Constantines

Constantines is an indie rock band from Guelph, Ontario, Canada.[1]

Constantines
Constantines playing the Vancouver 2010 Olympics
Background information
Also known asHorsey Craze
OriginGuelph, Ontario, Canada
GenresIndie rock
Years active1999 (1999)–2010, 2014–present
LabelsThree Gut, Arts & Crafts, Sub Pop
Associated actsShoulder, Baby Eagle, Woolly Leaves, Deloro
Websitearts-crafts.ca/artists/constantines.html
MembersWill Kidman
Steve Lambke
Doug MacGregor
Bryan Webb
Dallas Wehrle
Past membersEvan Gordon

History

Constantines was formed in 1999 by vocalist and guitarist Bryan Webb, drummer Doug MacGregor and guitarist Paul Bright, all of whom had played together in the emo band Shoulder from 1994 to 1997; with the addition of bassist Dallas Wehrle.[2] Bright was asked to leave early on and was replaced by Steve Lambke.[2][3] Their style has been described as "art-punk", and they have been compared to bands like The Clash, Fugazi, Bruce Springsteen, The Replacements, and Nick Cave.

The name of the band is taken from an episode of Coast to Coast with Art Bell, in which Bell was playing recordings of ghost voices in static, and one of the ghosts' names was Constantine.[4]

From their hometown of Guelph the band relocated to London, Ontario and then to Toronto, where in 2001 they released their self-titled first album. Constantines enjoyed widespread play on campus radio and was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Alternative Album.[5] The first track, "Arizona", is based on the suicide of Danny Rapp, the lead singer of Danny and the Juniors of "At the Hop" fame. The song begins with the lyric "This is a song about the death of Danny Rapp. And that great gospel jest called rock 'n' roll." That year they performed at the El Mocombo in Toronto with Oneida and Grand Total.[6]

In 2002 they added keyboard player Evan Gordon to the lineup and released the EP The Modern Sinner Nervous Man. Gordon left the band soon after to pursue his own song writing. He was replaced by Will Kidman, and the band released Shine a Light in 2003. This album was the band's first to be released outside of Canada on the Sub Pop record label. It topped the !earshot National Top 50 chart in September that year.[7]

In 2004, the label Sub Pop reissued the band's self-titled album.[8] The next year, they embarked on a cross-Canada tour with The Weakerthans called The Rolling Tundra Revue. Later in the year their album Tournament of Hearts was released September 27 by Toronto record label Three Gut Records in Canada, and on October 11 by Sub Pop in the United States.

The members of Constantines have occasionally played shows under the name Horsey Craze, covering Neil Young songs. In early 2006, they released a vinyl only split-album with The Unintended. Constantines recorded four Neil Young covers for the LP, while The Unintended performed four Gordon Lightfoot songs.[9]

In 2007, following the demise of their Canadian former record label Three Gut Records, Constantines signed with Arts & Crafts. On January 15, 2008 they released a limited edition 7" on white vinyl, entitled Hard Feelings. Their fourth full-length album, Kensington Heights, was released on April 15 in Canada and April 29 in the US.

Guitarist Steve Lambke has released four albums and a split 12" under the name Baby Eagle, and keyboard player Will Kidman has recorded under the name Woolly Leaves.

In December 2009, the band celebrated their tenth anniversary with a tour of southwestern Ontario. Shortly thereafter, keyboardist Will Kidman left the band. This, coupled with Webb's move from his home in Montreal back to Guelph, fueled rumours of the band's demise.[10] Although Webb hinted that the band might be back,[11]

The Constantines performing at the 2015 Hillside Festival in Guelph, ON

Constantines went on an unofficial hiatus for several years.

In 2014 Constantines reformed for a reunion tour,[12] performing at festivals around Canada, including SappyFest[13] and at Kazoo!Fest in Guelph.[14] In May 2015 the band performed at Massey Hall in Toronto with Chad VanGaalen[15]

Constantines were on the line-up for Wayhome summer 2017 music festival in Oro-Medonte, Ontario.[16] and once more performed at Kazoo!Fest.[14]

Members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles
  • Young Lions (single, Sub Pop) – August 10, 2004[17]
  • Hard Feelings (7" single, Arts & Crafts) – January 15, 2008
  • Islands in the Stream (7" single with Feist, Arts & Crafts) – 2008
  • Our Age (7" single, Arts & Crafts, B-side is cover of "Fuckin' Up" by Neil Young and Crazy Horse) – November 25, 2008
  • Too Slow for Love (Electronic-only companion for Kensington Heights) – March 17, 2009
  • Thank You For Sending me An Angel (7" included in vinyl reissue of Shine A Light ) 2014

Splits

Compilation appearances
  • The 20 Year Design Theory (AntiAntenna Recordings) – "The Young and the Desperate" – June 1, 2001
  • Patient Zero – "Young Lions" (Sub Pop) – June 1, 2004
  • CBC Radio 3 Sessions, Vol. 1 – "Blind Luck (live)" – June 15, 2004
  • Wide Awake, Crescent Shaped: Volume 10 – "St. You (live)" – June 15, 2004
  • Songbook Of Songs (Sub Pop) – "Working Full-Time" – May 24, 2005

TV appearances

See also

References
  1. "Are the Constantines breaking up or ‘just slowing down’?". Wterloo Record, Aug 25, 2010
  2. Julien, Alexandre (March 12, 2010). "Shoulder Official Biography". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  3. "Constantines". The Canadian Encyclopedia, Janna Whelan, June 7, 2010
  4. "The Constantines reject irony". The Georgia Straight.
  5. "The Constantines". Pitchfork, by Jason Crock, October 16, 2005
  6. "LIVE: The Constantines w/ Oneida And Grand Total". Chart Attack, September 24, 2001. Review by: Brian Pascual
  7. "The National Top 50 For the Week Ending: Tuesday, September 16, 2003". !earshot.
  8. " Constantines: The Constantines". Drowned in Sound,
  9. Michael Barclay; Jason Schneider; Ian A.D. Jack (June 2011). Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance, 1985-1995. ECW Press. pp. 936–. ISBN 978-1-55490-968-1.
  10. "GuelphMercury - After 45 years, Buffett's insurance engine of growth". News.guelphmercury.com. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  11. Be the first to comment (2010-08-11). "Constantines Go on Indefinite Hiatus? • News •". Exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 2010-08-17. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  12. {The Constantines: Distance makes the heart grow fonder". BeatRoute, 07th, October 2014
  13. "We Saw the Constantines' Dress Up in Gorilla Suits and PUP Return a Shoe at SappyFest X". Noisey, by Matt Williams, Aug 5 2015,
  14. "Constantines Mitchell Hall, Guelph ON, April 8". Exclaim!, By Tom Beedham, Apr 09, 2017
  15. "Constantines & Chad VanGaalen "Live at Massey Hall" (live videos)". Exclaim!, By Alex Hudson, Oct 03, 2015
  16. "WayHome Music & Arts". WayHome. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  17. "A Completely Biased Ranking of the 60 Best Canadian Indie Rock Songs of the 00s Part II". Vice, Cam Lindsay Apr 10 2017
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