
And they are ready to go straight to the top.
While they are no strangers to the national scene - the band has traveled not only across Canada but also in the US - they've even played at the Grey Cup for three years, headlining in 2014 in B.C, with the release of the fantastic "Life & Love," industry watchers expect the band to explode in 2017.
Locals have two chances to catch them in the next few weeks - and with their pounding drums, vibrant sax, guitars played with the love of music, and impeccable harmonies, ECLECTIC REVIVAL will have their fans tapping their toes, singing along, dancing in the isles - and screaming for more!
Catch them THIS Saturday, April 19th at Rebel's Rock Irish Pub (537 King Street E., Hamilton)
9 PM, 5$ cover charge
Their next gig is at : Saturday May 20th at Chuck's Roadhouse Bar and Grill, (2 Kennedy Rd S, Brampton)
CDs are available at Dr. Disc in Hamilton, or via the ECLECTIC REVIVAL website at :
Website : http://www.eclecticrevival.ca/
Social Media :
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pg/EclecticRev/
Twitter : @EclecticRev
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : (Hamilton, April 27)
Local Favourites ECLECTIC REVIVAL To Make National Impact With First Original Album - Appearing Saturday for Intimate Show At Hamilton's Rebel Rock
ECLECTIC REVIVAL have had a strong presence in Hamilton for awhile now . They were the Platinum winners for Local Musician in the 2015 Hamilton Spectator's Readers' Choice Awards and songs from their previous CDs, "One More Round" and "Last Call", were featured on Hamilton's 93.3 CFMU and TheHazeFM in Mississauga.
True to their name, the band has an eclectic collection of influences. They cite Great Big Sea, The Beatles, The Barenaked Ladies, Mumford and Sons, U2 as some musical inspirations, and go on to say they "leave no genre left untouched." They're best known as a Canadian Folk/Celtic music group, though. A passionate group of friends that hail from Hamilton, Brampton, and Tottenham, the band is known for their high energy stage show and comedic audience interaction. You can go to an ECLECTIC REVIVAL show alone, and feel you've made a bar full of friends by the last call.
While their previous two CDs primarily consisted of cover songs, with a few great originals, ECLECTIC REVIVAL is proud to present their newest, "Life & Love" - their very first all original collection.
"We're really excited about this album. I feel it really demonstrates our versatility as a group with our ability to play an eclectic genre of music. We didn't set out to write a specific style of music, we just let it happen. There's a bit of everything for everyone on here with a wide variety of emotions. We really hope our fans enjoy what we've put together for them. said Chris Kerba., the band's guitarist.
The band says that the journey to this album has been a very heartfelt and soulful experience for all of them - not just collectively but also individually. It has brought them to discover who they really are as a band, what ECLECTIC REVIVAL's sound is - where they want to go from here.
And they are ready to go straight to the top.
While they are no strangers to the national scene - the band has traveled not only across Canada but also in the US - they've even played at the Grey Cup for three years, headlining in 2014 in B.C, with the release of the fantastic "Life & Love," industry watchers expect the band to explode in 2017.
Locals have two chances to catch them in the next few weeks - and with their pounding drums, vibrant sax, guitars played with the love of music, and impeccable harmonies, ECLECTIC REVIVAL will have their fans tapping their toes, singing along, dancing in the isles - and screaming for more!
Catch them THIS Saturday, April 19th at Rebel's Rock Irish Pub (537 King Street E., Hamilton)
9 PM, 5$ cover charge
Their next gig is at : Saturday May 20th at Chuck's Roadhouse Bar and Grill, (2 Kennedy Rd S, Brampton)
CDs are available at Dr. Disc in Hamilton, or via the ECLECTIC REVIVAL website at :
Website : http://www.eclecticrevival.ca/
Social Media :
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pg/EclecticRev/
Twitter : @EclecticRev
CD Review:
March 24, 2017 by T. Gregory Argall
Earlier this week I saw a photo posted on Facebook. The picture showed a cardboard box in the backseat of a car and was captioned “Look what we’ve got!”
I immediately commented, “I will buy the first one, right now. If you bring it to me I will also pay a delivery fee. Please.”
You see, I recognized that box for what it was and, more importantly, what it held.
I knew, instinctively, (just by reading the label) that the box contained CDs of the long awaited and much anticipated third album from the indie Celtic rockers known as Eclectic Revival. I also knew I wanted one.
Surprisingly, my bold tactic worked and within an hour I held in my hands the first CD out of the box. I peeled off the plastic wrap, opened the sleeve, and took out the shiny new disc. I was at work but could wait to listen to it. Since then, it has resided in the CD player in my car and will likely continue to live there for a long time to come. I’m already getting stares from other commuters wondering what the hell I’m singing so enthusiastically in the car beside them on the highway.
While I (and many other Eclectic Revival fans) wish we’d had the album sooner, it was certainly worth the wait.
A balanced mix of traditional and original tunes, there are twelve tracks on the album and not a sub-par song among them. I’m not going to break it down and describe each song, but I will make note of some standouts in my top twelve favourite songs in this collection.
Come Back Home – I was pleasantly surprised to find this song on the album since it also appeared on the first Eclectic Revival CD a few years ago. This is a new recording of a song that has long been one of my favourites. I’ve heard it performed live dozens of times and heard the song evolve slightly over the years, but it’s interesting to contrast this recording with the earlier version. You can not only hear how the already impressive musicianship of the bandmembers has meshed over time, but also how as a band that excels at live performance they have become more comfortable in the studio.
Six String Salute – This is a beautiful tribute to Canada’s armed forces, written as the band was cruising from gig to gig back and forth along the Highway of Heroes. It’s a nice, thoughtful thank you note without getting too heavy-handed or political.
St. Patrick’s Battalion – This is a song written by David Rovics, a sort of memoir of John Riley. Riley was an Irish immigrant to America who joined the US army during the war against Mexico in the mid-1800’s. He, along with two hundred other Irishmen who had fled the foreign occupation of their homeland, soon realised that they were on the wrong side of this particular conflict; they were the invaders and not the defenders. Having an “Are we the baddies?” moment that was drastically less humourous than the Mitchell & Webb version, they formed their own battalion and joined the Mexican army. This is a powerful song and a story worth hearing.
The Parting Glass – Watching an Eclectic Revival show, you will see and hear musicians who have played together for years instinctively meld together as they wield their instruments. But then when they take a break from playing and just let their voices blend together in a smooth and unexpected harmony, it’s a wondrous thing to behold. Such is the magic of The Parting Glass, which may have been written as an end-of-the-evening departure from the pub, or as a deathbed farewell to loved ones and a full life, depending on how you interpret the lyrics.
There is a bonus track, not listed on the cover, featuring Celtic trio Erin’s Marlore joining the band and taking lead on The Rocky Road To Dublin, a jaunty traditional song with a bouncing, complicated cadence inspired by the bumpy path in the title. It provides a nice finish to the collection, combining harmonies and penny-whistles with an jig-inspiring rhythm that drives your toe to tap.
From start to finish this album is a journey of human emotion, starting with the whistling optimism and humble acceptance of the title track, through the pride of Six String Salute to the determination and regret of Goodbye Whiskey through the hope, love and sadness of Sailing Home. But most notable by its absence, anger is nowhere to be found on this album, which I think is pleasantly fitting for a collection called Life & Love.
You can find Eclectic Revival on the interwebs at eclecticrevival.ca or track them down on Facebook. Tell them you want the new CD as well as the others. You’ll be glad you did.
Try to be nice to each other.
tga
March 24, 2017 by T. Gregory Argall
Earlier this week I saw a photo posted on Facebook. The picture showed a cardboard box in the backseat of a car and was captioned “Look what we’ve got!”
I immediately commented, “I will buy the first one, right now. If you bring it to me I will also pay a delivery fee. Please.”
You see, I recognized that box for what it was and, more importantly, what it held.
I knew, instinctively, (just by reading the label) that the box contained CDs of the long awaited and much anticipated third album from the indie Celtic rockers known as Eclectic Revival. I also knew I wanted one.
Surprisingly, my bold tactic worked and within an hour I held in my hands the first CD out of the box. I peeled off the plastic wrap, opened the sleeve, and took out the shiny new disc. I was at work but could wait to listen to it. Since then, it has resided in the CD player in my car and will likely continue to live there for a long time to come. I’m already getting stares from other commuters wondering what the hell I’m singing so enthusiastically in the car beside them on the highway.
While I (and many other Eclectic Revival fans) wish we’d had the album sooner, it was certainly worth the wait.
A balanced mix of traditional and original tunes, there are twelve tracks on the album and not a sub-par song among them. I’m not going to break it down and describe each song, but I will make note of some standouts in my top twelve favourite songs in this collection.
Come Back Home – I was pleasantly surprised to find this song on the album since it also appeared on the first Eclectic Revival CD a few years ago. This is a new recording of a song that has long been one of my favourites. I’ve heard it performed live dozens of times and heard the song evolve slightly over the years, but it’s interesting to contrast this recording with the earlier version. You can not only hear how the already impressive musicianship of the bandmembers has meshed over time, but also how as a band that excels at live performance they have become more comfortable in the studio.
Six String Salute – This is a beautiful tribute to Canada’s armed forces, written as the band was cruising from gig to gig back and forth along the Highway of Heroes. It’s a nice, thoughtful thank you note without getting too heavy-handed or political.
St. Patrick’s Battalion – This is a song written by David Rovics, a sort of memoir of John Riley. Riley was an Irish immigrant to America who joined the US army during the war against Mexico in the mid-1800’s. He, along with two hundred other Irishmen who had fled the foreign occupation of their homeland, soon realised that they were on the wrong side of this particular conflict; they were the invaders and not the defenders. Having an “Are we the baddies?” moment that was drastically less humourous than the Mitchell & Webb version, they formed their own battalion and joined the Mexican army. This is a powerful song and a story worth hearing.
The Parting Glass – Watching an Eclectic Revival show, you will see and hear musicians who have played together for years instinctively meld together as they wield their instruments. But then when they take a break from playing and just let their voices blend together in a smooth and unexpected harmony, it’s a wondrous thing to behold. Such is the magic of The Parting Glass, which may have been written as an end-of-the-evening departure from the pub, or as a deathbed farewell to loved ones and a full life, depending on how you interpret the lyrics.
There is a bonus track, not listed on the cover, featuring Celtic trio Erin’s Marlore joining the band and taking lead on The Rocky Road To Dublin, a jaunty traditional song with a bouncing, complicated cadence inspired by the bumpy path in the title. It provides a nice finish to the collection, combining harmonies and penny-whistles with an jig-inspiring rhythm that drives your toe to tap.
From start to finish this album is a journey of human emotion, starting with the whistling optimism and humble acceptance of the title track, through the pride of Six String Salute to the determination and regret of Goodbye Whiskey through the hope, love and sadness of Sailing Home. But most notable by its absence, anger is nowhere to be found on this album, which I think is pleasantly fitting for a collection called Life & Love.
You can find Eclectic Revival on the interwebs at eclecticrevival.ca or track them down on Facebook. Tell them you want the new CD as well as the others. You’ll be glad you did.
Try to be nice to each other.
tga