Paint (band)

Paint
Origin	Vancouver, Canada (2001)
Genres	Alternative rock Indie rock Post-Britpop
Years active	2001 - present
Labels	Fontana North
Associated acts	Rotary Dial Shortwave Hinterland Paper Moon Amanda Rheaume Carving Hearts Astoria
Website	www.paintband.com
Members	Robb Johannes Jordan Shepherdson Jenna Strautman Devin Jannetta
Past members	Nik Odermatt Nathan Da Silva Andre Dey Mandy Dunbar Marcus Warren Jeff Logan Matt Laforest Paula McGlynn

Paint is a Canadian indie rock band from Toronto, initially (though unofficially) formed in 2001, when frontman Robb Johannes was 18 years old. The band's line-up consists of Johannes (lead vocals), Jordan Shepherdson (guitar, backing vocals), Jenna Strautman (bass, backing vocals), and Devin Jannetta (drums). To date, Paint has released two full-length studio albums, with their latest, Where We Are Today, released through Fontana North in September 2011.

Initially the band's sound was rooted in folk and funk, with an unofficial demo release, Urban Folk Tales in May, 2004. Despite charting nationally on campus radio in Canada,^[1] as well as landing the band headlining slots at New Music West and the Under the Volcano Festival, and compilation albums by E3 Records, the record proved critically and commercially unsuccessful.^[2]

After an extended hiatus through 2006 and 2007 with minimal live appearances, during which time Johannes joined Submerged Records band Hinterland for the writing and recording of its frantic final album Pan Pan Medico,^[3] Endearing Records artist Paper Moon, and pop-punk outfit Carving Hearts, he reformed Paint in 2008 with drummer Matt Laforest, formerly of Vancouver band Astoria. The name "Paint" was used simply out of not being able to come up with any other available options. Paint's vision became narrowed into a sweeping, melodic rock sound clearly influenced by the likes of: Oasis, Idlewild, Radiohead, Catherine Wheel, Smashing Pumpkins, U2, and Pearl Jam.^[4]

Johannes relocated to Toronto in early 2009 after he, Laforest, and former Paper Moon bandmate Paula McGlynn wrote and recorded Can You Hear Me? at Maximus Sound in Port Coquitlam, BC. In Toronto, he spent the greater part of the next four years experimenting with different musicians to find a lineup as cohesive as the founding unit. The August 11, 2009 release of Can You Hear Me? was immediately accompanied by extensive touring across Canada, for which Paint quickly developed a reputation for "their tireless work ethic and strict professionalism (which) has set them apart from legions of bands who would love to be in their position."^[5]

After nearly 200 shows in 18 months, Paint went into the studio with producer Ian Smith (formerly of The Miniatures), whose credits have included City and Colour, Feist, and Gordon Downie. The resulting collaboration, Where We Are Today, mastered by Joe Lambert (Social Distortion, Bright Eyes, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash) represented a refined stylistic shift for Paint further into new wave and Britpop.

Since November 2012, Paint has been stage-testing new material for what appears to be its third LP.

History

Beginnings, Urban Folk Tales and Other Projects (2001-2007)

Neither Robb Johannes, nor anyone associated with Paint, has spoken publicly the band's early history or the unofficial release of Urban Folk Tales in 2004. The only reference ever made was an interview with Thunderbird Radio Hell on CiTR 101.9FM in Vancouver in September 18, 2008, when Matt Laforest said the band stop being a "funk, fusion, folk" project "The day I joined."^[6] An early version of the Paint song "Madonna" can be found on Urban Folk Tales—it would later be refined for release on Can You Hear Me?

Can You Hear Me? (2008-2010)

Recorded in Port Coquitlam, BC, and released August 11, 2009 when the band was established in Toronto, Paint's debut album Can You Hear Me? was automatically praised as "5 STARS: in your face, but not overpowering, melodic but still harsh, well-crafted but not over-perfected... heartbreaking yet uplifting.... an underlying sense of sonic maturity and strong lyrical insight... well-developed and layered...retain(s) the attractive simplicity of a great rock album,"^[7] as well as an "alt-rock relic spiritually scraping the ’90s, done with so much audacity and seismic guitar crunch one can’t help but strap into their time machine... this Toronto quartet wisely keep the sound big, but the anthemic denouements concise."^[8]

In March 2010, Paint won the 102.1 The Edge "Indie Online" fan contest on the strength of the single "Strangers," upping their profile amongst the local and national independent music scene. Their performance at Edge Studios March 27, 2010 was called "Picture perfect" by curator Raina Douris.^[9]

Where We Are Today and Capsulated (2010-2012)

Documented in the film Where We Were in April,^[10] Robb Johannes moved to Kitchener/Waterloo, where the Paint went into the studio with Ian Smith. Previously, Johannes and Smith had collaborated on composing two songs: "Girl in a Frame," and "Boomerang"—the former of which secured the band international distribution through Fontana North.

On the recording process, Johannes stated that, "[Smith] created this environment that was so friendly and so comfortable that we didn't need to have a lot of conversations about what we wanted to achieve with the record, and instead just focused on how we could get there technically. I can't say I've [previously] had an experience like that." ^[11]

Press for Where We Are Today amounted rather quickly as the band toured across Canada once again, calling the album "An exciting blend of catchy pop rock songs and stellar lyrics... undeniable brilliance,"^[12] "full of flight and passion... crisp and confident,"^[13] and "intelligent people making incredible music."^[14]

Although Johannes and Dey maintained a very public and unified image for Paint, tensions between Dunbar and the rest of the band, including producer Ian Smith, were made apparent in Where We Were in April, where Smith asks Dunbar to "play more for the track and less for the camera," and the subsequent tour for Where We Are Today ended on October 1, 2011, which would be the last time Johannes, Dunbar, Warren, and Dey would play on stage together.

With the release of Where We Are Today, Paint undertook the task of producing a video album, making a music video for each song on the record. Johannes' statement on the project:

The Video Album Project is a pretty ambitious undertaking. Radiohead inspired it — they attempted it with OK Computer but didn't see it through to the end. We're on a much smaller scale, which in many ways makes it entirely more possible. Video has become a much more accessible format now with YouTube, budget DV cameras, and an abundance of public domain footage (for example, "End of the Reel" and "In Disguise" were both done entirely with stock footage, the latter based on the 1936 cult classic Reefer Madness). Purists may argue the open landscape for anyone to upload videos is watering down its artistic merit as a format, and I tend to agree. But we're also making the best of a more accessible outlet that we as a band can be directly involved with. Four videos are done now, one is complete an in queue, and more will follow. We'll probably be releasing one every month or two months. It's a good way to stay relevant and active in between touring cycles.^[15]

The project was completed in summer 2013, with the release of the Capsulated (Music Videos) DVD compilation coming November 26, 2013.

Line-up Changes and Continued Touring (2012-present)

At the end of the Where We'll Be 2011 Tour, Robb Johannes was seen on stage at Indie Week 2011 playing bass with Kevin Komatsu of The Joys on drums and Tim Dafoe of The Cheap Speakers on guitar. As the band embarked on a cross-Canada tour in March/April 2012, he published a note on the band's official blog, giving a vague explanation for why Paint was now composed of Johannes (vocals), session player Nathan Da Silva (guitar), and the rhythm section from Toronto band Shortwave; Nikolaus Odermatt (bass) and Devin Jannetta (drums):

I'm not one to talk bad about people publicly, and I don't believe in airing dirty laundry for public exploitation. All I can say is the we put out a new record and money got ain the way. Money was taken from the band account without the usual procedures of approval; money that was contractually-obliged was breached and people were stuck with debts; and money was owed between people who weren't willing to make concessions or look at the big picture. Inexperience and insecurities came in as well, surely. It's the 2000s; making money as an independent band is a tough gig. What's more important is that the band still exists and is stronger than ever. Sometimes shaking things up is the only way to really survive, and I'm grateful to still have a place to call home musically. Andre Dey and I do keep regular contact though. After all we've been through, he'll always be a brother and friend.^[16]

In November 2012, Paint performed a weekly residency at C'est What? in Toronto,^[17] revealing newly-written material each week, to the point of playing almost an entire set's worth of brand new and unreleased material. Audio from the closing night (November 27) was made available on the band's SoundCloud on December 17, 2012,^[18] revealing a sound more personal in its lyrical content and introducing a synthesizer and orchestration tracks into the arsenal.

By 2013, Ottawa Native Jordan Shepherdson had taken over permanent guitar duties after nearly two years of temporary help, and Paint announced in its July 2013 newsletter that Nik Odermatt was leaving the band to start a family and had been replaced by Jenna Strautman ^[19]

After a handful of shows with Strautman, Paint joined up with Toronto director/producer R. Stephenson Price (of music blog/series The Indie Machine) to film a 6-minute narrative heist film music video for their single "Boomerang"^[20] (released Nov. 22nd). In October, the band reprised their month-long weekly residency spot at C'est What? to much acclaim.

As of February 2014, the band members are currently working on recording material for a new four-song EP (untitled TBA 2014), set to be accompanied by a 16-minute narrative film tentatively-titled 11:11 - again directed/produced by R. Stephenson Price.

Activism and Causes

Postering case

A well-documented court case took place in 2011 with Johannes and the management of Toronto's C'est What? venue against mayor Rob Ford's anti-postering bylaws.^[21] Johannes presented the Ramsden v. Peterborough (City) [1993] 2 S.C.R. 1084 decision from the Supreme Court of Canada, where the Court struck down a bylaw prohibiting all postering on public property on the grounds that it violated freedom of expression under section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. After having the charges thrown out, Johannes issued a public statement on the victory:

Bans on postering represent an attack on the arts, especially in times of political conservatism when arts can be seen as subversive. 85% of the 413 infractions stemming from anti-postering in Montreal in 2009 were against the cultural industries. Posters are an accessible and affordable form of advertising for locally-targeted events in an oversaturated internet market. By-laws against postering are simply creating barriers for artists of a certain income demographic to get their messages out. Unless one has the resources to advertise in mainstream media, which is often controlled by certain interests, or own property and put up a big billboard, ideas and expressions are limited. The concept of “public space” contains the assumption that people freely express themselves as permitted under s.2(b) of the Charter....In Toronto's case, shy of banding together to file a constitutional challenge (which I would say isn't entirely outside the realm of possibility) the onus sadly is placed on the backs of artists to stand up for their rights. Poster and promote as you would, and if fines are issued, do not pay them. Go to court. Use the above case law to argue your points. And drop me a line, I'd be happy to help.^[22]

The court win was celebrated by a headlining show at C'est What? on December 8, 2011, where Johannes also sang tributes to Jim Morrison and John Lennon in homage to the former's birth and the latter's death.^[23] During the set, Johannes was famously photographed holing up an "I Hate Rob Ford" t-shirt passed to him from the audience.

Other causes

As the most vocal and public member of Paint, Johannes has championed many causes including vegetarianism,^[24] gun control,^[25] public housing (particularly in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside,^[26] and voting,^[27] amongst others.

Members

Current

• Robb Johannes - lead vocals, guitar, programming (2008–present)
• Jordan Shepherdson - guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)
• Jenna Strautman - bass, backing vocals (2013–present)
• Devin Jannetta - drums (2012–present)

Former (abridged)

• Nikolaus Odermatt - bass, keyboards (2011-2012)
• Nathan Da Silva - guitar, backing vocals (2011-2012)
• Adre Dey - drums, backing vocals (2010-2011)
• Mandy Dunbar - guitar, backing vocals (2009-2011)
• Marcus Warren - bass (2009-2011)
• Jeff Logan - guitar (2009)
• Matt Laforest - drums (2008–2009)
• Paula McGlynn - guitar, vocals (2008–2009)

Discography

Studio Albums

• Where We Are Today (September 6, 2011) [Fontana North, PWWAT11] #23 (!earshot)
• Can You Hear Me? (August 11, 2009) [independent, PCYHM09] #20 (!earshot)
• Urban Folk Tales (May 29, 2004) [independent, RSC12272] #9 (!earshot)

Compilations

• Showcase International 2005 (September 21, 2005), E3/Chromium Records (CHRO-SC2005-001), featuring the song "Open Your Eyes"

Singles

Date of Release	Title	Format	!earshot Peak	Album
April 9, 2013	"Home"	mp3	23	Where We Are Today
September 11, 2012	"Gastown"	mp3	23	Where We Are Today
July 24, 2012	"She Leaves"	mp3	23	Where We Are Today
May 8, 2012	"In Disguise"	mp3	23	Where We Are Today
March 6, 2012	"End of the Reel"	mp3	23	Where We Are Today
August 30, 2011	"Girl in a Frame"	mp3	23	Where We Are Today
August 10, 2010	"Madonna"	mp3	20	Can You Hear Me?
April 13, 2010	"A Gentle Art"	mp3	20	Can You Hear Me?
December 8, 2009	"Don't Blow Me Away"	mp3	20	Can You Hear Me?
May 19, 2009	"Strangers"	mp3 // album preview	20	Can You Hear Me?
March 1, 2007	"Life"	Online-only single exclusive to MySpace	N/A	N/A
May 29, 2004	"The Open Road"	Download only	9	Urban Folk Tales

Videography

Compilations

• Capsulated (November 26, 2013) [Independent, PCDVD13]
• Videos, etc. (2011) [Independent, PVEDVD11]

Documentaries

• Where We Were In April (August 30, 2011), [Independent, PWWWIADVD11]

References

External links

• The Official Paint Site
• Paint (band) on Twitter