Artist : Pretty Archie
Album : Hanging On
Year : 2019
Genre : Country
Source : CD
Label : Curve Music
Catalog :
Rls.Date : 2019-04-17
Bitrate : VBRkbps
Size : 63.79MB
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1. Ain't No Saving Me 3:25
2. Stay the Same 3:03
3. This Whole Town 3:17
4. No One to Blame 3:31
5. Summer Love 3:54
6. You Better Run 4:01
7. Holding Out 4:06
8. Nightlife Love 3:08
9. Sometimes 3:14
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31:39
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Pretty Archie is a Canadiana band from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Long time
friends Brian Cathcart (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Matt McNeil (Mandolin, Guitar),
Colin Gillis (Harmonica, Bass, Vocals), Redmond MacDougall (Banjo,
Percussion, Vocals) and recently added Scott MacLean (Guitar, Mandolin) make
up the band. Always jamming together growing up, they guys decided in 2012 to
form a band. The band chose the name Pretty Archie after a local (Cape
Breton) character known for playing with 2 strings outside shopping malls in
any weather and not always (or ever) in key. The guys thought the name Pretty
Archie embodied the love of playing and performing music along with
representing their hometown.
With the release of Hanging On, Pretty Archie showcase a genre-bending mix of
folk, bluegrass, country, rock and vintage soul, all underpinned the bandÆs
east coast roots, thatÆs absolutely impossible to pigeonhole.
Recorded in Sydney, Nova Scotia at Soundpark Studios and co-produced by
Pretty Archie and Jamie Foulds, Hanging On was tracked with a very specific
approach in mind. ôWe really wanted a sound that gave us more space to
breathe vs. our last record,ö says Colin Gillis (harmonica/bass/vocals). ôAs
opposed to putting every
instrument we know how to play on every song,ö he adds, laughing.
The end result is a relentlessly hooky set of high-energy songs that
telegraph the Cape Breton-based five-pieceÆs undiminished lust for the road
and the unique musical connection theyÆve established with each other over
countless miles, a lifelong friendship and four previous records, in equal
measure.
From stem to stern Hanging On is populated by characters every listener will
recognize from their own lives with almost photographic precision; long lost
lovers, the best friend you always planned to run away and take on the world
with, even that one person at the bar whoÆs perpetually on their last
cigarette.
At some point in life everyone experiences mixed feelings about where theyÆre
at, where theyÆre going and where they come from, and Gillis, lead singer
Brian Cathcart, Matt McNeil (mandolin/guitar), Redmond MacDougall,
(banjo/percussion/vocals) and Scott MacLean (guitar/mandolin) are no
exception.
Nowhere is that more evident than on lead single æThis Whole TownÆ. Inspired
by their hometown of Sydney, as well as the people who inhabit it, æThis
Whole TownÆ dwells heavily on those conflicting emotions, but always with an
eye to inspiring listeners to make the most of what they have.
ôThatÆs the east coaster in us,ö Gillis says. ôCape Breton went from being an
industrial hub when our parents were growing up to having next to no work,
and thatÆs impossible to ignore when weÆre writing. ItÆs a big part of
growing up here.ö
Wherever you call home and whatever the pitfalls youÆve experienced over
time, any hint that some kind of salvation might be on the horizon is always
welcome; something that Pretty Archie address in no uncertain terms on album
opener, æAin't No Saving MeÆ. The song literally starts out with a
conversation with a preacher,which, as the title suggests, doesnÆt go well.
That said, it does reflect what the band refers to as a shared, æsaltwater
perspectiveÆ on life.
ôThatÆs twofold,ö Gillis explains. ôItÆs about our personal narrative and
where and how we grew up, but also the musical side of it as well û an east
coast flavour thatÆs hard to describe.ö
That perspective enables the band to weave multiple threads of continuity,
lyrically, song to song, based purely on instinct. ôItÆs not a conscious
decision to make those lyrical connections,ö Gillis says. ôWeÆve just been
through it all and have been going through it all together for years. So
those connections are just there. ItÆs life for us.ö
Whether itÆs soul-drenched tracks like æSummer LoveÆ and æSometimesÆ, a
cautionary tale cleverly disguised as a rip it up party tune like æNight
LifeÆ, or æHolding OutÆ û a song thatÆs essentially the bandÆs mission
statement, Pretty Archie always find some way to encourage listeners to take
lean times in stride, suck it up, stick it out and just keep going.
Put bluntly, itÆs the kind of record that anyone whoÆs felt as if fate
suddenly up and stuck a fork in their greatest dream, then said æThatÆs
doneÆ, will find a sentiment they can tip their glass to.
ôEverybodyÆs felt like theyÆre hanging on for dear life at some point, like
theyÆre not making progress or arenÆt as far along as they think they should
be,ö Gillis says, adding that, although thatÆs a feeling the band is
intimately acquainted with, even long before founding Pretty Archie in 2012
they always had each other to rely on.
ôWe been best friends since junior high and grew up playing, and learning to
play, together, which goes a long way when weÆre writing. We can literally
predict what each other is going to do because know each otherÆs styles and
influences so well.ö Collectively and individually, the band members have
always been extremely serious about honing their musical chops. And for good
reason, Gillis says: ôThereÆs a big history of music here and itÆs so highly
valued that you canÆt get away with being a bad player. WeÆd be hung if we
were playing off island and werenÆt holding our own.ö
While Pretty ArchieÆs music blurs the lines between multiple genres, all the
ingredients of their sound have been nurtured by the setting they grew up in.
Even their name was sourced locally û in tribute to a local street musician
the band says embodied their own love of playing and performing.
ôSydneyÆs a small town, so Pretty Archie was the only person weÆd ever see
with a guitar case open in front of a mall. Yeah, he wasnÆt all there and he
could barely play, but there was something about him standing out in the cold
and rain, playing guitar with a big smile on his face that stuck with us. He
passed away over a dozen years ago now, so heÆs been gone a while, but when
weÆre traveling around itÆs a little bit of home to carry with us."
With every record and every tour Pretty Archie are carrying that little piece
of home a bit farther afield. Since their 2013 debut, Steel City, the band
have built an ever- larger following on the east coast, across Canada and û
since a gig this past summer at Denmark's Tonder Festival and with more
international dates slated for 2019 ûare poised to do so globally.
And although the stories they tell on Hanging On are rooted firmly in Pretty
ArchieÆs Maritime roots, they know from experience that theyÆll resonate with
pretty much anyone. ôBeing honest and authentic is something weÆve always
made a conscious effort to be, lyrically and musically,ö Gillis says.
ôEverything we write and sing about is real life for us, but the same things
happen to everybody in every walk of life, in every town. And I think people
pick up on that honesty, especially in a live scenario.
Pretty Archie released 'Sing Alongs & Love Songs' was released in September
2016. Bringing on Jamie Foulds to produce this project, Pretty Archie
continues to push the genre lines of Folk, Bluegrass, Country and Blues
creating a uniquely Pretty Archie sound. The 10 song album is a collection of
their strongest songwriting to date, addressing themes of love, loss, life
and the forces that drive all three. æSing Alongs and Loves SongsÆ is
nominated for ECMA's 'Country Recording of the Year' and was also nominated
for Music Nova Scotia's 2017 æAmericana Album of the YearÆ and æWe Dont Live
ForeverÆ the first single from the record, was nominated for Music Nova
ScotiaÆs æMusic Video of the YearÆ.
Pretty Archie released æNorth End SkyÆ in January 27th 2015. The highly
anticipated album was released was featured on CBC Radio 2's "East Coast
Music Hour" as an album to look for in 2015. 'North End Sky' was nominated
for ECMA's 'Country Recording of the Year'. 'North End Sky' was also
nominated for Music Nova Scotia's æAmericana/Bluegrass Album of the YearÆ
(2015). Their first full length album was recorded in January 2013 at the
famed Grant Ave. Studios in Hamilton, Ontario with well known
producer/engineer Bob Doidge. The debut 11 song LP æSteel CityÆ was released
on March 9th 2013. æSteel City' was nominated for Music Nova Scotia's 2013
Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year.
Pretty Archie has played some of CanadaÆs best events festivals and venues
including; The Grey Cup Festival (Ottawa ON), Rogers Hometown Hockey
(Dartmouth and Sydney NS), Sudbury Festival of Lights Boreal (Sudbury, ON),
Stan Rogers Folk Festival (Canso, NS), Roots Night at Royal Botanical Gardens
(Burlington, ON), The Ironwood (Calgary, AB) and The Dakota Tavern (Toronto,
ON). The band is also beginning to showcase their unique sound
internationally with shows including Denmark's storied Tonder Festival and
Scotland's Celtic Connections Festival. Pretty Archie has also had the
opportunity to be showcasing artists at Folk Alliance International,
AmericanaUK Fest, Nova Scotia Music Week, East Coast Music Week, Folk Music
Ontario, NXNE and OSAC. Pretty Archie has developed a loyal following built
from their entertaining, high energy, foot stomping shows.
Pretty ArchieÆs genuine, heartfelt writing connects listeners with a
saltwater perspective on modern living. Their fun loving and at times
heartbreaking music finds common ground in the blurred genres of Country,
Folk, Bluegrass and Blues. Their unique sound and energetic shows leave
listeners with a lasting memory.