Zeus (band)

Zeus
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Rock, alternative, indie rock
Years active 2009 (2009)–present
Labels Arts & Crafts
Associated acts Jason Collett
Bahamas
Paso Mino
The Golden Dogs
Website themusicofzeus.com
Members
Rob Drake
Carlin Nicholson
Mike O'Brien
Neil Quin

Zeus is a Toronto-based Canadian indie rock band signed to the Arts & Crafts record label. Its members include Rob Drake, Carlin Nicholson, Mike O'Brien, and Neil Quin. In addition to recording and performing the music of Zeus, the band also serves as the backing band for Canadian musician Jason Collett.

Contents

History

O'Brien and Nicholson were childhood friends from Barrie, Ontario,[1][2][3] and played in one another's first bands along with Afie Jurvanen. When Jurvanen was recruited by producer Howie Beck to play guitar for Jason Collett, Jurvanen brought along O'Brien and Nicholson, who had learned Collett's album Idols of Exile in its entirety before their audition. The band he brought to Collett, which called itself "Paso Mino" consisted of Jurvanen, Michael P. Clive, and current Zeus members O'Brien and Drake, with Nicholson commonly acting as sound technician. After several years performing behind Collett, as well as performing original material and releasing the acclaimed album Good People, Paso Mino dissolved when Michael P. Clive left the band to pursue a career as a professional chef, and Jurvanen embarked on a tour with Feist and began a new solo project under the name "Bahamas". Finding themselves with time on their hands, O'Brien and Nicholson began recording together, along with Robbie Drake. Neil Quin was soon added to the mix, solidifying the current Zeus lineup. The members of Zeus continue as Collett's backing band[4] and occasionally collaborate and perform with Jurvanen, who describes Zeus as sounding like The Band behind Collett, and sounding like Crazy Horse behind Bahamas.

Sounds Like Zeus (2009)

Their debut EP Sounds Like Zeus was released by Arts & Crafts in June 2009,[5] and includes a cover of the Genesis song "That's All".[6]

Say Us (2010)

The band's debut album, Say Us, was released 23 February 2010.[7][8] A vinyl LP was released two weeks ahead of the CD release.[9] Say Us was included on the 2010 Polaris Music Prize long list, but failed to advance to the short list.[10] In March 2010, the band performed at the SxSW Music Festival with long-time collaborators Jason Collett and Bahamas.[11]

Forthcoming second album (2011–present)

The band has been releasing several 7" singles as part of a series.[12] "Hot Under The Collar" / "Aeroplane" was released 7 December 2010 (Arts & Crafts ACX-060),[13] "Permanent Scar" / "The Darkness" 12 April 2011 (Arts & Crafts ACX-063),[14] and "Are You Gonna' Waste My Time?" 18 October 2011 (Arts & Crafts ACX-073).[15] It is expected that these singles will be included on the band's second full length album due for release "early" 2012.[16][17]

Band members

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album
2009 Sounds Like Zeus EP
2010 Say Us

Singles

Year Title
2010 "Hot Under The Collar" / "Aeroplane"
2011 "Permanent Scar" / "The Darkness"
2011 "Are You Gonna' Waste My Time?"

See also

References

  1. ^ Gillis, Carla (15 October 2008). "Music Feature » Power of Zeus » Barrie bashers wield a mighty ukulele". Now (magazine). nowtoronto.com (Toronto: Now Communications Inc). ISSN 0712-1326. http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=165402. Retrieved 9 December 2009. 
  2. ^ "Zeus Artist Page". radio3.cbc.ca. CBC Radio 3. http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/Zeus. Retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  3. ^ Lymangrover, Jason. "Zeus Biography". allmusic.com. Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/zeus-p2084914/biography. Retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  4. ^ Schneider, Jason (September 2008). "Zeus » Interviews » Web Exclusive » Sep 2008". Exclaim!. exclaim.ca (Toronto: 1059434 Ontario Inc). ISSN 1207-6600. http://exclaim.ca/Interviews/WebExclusive/zeus. Retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  5. ^ Harper, Kate (30 June 2009). "Zeus Announce Toronto Residency". Chart. chartattack.com (Toronto: Chart Communications). ISSN 1198-7235. http://www.chartattack.com/news/71724/zeus-announce-toronto-residency. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  6. ^ Bryson, Scott (6 July 2009). "Zeus Like Phil Collins". Chart. chartattack.com (Toronto: Chart Communications). ISSN 1198-7235. http://www.chartattack.com/news/71872/zeus-like-phil-collins. Retrieved 14 December 2009. 
  7. ^ Harper, Kate (13 November 2009). "Zeus Album Coming In February". Chart. chartattack.com (Toronto: Chart Communications). ISSN 1198-7235. http://www.chartattack.com/news/76737/zeus-album-coming-in-february. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  8. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "Zeus Review Say Us". allmusic.com. Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/say-us-r1716631. Retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  9. ^ Back in rotation: vinyl sales set for record year. Jacqueline Milczarek and Ian Monrie. CTV. CTV News, Toronto. 5 December 2009. Retrieved on 14 December 2009.
  10. ^ "2010 - Winner & Nominees". www.polarismusicprize.ca. Polaris Music Prize. 6 July 2010. http://www.polarismusicprize.ca/2010/. Retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  11. ^ Stevenson, Jane (9 March 2010). "Canadian Music Week preview". jam.canoe.ca. Jam!. http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2010/03/09/13172466.html. Retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  12. ^ Hudson, Alex (October 2011). "Zeus Unveil New Seven-Inch Series » News » Oct 22 2011". Exclaim!. exclaim.ca (Toronto: 1059434 Ontario Inc). ISSN 1207-6600. http://exclaim.ca/News/zeus_unveil_new_seven-inch_series. Retrieved 26 November 2011. 
  13. ^ ""Hot under the collar" / "Aeroplane" (sound recording) / Zeus", www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/all (Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada), OCLC 754706442, AMICUS No. 38768622, http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ourl/res.php?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_tim=2011-11-25T05%3A36%3A24Z&url_ctx_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=38768622&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fcollectionscanada.gc.ca%3Aamicus&lang=eng, retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  14. ^ ""Permanent scar" / "The darkness" (sound recording) / Zeus", www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/all (Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada), AMICUS No. 39012409, http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ourl/res.php?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_tim=2011-11-25T05%3A42%3A39Z&url_ctx_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=39012409&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fcollectionscanada.gc.ca%3Aamicus&lang=eng, retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  15. ^ "A&C arts & crafts Zeus artists page". arts-crafts.ca. Arts & Crafts Productions. http://www.arts-crafts.ca/artistspage.php?search=Zeus. Retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  16. ^ Hudson, Alex (October 2011). "News » Oct 05 2011". Exclaim!. exclaim.ca (Toronto: 1059434 Ontario Inc). ISSN 1207-6600. http://exclaim.ca/News/zeus_announce_new_single_plan_sophomore_lp_expand_north_american_tour. Retrieved 25 November 2011. 
  17. ^ Zeus. "themusicofzeus.com". themusicofzeus.com. http://themusicofzeus.com/. Retrieved 25 November 2011. 

External links