Buffalo Place

Thursday, June 30th

Lowest of the Low
www.lowestofthelow.com 

This jangle pop group, first known as Popular Front, came together in Toronto in 1991 following the popularity of similar Canadian groups, the Barenaked Ladies and Rheostatics.  Original members included Ron Hawkins, Stephen Stanley and David Alexander.  Lowest of the Low released their first independent record in the fall of 1991, Shakespeare My Butt.  Without a record company to back their marketing and distribution, the band members toured throughout Canada selling CD’s off the side of the stage.  This first grass roots independent album went on to sell over 10,000 copies.  In 1993, Lowest of the Low, affectionately referred to as, “The Low,” signed with independent Vancouver based label LSD.  Allegedly, LSD producer Don Smith stifled the bands creativity with his tension, so after the group finished recording their LSD album they signed with distributor A&M.  Their second professionally recorded record, Hallucigenia released in 1993. 

After the release of their sophomore album, The Low went on a six year hiatus pursuing solo projects before regrouping in 2002 to record, Nothing Short of a Bullet and Sordid Fiction in 2004.  Soon after the 2004 release, the group took another break before reforming in 2007.  They then went on hiatus until 2010 when they reorganized to re-release a deluxe edition of their 1991 CD, Shakespeare My Butt, to commemorate their 20th anniversary.  According to Chart Magazine, “Lowest of the Low's sound evolved from album to album, but Shakespeare My Butt's spiky folk-rock brew served as inspiration for a legion of contemporary Canadian recording artists.  Without this album, you might not have the music you love from folks like Constantines, The Marble Index, Arkells, Cuff The Duke, Attack In Black, The Kramdens, The Waking Eyes, The Midway State, The Mark Inside, Hollerado, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Justin Rutledge, Corb Lund and The Weakerthans to enjoy.”  The Low’s debut album ranks on Chart Magazines 1996, 2000 and 2005 poll of one of the Greatest Canadian Albums of All Time alongside the likes of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and The Tragically Hip.  The Low was inducted into the Canadian Indie Rock Hall of Fame in 2008.


Opening for Lowest of the Low…

Hey Rosetta!
www.heyrosetta.com 

Billboard Music states Hey Rosetta!, “crafts emotionally resonant rock anthems that echo Brit-pop outfits like Hope of the States and the Veils while channeling the orchestral rock of Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene.”  This indie rock sextet formed in St. John’s Newfoundland in 2005.  They are described as having a lush often dramatic orchestra pop rock sound.  After Hey Rosetta! released a self titled EP in 2005, their first full record, Plan Your Escape released in 2006.  Into Your Lungs (and Around In Your Heart and On Through Your Blood) followed in 2008 and their latest album, Seeds dropped in February of 2011.  In 2009, Hey Rosetta! brought home three East Coast Music Awards including, Group Recording of the Year, Recording of the Year and Alternative Recording of the Year.  Also in 2009, they received the CMW Indie Award for Best Album and XM’s Verge Award for Best Album.  OwlMag.com describes their latest endeavor, Seeds saying, “Front man Tim Baker’s vocal style is decidedly mature with a slight vibrato that ups the emotional feel.  This combined with a standard 4-piece rock ensemble and a violin and cello make for a sound that’s somewhat reminiscent of Airborne Toxic Event or Arcade Fire, but really being all Hey Rosetta!” 


Also opening for Lowest of the Low…

Ron Hawkins and the Do Good Assassins
www.ronhawkins.com

Billboard Music states that, “Ron Hawkins is recognized as one of the best songwriters that Canada has to offer; fans and fellow musicians alike maintain a respect for him that borders on reverence.” 

Ron Hawkins is the lead singer of Toronto based indie rock group, Lowest of the Low.  He put out his first solo album in 1994 when The Low was on hiatus and has now released four solo records.  After forming the group, Ron Hawkins and The Rusty Nails in 1997, he released his second solo album Crackstatic.  In 2000, Now Magazine voted Hawkins Songwriter of the Year and Crackstatic was recognized as Indie Album of The Year.  Chemical Sounds debuted in 2008 followed by his fourth solo piece, 10 Kinds of Lonely in the fall of 2009.  

Hawkins now works for a living by songwriting, performing and painting and has toured with Billy Braggs across North America, Australia and China. He helped launch, www.victimlesscapitalism.com to promote his solo album and paintings as well as the work of other bands and artists, including fellow Low member, drummer and painter David Ray Alexander. 

According to a recent Ron Hawkins concert review, his show, “was one long, subtle crescendo with small peaks as crept to an intense musical boil.  This was one of those rare shows where you're on the edge of your seat the entire night. Hawkins had the whole crowd in the palm of his hand.”