Canadian rockers 54-40, Treble Charger. The Stellas, USS and The Mahones. They took home 1st place in two song writing contests and were named finalists in 2015's Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Mentorship Program.
If you are ever in Kingston, you can catch the boys playing at The Toucan or The Mansion on the weekends.
I was fortunate enough to interview the band last fall, before the Walk Of Fame accolades. (You can catch that interview at www.q108kingston.com on the ON DEMAND page).
With their latest success, the excitement of a new album release in 2016 and a brand new band logo designed by Bill cassidy, I figured it was time for a follow up interview and let the boys bring us up to snuff.
Welcome back gentleman . . . A lot of good things have happened for the band since we last spoke. 1st of all, I love the new band logo. Who designed it?
Ryan: Bill Cassidy. He's an old friend and band mate; extremely talented, all-around autistic. I can always count on Bill.
Ryan, there's a story behind the Owl used in both the new logo and the previous one. Can you please fill us in on what that is?
Ryan: My Dad has a tattoo of an owl, and he's always regretted it. Also my high school sweetheart & lifelong friends name is Athena, which is the Greek goddess of War and Wisdom, the owl is her bird and it follows her everywhere. Not to mention when Nick and I formed Goldwing, we saw owls all the time, no matter where we were. It was like they were following US everywhere!
The band capped off 2015 on a very positive note, becoming finalists in Canada's Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Mentorship Program. Can you give our readers a bit of insight into what the Canada's Walk Of Fame is all about?
Jeebs: It justified all the hard work and sacrifices, and reaffirms that we have more to give.
Ryan: Yeah, man! Those two days justified the last twenty years of our lives. Our families have all supported our love of music and, in most cases are the reason for it. So to be able to bring my parents along for the ride, and see the glow of pure joy on their faces that I haven't seen in some time, is something that I can't thank C.W.O.F. enough for, and it reminds me why we all do this. It sure isn't for money...or that asshole at the back who thought we were the Goldwing from Atlanta.
The Walk Of Fame was broadcast on television across the nation. Any nervousness or stage fright when it came to your band being announced as winners?
Jeebs: I couldn't make the gig because I was in Ireland, and I even I still felt nervous for the boys. It's like Keith Richards once said: "Mate, if you stop getting nervous, it's time to stop doing it. That's how you know you're following your passion..."
Did you perform at the event or at any shows/events prior?
Ryan: We played the Emerging Artists showcase in Dundas Square with 54-40 and Treble Charger. It was BEAUTEOUS!!
Nick: We almost didn't make the stage in time.
Jeebs: What? Why? Girls?
Nick: No … Because I pulled a full "Gojira" on the Porta-Potty.
Jeebs: Jeeeesus! hahaha
I also see you had a chance to meet with Universal Music. How did that go and are there any future plans for recording deals?
Nick: I had bad street-meat sweats from the day before, so Ryan handled all the business. We
all know how that went..
Ryan: I handed a CD to the guy with a clipboard and said: "Sorry, we gotta go; our banjo player is going to hurl."
Kirby: Oddly enough, we haven't heard back.
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