BIO
JASON WILFORD - guitar
DAN RENWICK - bass / backing vox
MATT
"PHATTY" WILKINSON - drums
BRYAN HOTCHKISS - vox
Anyone
familiar with the Canadian rock scene can tell you that
there hasn't been a lot of noise coming from the community
of Applewood - a small suburb of Mississauga, Ontario.
(Hell, most people have never even heard of Applewood.)
But now that Applewood-based ska-punk band KEEPIN'
6 are starting to become one of the most buzzed about
bands in the Southern Ontario punk scene, it looks like
that's all about to change.
Formed
in 2003 by 4 lifelong friends; drummer Matt "Phatty"
Wilkinson, guitarist Jason Wilford, bassist Dan Renwick
and vocalist Bryan Hotchkiss, KEEPIN' 6 is a band
who's high energy, and hook-heavy songs blend the best
of influences ranging from The Police to Operation Ivy
to the Foo Fighters. And truth be told, if there's a band
that can sonically bridge the gap between Billy Talent
and Sublime, well that band is definitely KEEPIN' 6.
In
late 2004 the band released their first indie CD/EP "KEEPIN'
6 6-PACK". Tracks from that release have been featured
on EDGE 102.1 (Toronto) and charted at Ontario College
radio.
In
2005, the band teamed up with local ska-punk buzz band
The Johnstones in a collaborative effort and released
a split EP, "The Johnstones Vs. Keepin' 6".
The release quickly sold over 1000 copies and fan reviews
of the split EP have been nothing short of amazing - including
praise from local DJ's such as Barry Taylor (Punk-o-rama
- Edge102), and DJskip (SkaParty - CIUT 89.5).
Throughout
2006, KEEPIN' 6 kept busy with a non-stop tour
schedule which saw appearances at countless rec centres,
community halls, basements and all ages clubs - always
making hundreds of new fans at every show. (The band now
have a dedicated fan base that many major label acts would
kill for!)
Somehow
in late 2006, the band also found time to return to the
studio - this time with renowned local producer Steve
Rizun (Hostage Life / The Creepshow / illScarlett) to
record their debut full length album. Showing remarkable
growth as both performers and songwriters, the album (slated
for a 2007 late-spring release) is a collection of songs
that move and flow effortlessly from kick-ass high energy
punk tracks to modern rock leaning hooks and anthemic
choruses. But the album's biggest surprise may just be
the band's newly discovered ability to turn the amps down
a bit and showcase a more traditional pop-song vibe. (Don't
be scared though... trust us, the album rocks start-to-finish!)
With
another non-stop tour schedule already in the planning
- and the imminent release of their debut album - 2007
will undoubtedly be the year that KEEEPIN' 6 finds
legions of new fans world-wide.
...Far
beyond the winding suburban streets of Applewood, Ontario.
MULTIMEDIA
AUDIO: available on the band's myspace
page.
PRESS AND PUBLICITY TOOLS "Click and save" to download the following:
