This spring, the Toronto-based Grounders - Andrew Davis (vocals and guitar), Daniel Busheikin (keyboards), Mike Searle (Bass) and Evan Lewis (guitar) - will release their first full-length album, a collection of dense and intricate pop music under the gauzy veil of krautrock and psychedelia.
Over the course of the last two years, Grounders rediscovered their love for classic pop music, an appreciation that had waned over the years as they became obsessed with circumventing the conventional. Just another day in the life of a band. While rediscovering this appreciation, they listened to pop staples like David Bowie and Devo, and revisited old favorites like Velvet Underground, Neu! and the Zombies. When Grounders finally came up for air, they had a new found love for pop and a glut of ideas for a debut LP.
The album came to life in two distinct spaces: Davis's bedroom in Toronto's sleepy High Park neighbourhood; and a spacious two-car garage packed with vintage gear from various pawn shops and second-hand stores across the country.
After recruiting DIANA's Kieran Adams to handle drums, the band headed into the studio with longtime pal Marcel Ramagnano (Born Ruffians, Absolutely Free) to record. Months of tracking, tinkering and layering later, Grounders enlisted the incomparable David Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, Holy Fuck) to give each song the bombastic, fried analog treatment he's become known for.
With the self-titled album on the verge of release (May 12th) the band are set to head out on the highway shortly thereafter...
5/28: Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
5/29: Brooklyn, NY @ Palisades
6/11: Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz
6/12: Ottawa, ON @ Café Dekcuf
6/13: Kingston, ON @ Old Fort Henry
6/18 - 6/19: Toronto, ON @ NXNE
6/20: Chicago, IL @ Fizz
6/22: Winnipeg, MB @ The Good Will
6/23: Saskatoon, SK @ Vangelis
6/24: Edmonton, AB @ Wunderbar
6/25 - 6/27: Calgary, AB @ Sled Island
Check out the slightly groovy, "No Ringer."
