Band Details

From the Promoter

Advance tickets also available at Rotate This, Soundscpaes & The Horseshoe front bar

THE PLANET SMASHERS

If you've been wondering where exactly the Planet Smashers have been for the past six years since their last album "Unstoppable", there's a very simple explanation….A late-night audio experiment in the recording studio resulted in a randomly generated interdimensional time-space vortex that teleported the Smashers 65 million years into the past. Undaunted by this unexpected turn of events, The Planet Smashers began hunting, gathering and writing their finest album to date. Luckily the band was cryogenically frozen throughout the iceage and recently discovered trapped inside an iceberg floating down the Saint Lawrence river.
Inspired by volcanic eruptions and constant dinosaur attacks, "Descent Into The Valley Of…" is 15 tracks of pure unadulaturated party ska awesomeness served up hot with an extra large order of radical sauce on the side just for good measure. From the hilariously addictive tom-foolery of "The Hippopotamus" to the darkly brooding "Die Tomorrow" to the punkrock insanity of "Food Fight" to the touching love song "My Obsession", this album delivers something for everyone while maintaining the Smashers' signature badassitude that has made them an international sensation for over 17 years…Grab your club and put on your best wooly mammoth pelt, cuz this time they're making pre-history.

Formed in 1994 in Montreal, Quebec, the Smashers's infectious pop infused melodies, rippin' horn licks and killer live shows, quickly established them as the city's "Kings of Ska". They released their first album ("Self-Titled") on Planet Smasher's founder Matt Collyer's own label STOMP Records and hit the road. By 1997 they were no longer a local band, but a national phenomenon, headlining shows across Canada and pushing their second record, "Atttack of The Planet Smashers" which reached #2 on the national college radio charts for 2 months straight. Their third album "Life of The Party" took the continent by storm, aided no doubt by the commercialization of ska by such bands as Mighty Mighty Bosstones and No Doubt. "Life of the Party", The Planet Smashers won the Montreal Independent Music Award for best ska band and drew attention from labels, bands, publishers and booking agents all over the world.

Although the band received much commercial attention during the ska wave, they decided to continue down the independent road with STOMP Records. Their fourth release, "No Self Control" was produced by Steven Drake (Tragically Hip, Barenaked Ladies, The Odds etc.) and was also well received by national college radio and spawned hit videos such as the animated "Blind" and the tongue in cheek "Wish I Were American". "No Self Control" was also the band's first internationally released record and reached #14 on the Tower retail sales charts in Japan!

"Mighty", the Planet Smashers' fifth full length for STOMP Records is chock full of summertime party songs that'll get your ass into party gear. "Mighty" was produced/engineered by Rod Shearer (Bran Van 3000, Bionic, Corey Hart) and co-produced by The Planet Smashers (not to mention mixed on the same board as Madonna's "Like a Virgin"!) Having moved past the dark and critical themes of "No Self Control", "Mighty" is a fun and positive record that provides the perfect soundtrack to any summer BBQ.

In 2004, STOMP Records produced a commemorative DVD entitled "Ten" featuring the last 10 years of the band. The DVD includes live footage from various shows from as early as 1994 and as recent as 2003 as well as 12 videos, 24 episodes of the Japanese animated series "Catman" (soundtrack by the Smashers), and a slew of stunts and shenanigans. Also in 2004, the Planet Smashers coincidentally did a month on the 10th year anniversary of the Vans Warped Tour.

The band returned to the studio in 2005 to record their 6th album "Unstoppable", and marked the return of long time producer-friend Chris Murray ("Attack of the..." and "Life of the Party"). "Unstoppable" features guest appearances from Jay Malinowski of Bedouin Soundclash and Liam O'Neil of the Stills. After the album's release in May 2005, the Smashers hit the road for over a year of non-stop touring throughout North America and Europe, including yet another appearance on the Vans Warped Tour, two runs on the Ska Is Dead Tour, and even an attempt to branch out opening up for Simple Plan's Canadian arena tour.

In terms of touring, not many indie Canadian bands come close. They have headlined countless tours in North America, 8 European tours, been included on 5 Vans Warped Tour as well as a Japanese tour in 2002. They have toured with such acts as AFI, GOB, Satanic Surfers, Sick of it All, Death By Stereo, Mustard Plug, Samiam, The Aquabats, Rancid, Guttermouth, Catch 22, and countless others. Now in their 16th year and having sold over 250,000 copies worldwide they plan to records a new album for spring release in 2011!

MUSTARD PLUG

Mustard Plug started out in the punk clubs, basements and dive bars of the Midwest, playing punk-influenced ska music before most people in the U.S. had ever heard of ska. They clung to a DIY work ethic that had been ingrained in them growing up in the 1980′s hardcore punk scene and applied it to everything they would ever do together as a band. Mustard Plug released their first cassette tape themselves (1992′s Skapocalypse Now!), and played constantly to earn enough money to record their first album – 1994′s Big Daddy Mulititude. Their debut full length was released on legendary NYC label Moon Records (home of Toasters, Hepcat, Dance Hall Crashers, and pretty much every other 90′s ska band of note). With their new found national distribution and exposure, the band climbed into their van and performed their music to new fans across North America. Twenty-one years, 1500 shows and 200,000 album sales later, it cannot be denied that the band has surpassed all expectations and permanently staked their claim in contemporary music.

For their new album, "Can't Contain It", Mustard Plug have returned to the DIY blueprint that the band was built upon, while at the same time embracing all the school of hard knocks craftsmanship and wisdom that the band has earned along the way. The band spent the last several years writing new material that was informed by 22 years of songwriting experience while retaining the youthful energy that has endeared them to their fans. They tracked the record at bassist Rick Johnson's Cold War Studios, giving them the flexibility to experiment and add new layers and dimensions that were not possible given the time constraints on their previous recordings. Many of their musician friends(Dan Potthast, Sean Bonnett, Mark Petz, Corey Ruffin) were tapped to contribute, creating a denser, more intricate sound.

Once the recording process for Can't Contain It was complete, the band turned to their fans to help finance the mixing and production of their record. Their Kickstarter campaign surpassed all their expectations, doubling their initial goal and re-confirming the support and love of their audience. The tracks were then sent to be mixed at Bill Stevenson's Blasting Room Studios where Mustard Plug had recorded 3 of their previous albums (including 1997's breakthrough "Evildoers Beware" and 2007's "In Black and White"). The result is possibly their most diverse and best record to date.

After tapping their friends and fans to help out with the recording, the band turned to more of their posse to collaborate on the artwork. Underground icon Jeff Rosenstock designed the album packaging, while noted artists Craig Horkey and Larry Kole created alternative limited edition album covers and posters. The final piece came together when at the last minute, No Idea record founder, Var Thelin heard the record and offered to partner with the band on its release. Mustard Plug is excited to be given the opportunity to collaborate with a label known for its' strong punk rock ethics and underground credibility.

Ultimately, this release is about the community Mustard Plug has built during its' 22 year existence. Coming full circle back to the DIY scene and the community that the were born out of has helped them to put out their best record to date.

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