May 27, 2013 Very few things are as exciting as finding something new you love. Much like archeologists that dig to find hidden treasures, we here at T-Mak World really enjoy trying to find new bands that we love. Once we find such bands, we approach our favourites to request interviews for our Emerging Artist Spotlight series. Today we set our focus on a band from Toronto named Rebel Hero. All bands we talked to are asked similar questions to each other so we can get to know them better. The description on Rebel Hero’s website reads:
Rebel Hero is a 3 piece rock/alt-pop band from Toronto, Ont. They are best described as sounding like RHCP, Trews, STP, Thornley, and Jeff Buckley, and have been recently added to the roster of Deadfly Records recording artists after being produced by Mike Turner (Our Lady Peace) at The Pocket Studios in Toronto. The trio began as the brainchild of lead singer and guitarist Tyson Froese, who after winning the 2010 Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Alternative Rock as the lead guitarist and writing partner of Waxmen, followed his creative muse and recorded a solo album at North of Seven Studios. Rebel Hero straddles the line between rock and pop music, and they do it well. Froese recorded a cover of “Baby Blue” by Chilliwack, a tribute to his late father Howard Froese, one of the band’s former members. The song caught the attention of Bill Henderson, the iconic Canadian band’s frontman, and he asked Froese to perform with the band. With that, the young guitarist found himself onstage for Chilliwack’s 40th anniversary concert in Vancouver, playing with veritable music legends, and impressing musicians and fans alike with his guitar prowess. Shortly after, Froese was asked to open for Bobby Keys of the Rolling Stones at Toronto’s Sound Academy. It was that fateful night that Rebel Hero was born. Joined by bassist Justin Faragher (International U2 Tribute “Desire”) and Tom Paulovitz, Rebel Hero will be performing an NXNE Showcase Friday, June 14th at Tattoo Rock Parlour. For more info and a full bio, please visit our links below.
Here is what they had to say to us:
- Hey Rebel Hero, thanks for taking the time out to talk to us. Let’s start off with the obligatory introductions. Who’s in the band and what instrument does everyone rock?
Rebel Hero: Tyson Froese: Lead Vocals/Guitar, Justin Faragher: Bass/Backing Vocals, Tom Paulovitz: Drums.
- How about the history of the band, when did you get started and how did it happen?
Rebel Hero: It began as the Tyson Froese project. I was playing in Waxmen and we decided to take a creative hiatus for a while. They continued on with another guitar player and I had a chance to start my own band that I could sing leads in. Its always been a passion of mine, to sing. I had played with Chilliwack at the Sound Academy and was asked to open for Bobby Keys of the Rolling Stones, so I contacted my good friend Justin Faragher (Desire) and we put together a band. I wrote some new songs, and we auditioned drummers till we found Tom Paulovitz. We really liked his attitude and his chops. Shortly after Mike Turner (OLP) got involved and produced some of our songs. Rebel Hero was officially a band at that point.
- Who are some of your musical influences?
Rebel Hero: STP, Chilli Peppers, Trews, Jeff Buckley, Dallas Green, Alice in Chains, to name a few.
- So based on the above how would you describe your music to someone that has never heard it?
Rebel Hero: Its Rock, alternative pop. Rock with pop-sensibility. Catchy rock, with a taste of soulful depth in some of the songs like “Live Forever”
- Why should a music fan come and see your show instead of all the other choices available to them on any given night?
Rebel Hero: I think we go out of our way to engage the audience and to make you feel like a part of the show. We often get the crowd involved in singing our songs and we play stuff you can dance to. Its not just about our message, its about you feeling the music.We care about our fans immensely and we treat them like royalty. And we always make sure we play with other great talent so you are sure to hear something you like. Open guest lists, free Ep’s, drink specials, these are things commonly offered at our shows.
- What is your favorite single line of lyrics the band has written and why?
Rebel Hero: Well, there are a few good lines that we all really like so its tough to narrow that down. But, in Wrapped Around A Finger, the last lines of the first verse are “You gotta tell her that you got to go but you know that you wanna stay, her power, her little sweet flower gonna spin ya like a hurricane”. It illustrates the power of chemistry and physical magnetism that some people share between them, even if they are completely wrong for each other. The song is about a love affair.
- What does 2013 hold for you?
Rebel Hero: We just did a radio interview with S@Y Radio at York University, and it looks like Y108 will be spinning our single “Superstar Junkie” very soon. Our next promotional action is to film a video for that song as well. We also just found out that we have made it to the top 15 out of 160 submissions to CMW’s songwriting panel contest for that same song so we are excited about that in of itself, even if we don’t win. We are doing a NXNE Showcase at the Tattoo Rock Parlour on Friday, June 14 with Joy Arson and 20 Amp Soundchild, and will be playing a great show with Time Giant and Slyde at Cherry Cola Rock n Rolla Cabaret and Lounge on Sat July 20th.
- Imagine that you were asked to be the opener for any band’s world tour (both current and historical). Which band and tour would be your dream opening gig.
BANDNAME: I would have to say either Led Zeppelin or Stone Temple Pilots.
- What is the future of the music industry? With the concept of the album and physical CD’s facing extinction, how will we be consuming music in 10 years? Are the economics feasible for emerging artists?
Rebel Hero:.Everything changes and evolves. This is a dynamic time for music and the arts in general. Specifically to music, I am confident that a changing of the guard is happening, and a new breed of musicians, booking agents, talent buyers, and label/promotions companies are poised to take charge; and with a more equitable philosophy as there primary motivation. Some of the older institutions will break apart and new, more malleable forms of garnering revenue for music sales will evolve. Mike Turner pointed out to me once that there was a time when you weren’t paid for what was played on the radio either, and that changed. Give it time. Eventually, artists will receive what they’re due. I am a firm believe that if we all stick together, support each-other, and stay the course, that a natural self correction will occur in the favour of those who truly work hard at their art.
- Where can people get your music/CD, is it being sold anywhere?
Rebel Hero: You can download our EP directly from www.rebelhero.net and it will be available on iTunes very soon.
- At the end of 2012 we published our picks for top 10 albums of 2012. Lists like those are always a reflection of personal tastes so if you were making the list what are some albums you would you have had on it?
Rebel Hero: Billy Talent’s Dead Silence, Metric, City and Colours latest release, The Killers, Foo Fighters Wasting Light, to name a few.
Any closing remarks for our readers?
Rebel Hero: Thanks for having us! We are always excited to meet new friends and fans. Drop us a line. We are offering some free EP cards and guest list admission to our NXNE/Birthday bash show at Tattoo Rock Parlour on friday, June 14. Follow us on Faceboook or twitter @rebelheromusic and drop us a tweet or comment that mentions T-Mak-World and we will hook you up with a prize pack.
Cool! Thanks so much to Rebel Hero. We hope that you can see them live. They are playing Sat July 20 at Cherry Cola Rock n Rolla Cabaret and Lounge.
The band’s website is www.rebelhero.net and as you would expect they are on www.twitter.com/rebelheromusic and www.facebook.com/rebelheromusic. In the meantime check out their video below from YouTube.
