Thurs. Feb. 24: The Reason returns home to Windsor with a stacked bill

When Windsor punk legends Sewing With Nancie disbanded in 2003, a collective “Why?” seemed to raise from the streets of Windsor. For a decade, SWN was a surefire thing. They were one of the first (if not the first) punk band in Windsor to tap into the SoCal punk sound in the early ’90s (before it was watered down by mainstream alternative radio into the Simple Plans of the world). But SWN backbone – vocalist/guitarist Adam White and guitairst James ‘Cubby’ Nelan – refused to give up the dream and pushed on, relocating to Hamilton and renaming their project The Reason. The rest is history.

Following their debut EP, Problems Associated With Running, they were scooped up by Smallman Records and immediately began work on their follow up release, 2004’s Ravenna, which drew critical acclaim across the country and saw them joining bills with the likes of Alexisonfire, No Use For A Name, Strung Out and Murphy’s Law, playing such prestigious festivals as CMW and playing big bills such as Edgefest and Wakefest.

Juno winning producer Gavin Brown (Billy Talent) approached them about working on their next record, which became 2007’s Things Couldn’t Be Better (which also scored Sara Quinn from Tegan and Sara to provide vocals on the track “We’re So Beyond This”).

But after a decade perfecting their punk pop sound in SWN and then progressing to a more edgier post-punk sound in the Reason’s initial few releases, White and Nelan decided it was time to change sound once again. Perhaps inspired by working with a new producer in Steven Haigler (Pixies, Clutch) and a few personnel changes, The Reason developed a more classic rock feel with the release of last year’s FOOLS. That’s not to say they’ve suddenly become a band not worth paying attention to – they’ve just taken what they’ve learned over the past few years and polished it into a smoother diamond.

Still touring for that release, The Reason return to their old Windsor stomping grounds, playing a show at The Blind Dog (761 Ouellette Ave.) next Thursday February 24th and advance tickets are only $10 (available at Dr. Disc downtown or on-line at TicketScene.ca) or you can wait and hope it doesn’t sell out and pay $15 at the door.

They’re bringing along their tour mates, Cobourg’s Gentlemen Husbands, as well as two strong openers in piano pop sensations StereoGoesStellar and the electric thunder of Explode When They Bloom.

Here’s a little SWN treat…

The Reason with special guests Gentlemen Husbands, StereoGoesStellar and Explode When They Bloom, The Blind Dog (761 Ouellette Ave.), Thursday February 24th, 19+, $10 Advance/$15 Door

Two big shows at The Capitol Theatre: Elliott Brood and StereoGoesStellar!

The fine folks at Jam Space, a new all-in-one musician’s facility in Windsor, are putting on two great showcases of local talent at The Capitol Theatre on Saturday January 29, 2011.

The matinee show is headlined by StereoGoesStellar, an indie pop band from Windsor who has been playing to great reception across Ontario the past year in support of their debut CD, featuring the single (and subsequent video) of “88 Keys”. These guys have been on a mission the past few years and have done incredibly well out of town, as well as being one of the city’s top draws locally.

The matinee show starts at 2pm, with tickets $12 in advance + HST ($13.56 total), and available at Jam Space, Dr. Disc Records, Phog Lounge or The Manchester Pub. Opening up the matinee show are Silent Movie Type, The Viktoria Crowns and Raising The Stakes.

The evening show, starting at 8pm, is headlined by Elliott Brood, the multiple Juno nominated roots band from Toronto, Ontario. Despite their Toronto hometown status, Elliott Brood’s founding members Casey Laforet and Mark Sasso are both from Windsor, and they carry much of their Windsor roots with them (their Juno nominated CD “Ambassador” is named after the bridge).

Tickets for the Elliott Brood show are $15 + HST ($16.95 total) and are available at the same locations. Opening the show are the bombastic prog/stoner rock of Surdaster and the rootsy storytelling of James O-L & The Villains (in their last show for some time, as head honcho James O-L departs on a sabbatical to Nicaragua).

A couple of great shows (and the last two before the City of Windsor takes ownership of the Theatre) showcasing some established Windsor talents and some up and comers as well!