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Coley (band)
Encyclopedia
Coley is a Canadian
indie rock band, from Sherbrooke, Quebec
. The band is the brainchild of singer/guitar
ist JF Coley, joined by Jocelyn Blanchette on the drums
and David Jalbert on bass
. Their musical style has been referred to as a "post-grunge throwback to British 60's pop". Their latest album, Crossing the Rubicon
, discusses political and social issues facing the Eastern Townships
of Quebec and its community.
Coming from a musical family, JF started performing at age 3, in a violin ensemble. After graduating from Mount Allison University
(where JF was in a band, Smiling Politely, composed of future members of In-Flight Safety
) JF was recruited by Sarnia, Ontario
band Flicker.
Over the next year, JF would perform with some of Canada
's top bands, like Our Lady Peace
, Nickelback
, The Guess Who
, Treble Charger
, etc... After Canadian Music Week
2003, JF returned to the Eastern Townships
where he would now base his operations. Aware that the Quebec sovereignty movement
had negatively affected the Eastern Townships (where the culture had always celebrated a happy coexistence between Francophones and anglophones), JF started working with CJMQ-FM
to promote the local culture and celebrate a unique region of North America.
In late 2003, JF went to Los Angeles
to record his first album, Extended Play, with producer Mike Krompass. The album was a small collection of songs, and was released under JF Coley.
A band was put together to tour the album, composed of Jocelyn Blanchette on drums
and Sebastien Simard on bass
. The band performed around the Eastern Townships and Ontario
with such bands as April Wine
and the Trews
.
In 2005 a new bass player joined the fold, Neal Gupta, a Montreal
-based bass player. JF had already started work on a new album, Crossing the Rubicon, with Canadian producer Jordon Zadorozny
(whose previous collaborations include Sam Roberts
, Lindsey Buckingham
, Courtney Love
, and Billy Corgan
). The album was produced at Studio French Kiss in Pembroke, Ontario
.
The album had a limited release in the summer of 2006, and the band toured Quebec and Ontario over two weeks with August and Wellabee. The band lost their bass player to work, which slowed down the touring. They still managed a show for the Terry Fox
Marathon of Hope, and two shows in the US
in Boston and New York City
.
The album has been spun across Canada, on campus radio stations and independent commercial stations.
In the spring of 2007 the band added David Jalbert as a new bass player and are now ready to hit the road again in the summer.http://www.coleymusic.com/coley/live/live.html
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
indie rock band, from Sherbrooke, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The band is the brainchild of singer/guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist JF Coley, joined by Jocelyn Blanchette on the drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and David Jalbert on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. Their musical style has been referred to as a "post-grunge throwback to British 60's pop". Their latest album, Crossing the Rubicon
Rubicon
The Rubicon is a shallow river in northeastern Italy, about 80 kilometres long, running from the Apennine Mountains to the Adriatic Sea through the southern Emilia-Romagna region, between the towns of Rimini and Cesena. The Latin word rubico comes from the adjective "rubeus", meaning "red"...
, discusses political and social issues facing the Eastern Townships
Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships is a tourist region and a former administrative region in south-eastern Quebec, lying between the former seigneuries south of the Saint Lawrence River and the United States border. Its northern boundary roughly followed Logan's Line, the geologic boundary between the flat,...
of Quebec and its community.
History
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
(where JF was in a band, Smiling Politely, composed of future members of In-Flight Safety
In-Flight Safety
-External links:* official website*...
) JF was recruited by Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
band Flicker.
Over the next year, JF would perform with some of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's top bands, like Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace is a Canadian alternative rock band that formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1992. Headed by lead vocalist Raine Maida since its formation, the band additionally consists of Jeremy Taggart on percussion, Duncan Coutts on bass, and Steve Mazur as lead guitarist...
, Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
, The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
, Treble Charger
Treble Charger
Treble Charger was a Canadian rock group, consisting of vocalist Greig Nori, bassist Rosie Martin and drummer Trevor MacGregor. Guitarist Bill Priddle, a founding member of the band, left in 2003. They began with a melodic indie rock style, but evolved into more of a pop punk band after signing to...
, etc... After Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week is an industry conference and music festival held over four days in various venues throughout Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
2003, JF returned to the Eastern Townships
Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships is a tourist region and a former administrative region in south-eastern Quebec, lying between the former seigneuries south of the Saint Lawrence River and the United States border. Its northern boundary roughly followed Logan's Line, the geologic boundary between the flat,...
where he would now base his operations. Aware that the Quebec sovereignty movement
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
had negatively affected the Eastern Townships (where the culture had always celebrated a happy coexistence between Francophones and anglophones), JF started working with CJMQ-FM
CJMQ-FM
CJMQ-FM is a Canadian radio station. Based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, where it has studios in both downtown Sherbrooke and the borough of Lennoxville, the station broadcasts a community radio format targeted to Anglo-Quebecers in Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships.The station broadcasts at a...
to promote the local culture and celebrate a unique region of North America.
In late 2003, JF went to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to record his first album, Extended Play, with producer Mike Krompass. The album was a small collection of songs, and was released under JF Coley.
A band was put together to tour the album, composed of Jocelyn Blanchette on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and Sebastien Simard on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. The band performed around the Eastern Townships and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
with such bands as April Wine
April Wine
April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together...
and the Trews
Trews
Trews are men's clothing for the legs and lower abdomen, a traditional form of tartan trousers from Scottish apparel...
.
In 2005 a new bass player joined the fold, Neal Gupta, a Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-based bass player. JF had already started work on a new album, Crossing the Rubicon, with Canadian producer Jordon Zadorozny
Jordon Zadorozny
-External links:...
(whose previous collaborations include Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose 2001 debut release, The Inhuman Condition, became one of the bestselling independent releases in Quebec and Canadian music history.-Life and career:...
, Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
, Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
, and Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
). The album was produced at Studio French Kiss in Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke is a city in the province of Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
.
The album had a limited release in the summer of 2006, and the band toured Quebec and Ontario over two weeks with August and Wellabee. The band lost their bass player to work, which slowed down the touring. They still managed a show for the Terry Fox
Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox , was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research...
Marathon of Hope, and two shows in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Boston and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The album has been spun across Canada, on campus radio stations and independent commercial stations.
In the spring of 2007 the band added David Jalbert as a new bass player and are now ready to hit the road again in the summer.http://www.coleymusic.com/coley/live/live.html
Highlights
- #2 position for the single "Pour Demain" on Generation Rock's countdown (#1 Francophone)
- #2 position for the single "Debout" (Wake Up) on Generation Rock's countdown (#1 Francophone)
- #6 position in American Songwriter Magazine's lyric contest for "SoapBox Song"
- Featured on CHOM-FMCHOM-FMCHOM-FM is an English language radio station located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Owned and operated by Astral Media, it broadcasts on 97.7 MHz from the Mount Royal candelabra tower, with an effective radiated power of 41,200 watts using an omnidirectional antenna.The station has a mainstream rock...
's "Made in Canada" show (an indie staple)
UTOI
- JF's number one guitar is a hand made guitar by Brian Monty, an Eastern TownshipsEastern TownshipsThe Eastern Townships is a tourist region and a former administrative region in south-eastern Quebec, lying between the former seigneuries south of the Saint Lawrence River and the United States border. Its northern boundary roughly followed Logan's Line, the geologic boundary between the flat,...
luthier - Coley is endorsed by GodinGodin (Guitar Manufacturer)- History :Godin started building Robert Godin's guitars in 1972 in La Patrie, Quebec.Godin Guitars' head office is located in Montreal, and they build their instruments in six factories in four different locations, three in Quebec and one in New Hampshire....
guitars, Red BullRed BullRed Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
drinks and SIT strings. - Jocelyn is one of the leading scorers in the ALHCS indoor hockey league.
- Coley's anti-separatismQuebec sovereignty movementThe Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
anthem "Wake Up" aired on Quebec CityQuebec CityQuebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
's CHOI-FMCHOI-FMCHOI-FM is a French language FM radio station that broadcasts on the frequency 98.1 MHz out of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, with a talk radio format...
radio station. - One of the band members is a teacher at the Eastern Townships Schoolboard.
- JF is the fifth generation Coley to be a musician.
- All band members can play more than one instrument
- Before joining Coley, Jocelyn was in a Stone Temple PilotsStone Temple PilotsStone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
tribute band, and a member of Les Pendus.
Compilations
- Conduct BecomingConduct BecomingConduct Becoming is a student created and driven organization that raises money for Canadian cancer research. Also known as Conduct Becoming: Mount Allison Voices Against Cancer, Conduct Becoming: Voices Against Cancer and Conduct Becoming: Canadian Voices Against Cancer.Conduct Becoming was...
: Mount Allison Voices against Cancer (JF recorded a track on this compilation)(2004)
See also
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
- List of bands from Canada
- List of Canadian musicians
- :Category:Canadian musical groups