Artist description "Smarter than punk, cooler than grunge..."

Music Style PowerPopAltRockGeekPunk

Musical Influences The Police, The Sex Pistols, New Order, The Dead Milkmen, The Theme from Dallas...

Similar Artists Weezer, Hum, Lit, Eve 6, 3EB, Radiohead, Everclear, Foo Fighters, Hole, Placebo, (insert flavour of the month here), etc.

Artist History THE BANDHeater is not your typical guitar-based rock act. Strutting like rock-crazed madmen one minute and sniffling like womb-craving crybabies the next, this quirky and dynamic quartet truly possess that rarest of combinations: grab-you-by-the-pants-catchy pop/rock, wry and witty lyrics, the looks to match their hooks, awesome stage presence, built-in production talent, and the galvanized work ethic and commitment needed to reach a wide audience.Tim, Jordan, Rock and Melvin are based in Toronto, Canada. Tim is a producer/engineer who owns a small project studio in Toronto’s east end. Jordan is Winnipeg’s only surviving left-handed multi-instrumentalist and a former record buyer for Tower Records’. Rock has a bachelor of music degree and teaches guitar at several studios in Toronto and his native North Bay. Melvin used to be a stockbroker, but decided he’d rather make music and drive a green volkswagen instead.THE MUSICHeater's first-ever gig was a showcase at New York City's Mercury Lounge in the fall of 1998. Their debut album, "The Gas Pedal," turned heads all over the North American A&R community, charted at several colleges and reached #1 at CKMS-FM in Waterloo, Ontario. The band has shared the same stage with Treble Charger, Kittie, Chlorophyll, Bodega, Staggered Crossing and Robin Black. Thousands have thrilled to their high-octane live shows at clubs and music festivals like Canadian Music Week and North-by-Northeast. This band clearly knows how to write great songs, produce great recordings, and seduce a room.THE WEBOver 700 new fans visit the HeaterBuzz.com website every month for mp3’s, show listings and photographs. Heater is not only the featured band on mp3.ca this month, but has been since October of 1999. Most recently, “West Side Hwy.” from the band’s new EP was added to the Rock Listening Room on Jimmy Iovine and Doug Morris’ FarmClub.com and three tracks are available to hear and review at garageband.com. In less than a year, Heater’s e-mail army has grown to over 2000 strong, with new names being added every week. Are you on the list yet? THE BUZZ In addition to rocking crowds in Ontario and the Northeastern U.S., Heater was recently awarded a FACTOR grant (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records) for their brand new EP. They were also awarded a MuchMusic grant to shoot their debut video in Los Angeles with award-winning directors Jef Renfroe (Sky, Crash Test Dummies) and Marteinn Thorsson. Don't miss Heater’s red-hot showcases scheduled for Toronto on June 8 (part of the NXNE festival), New York City on June 14 and a special video-release party in Toronto on June 29.

Group Members Melvin, Tim Branton, Jordan Michael Stewart and Sean "Rock" Kelly

Instruments Guitars, Bass, Drums, Vocals and other noise

Albums The Gas Pedal (1999), EP (2000)

Press Reviews "Smarter than punk... cooler than grunge" - Christine Heffernan, Pulp "Charged with rock radio rhythms, catchy harmonies and infectious pop overtones, Heater mix geek chic and straight ahead rock" - Rachel E. Beattie, Imprint "Heater inject punk rock energy into infectious, striving guitar pop. 'The Gas Pedal' will floor you." - NXNE "Clever pop rockers, Heater" - Jim Slotek, The Sun "Heater continue their march toward stardom" - Echo Magazine

Additional Info EP (see our calendar for showcase info!)

Location Toronto, Ontario - Canada

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