Holy Fuck

Infobox musical artist
Name = Holy Fuck

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Img_capt = Holy Fuck performing at White Heat in 2007
Img_size =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre = Electronica
Experimental rock
Math rock
Progressive rock
Post-rock
Years_active = 2004–present
Label = Dependent, Young Turks
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.holyfuckmusic.com/ www.holyfuckmusic.com]
Current_members = Brian Borcherdt
Graham Walsh
Matt McQuaid
Matt Schulz
Loel Campbell
Past_members = Kevin Lynn
Mike Bigelow
Glenn Milchem

Holy Fuck is an experimental rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Dependent Music, a music label and artist collective that began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994. [Hakimzadeh, Dara. [http://www.truthexplosion.com/live/interviews/interviews.php?id=92 "Holy Fuck Interview"] , "Truth Explosion Magazine", March 12, 2006.]

The band uses live instrumentation and miscellaneous instruments and non-instruments (including a 35 mm film synchronizer, toy keyboards and toy phaser guns) to achieve electronic-sounding effects without the use of laptops or programmed backing tracks. [Currin, Grayson. [http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A30321 "Holy Fuck So Good"] "Raleigh-Durham Independent Weekly", April 12, 2006.] According to Pitchfork Media, "The band was formed with the intent of creating the equivalent of modern electronic music without actually using the techniques—looping, splicing, programming and the like—of that music." [Tangari, Joe. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18656-holy-fuck "Holy Fuck, Holy Fuck"] , (review) Pitchfork Media, January 13, 2006.]

History

Since their formation in 2004, Holy Fuck have performed at Coachella (supporting Brooklyn rapper Beans who recruited the band to serve as his backing unit), the CMJ Music Marathon, POP Montreal, the Montreal Jazz Festival, All Tomorrow’s Parties, Vegoose, Evolve Festival, Lollapalooza, Osheaga Festival, and the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In the summer of 2007, Holy Fuck performed at the Glastonbury Festival, one of the largest music festivals in the world, where they were named the #3 top new act at the festival by "NME" magazine. They also performed at Lollapalooza in 2008, replacing Noah and the Whale. Their music can also be frequently heard in the 4th season of the Canadian comedy television series "Kenny vs. Spenny".

Their debut album, "Holy Fuck", recorded with Laurence Currie and Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, Apostle of Hustle), was named one of the "Montreal Mirror"'s top ten albums of 2005.

Holy Fuck have toured the United States with Wolf Parade, !!!, Mouse on Mars, Cornelius, and Do Make Say Think. They went on a European tour with Buck 65 in early 2006.

In January 2006 they were named one of ten finalists for the $3,000 Galaxie Rising Stars Award of the CBC, part of Canadian Music Week's Indie Awards held in March. [Villeneuve, Phil. [http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2006/01/1903.cfm "Canada's 10 Best Independent Albums"] "Chart", January 19, 2006.]

The band released their second album, entitled "LP", in 2007. The album was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year at the 2008 Juno Awards.

Holy Fuck's second album, "LP", was named to the shortlist of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize.

In 2008 Holy Fuck added a cover version of "Nude" by Radiohead to Radiohead's remix website, where internet users could vote for the best remix. They also toured venues in North America with M.I.A. in 2007 and 2008.

In August 2008, the "Ottawa Citizen" and others reported that the ruling federal Conservatives had issued a talking points memo regarding the cancellation of the PromArt program, funding international promotional tours by Canadian artists. The memo justified the cancellation on the grounds that its recipients included, among other notables, "a rock band that uses an expletive as part of its name", apparently referring to Holy Fuck. [ [http://www.friends.ca/News/Friends_News/archives/articles08270805.asp PM defends Tory track record on arts] , David Akin and Juliet O'Neill, "Ottawa Citizen", August 27, 2008. Republished on the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting website.] The band took offense at this suggestion. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2008/08/12/tory-cuts.html Don't blame us for Tory arts cuts says Toronto band] , CBC News, August 12, 2008]

Brian Borcherdt will take time away from the band to support his next solo album, Coyotes, which will be released on October 7, 2008. [ [http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=125&csid2=844&fid1=33747 Brian Borcherdt Steps Away From Holy Fuck For New Solo Album] Thiessen, Brock, "Exclaim!", September 25, 2008. ]

Holy Fuck are currently on tour with the Oxford-based band Foals.

Band members

Current

*Brian Borcherdt – keyboards, effects
*Graham Walsh – keyboards, effects
*Matt McQuaid – bass
*Matt Schulz – drums
*Brad Kilpatrick – drums

Former

*Kevin Lynn – bass
*Mike Bigelow – bass
*Loel Campbell – drumsGlenn Milchem - drums

Discography

Albums

* "Holy Fuck" (2005)
* "LP" (2007)

EPs & Singles

* "Holy Fuck EP" (2007)
*"Lovely Allen" (2008)

References

External links

* [http://holyfuckmusic.com/ Holy Fuck] official website
*
* [http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/hlf/default.asp Holy Fuck] at MapleMusic Recordings
* [http://www.culturedeluxe.com/news_item.asp?id=3871 Interview] with Culturedeluxe Magazine, 1st April 2008
* [http://www.formatmag.com/features/holy-fuck/ Interview] with Format Magazine, Issue 45 [The Canada Issue]
* [http://larecord.com/interviews/2008/06/12/holy-fuck-now-destined-for-the-trash/ July 2008 Interview] with L.A. Record