Elliott Brood
Encyclopedia
Elliott BROOD is a three-piece, alt-country band from Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, consisting of Mark Sasso on lead vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele, and harmonica, Casey Laforet on guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals, keys and ukulele and Stephen Pitkin on percussion, sampler and backing vocals. The band formerly billed its own style as "death country" but prefers the term "revival music" .
, and began playing as a band after moving to Toronto following high school. They played their first show in 2002 with two other musicians at Toronto club Holy Joes.
Although the two other musicians dropped out of the band's lineup after only a few shows, Sasso and Laforet continued as a duo, hooking up with producer Stephen Pitkin to record their first EP
, Tin Type
. Tin Type was recorded over two days in Mark Sasso's living room. The band called the recording space "The Orange Room" because it was painted orange.
The EP was released in January 2004 by weewerk Records, and came packaged in a brown paper bag containing a handmade photobook done in the style of the American Old West
.
Pitkin recorded and co-produced Tin Type, but did not officially become a band member until the band released its first LP
, Ambassador
, on Six Shooter Records
in 2005.
Ambassador was recorded in a former abattoir in the Toronto Public Stock Yards, which had been converted to a recording studio called Monumental Sound by Joe Dunphy. The album was named for the Ambassador Bridge
which connects Windsor with Detroit
.
The band released its second full length album, Mountain Meadows
, in 2008. Mountain Meadows was coproduced with John Critchley
at Green Door Studio in Toronto, where the album was also mixed. In keeping with the band's fondness for incorporating unique room tones within the recording, a number of locations across Canada were selected, including Healey Lake Lodge in MacTier, Wayne Town Hall in Wayne
, Mount Robson Lodge in Valemount
, and Halla Music in Toronto, as well as Casey Laforet's kitchen and Mark's garage. The album was shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize
.
Until June 2008, Pitkin's contribution to Elliott Brood was embellished by his use of a Samsonite "Silhouette" suitcase instead of a conventional bass drum. After pummeling through several cases at inopportune times, he decided to put the idea to rest. This came after a particularly destructive encore on a double bill with United Steel Workers of Montreal
at Le Divan Orange club in Montreal. The destroyed case from that show now resides as an art installation on the wall of the Moho Tavern in Peterborough
.
In 2010, the band wrote the score for Adriana Maggs' film Grown Up Movie Star
. Their song "West End Sky" garnered a Genie Award
nomination for Achievement in Music: Original Song
.
Paper Bag Records
became the band's new record label in June 2011, and released their new album Days Into Years
on September 27.
, Blue Rodeo
, The Black Crowes
, Corb Lund, Do Make Say Think
and The Sadies
. They also headlined the first "Wood, Wires, and Whisky" tour across Canada in fall 2007, with The Acorn
, Sunparlour Players
and Plants and Animals
. Elliott Brood has also played at the Olympic Village and Whistler for the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia.
Includes music videos (The Bridge, Second Son), Karaokee (Oh, Alberta),unreleased song "Gentle Temper" and tour footage from 2004 (Running time: 20 Minutes)
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, consisting of Mark Sasso on lead vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele, and harmonica, Casey Laforet on guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals, keys and ukulele and Stephen Pitkin on percussion, sampler and backing vocals. The band formerly billed its own style as "death country" but prefers the term "revival music" .
History
Members Mark Sasso and Casey Laforet grew up together in WindsorWindsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, and began playing as a band after moving to Toronto following high school. They played their first show in 2002 with two other musicians at Toronto club Holy Joes.
Although the two other musicians dropped out of the band's lineup after only a few shows, Sasso and Laforet continued as a duo, hooking up with producer Stephen Pitkin to record their first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Tin Type
Tin Type
Tin Type is the six-song debut EP from Toronto's alternative country group Elliott Brood. It was released in January 2004 on the independent music label Weewerk....
. Tin Type was recorded over two days in Mark Sasso's living room. The band called the recording space "The Orange Room" because it was painted orange.
The EP was released in January 2004 by weewerk Records, and came packaged in a brown paper bag containing a handmade photobook done in the style of the American Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
.
Pitkin recorded and co-produced Tin Type, but did not officially become a band member until the band released its first LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, Ambassador
Ambassador (album)
Ambassador is the title of the first full length album released by the Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood. It was released in October 2005 on the independent music label Six Shooter Records...
, on Six Shooter Records
Six Shooter Records
Six Shooter Records is an independent record label, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The music label was founded by Shauna de Cartier in 2000. Artists who have released material on the label include Jenn Grant, Amelia Curran, Elliott Brood, Luke Doucet, Christine Fellows, Ford Pier, Captain...
in 2005.
Ambassador was recorded in a former abattoir in the Toronto Public Stock Yards, which had been converted to a recording studio called Monumental Sound by Joe Dunphy. The album was named for the Ambassador Bridge
Ambassador Bridge
The Ambassador Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, in the United States, with Windsor, Ontario, in Canada. It is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume: more than 25 percent of all merchandise trade between the United States...
which connects Windsor with Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
The band released its second full length album, Mountain Meadows
Mountain Meadows (album)
Mountain Meadows is the title of the second full length album released by the Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood, released June 24, 2008 on Six Shooter Records...
, in 2008. Mountain Meadows was coproduced with John Critchley
13 Engines
13 Engines was a Canadian alternative rock band active in the 1990s.Formed in 1985 as The Ikons, the band consisted of four York University students—vocalist John Critchley, guitarist Mike Robbins, bassist Jim Hughes and drummer Grant Ethier. They released a self-titled independent cassette in 1986...
at Green Door Studio in Toronto, where the album was also mixed. In keeping with the band's fondness for incorporating unique room tones within the recording, a number of locations across Canada were selected, including Healey Lake Lodge in MacTier, Wayne Town Hall in Wayne
Wayne, Alberta
Wayne was an unincorporated community in southern Alberta in Wheatland County, located south of Rosedale on Highway 10X, northeast of Calgary. It is now administered by the town of Drumheller....
, Mount Robson Lodge in Valemount
Valemount, British Columbia
Valemount is a village of 1,018 people in east central British Columbia, Canada. It is situated between the Rocky, Monashee, and Cariboo Mountains. It is the nearest community to the west of Jasper National Park, and is also the nearest community to Mount Robson Provincial Park, which features...
, and Halla Music in Toronto, as well as Casey Laforet's kitchen and Mark's garage. The album was shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize
2009 Polaris Music Prize
The 2009 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 21, 2009 in Toronto at the Masonic Temple and broadcast live online for the first time in its short history...
.
Until June 2008, Pitkin's contribution to Elliott Brood was embellished by his use of a Samsonite "Silhouette" suitcase instead of a conventional bass drum. After pummeling through several cases at inopportune times, he decided to put the idea to rest. This came after a particularly destructive encore on a double bill with United Steel Workers of Montreal
United Steel Workers of Montreal
United Steel Workers of Montreal are a six-piece alternative country ensemble based in downtown Montreal. At present, the band consists of Gern F , Felicity Hamer , Sean "Gus" Beauchamp , Matt Watson , Flipper Frumignac and Dylan Perron...
at Le Divan Orange club in Montreal. The destroyed case from that show now resides as an art installation on the wall of the Moho Tavern in Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
.
In 2010, the band wrote the score for Adriana Maggs' film Grown Up Movie Star
Grown Up Movie Star
Grown Up Movie Star is a 2010 Canadian drama film written, directed and co-produced by Adriana Maggs. Shawn Doyle, Jill Knox Gosse and Paul Pope are the other co-producers. The film was produced by Pope Productions and distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media...
. Their song "West End Sky" garnered a Genie Award
Genie Award
Genie Awards are given out to recognize the best of Canadian cinema by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. From 1949-1979, the awards were named the Canadian Film Awards...
nomination for Achievement in Music: Original Song
Genie Award for Best Achievement in Music - Original Song
The Genie Award for Best Achievement in Music is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian original song.-17th Genie Awards:* Michael Turner, Swamp Baby, Peter J...
.
Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label and artist-management company, founded in 2002 and based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:...
became the band's new record label in June 2011, and released their new album Days Into Years
Days Into Years
Days Into Years is the third full-length album by Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood, released September 27, 2011 on Paper Bag Records....
on September 27.
Tours
Elliott BROOD has toured extensively throughout Canada as well as internationally. They have opened for acts including WilcoWilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
, Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
, The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
, Corb Lund, Do Make Say Think
Do Make Say Think
Do Make Say Think is a Canadian instrumental post-rock band from Toronto, Ontario. Their music combines jazz style drums, distorted guitars and wind instruments, as well as a prominent use of the bass guitar.-Biography:...
and The Sadies
The Sadies
The Sadies are a Canadian indie rock and alternative country band from Toronto, Ontario.-Background:The band consists of Dallas Good , Travis Good, Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky...
. They also headlined the first "Wood, Wires, and Whisky" tour across Canada in fall 2007, with The Acorn
The Acorn
The Acorn is a Canadian indie folk band from Ottawa, Ontario, formed in 2003. Their songs have charted on Canadian campus charts and have been in rotation on CBC Radio 3 and The Verge....
, Sunparlour Players
Sunparlour Players
Sunparlour Players are a Canadian alternative/folk rock band. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the band consists of Andrew Penner on lead vocals, guitar, bass, banjo, organ pedal, and kick drum, Dennis Van Dine on bass, keyboard, clarinet, banjo, glockenspiel, percussion and backing vocals, and Michael...
and Plants and Animals
Plants and Animals
Plants and Animals are a Canadian indie-rock band from Montreal which comprises guitarist-vocalists Warren Spicer and Nic Basque and drummer-vocalist Matthew Woody Woodley. They often describe their music as post-classic rock. They are signed to Secret City Records...
. Elliott Brood has also played at the Olympic Village and Whistler for the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia.
Albums and EPs
- 2004: Tin TypeTin TypeTin Type is the six-song debut EP from Toronto's alternative country group Elliott Brood. It was released in January 2004 on the independent music label Weewerk....
- 2005: AmbassadorAmbassador (album)Ambassador is the title of the first full length album released by the Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood. It was released in October 2005 on the independent music label Six Shooter Records...
- 2008: Mountain MeadowsMountain Meadows (album)Mountain Meadows is the title of the second full length album released by the Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood, released June 24, 2008 on Six Shooter Records...
- 2011: Days Into YearsDays Into YearsDays Into Years is the third full-length album by Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood, released September 27, 2011 on Paper Bag Records....
Videos
- 2004: "Cadillac Dust" – Tin Type
- 2005: "Second Son" – Ambassador
- 2005: "Only at Home" – Tin Type
- 2005: "The Bridge" – Ambassador
- 2008: "Oh, Alberta" - Tin Type
- 2008: "Fingers and Tongues" - Mountain Meadows
DVD
- 2007: Backwood Sessions
Includes music videos (The Bridge, Second Son), Karaokee (Oh, Alberta),unreleased song "Gentle Temper" and tour footage from 2004 (Running time: 20 Minutes)
Nominations
- 2006: AmbassadorAmbassador (album)Ambassador is the title of the first full length album released by the Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood. It was released in October 2005 on the independent music label Six Shooter Records...
– 2006 Juno AwardsJuno Awards of 2006The Juno Awards of 2006 were held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on the weekend of 31 March to 2 April 2006. These ceremonies honour music industry achievements in Canada during the previous year....
– Roots & Traditional Album Of The Year: GroupJuno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year - GroupThe Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year - Group is presented annually at Canada's Juno Awards to honour the best album of the year in the roots and/or traditional music genres... - 2009: Mountain MeadowsMountain Meadows (album)Mountain Meadows is the title of the second full length album released by the Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood, released June 24, 2008 on Six Shooter Records...
– 2009 Juno AwardsJuno Awards of 2009The Juno Awards of 2009 honoured music industry achievements in Canada in the latter part of 2007 and in most of 2008. These ceremonies were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada during the weekend ending 29 March 2009....
– Roots & Traditional Album Of The Year: GroupJuno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year - GroupThe Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year - Group is presented annually at Canada's Juno Awards to honour the best album of the year in the roots and/or traditional music genres... - 2009: Mountain MeadowsMountain Meadows (album)Mountain Meadows is the title of the second full length album released by the Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood, released June 24, 2008 on Six Shooter Records...
– 2009 Juno AwardsJuno Awards of 2009The Juno Awards of 2009 honoured music industry achievements in Canada in the latter part of 2007 and in most of 2008. These ceremonies were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada during the weekend ending 29 March 2009....
– Juno Award for Design and ArtworkJuno Award for CD/DVD Artwork Design of the YearThe Juno Award for "CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year" has been awarded since 1975, as recognition each year for the best album art for a music recording in Canada... - 2009: Mountain MeadowsMountain Meadows (album)Mountain Meadows is the title of the second full length album released by the Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood, released June 24, 2008 on Six Shooter Records...
– 2009 Polaris Music Prize2009 Polaris Music PrizeThe 2009 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 21, 2009 in Toronto at the Masonic Temple and broadcast live online for the first time in its short history... - 2011: "West End Sky" - Genie Award for Best Achievement in Music - Original SongGenie Award for Best Achievement in Music - Original SongThe Genie Award for Best Achievement in Music is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian original song.-17th Genie Awards:* Michael Turner, Swamp Baby, Peter J...
Mark Sasso
- Guitar: Gibson L-00 Acoustic
- Banjo: Wildwood Open Back with the 5th string and its tuner removed
- Ukulele: Oscar Schmidt
- Harmonica
Casey Laforet
- Guitar: Gibson LG0 painted picture of Chief Joseph on backside of guitar
- Bass Pedals: Roland PK-5 into MIDI sampler: Roland SP404
- Ukulele: Oscar Schmidt
- Distortion Pedal: Boss MT-2 Metal Zone
Stephen Pitkin
- Drums: Unknown
- Suitcase kickdrum: Samsonite (no longer uses suitcases)
- Other Percussion: Old toaster (The Valley Town)
- Piano: Only in studio (example: Woodward Ave.)
External links
- Elliott Brood
- Elliott Brood on Six Shooter RecordsSix Shooter RecordsSix Shooter Records is an independent record label, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The music label was founded by Shauna de Cartier in 2000. Artists who have released material on the label include Jenn Grant, Amelia Curran, Elliott Brood, Luke Doucet, Christine Fellows, Ford Pier, Captain...