An Interview with... Evelyn Falls guitarist Mike Matwijiw

How did Evelyn Falls meet / come together?

The thought of Evelyn Falls began in the fall of 2006. At a Breaking Benjamin show, at Harpos, in Detroit Michigan I bumped into one of a singer that I jammed with in high school, Jay Seiben. We caught up and exchanged numbers. I had already decided I was forming another band and pretty much demanded that he call me. The two of us started auditioning for bass and drums. We jammed with a few people but it just wasn't working out and then out of nowhere I got a phone call from Brett Sobocan (Bass). His aunt saw an add that I had put out at a local music store and gave him the number! He called, we met and I "knew" that he was the guy! Then came the daunting task of finding a drummer. Brett, Jay and I were recording some tunes when I went into the washroom and dropped my phone in the toilet. The next day, I had to buy a new phone and all my numbers were gone from the sim card except one...which was Brittany who just happened to be a drummer. I gave her a call! It wasn't too long after that she was in the band. We had our first show at the Chubby Pickle in Windsor and enjoyed a pretty fruitful 2nd half of 2007 together! It all led up to our big NYE show with Ashes of Soma where Jay and the rest of the band had a fallout! Jay was replaced in early January by Matt Tourangeau (formerly of Bitter Green). We also very recently decided to replace Brittany with Mark St.Denis who came from Bitter Green as well!

... Man I ain't no stranger to fall outs and band blow-ups... How is the group dynamic evolving with the new members?

The group is stronger and tighter than ever now! Both personally and musically! We are all very passionate about what we do and we all have a lot respect for what each and every one of us brings to the table! We just played our first gig with the new lineup at Venues in Windsor on March 22nd and it went over really well! It was an awesome show and our fans were very impressed and happy about the recent change-ups! It definitely feels like a "real band" now! At earlier shows, I always got butterflies... mainly because I didn't know when we might fall down the stairs. With Mark on drums everything has just become so much easier! The songs have a groove now and we are all having SO much fun! Matt is a great frontman and his passion and love for music is contagious! We are very excited about coming up to Toronto, it's gonna be a great night for all!

What type of shenanigans should an audience member expect to see at a typical Evelyn Falls show?

Well, we are just getting the new band off the ground. We are all just starting to get to know each other. Matt is a very animated. Mark hits hard and plays with a lot of enthusiasm! I'm always doing something bizarre and Brett is the mellow one. This is something that, with only one show under our belt, we are still gelling. The songs are good and the energy is definitely there, it'll be interesting to see where it all goes.

Any plans to take the new lineup into the studio, and if so, when can we expect a release?

We are definitely planning on entering the studio!! I generally record all of our demos at home, but we want a pro-level recording and I don't want all of that on my head anyway! We are thinking of SLR in Windsor. They've done some pretty stellar recordings that are getting radio play and the fact that it's right here in our home town makes it a no brainer to me. We are just going to write as many good songs as we can and select what we and our fans think are the best tunes, and then track them. Then hopefully get some radio play! I have no idea what our target area for a release is but I can definitely see us in the studio within the next few months!

Can you describe the methodology you subscribe to when songwriting for our readers?

I generally write riffs by feel...I do NOT follow popular chord progressions! When it comes out of me, it comes out! I find that way a much more authentic way to write than just following formulas! Once I have a riff, then I start humming along vocals and find the right notes/changes and words start to pop in my head. I'll end up getting a couple of lines, then I get a feel of what the song is about, then it snowballs! The songs write themselves! It comes from somewhere...but I'm not exactly sure where THAT is.

Name your top 5 influences

To name just 5 would definitely be doing an injustice to many. My favourite front men are...Freddy Mercury, Rob Halford and Paul Stanley! As for guitar..I grew up playing a lot of Metallica and Ozzy! I'm also a huge fan of grunge! I like a filthy guitar sound that still retains clarity....it just has a dynamic or personality to it that I find captivating! It's like beauty meeting ferocity!

Describe, in brief detail, the ultimate setting for listening to your tunes.

I think the ultimate setting for our tunes would be around the camp fire while camping with close friends and family, drinking and reflecting on life. Star gazing together while getting a little messed up. Losing yourself in those moments and the songs...it's the ultimate environment! I've been there on countless occassions.

Find out more about Evelyn Falls at www.myspace.com/evelynfalls

Catch Evelyn Falls Friday March 28th at Clinton's Tavern (693 Bloor St. E.) in Toronto with Easy Way Out, Street 66 and ADA .

Venue Review: Shades of Green, Woodstock, On.

I'm not entirely sure where Shades of Green (453 Simcoe Street, Woodstock, On.) got their name from, but I'm almost positive that it either comes from an old Irish expression or it has something to do with the flesh tone on the faces of the, 4 or so, bar flies pounding back the suds, staring off into space and looking pathetically lonely all night long. The event that the venue was hosting was certainly a worthy cause and for this reason alone, I will try to describe this venue to you in the most diplomatic and flattering manner possible.

Most live music venues tend to dim their lights when it's time to listen to the music, not Shades of Green. Dimmers are expensive and besides, counting and comparing lip stains on your pint glass can provide patrons with endless fun while waiting between bands and shouts of random lunacy from the regulars. The staff was singular but friendly, the washrooms were oderous but well labeled and the pool tables were adequately level. The stage was neatly tucked away in the corner of the bar behind a necessary structural pillar and a dip in the ceiling. The sound booth, conveniently located on the stage at arms length distance, consisted of 4 imaginary walls that took up almost no space. This was a blessing since Easy Way Out barely fit on the stage what with the Neil Peart size drum kit that monopolized the majority of the real estate the carpeted riser had to offer. The sound mix was alright and provided Mark, our drummer, with the opportunity to attempt our set by memory since he couldn't hear anyone but himself. Needless to say, Mark shined the entire time. (For the record, Mark did love playing that gargantuan kit.) The vocals were at a decent volume and the generous echo allowed me to imagine what it might be like to perform our set from the other side of a giant electric fan.

All and all, if your goal is either to simply get loaded and the location is irrelevant... or you can't get served anywhere else because you're under age and your fake ID blows dogs for quarters, then Shades of Green is probably just perfect for you... so enjoy.

(NOTE: this post is meant as a humour driven satirical comentary on many pubs/taverns in small rural communities . It is clearly tongue in cheek and Easy Way Out thanks Shades of Green for the opportunity to play for their patrons. If this post upsets you in any manner, you seriously need to take a deep breath, put down the Labatt 50, readjust your tight jeans, straighten your mullet and calm the f' down..... I just described my uncles...)

EWO: Supporting the Cause

For a band with, seemingly no specific political or social agendas, Easy Way Out sure do support a lot of causes. In the past 4 months EWO have been busy booking unpaid gigs to help raise money and awareness for PeTA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), PAY (Physically Active Youth), the Will Play For Food Marathon (Helping the ElMocambo build a Soup Kitchen) and now a benefit for Devon Sweeney, a brave little guy who's been hit with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia a second time. This 11 year old boy also lost his mother to Cancer at a very young age and the kid continues to smile.

Devon with last year's Canadian Idol Brian Melo

So when Loretta Crotta, an organizer trying to raise money for Devon's treatments, asked Easy Way Out to drive out to Woodstock, On. to play the benefit, we jumped at the opportunity.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is described by wikipedia as malignant, immature white blood cells that continuously multiply and are overproduced in the bone marrow. ALL causes damage and death by crowding out normal cells in the bone marrow, and by spreading (metastasizing) to other organs. The statistics are uplifting though, as it has an 85% cure rate in children.

This event is something truly unlike the benefits we've supported in the past. First of all... it's way the hell out in Woodstock, On. so this should be exciting for a bunch of city boys to make this trip. Second, we're playing with a band called N/Ferno... Now, the long hair that plays rhythm guitar in this rock outfit has collected pledges for which he will be shaving his melon shiney! ... so has the organizer Loretta Crotta! The hair that they procure from chrome doming themselves is gonna be donated to an amazing organization called Angel Hair for Kids which takes donated hair and makes these incredible wigs for children who've lost theirs due to chemo and radiation treatments. We will also be playing with a band called Junipher Skies out of London, On.

Easy Way Out is very proud to be a part of this show and very much looking forward to entertaining Devon's supporters. Should you wish to make a donation or write a letter of encouragement for Devon please email easywayout@rogers.com and we'll forward your letter to Loretta Crotta.

The show is this Saturday March 15th at Shades of Green, 453 Simcoe Street, Woodstock, On. Doors open at 9:00.

Drugs, Alcohol & the Stage

For many many years I was under the mistaken impression that alcohol and weed amplified creativity. I don't think I was ever alone in such a deluded dream of a thought process. Perhaps there's a quarter ounce of truth in that loosening up a little will always allow you to act and react with a little more freedom. But once you pass that initial low level flight, a subtle floating inebriation, you risk crippling active creation, retarding reaction, impeding progression and just plain forgetting parts and playing like total horse shit. I've played and sung like complete ogre puke on stage... no joke... I've given performances that, quite frankly, blew dogs for quarters. Never again.

I know, I know, there are plenty of exceptions to the rule. Some musicians are simply cut from a bolt of cloth whereby performing under the influence has not only seemed to improve their already genius quality but also secured their throne in the kingdom of rock... yeah... I'm not that guy. If you're that guy, then I hope you enjoy a wonderful career long after you've died at the ripe age of 27 by overdose, heart attack, self inflicted gun shot wound to the face or choking on your own vomit. (Robert Johnson, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain)

Don't get me wrong. I am no advocate for straight edge living, nor am I a promoter of anti-intoxicant propaganda. Many of Easy Way Out's lyrics deal with contra-ban and hooch . These tales are certainly fueled by true events from our day to day lives. (I love beer... I mean I looooove beer) But there is a time and a place as well as a level of respect that must be subscribed to when feeding your mind these little slices of altered states. The older I get, the less likely will show and stage be the time and place. Every day ingestion is definitely no longer an option.

The truth is, I want our shows to maintain a long lasting impression with our audience. The most proficient method of achieving this is through a consistent structured rehearsal schedule and strong work ethic. This is my commitment to the craft.

But I'll still meet you after the show for five or six pints, I promise.

Step over to the Dub side... with Street 66

Street 66, one of my personal favorite Toronto acts has been on the scene since 2006. Crafting their own groove plated Dub-Raggae-Rock fusion, they've managed to develop a slick style that reminds me of a the Slackers, Sublime, then splatter that with a bit of hip hop here and there and tight pockets of jazz and soul.
Seeing Street 66 live is a trip. The lead vocalist and I imagine, main contributor, goes by the name of Step. A dredlocked archetype of charisma and melody, it almost seems as if he's something of a conductor guiding his rag tag band of indie misfits through the show until the final note is played. As an audience member you'll be mesmerized as Street 66 take you through tales of travel, love lost, booze binging and that sweet sweet sensemilia. I defy anyone to stand still during their set.

The album really translates their live show well. I was floored when after a show that my band, Easy Way Out, played with them, I realized they had left a stack of their albums out for anyone to just take home for free. I was on my way to buying one of these albums at full price when I found my free copy. The album, from beginning to end, is filled with consistent quality tracks that are very difficult to separate from one another. What I mean is that you can't just simply play one, you most definitely have to listen to hand full of tracks to be properly satisfied. Kinda kills the random setting on my IPod. But that is definitely a good thing.

The final note I want to make about Street 66 is about their professionalism. Finally a band that understands the importance of the show as a whole. Where the other acts on the show that night pretty much left after their set was done (and took their fans with them), Street 66 made it a point to sit through every act. Considering they we're on at 8:30, that's a fairly big commitment to supporting the event as a whole.

Having said that, Easy Way Out has begun a working relationship with Street 66 and looks forward to playing with them again and again.

You can catch Street 66 with Easy Way Out live at Clinton's Tavern Friday March 28, 2008. They'll be on at 12:00, so stick around for their set, this is an act you owe it to yourself to see.

Check out Street 66 online at www.myspace.com/street66music

Killer Toronto venues: Clinton's Tavern

In the heart of the Korean business district, in Toronto, On., stands a relatively underground haven for scenesters and Indie supporters of any genre. Clinton's Tavern, located at 693 Bloor Street West is by far one of my absolute favorite places to take the stage. A home away from home.

Easy Way Out has had both their EP release and their CD release there. It's comfortable, affordable and best of all, the sound is explosive.

Easy Way Out at their self titled EP release Nov. 2006.

If you were to walk through the front doors, you might think it was a portal to some kind of, turn of the century, chalet. A log cabin look that, I'm almost positive, has everything to do with the fact that they are Toronto's second oldest watering hole.

Clinton's front area is a magnificent dinning room, split into 2 sections and decorated with vintage booze signage. (it is a tavern after all) The menus are covered in vintage record albums, mostly tongue in cheek, like Lee Aaron, Dokken, Dio... and the like. The menu consists of your standard pub fare, peppered with popular cultural dishes from around the world. No kidding, the food is really, really good. They also have a great patio for the Spring, Summer and Fall Seasons.

Even Darth Vader and his entourage come to Clinton's Tavern.

After having a pint and a bite, you can head to the back room where cover ranges anywhere from $5-$10 depending on what the bands are charging that night. Note: the bands get to keep everything they make at the door. Once you have your stamp, you're in a big square room, capacity of 170 (but can easily fit 200), fitted with small tables, couches and mirrors on the wall. The sound booth is embedded into the back wall and doesn't interfere with the patrons' migrations throughout the night. When the bands begin, prepare to experience sound the way it was meant to be heard. (Seriously, one time I was listening to a band and I thought the song was making sweet love to my ear drums).

The head sound tech at Clinton's goes by the name of Fletch. I've met him many, many times and as far as I know, that's his only name. Fletch is legendary in Toronto, not just for the quality of sound he produced on the floor and on the stage, but because of his dedication to his craft. Trust in the sound tech is naturally imperative to coming off a show pleased with your performance and Fletch knows how to deliver. (if you play this venue and Brandon is there instead, you'll get the very same quality work, I'm actually a little suspicious that they are actually siamese twins joined at the talent).

I don't have a picture of Fletch: Sound Guy, so here's one of Fletch: Chevy Chase's character.

The bar staff is friendly, management is too and Clinton's Tavern, as a whole, is one of the most supportive venues in Toronto when it comes to Independent Music. If you're in toronto, do yourself a favour and check it out, play there or just grab a pint and watch the Leafs lose again.... oh they also host comedy and Improv there too. Check out Clinton's Tavern online.

Easy Way Out will be playing Clinton's Tavern on Friday March 28, 2008. EWO is hosting Windsor On. rock act: Evelyn Falls, Toronto Rock act: ADA and Toronto Ska/Rock act: Street 66.