Billy Talent
When the Good Father was dishing out names, presumably, Toronto’s Billy Talent were stoned at the back of the queue and got to the front-desk too late.
So, we have: vocalist Benjamin Kowalewicz; guitarist Ian D’Sa; bassist Jon Gallant; and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk. It defies human-coherence (and Microsoft Word’s Spell-check).
Yet, musically – we’re in much safer terrain: bursts of angst-filled, curdling wails of white noise and carefully timed theatrics and noise-therapy, doused in immediate, hooking tunes. Humbly, the band first originated following a high-school talent-contest; from there: a line-up shuffle, early shows in dives, and a debut-EP, ‘Try Honesty’, of 2001 – the latter enough to clinch a publishing-deal from EMI, and eventual sturdy support-slots, some leading to opening-appearances on Moby’s esteemed Area:2 touring-festival in the States.
Not bad – and neither is their major-label debut, ‘Billy Talent’. One of 2003’s finest records. The prospects from herein bode similarly enticing.
OFFICIAL SITE: Flash-driven ship of fan-fulfilling delights and glamorous thrills; photos, multimedia-extras (video/music, etc.), and a store. Ker-ching!
OFFICIAL GERMAN SITE: Fancy dusting up on your German? Handy, that. Surf the band\'s Euro-home here, for a variety of additional content not present on the dot-com.