They’ve paved the way, the coast is clear! Toronto quartet The Coast is soaring on their self-titled six track EP release. The EP sounds like blueprints, no, a master plan to world domination, drawing influences from first-class acts like The Smiths, The Verve and the sensitivities of U2.
With the legendary Paul Simon on the mind, the band name was decided. “The name is based solely on the great Paul Simon song off his 1991 record Rhythm of the Silence. It’s a record we all love!” Bassist Luke Melchiorre explained. Composed of two brothers and their best friends, the four have been writing and playing music since their mid-teens, tracing the band’s origins back to garage jams.
The time came to set their plan in motion. Once building a loyal fan following from playing the local scene, The Coast set out on a tour across Canada and shared the spotlight with the likes of The Ladies and Gentlemen, Elbow and Island . “There are just so many bands that I would love to open for”, Luke commented. “A lot of them actually have come out of Canada. It would be cool to open for Wolf Parade, the Arcade Fire or Broken Social Scene. I mean the list goes on!”
In support of their EP, the band has been booking shows and is presently touring regions of Eastern Canada just before the New Year. Touring isn’t always smooth sailing; being confined to tour buses, late night flights and hotel rooms can put a strain on any relationship, putting every single last nerve to the test. “I am sure all of the guys would agree that one of my many habits is the most annoying” Melchiorre confessed. “But I refuse to willingly indict myself! We are all very good at being obnoxious.”
More serious tensions nearly did take their toll once upon a time, but the band proves they can take the heat standing strong. Their song “The Lines Are Cut” is a testimony of their union and devotion.
“I have never really asked Ben about it,” the bassist recall ed. “But it was written during a time, about two years ago, when we were the closest we have ever been to breaking up. We weren’t getting along, we weren’t writing good songs. But eventually the songs began to come again. “The Lines are Cut”, to me, always feels like Benny talking to us, saying ‘it’s not time to give this up.’ For me, it’s one of the best songs on the CD.”
The Coast’s lead vocalist Ben Spurr packs such emotion in his voice alone that the bittersweet sentiment of each song comes across without even needing the full use of words. The EP opener, “All Farewells” makes a strong entrance mirroring the chiming guitar, up-tempo balladry that distinctly rings British. Think of Coldplay dropping Chris Martin and recruiting The Smith’s Morrissey, all while maintaining that good old indie charm. “We strive to sound evocative or atmospheric but at the same time, it’s important that the songs we write have a kinetic energy about them,” Melchiorre explained.
Energy is an understatement when it comes down to these men. The Coast is as much a tour-de-force as the ever growing relentless Canadian indie music scene itself.
Now, as for the million dollar question, what is indie anyway? Hear it from a source: “Indie bands are those bands that need to have creative control over the records they make, the songs they write and the shows they play. Being in an indie band, for us is about the process of making music and playing shows. If that makes us a lot of money, than great! But that is not our sole or primary reason for doing what we do.”
The Coast plays Main Hall
Saturday, Dec. 2
5390 Blvd. St. Laurent
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