Woodpigeon (band)
Encyclopedia
Woodpigeon are an independent rock
band from Calgary
, Alberta
, consisting of eight core members: Mark Hamilton (vocals, guitar), Kenna Burima (piano, vocals), Michael Gratton (bass), Annalea Sordi (accordion, flute, vocals), Daren Powell (drums), Peter Moersch (electric guitar, vocals), Foon Yap (violin), AJ Benoit (vocals). To date, the band have released three studio albums, and a number of EPs to critical acclaim.
When asked about the band's name, Mark Hamilton explains: "I've always been in love with the word Woodpigeon for as long as I can remember. When you write it in cursive, it looks like a rollercoaster".
The band's sound has been compared to Sufjan Stevens
, Grizzly Bear
, Camera Obscura
, Simon & Garfunkel, and Belle & Sebastian
, amongst others. Band leader Mark Hamilton's main lyrical influence is The Kinks
.
, Scotland. At this time, the band was named Woodpigeon Divided By Antelope Equals Squirrel, and consisted of Hamilton alongside Steve Kaye and Malcolm Benzie (who went on to form Edinburgh slowcore band eagleowl
). Hamilton states that he "was far too scared to ever sing, so all we ever played was a couple of stupid instrumentals and our only “performance” was in the streets of Edinburgh." Eventually, Hamilton returned to Canada, and started afresh, with the shortened band name, Woodpigeon. Other band members fell in place, with Hamilton noting that: "the way it came together was simple: friends started hearing my songs and offering their services."
The band's first full-length album, entitled Songbook
, was released in late 2006. Following its release, the band opened for Broken Social Scene
, Iron and Wine, Grizzly Bear
, Calexico and The Dears
. With their popularity growing, Woodpigeon toured the UK, Ireland, and Germany in 2008. Most recently, at the beginning of October they performed a pair of "Homecoming" shows in Calgary and Edmonton alongside Iron and Wine.
The band self-released an album, entitled Treasury Library Canada
, in early August 2008, selling all 1000 hand-folded copies within a few weeks. The band also re-released their debut album Songbook in the UK on September 29, 2008. Treasury Library Canada was officially released in February 2009.
The band's third album, entitled Die Stadt Muzikanten
, was released on January 12, 2010, with Hamilton stating that it is "simultaneously a lot bigger, and a lot smaller. There’s definitely some big surprises on it." The Boompa release of the album was accompanied with a bonus EP titled BALLADEER/to all the guys i've loved before.
In an interview with Xtra!
in early 2010, Hamilton spoke in part about how his identity as a gay man influences his songwriting.
In 2011, Hamilton participated in the National Parks Project
, collaborating with musicians Laura Barrett
and Cadence Weapon
and filmmaker Peter Lynch
to produce and score a short film about Alberta's Waterton Lakes National Park
.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, consisting of eight core members: Mark Hamilton (vocals, guitar), Kenna Burima (piano, vocals), Michael Gratton (bass), Annalea Sordi (accordion, flute, vocals), Daren Powell (drums), Peter Moersch (electric guitar, vocals), Foon Yap (violin), AJ Benoit (vocals). To date, the band have released three studio albums, and a number of EPs to critical acclaim.
When asked about the band's name, Mark Hamilton explains: "I've always been in love with the word Woodpigeon for as long as I can remember. When you write it in cursive, it looks like a rollercoaster".
The band's sound has been compared to Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
, Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear (band)
Grizzly Bear is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, composed of Edward Droste , Daniel Rossen , Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear . The band employs traditional and electronic instruments...
, Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura (band)
Camera Obscura are an indie pop band from Glasgow, Scotland. The band formed in 1996 and have released four albums to date.-History:Camera Obscura were formed in 1996 by Tracyanne Campbell, John Henderson, and Gavin Dunbar. Several other members performed with the band before David Skirving joined...
, Simon & Garfunkel, and Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie bands such as The Smiths, as well as classic acts such as Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1965...
, amongst others. Band leader Mark Hamilton's main lyrical influence is The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
.
Career
Woodpigeon's origins are found with primary song-writer Mark Hamilton writing songs in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland. At this time, the band was named Woodpigeon Divided By Antelope Equals Squirrel, and consisted of Hamilton alongside Steve Kaye and Malcolm Benzie (who went on to form Edinburgh slowcore band eagleowl
Eagleowl
Eagleowl are a lo-fi, post-folk band from Edinburgh, Scotland.-History:Eagleowl are Bartholomew Owl , Clarissa Cheong , Malcolm Benzie and Rob St John .The Scotsman, in a 2009 interview, described the band as "the soundtrack to the saddest, most beautiful art-house film...
). Hamilton states that he "was far too scared to ever sing, so all we ever played was a couple of stupid instrumentals and our only “performance” was in the streets of Edinburgh." Eventually, Hamilton returned to Canada, and started afresh, with the shortened band name, Woodpigeon. Other band members fell in place, with Hamilton noting that: "the way it came together was simple: friends started hearing my songs and offering their services."
The band's first full-length album, entitled Songbook
Songbook (Woodpigeon album)
Songbook is the debut studio album by Canadian indie rock band Woodpigeon, originally released in 2006.Vocalist/guitarist Mark Hamilton states that the album: is a diary set to music of my return to Canada, told in flashback after the introduction of "Home as a Romanticized Concept Where Everyone...
, was released in late 2006. Following its release, the band opened for Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
, Iron and Wine, Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear (band)
Grizzly Bear is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, composed of Edward Droste , Daniel Rossen , Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear . The band employs traditional and electronic instruments...
, Calexico and The Dears
The Dears
-History:The band formed in 1995 and released their first album, End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story, in 2000. Their orchestral, dark pop sound and dramatic live shows cemented The Dears at the foundation of the then-emerging Canadian indie renaissance...
. With their popularity growing, Woodpigeon toured the UK, Ireland, and Germany in 2008. Most recently, at the beginning of October they performed a pair of "Homecoming" shows in Calgary and Edmonton alongside Iron and Wine.
The band self-released an album, entitled Treasury Library Canada
Treasury Library Canada
Treasury Library Canada is the second studio album by Canadian indie rock band Woodpigeon, self-released by the band in 2008, and later officially released in February 2009. The band initially noted that it was: really only intended it as a between-album-album to tide things over on the upcoming UK...
, in early August 2008, selling all 1000 hand-folded copies within a few weeks. The band also re-released their debut album Songbook in the UK on September 29, 2008. Treasury Library Canada was officially released in February 2009.
The band's third album, entitled Die Stadt Muzikanten
Die Stadt Muzikanten
Die Stadt Muzikanten is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock band Woodpigeon, officially released on January 12, 2010. The album was released by Boompa in Canada, and is accompanied by a bonus EP, titled BALLADEER/to all the guys i've loved before....
, was released on January 12, 2010, with Hamilton stating that it is "simultaneously a lot bigger, and a lot smaller. There’s definitely some big surprises on it." The Boompa release of the album was accompanied with a bonus EP titled BALLADEER/to all the guys i've loved before.
In an interview with Xtra!
Xtra!
Xtra! is a gay magazine, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History and content :...
in early 2010, Hamilton spoke in part about how his identity as a gay man influences his songwriting.
In 2011, Hamilton participated in the National Parks Project
National Parks Project
The National Parks Project is a Canadian music and film project. Released in 2011 to mark the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Parks of Canada system, the project sent three Canadian musicians and a filmmaker to each of 13 Canadian national parks, one in each province and...
, collaborating with musicians Laura Barrett
Laura Barrett
Laura Barrett is a Canadian indie pop singer-songwriter, best known for incorporating the kalimba into her music. In addition to her solo work, Barrett has also performed as a member of The Hidden Cameras, Henri Fabergé and the Adorables, Woodhands and Sheezer....
and Cadence Weapon
Cadence Weapon
Cadence Weapon is the stage name of Rollie Pemberton, a Canadian rapper.-Biography:Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, his father was Teddy Pemberton, a pioneering hip hop DJ on CJSR-FM, and his grandfather was Rollie Miles, a football player for the Edmonton Eskimos...
and filmmaker Peter Lynch
Peter Lynch (director)
Peter Lynch is an Canadian filmmaker, the director and writer of Project Grizzly and Cyberman.Lynch won a Genie Award for his short film Arrowhead, starring Don McKellar.He attended York University in Toronto, Canada.-Early life:...
to produce and score a short film about Alberta's Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park is a national park located in the southwest corner of Alberta, Canada, and borders Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Waterton was Canada's fourth national park, formed in 1895 and named after Waterton Lake, in turn after the Victorian naturalist and conservationist...
.
Albums
- SongbookSongbook (Woodpigeon album)Songbook is the debut studio album by Canadian indie rock band Woodpigeon, originally released in 2006.Vocalist/guitarist Mark Hamilton states that the album: is a diary set to music of my return to Canada, told in flashback after the introduction of "Home as a Romanticized Concept Where Everyone...
(2006) - Treasury Library CanadaTreasury Library CanadaTreasury Library Canada is the second studio album by Canadian indie rock band Woodpigeon, self-released by the band in 2008, and later officially released in February 2009. The band initially noted that it was: really only intended it as a between-album-album to tide things over on the upcoming UK...
(2008) - Die Stadt MuzikantenDie Stadt MuzikantenDie Stadt Muzikanten is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock band Woodpigeon, officially released on January 12, 2010. The album was released by Boompa in Canada, and is accompanied by a bonus EP, titled BALLADEER/to all the guys i've loved before....
(2010) - Balladeer: To All the Guys I've Loved Before (2010)
- Fra Le Nuvole (2011)
EPs
- Sketchbook (2005)
- Pigeonbooth: Volume the First (2005)
- Snow Shovel (2005)
- ...A Given (2006)
- Houndstooth (2007)
- Chorus of Wolves (2008)
- La Commission Scolaire (2009)
Singles
- "Death by a Ninja (a Love Song)" (2006)
- "That Was Good But You Can Do Better" (2008)