Crash Vegas
Encyclopedia
Crash Vegas was a Canadian
folk rock
band which formed in 1988, and achieved moderate success in the early 1990s.
and Greg Keelor
of Blue Rodeo
in 1988. Jocelyne Lanois joined the band as bassist and shortly after Ambrose Pottie as drummer. The group played many opening shows for Blue Rodeo over the course of the following year, including The Horsehoe Tavern and Rivoli in Toronto and entered an extensive writing and rehearsal period. However, with Keelor's commitments to Blue Rodeo taking precedence, Jocelyne introduced the band to Hamilton guitarist Colin Cripps to replace Greg in time for the release of the band's first album, which was recorded and produced by Malcolm Burn in Jocelyne's bother Daniel Lanois' studio "Kingsway" in New Orleans.
The band released its debut album, Red Earth
, on the Risque Disque
label in 1989 and went on extensive tours of Canada and the United States,including several opening shows with Daniel Lanois and Blues Traveler. They had several notable hits on Canadian radio ("Inside Out", "Sky" and "Smoke"), and seemed poised for success. However, Risque Disque soon went bankrupt, leaving the band in limbo. In 1992, they signed a new deal with London/Polygram.
Lanois left the band, and was replaced by Darren Watson for the band's second album. That album, Stone, also included contributions from John Porter
and Butch Vig
. However, Crash Vegas had a rocky relationship with Polygram, and they subsequently moved to Sony Records after contributing a cover of "Pocahontas" to that label's Neil Young
tribute album
Borrowed Tunes.
The band performed at Edgefest
on Canada Day
in 1990 and 1993. In 1993, the band participated in the Another Roadside Attraction
tour, and collaborated with The Tragically Hip
, Midnight Oil
, Hothouse Flowers
.
In 1995, Watson and Pottie exited the band partway through the recording of their third album, Aurora. The band, now down to Cripps and McAdorey, completed the album with session musicians John Borra and Mike Sloski as their rhythm section. Gavin Brown
and Eric Chenaux took over the bass and drum slots on the subsequent tour. The single "On and On (Lodestar)" garnered significant radio airplay in Canada, becoming the second highest-charting single of their career, but the band broke up the following year.
McAdorey pursued a solo career, and Cripps went on to join Junkhouse
, Kathleen Edwards Band and the Jim Cuddy band. Jocelyne Lanois went on to play as bassist for Sarah Mclachlan's release Solace. and to pursue music for film. Ambrose Pottie works as a graphic artist.
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...
folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
band which formed in 1988, and achieved moderate success in the early 1990s.
Biography
The band was formed by Michelle McAdoreyMichelle McAdorey
Michelle McAdorey is a Canadian singer-songwriter.In the early 1980s, McAdorey lived in the UK, where she was briefly a backup singer for Kirsty MacColl. While there, she joined a new wave band called Corect Spelling...
and Greg Keelor
Greg Keelor
Greg Keelor is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the band Blue Rodeo, where he shares song writing and vocal duties with Jim Cuddy. Keelor has also released three solo albums and appeared as a guest musician on albums by Crash Vegas and Melissa McClelland...
of Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
in 1988. Jocelyne Lanois joined the band as bassist and shortly after Ambrose Pottie as drummer. The group played many opening shows for Blue Rodeo over the course of the following year, including The Horsehoe Tavern and Rivoli in Toronto and entered an extensive writing and rehearsal period. However, with Keelor's commitments to Blue Rodeo taking precedence, Jocelyne introduced the band to Hamilton guitarist Colin Cripps to replace Greg in time for the release of the band's first album, which was recorded and produced by Malcolm Burn in Jocelyne's bother Daniel Lanois' studio "Kingsway" in New Orleans.
The band released its debut album, Red Earth
Red Earth (Crash Vegas album)
Red Earth was the debut album of the Canadian indie band Crash Vegas. It was released by Risque Disque, a label formed by Blue Rodeo. Greg Keelor, one of Blue Rodeo's musicians, collaborated with Michelle McAdorey and co-wrote some of the music for the album, and also provided guitar performances...
, on the Risque Disque
Risque Disque
Risque Disque was a Canadian independent record label, active from 1985 to 1990. Formed by John Caton, Prairie Oyster's band manager, and based out of the basement of the Horseshoe Tavern, the label was best known for releases by Blue Rodeo, Bob Wiseman, Scott Dibble and Crash Vegas....
label in 1989 and went on extensive tours of Canada and the United States,including several opening shows with Daniel Lanois and Blues Traveler. They had several notable hits on Canadian radio ("Inside Out", "Sky" and "Smoke"), and seemed poised for success. However, Risque Disque soon went bankrupt, leaving the band in limbo. In 1992, they signed a new deal with London/Polygram.
Lanois left the band, and was replaced by Darren Watson for the band's second album. That album, Stone, also included contributions from John Porter
John Porter (musician)
John Porter is an English musician and record producer.-Biography:He attended St Michael's School, Allerton Grange School, King's College, and Newcastle University....
and Butch Vig
Butch Vig
Butch Vig is an American musician and record producer, best known internationally as the drummer of the Madison, Wisconsin-based alternative rock band Garbage and the producer of multi-platinum selling album Nevermind by Nirvana....
. However, Crash Vegas had a rocky relationship with Polygram, and they subsequently moved to Sony Records after contributing a cover of "Pocahontas" to that label's Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
Borrowed Tunes.
The band performed at Edgefest
Edgefest
Edgefest, a yearly outdoor rock concert festival that primarily promotes Canadian rock music, began in 1987 as a thank-you gesture to the listeners of Toronto radio station 102.1 the Edge and as a birthday party to commemorate both the station's tenth birthday, and the coinciding Canada Day...
on Canada Day
Canada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
in 1990 and 1993. In 1993, the band participated in the Another Roadside Attraction
Another Roadside Attraction (festival)
Another Roadside Attraction is a now-defunct travelling music-and-arts summer festival developed by The Tragically Hip, the first of which took place in 1993. It promoted little-known bands and traveled all across Canada...
tour, and collaborated with The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, is a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie , Paul Langlois , Rob Baker , Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay . Since their formation in 1983 they have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and 46 singles...
, Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
, Hothouse Flowers
Hothouse Flowers
The Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock group that combines traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock.-Career:The group first formed in 1985 when Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin began performing as street musicians, or buskers, on the streets of Dublin,Ireland as "The...
.
In 1995, Watson and Pottie exited the band partway through the recording of their third album, Aurora. The band, now down to Cripps and McAdorey, completed the album with session musicians John Borra and Mike Sloski as their rhythm section. Gavin Brown
Gavin Brown
Gavin Brown may refer to:*Gavin Brown , former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney*Gavin Brown , Canadian musician and record producer...
and Eric Chenaux took over the bass and drum slots on the subsequent tour. The single "On and On (Lodestar)" garnered significant radio airplay in Canada, becoming the second highest-charting single of their career, but the band broke up the following year.
McAdorey pursued a solo career, and Cripps went on to join Junkhouse
Junkhouse
-History:Formed in 1989 in Hamilton, Ontario, the band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Tom Wilson, guitarist Dan Achen, bassist Russ Wilson and drummer Ray Farrugia....
, Kathleen Edwards Band and the Jim Cuddy band. Jocelyne Lanois went on to play as bassist for Sarah Mclachlan's release Solace. and to pursue music for film. Ambrose Pottie works as a graphic artist.
Studio albums
| Release date | Title | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| 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... RPM Album charts |
||
| February 1990 | Red Earth | #51 |
| March 1993 | Stone | #50 |
| May 1995 | Aurora | #31 |
Singles
| Chart peak date | Title | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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... RPM TOP 100 |
Album | ||
| March 1990 | "Inside Out" | #18 | Red Earth |
| June 1990 | "Sky" | #69 | |
| September 1990 | "Smoke" | #82 | |
| May 1993 | "You and Me" | #67 | Stone |
| August 1994 | "Pocahontas" | #62 | Aurora |
| June 1995 | "On and On (Lodestar)" | #24 |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Keep It to Myself" | Norry Niven | Stone Core Films |