By April MacIntyre Oct 2, 2009, 5:00 GMT
Canada's illScarlett combined elements of Sublime and No Doubt with a dash of Goldfinger thrown in for good measure.
A cast of chill characters raised on their parents’ Beatles and Queen records, and influenced by the likes of Nirvana, Incubus, Beck, The Police, and Foo Fighters, the Mississauga, Ontario, Canada natives built the initial framework for illScarlett’s sound.
They could be described as a rhythm and reggae influenced, filthy dub band that takes no prisoners, but just go to an illScarlett show and you'll find a slew of sweaty, screaming kids who are fans of hip-hop, punk and emo, charged full of frenetic energy, jumping off the stage and rolling in the pit.
Currently on tour with Pepper, and soon to hit the road with Big D & The Kids Table, illScarlett is winning over new fans selling its first U.S. release, EPdemic.
Background:
When singer Alex Norman and drummer Swav Pior met in high school and started their band they had two choices - wait around on the off chance that some A&R guy was actually going to recognize talent, or take the bull by the horns and do it themselves.
They chose the latter, adding compadres John Doherty (bass) and Will Marr (guitar) to complete their vision. Together they played hundreds of shows around the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), starting with a handful of faithful fans that amassed into crowds numbering over 1,000 in what seems like the blink of an eye.
The band recently finished its latest recording effort entitled 1UP! in Hollywood with three-time Grammy-winning producer Robert Carranza (Jack Johnson, Mars Volta, Beck, Ozomatli, Mindless Self Indulgence). The new album is now available in Canada.
With over 2 million MySpace plays and over 60,000 illScarlett records sold, the band has set the stage for an exciting Fall tour with an upcoming U.S. album release in the New Year.
View illScarlett’s new music video for the song “OneA” here:
For more information on illScarlett see www.illScarlett.com and/or www.myspace.com/illscarlett.
illScarlett Tour Dates
w/ Pepper 10/1-10/18
w/ Big D and the Kids Table 11/1-11/20
October 1 - Bend, OR @ Domino Room
October 2 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
October 3 - Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theatre
October 4 - Billings, MT @ Shrine
October 7 - Fargo, ND @ Playmakers
October 8 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
October 9 - Columbia, MT @ The Blue Note
October 10 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
October 13 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
October 14 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
October 15 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
October 16 - Buffalo, NY @Town Ballroom
October 17 - Killington, VT @ Pickle Barrel Nightclub
October 18 - Farmingdale, NY @ The Crazy Donkey
November 1- Jermyn, PA @ Eleanor Rigby’s
November 3- West Chester, PA @ The Note
November 4- Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club
November 5-Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club
November 6- Virginia Beach, VA @ The Jewish Mother
November 8- Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
November 10- Lake Worth, FL @Propaganda
November 11- Gainesville, FL @ 1982 Bar
November 12- Orlando, FL @ The Club at Firestone
November 13- Tallahassee, FL @ The Engine Room
November 14- Pensacola, FL @ Sluggo’s
November 15- Nashville, TN @ The Muse
November 16- Covington, KY @ The Mad Hatter
November 17- Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
November 19- Buffalo, NY @ The Town Ballroom
November 20- Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street
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