PROPHET

From a house party to an arena concert in little under a year.

That describes the meteoric rise local rock band Prophet has seen in its short existence, playing its first show at a party in November 2009, to opening up the Rockstar Uproar Energy Festival at the MTS Centre, alongside bands like Disturbed and Avenged Sevenfold.

“People are really stoked on the music, and we didn’t expect it to take us this far this quickly,” says bassist Marty Lafreniere. “It’s happening really organically, it doesn’t feel weird.”

Much of the success can probably be chalked up to the band’s no-nonsense, bar-brawling approach to their music.

Why litter ProTools with multiple tracks when you can record live off the floor?

“The songs we feel are strong themselves, the simplicity is what we’re going for,” Lafreniere says, adding chemistry plays an important role. “Everyone in the band plays a really important role and shows through in the songs.”

The band — rounded out by guitarists Ryan McElhoes and Nick Weselowski, drummer Steve Jowsey and vocalist Christian Bohonos — is currently wrapping up recording a seven-song EP with John Paul Peters.

“This is the most fun I’ve had recording,” Lafreniere says. “JP has a good attitude and is a creative guy, so it’s really easy. You just play and he makes it sound good.”

The band plans to release the album before summer.

Watch Prophet perform Saturday, Jan. 22 at the Cavern. Visit www.myspace.com/prophetrock.

—Matt Preprost

CONNIE KALDOR

Connie Kaldor is nothing if not accomplished.

This folk singer-songwriter is decorated with Junos, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee award and The Order of Canada. Not to mention her 14 albums produced by her very own record label, Coyote Entertainment.

This humble prairie girl has played far and wide in North America, India, China and Europe.

On top of her music geared towards a more cultured audience, Kaldor has a whole slew of music for kids to learn and play to.

As one of the “first indies,” Kaldor broke new ground for women in the Canadian music industry. She wanted to stay independent of a big record label.

“You can choose the kind of image you wanted and be as stubborn as you like,” says Kaldor.

She cherishes the connection between audience and performer.

“When people come to my show it’s the greatest gift they can give me,” Kaldor says. “It’s a conversation between you and your music and the people you’re connecting with.”

With no desire for the lifestyle of the rich and the famous, Kaldor has sacrificed a bursting bank account to do what she feels she was meant to.

“Art is important in this world. I may not be Celine Dion, but then I’m not Celine Dion.  You make enough money to survive and the rest is gravy.”

See Kaldor perform Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the West End Cultural Centre.

Tickets are $22 Advance at the WECC, Ticketmaster and the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store, or $25 at the door.

Visit www.conniekaldor.com.

– Sara Shyiak

CANCER BATS

Liam Cormier has dreams about the Beastie Boys.

Cormier, vocalist of Ontario hardcore punk band Cancer Bats, says it was a dream about the seminal ‘90s rap group song’s Sabotage that swayed the band’s decision to cover the song live.

“I had this dream that I came on stage and I was like, ‘Oh, this song’s on Guitar Hero,’ and then we just started doing (the Beastie Boys’ ‘Sabotage’),” Cormier said in an interview with CHARTattack.com earlier this year.

“In my dream, Keith Buckley, the singer from Every Time I Die, was at the side of the stage and he was like, freaking out. He was like, ‘I can’t believe they’re doing it! They’re actually doing it!’ Kids were going off and I was like, ‘Yes!’

“So I woke up and went to band practice, and was like, ‘We have to cover this song ‘cause in my dream Keith Buckley thought it was awesome.’ Everyone was like, ‘OK, fuck yeah.’ So it was pretty easy to get everyone on point.”

The band released their third album, Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones, in April 2010. It includes the band’s cover of Sabotage.

Since releasing the album, Cancer Bats – which includes former Winnipegger Mike Peters on drums – has toured across Canada, the U.S., Europe, Japan and Australia, including stops at the popular Leeds and Reading festivals.

Cancer Bats play Sunday, Jan. 30 at the Garrick. California’s DevilDriver will also perform.

Visit www.myspace.com/cancerbats.

– STAFF

Published in Volume 65, Number 16 of The Uniter (January 20, 2011)