The Stogies

Every now and then a band comes along, unwilling to accept the notion that Rock N' Roll is dead. It may be dormant or slowly evolving but The Stogies are here to wake that beast up and shake it by its burly beard. Long hours spent in a hazy, rural Nova Scotian shed listening to Zeppelin, the Stones, the Black Crowes and even the White Stripes have fuelled their penchant for creating genuine rock n' roll, chock-full of loud guitars, thunderous drums and wailing vocals. After recording a few demos and auditioning drummers in 2010; Blake Johnston (vocals/guitar), Dave Driscoll (guitar/vocals), Sean Carver (bass) and newly recruited, Dave Lidstone (drums) played as many shows around Nova Scotia as they could. One of these included, Riverfest where they were awarded the People's Choice Award for best band at the festival as they left the parking lot. The boys were soon spotted at New Music Tuesdays at the Seahorse Tavern by Troy Arseneault who offered to produce an EP for them with co-producer/ mixing engineer, Mike MacDougall and engineer Brad Stevens. The band then spent most of 2011 recording at Fortress Studios and touring the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario. Their debut EP "No Couth, No Class, No Nothin" was released in August 2011, supported by the release of their first single “Any Old Friends” and a maritime and Ontario release tour leading up to a showcase at Molson Canadian Nova Scotia Music week 2011. “I wish every artist in Canada were as remotely talented, hip, clever and succinct as the Stogies. This is rock and roll the way it should STILL be played” Cashbox Canada Magazine “No Couth No Class No Nothin’ is an album that belongs in everyone’s collection.” Noisography.com While making use of the winter months to write more music, The Stogies expanded their roster adding young NSCC Music graduate, Jason Keddy on piano and organ. The band kick started 2012 with the new lineup and new material, headlining their first sold out show at The Seahorse Tavern. Relentless touring followed in the spring and summer months including an Eastern Canadian Tour and slots at multiple Canadian festivals such as the acoustic Suitecase at the 2012 ECMA's in Moncton NB, Come Together Music Festival 2012 in Durham ON, Q104 Keith's Natal Day Festival in Halifax, NS and Toronto's biggest summer music festival, North By Northeast 2012. Most recently, The Stogies won the Road to Indie Week battle series for the east coast, gaining them some cash and a headlining slot at the East Coast Showcase at Indie Week in Toronto. They went on to place 2nd overall among 9 other finalists at the Tattoo Rock Parlour. In addition, the boys have managed to secure supporting slots for some nationally recognized acts such as The Stanfields, Wintersleep, The Mahones, The Mudmen, Steven Page, Carmen Townsend and Gloryhound. "They were smoking onstage in a psychedelic, Wolfmother-ish kind of way. A good start to the weekend!" - Gilles Leblanc -Musicemissions.com - NXNE Review “With thick-cut slabs of guitar and a 70’s Motor City vibe, the Stogies may have had some wondering if Grand Funk Railroad had commandeered a time machine to appear on the harbourside stage. – Stephen Cooke – The Chronicle Herald The Stogies are now in the studio at the Heartbreak Hotel recording their follow up to “No Couth, No Class, No Nothin”. The new album should be available early 2014 and will be supported by a Canadian tour. It's only rock n' roll