- Two Hours Traffic
Infobox musical artist
Name = Two Hours Traffic
Img_capt = Two Hours Traffic performing at the 2007 NXNE festival
Img_size =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Charlottetown,Prince Edward Island ,Canada
Genre =Indie rock Power pop
Years_active = 2000–present
Label = MapleMusic
Bumstead
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.twohourstraffic.com twohourstraffic.com]
Current_members = Liam Corcoran
Alec O'Hanley
Andrew MacDonald
Derek Ellis
Past_members =Two Hours Traffic is a Canadian
indie rock band, based in Charlottetown,Prince Edward Island . They are named after a line in the prologue toShakespeare ’s "Romeo and Juliet ". Although often described as the band that Halifax guitaristJoel Plaskett took "under his wing",cite news|last =Borzykowski|first =Bryan|title=Two Hours Traffic|publisher ="NOW"|date=2007-07-19 |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?vis=2077&cid=159131&tm=default|accessdate =2007-08-21] they have increasingly become known as purveyors of original, well-craftedpower pop songs.cite news|last=Whibbs|first=Chris|title =The chemistry of Two Hours Traffic|publisher="Exclaim! "|date=2007-08|url=http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid2=4&fid1=26883&csid1=113|accessdate=2007-08-21] Critics draw comparisons to 1970s power pop band Big Star, but the band members tend to citeNick Lowe as a prime influence. [cite news | last =Langlois | first =Jill | title =Two Hours Traffic get schooled in the art of pop by an expert faculty from Joel Plaskett to Nick Lowe | publisher = "Eye Weekly "| date =2007-07-19 | url =http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_07.19.07/music/lead.php | accessdate =2007-08-21]History
Founded by Liam Corcoran (lead vocals and guitar), and Alec O'Hanley (guitar, keyboards and vocals), the group added bassist Andrew MacDonald and drummer Derek Ellis to its roster in 2002 after meeting while attending the
University of Prince Edward Island . While all were age 19, the quartet recorded a demo titled "The April Storm ". After handing a copy of the EP to Canadian musicianJoel Plaskett at one of his Charlottetown performances, a collaborative relationship formed. [cite news|last=Despres|first=Shawn|title=Two Hours Traffic use chemistry to their advantage|publisher ="Chart"|date=2005-06-07 |url=http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2005/06/0708.cfm|doi=|accessdate =2007-08-14] In 2005 the band released their full-length album simply titled "Two Hours Traffic", which saw them work directly with Plaskett, who produced the album and added guitar tracks to two songs (3 and 10). Plaskett's sister, Anna Plaskett, also played French horn on two of the album's tracks (7 and 12).The group has performed and toured with various East Coast artists such as Plaskett himself,
In-Flight Safety , andWintersleep . The self-titled album was recognized with the group's first nomination at the 2006East Coast Music Awards , for Rock Recording of the Year. Their videos "Better Sorry than Safe", "Stuck for the Summer" and "Jezebel" have been in rotation onMuchMusic . [cite news| last =Cole| first =Sally| title =Road stories| publisher ="Charlottetown Guardian "| date =2007-10-12| url =http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=70451&sc=102| accessdate =2007-12-24 ] The group released a six-song EP entitled "Isolator" onSeptember 26 ,2006 . "Isolator" was also produced by Joel Plaskett. It was nominated for Alternative Recording of the Year at the 2007 East Coast Music Awards.Their second full-length album, "
Little Jabs ", produced by Joel Plaskett, was released onBumstead Records in July 2007. Documentary film directorRon Mann directed the video for "Jezebel", Mann's first foray into music videos. [cite news | last =Langlois | first =Jill | title =Two Hours Traffic get schooled in the art of pop by an expert faculty from Joel Plaskett to Nick Lowe | publisher = "Eye Weekly "| date =2007-07-19 | url =http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_07.19.07/music/lead.php | accessdate =2007-07-24] "Little Jabs" has led to the band's most chart success to date, reaching the top ten of "Chart" magazine's Canadian College Radio Top 50 Chart. [cite web| title =Top 50 albums from Canadian Campus/Community Radio Airplay| publisher ="Chart"| date =2007-08-10 | url =http://www.chartattack.com/charts/college/old50/aug2007/10.txt| doi =| accessdate =2007-08-14]The band won Group of the Year and Alternative Rock Recording of the Year at the 2007 Music P.E.I. Awards. [cite news| last =Cole| first =Sally| title =Five awards a real charm for Bear River musician| publisher ="
Charlottetown Guardian "| date =2007-11-12| url =http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=79429&sc=98| accessdate =2007-12-24 ]Their songs have also garnered some airplay on several American television shows, including "
Gossip Girl ", "The Secret Life of the American Teenager " and "One Tree Hill".On July 7, 2008, "Little Jabs" was nominated to the shortlist for the
Polaris Music Prize .Discography
* 2003: "
The April Storm " (EP)
* 2005: "Two Hours Traffic"
* 2006: "Isolator" (EP)
* 2007: "Little Jabs "Members
References
External links
* [http://www.twohourstraffic.com Two Hours Traffic Homepage]
* [http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/tht/default.asp Two Hours Traffic at Maple Music]
* [http://www.myspace.com/twohourstraffic Two Hours Traffic MySpace]
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