Artist description Guitar-driven, melody-based pop music with a tip of the hat towards an inescapable roots influence.

Music Style Pop Rock/Roots Rock

Musical Influences Doughboys, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Husker Du, Son Volt

Similar Artists Doughboys, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Husker Du, Son Volt

Artist History Since forming in Calgary in 1997, Thousandsticks has become one of Alberta’s most solid and well-respected roots-rock bands.Its blend of driving guitar and blasting keyboard melody anchored by a muscular bass and drums rhythm section is as impressive and rich sounding live as it is recorded.Thousandsticks began, simply enough, as a creative outlet for vocalist and guitarist James Hayden. His prolific songwriting had been piling up since the demise of local power pop band Fire Engine Red in early ’97.Bassist Steve Elaschuk – who also played in Fire Engine Red - and drummer Edward Tiegs joined Hayden and set out to create a brand of pop music not unlike their former band. The result was guitar-laden, melody-based pop music with a tip of the hat towards an inescapable roots influence. Although James had often sung backup while drumming in Fire Engine Red and with singer/songwriter Tariq, he found it to be a whole different story handling lead vocals and playing guitar. After participating in several acoustic jams at coffee shops and pubs around town, James found he was more at ease fronting Thousandsticks.By May of 1998, the band had recorded a total of 7 songs on an 8-track reel-to-reel recorder in the basement of Calgary producer Marc Schroeder's house on the usual indie band shoestring budget. Later that year, the band released a demo CD, which received good airplay on a few local radio stations and nationally on CBC’s Radio Sonic hosted by David Wisdom. Expectations, one of the more country-tinged songs from that EP, was a finalist in rock station CJAY 92’s annual songwriting competition in 1999.During those recording sessions, the band added guitarist Lyle Crilly to the line up. Having played guitar in such British pop-inspired bands as Brass and Lemonjade, Crilly brought a subtle pop sensibility to the band, which added a smooth consistency to the rough-edged sound of the developing trio. In early 1999 Ed stopped showing up for rehearsals and Thousandsticks – named after the small Kentucky town where James’ mother was born – recruited Jonathan Hayden (no relation) of the band Massive Ferguson.And the band played on. Recently, Thousandsticks welcomed multi-talented singer-songwriter and keyboardist extraordinaire Lorrie Matheson (Fire Engine Red, National Dust) into the fray, adding yet another rich dimension to the band. However, soon after Lorrie joined the band, Jonathan grudgingly decided to pursue his engineering career in Alberta’s cold and windy north. Without missing a beat, Chris (Lou) Lowry of Earthquake Pills, eagerly took his place only days later.The sound of Thousandsticks continues to evolve and revolve around the centrifugal force and philosophy of making one good song at a time. Influences ranging from The Replacements and Husker Du to Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, subconsciously weave their way into Thousandsticks’ music. The band has recorded its first full-length album, tentatively titled White Knuckled Midnight Drives, which will be released sometime in early spring.In the meantime, you'll have to come to see the band live. And if you twist their arms enough you might even be able to get yourself a copy of the handful of songs recorded to date.Until then, a thousand thanks for reading.

Group Members James Hayden (Vocals / Guitar)Lyle Crilly (Guitar)Chris (Lou) Lowry (Drums)Lorrie Matheson (Keyboards)Steve Elaschuk (Bass)

Instruments Guitars, Bass, Drums, Keys and Vocals

Albums White Knuckled Midnight Drives - Coming Soon

Location Calgary, Alberta - Canada

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