Listen to music, see a concert or watch a video.
Write a review.
Reviews will be scanned and posted.
Only Reviews will be posted. Comments will not be!
View Magazine
"Hamilton Music Notes"
by Ric Taylor
Every Indie band struggles against adversity, but its been 34 months since
last CD from Cyanide Kiss. this weekend the musical drought ends for CK
with the release of their sophomore offering, Halcyon Daze.
"We had to give in to the working world in order for the band to survive,"
says guitarist/vocalist Rob McKenna. Alongside Matt Kras (keyboard/vocals),
Adam Kras (bass/vocals), and Jeff McKenna (drums), McKenna and company
have struggled with keeping their individual lives afloat while doing
the same for their collective life as a band. While each member found
day jobs, McKenna got married and began a career that has helped define
and confuse his identity.
"The reality of my decisions awoke me to the reality that I was living"
recalls McKenna. "Who was I? I wasn't Rob from Cyanide Kiss anymore. I
became Mr. McKenna the math teacher. I was able to keep the two worlds
separate for a little while. We always had shows in Hamilton and I taught
in Waterloo. Suddenly Matt was getting us shows in Waterloo and we played
a few shows where I worked. Would I be Rob from Cyanide Kiss or Mr. McKenna?...I
often wish that Mr. McKenna didn't exist, however then I would not have
had the chance to meet all the people whom I have met."
"With all the confusion of our everday working lives, we started noticing
that it was very calming to get together and play music at practise or
at a show," he adds. "The album is about a struggle with accepting faith
and our position within the working world." Music as an elixir, hallucinogen
and "soother of the savage beast" is a theme Cyanide Kiss hope to capitalize
upon.
Somewhat retro - leaning heavily on early '90s influences, probably more Smashing Pumpkins than Weezer - the end result for CK is dard and adjective that permeates forth sound and word on Halcyon Daze.
"Generally what inspires me to write a lyric to a song is when something frustrates me," McKenna explains. "So when this happens, I usually start to write about the situation and run with that theme. Its seems to be a catharsis to write about a frustrating situation."
"Although all of our bandmembers are into lots of different types of music, alternative rock seems to be what all of us come back to when it comes to creating music. It's the music we grew up with and the music we all still love. We realize that alternative rock isn't exactly where the popular music industry is heading right now, but we are creating music for ourselves first and if our fans like it we will keep releasing it."
Cyanide Kiss release Halcyon Daze this Friday, December 2, at the Underground.
