Joel Plaskett

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Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett performing at the 2007 Ottawa Bluesfest
Joel Plaskett performing at the 2007 Ottawa Bluesfest
Background information
Born 1974 (age 33–34)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genre(s) Indie rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar, mandolin, keyboards
Years active 1992–present
Label(s) MapleMusic
Associated acts The Joel Plaskett Emergency, Thrush Hermit
Website www.joelplaskett.com

Joel Plaskett (born 1974) is a Canadian rock musician, born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has been a prominent figure in the Canadian indie rock scene of the 1990s and 2000s.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Thrush Hermit

In 1992, Plaskett created alternative rock band Thrush Hermit with Rob Benvie (vocals, guitar), Ian McGettigan (vocals, bass), and Michael Catano (drums). Plaskett was the lead singer and guitarist for the Halifax-based band as well as the band's primary songwriter, until their breakup in late 1999.

[edit] Solo work and the Emergency

After the breakup of Thrush Hermit, Plaskett embarked on a solo career. His first release, In Need of Medical Attention, consisted of leftover songs that were written near the end of his days in Thrush Hermit. It was successful, but not until the release of 2001's Down at the Khyber with a new backing band, The Emergency. The Emergency consisted of Plaskett, drummer Dave Marsh and bass player Tim Brennan, though special friend Ian McGettigan could often be seen playing bass at their shows. The third album of Plaskett's post-Thrush Hermit career and second of the Emergency's, Truthfully, Truthfully was a commercial success. MapleMusic Recordings is the current recording label for both The Emergency and Plaskett's solo efforts. Plaskett and the band have toured throughout North America and Europe with such performers as The Tragically Hip, Sloan and Kathleen Edwards.

The Joel Plaskett Emergency has been nominated for two Juno Awards, both in the alternative album category. The group won Rock Recording of the Year at the 2005 East Coast Music Awards, for the album Truthfully, Truthfully.

Plaskett released his second solo album, La De Da in 2005, which garnered him two East Coast Music Awards in 2006, Male Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, for the song "Happen Now". He was also nominated for the Songwriter of the Year Juno Award, but lost to Arcade Fire.

La De Da was released in Australia on March 6, 2006 by local company Code One Entertainment. In April 2006, Plaskett toured the east coast of Australia (in solo mode) extensively to promote the release.

In March 2006, Joel Plaskett Emergency released their first DVD, Make a Little Noise. It included an EP of three songs. The single "Nowhere With You" has received the most mainstream radio airplay of any Plaskett release to date, and was featured in a Zellers television commercial. Make a Little Noise had three wins at the 2007 East Coast Music Awards: DVD of the Year, Single of the Year ("Nowhere with You"), and Songwriter of the Year (Joel Plaskett, for "Nowhere with You").

On March 3, 2007, Joel Plaskett Emergency released an Australia-only compilation, Make a Little Noise, a collection of songs from Down at the Khyber, Truthfully, Truthfully and the EP from the DVD. The DVD is also in included in this package as a bonus. The band toured Australia for the first time in March/April of 2007, supporting Australian band Augie March.

On April 17, 2007, their first album to include their new bassist, Chris Pennell, was released. The album, Ashtray Rock, is described by the band as a concept album. Ashtray Rock was on the shortlist for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize,[1] but lost to Patrick Watson's album Close to Paradise.

During the week of December 10, 2007, Plaskett and the Emergency played six consecutive shows at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto as part of the music venue's 60th-anniversary celebrations. Each night, a different album was performed in its entirety, starting with In Need of Medical Attention on Monday and finishing with Ashtray Rock on Friday night and Saturday night.[2]

Joel Plaskett Emergency has been nominated for seven East Coast Music Awards in 2008, more than any other act. They ultimately went on to win six of those awards, which is tied with a previous record.[3][4]

[edit] Other collaborations

In recent years, Plaskett has embarked upon a number of projects. He has acted as record producer for Atlantic Canadian artists such as Two Hours Traffic and Little Miss Moffat. As well, in 2004 he made his television debut as a rock coach on the CBC Television documentary series Rock Camp.

[edit] Personal life

Plaskett is married to Nova Scotia graphic artist and cartoonist Rebecca Kraatz, who provided the artwork for the cover and liner of Ashtray Rock[5], La De Da, and In Need of Medical Attention.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Thrush Hermit

[edit] Solo albums

[edit] Joel Plaskett Emergency

[edit] References

  1. ^ Arcade Fire, Feist on Polaris short list. Retrieved on July 10, 2007.
  2. ^ Wheeler, Brad. "A Plaskett prescription for the 'Shoe's birthday", The Globe and Mail, 2007-12-12, p. R2. 
  3. ^ 2008 East Coast Music Awards nominees
  4. ^ Plasket gets 6; local talent makes city proud
  5. ^ Cooke, Stephen (2007-04). Hanging out at Ashtray Rock. Halifax Chronicle-Herald.

[edit] External links