- The Horribly Awfuls
The Horribly Awfuls are a cowpunk indie pop band from
Winnipeg ,Manitoba . In four years spanning 2002-2006, they made four full-length records and one EP which is yet to be released. Led by gifted songwriterGareth Williams , the Awfuls were arguably the most creative under-the-radar act in Winnipeg's diverse and talented music scene, noted for their loose and rough feel and for Gareth's sweet, witty and evocative lyrics.Band members changed from project to project, as did their roles in the band, contributing to the always fresh and spontaneous sound that became the Awfuls' calling card. However, the core of the band was made up of
Gareth Williams ,Tyler Shipley (also ofThe Consumer Goods ) andMatt McLennan (also ofCone Five .) No album ever took longer than one studio session to record, and the musicians often wrote their parts on the fly, following Gareth's lead.Ryan McVeigh , who produced four of their five records, was always credited as being part of the band, and his influence can be heard in most of their work, whether literally - his voice urging the band to 'persevere' - or through his unobtrusively sparkling production.The band was most noted for 2003's "We Fight Like the Crips and Bloods," which featured an ironic cover of Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' and a raucous lullabye for
Kofi Annan . It was called "a clever tongue in cheek romp... played by serious musicians whose talent always seems to shine through." [http://uptownmag.com/archive/feature/04mar11.htm 1] The same record was endorsed by award-winning authorMiriam Toews who mentioned the record in an interview withFlare Magazine . [http://www.flare.com/hype/asks/article.jsp?content=20050518_132641_6152&page=1 2]Though beginning with the
Conifera Records collective, Gareth later foundedGrumpy Cloud Records which became the vehicle of choice for all of Gareth's projects as well as those by close friends and collaboratorsTyler Shipley andMatt McLennan . The band is currently on hiatus, with Gareth having moved toCalgary ,Alberta , and focusing his efforts on a new project calledThe Pantymelters . However, there are still plans to release their final EP in 2007.Band Members
* Gareth Williams - vocals, guitars, electric drill, power naps, screams, stink organ, sex tambourine
* Matt McLennan - guitars, drums, vocals, bass
* Tyler Shipley - bass, guitars, vocals, keyboards, harmonica, piano
* Ryan McVeigh - production, vocals, fingersnaps,
* Andrew Workman - drums, keyboards, vocals
* Mat Klachefsky - organ, ukelele, vocals
* Kirstie MacLean - keyboards, vocals
* Robin Hillman - drums, tambourineGuest musicians included Chris Friesen, Breanna Duffill, Andrew McMillan, Andrew Donen, and Craig Mackie.
Discography
* 2006 - The Untimely Death of... (unreleased)
* 2005 - If the Night don't Bite? (Grumpy Cloud)
* 2004 - Le Perve Calamity (Conifera)
* 2003 - We Fight Like the Crips and Bloods (Conifera)
* 2003 - Spring Has Sprung (Grumpy Cloud)Links
* [http://www.myspace.com/thehorriblyawfuls The Horribly Awfuls]
* [http://www.grumpycloud.com Grumpy Cloud Records]
* [http://www.coniferarecords.com Conifera Records]
* [http://www.myspace.com/theconsumergoods The Consumer Goods]
* [http://www.myspace.com/mattmclennan Matt McLennan]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.