Toronto Unplugged

Breaking Artist: The Assistants

by Mike on December 30th, 2007

This past year saw truly good musicians and bands break out in the city. This is always refreshing to me…when bands that you’ve seen in small bars and venues (that you always knew were great) start getting major buzz and recognition and can watch the success unfold.

2008 will carry and continue this trend of good (if not great) bands breaking out - the momentum of great music and hungry bands in the city is too strong to steer otherwise.

The Assistants could very well be one of our next bands to break. According to their Myspace page, they describe themselves as Psychedelic/Shoegaze/Folk.

They are a refreshed throwback. A reinvention of influence. They have a unique familiarity. And…they are a great band making great music.  Their self titled debut The Assistants is a must purchase and one of the best Toronto releases of 2007.

Here is their official bio…

The Assistants formed in the spring of 2004 and are led by singer-songwriters Ciaran Megahey and Kiley Meehan. Initially a trio, the band aimed to fuse electronic ambiance with classic songwriting. By using a plethora of drum machines and keyboards, the Assistants created a sonic brew that drew comparisons to New Order and the Jesus and Mary Chain. Now, nearly three years later, the band has blossomed into a formidable pop ensemble with the addition of Adam Boyle on drums, Tim Munro on bass and Ildiko Kaszas on keyboards. 2007 also marks the release of the band’s self-titled debut album.

Recorded in Toronto at Sleepytown Sound, the Assistants resists sonic padding in favor of a stripped down immediacy. Over the course of ten songs, the band proves to be a creatively restless entity, shaking off one style only to quickly settle into another. The album shifts gears rapidly, veering from the Beatle-esque shuffle of “In My Dreams,” to the glam-inspired stomp of “This Time.” The wistful pop of “Planet News” crafts a beguiling mix of Morrissey and the Byrds, while the sinister undercurrent of “Taste It” exudes a bold swagger. By the final crescendo of “Consent”, The Assistants makes its’ case as a glowing introduction.

The band released their first album independently on February 3rd, 2007.

Standout Tracks (head to their Myspace page to have a listen)

Planet News, And Then Again, This Time

The band doesn’t have any listings posted yet for 2008, but we’ll post them once they do.

Watch for the Assistants in 2008.

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