The Rock of the Atlantic
It's more than just Q104's original slogan. For over a quarter century, Q104 has lent a voice to the "Rock of the Atlantic". The music from our city, our province, and our region that once upon a time nobody wanted to play on the radio! Outside of its home, many of Nova Scotia's best rockers of the past got very little notice. But Q104 has played a proud role with airplay and promotion in helping put East Coast Rock on the national stage! It started with Minglewood, Oakley, and a few others ... it evolved through Haywire, Steps Around the House, Titan, The Little Ministers, and Blackpool. And finally, it broke big when Halifax suddenly became "The Next Seattle" in the early 90's. But really, Jale, Sandbox, Thrush Hermit, and Hardship Post were just the beginning of the East Coast rock rebirth. "Out of the Fog" came Sloan, Joel Plaskett, and Wintersleep. One-eyed Trouser begat The Trews. And The Guthries begat Matt Mays + El Torpedo.
Below we've listed some of the hottest current local rock artists alphabetically for your perusal, and a link to more information on the artist, where you can hear their music. East Coast Rock has come a long way, baby ... and Q104 is proud to introduce you to more of the "Rock of the Atlantic".
First, let's start with the six inductees so far into the Q104 Rock Of The Atlantic "Wall Of Fame".
Q104 Rock Of The Atlantic
WALL OF FAME
April Wine
"You opened up your hearts to us ... you made us all feel good"
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Inducted November 28, 2008 ... at Q104's 25th Anniversary "Quarter Century Concert". The idea was to reunite Jim, David, and Ritchie Henman with Myles Goodwyn onstage for the first time - all four original April Wine members - since 1971. Unfortunately, Myles was taken ill en route to Halifax and the current April Wine lineup were not able to play the show! Several of the night's peformers, including Joel Plaskett, Matt Mays, 54.40, Mike Trask, and Charlie A'Court, let loose on April Wine classics, and the tribute continued with a great audio/video presentation.
Above: Original April Wine members, l to r: Ritchie, David, and
Jim Henman, backstage at the Cunard Centre.
Above: JC Douglas caught up with Myles Goodwyn a few months later, to award him the "rock fingers" trophy, backstage at the
Tour Tech Christmas Party.
The Great Scots
"For blazing the trail ... rock 'n' roll never forgets"
Inducted May 8, 2009 ... during their reunion show at The Seahorse. They changed their name from The Beavers to The Great Scots in 1963, and donned their trademark kilts. These five Halifax/South Shore boys directly influenced Myles Goodwyn and the Henman boys, later to become April Wine. They went on to score national and regional hits with songs like "Give Me Lovin'" and "Don't Want Your Love", and played every big U.S. music show in the mid-60's, from "Shingdig!" to "American Bandstand". The Great Scots took up residence in New York, then L.A., and were poised for massive stardom, when the group was finally torn apart by the Vietnam War. Bassist, David Isner, was drafted into the U.S. military in 1968. At their first public show in over 40 years, Anna Zee, Tom Bedell and JC Douglas awarded the Q104 "rock fingers" trophy to The Great Scots.
Above: The Great Scots, backstage at The Seahorse, May 8, 2008.
Rear, l to r: Current drumer Gary Feener, singer Gerry "Rick" McNeil, rhythm guitarist Wayne Forrest, lead guitarist/vocalist Bill Schnare, original drummer/now keyboardist Jerry Archer, and bassist David H. Isner. Front, l to r: Anna Zee, Tom Bedell, and JC Douglas.
Matt Minglewood
"For always finding the right chord ...
Keep on rockin' the blues."
Inducted June 6, 2009 ... during his show at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Dalhouse Arts Centre. For 40+ years of rockin' the East Coast Blues, Tom Bedell awarded Matt Minglewood the Q104 "rock fingers".
Above and below: Matt Minglewood with the coveted Q104
"rock fingers" trophy.
Sloan
"Between The Bridges, between the Marquee and the Moon ...
For always being Nova Scotian boys."
Inducted August 2, 2009 ... during their set at Q104's Rock Fest on the Garrison Grounds, Citadel Hill. Sloan changed the Halifax rock scene for good, forever. Emerging first under the name Kearney Lake Road, singer/bassist Chris Murphy (late of the local band, Black Pool), along with Irish-born singer/guitarist Patrick Pentland, singer/guitarist Jay Ferguson, and singer/drummer Andrew Scott, were the first Halifax band since April Wine and Minglewood to become long-term hitmakers on a national basis. First, as a promising signing by David Geffen's behemoth Geffen Records, where they were bound to become an afterthought. But more importantly, Sloan established their own label, Murderecords, in 1992, to produce their music as well as local acts such as Al Tuck, Stinkin' Rich, Hip Club Groove, Thrush Hermit, The Super Friendz, and CFA's The Inbreds, Newfoundland's The Hardship Post, and Moncton's Eric Trip. This wave of local talent on record was a major contributor to Halifax's reputation in the early 90s as "The Next Seattle". Twenty years later and then some, Sloan are still going strong.
Above: JC Douglas plays sidekick to Sloan's Chris Murphy, onstage at Citadel Hill, receiving Q104's "rock fingers" trophy.
The Trews
"For singing our hardships away
Sing your hearts out, you got more to say ..."
Inducted December 2, 2012 ... during their live appearance in 'Studio Q'. The band kindly showed off the Q "Devil's Horns" trophy onstage that evening during their acoustic performance at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.
First featured on the Q in their days as "One I'd Trouser", and later "Trouser", once the band settled on "The Trews" (a type of Scottish trouser), Q104 became the first radio station in the Antigonish band's home region to sign on with major airplay support, right out of the gate with their debut self-titled EP.
From there it was major airplay nationally and there was no stopping The Trews. One of the most creative songwriting and live bands in the world today.
Above: The Trews proudly pose with the Q104 "rock fingers" ... l to r: Sean Dalton, Colin MacDonald, John-Angus MacDonald, and Jack Syperek.
Oakley
"Rock 'n' roll gypsies
Who lived it, and loved it ..."
Inducted April 13, 2013 ... sadly, the first Wall Of Fame induction with a posthumous component. Of the five member Oakley lineup that recorded their self-titled album in 1980, which unfortunately turned out to be their only release, we lost Bill McCauley first, in 2000, of complications from diabetes. April 6th of 2013, Ritchie Oakley died after a series of strokes over a few months, and an extended hospital stay.
Following Ritchie's funeral a week later, a large gathering of friends and musical "family" honoured him in what was a essentially a rock 'n' roll "wake", jamming for hours at Monte's showbar in Dartmouth. To begin the event, Q104's JC Douglas inducted the three surviving members of that classic Oakley lineup into the "Rock of the Atlantic" Wall Of Fame. Wayne Nicholson (vocals), Bruce Dixon (bass), and Doug "Dog" MacKay (drums) accepted the award, then kicked ass on several Oakley classics and more of their favourites, partying like it was 1979. James Logan filled in Ritchie's parts with aplomb (and even re-taught some of their old songs to the boys!), and Rick Edgett did some guest shredding as well. But it was the first day it was clear how much we'd miss Ritchie ... so strange hearing those songs without him nailing those riffs.
This induction also recognizes Ritchie Oakley's 50 years of rockin' the Atlantic and beyond. With recording bands dating back to 1965 with The Five Sounds, Central Nervous System (late 60s), Soma in the 70s, and then Oakley. In the late 70s, Oakley, the band, rose from the ashes of Soma and Truro's "Horse", from which came "Dog" MacKay and Wayne Nicholson. The chemistry of Ritchie's new band was undeniable, and their self-titled 1980 release was a landmark in East Coast rock, selling massive numbers in their home region and across the country. Three singles extended the life of the album over two years while the boys toured incessantly, and at least five tracks from the record demand regular airplay to this day on the Mighty Q: "Rock n Roll Gypsies", "Ride 'Em Cowboy", "Stickin' With You", "Guitar Man", and the ballad classic, "I Almost Call Your Name".
Above: Posing with the lauded Q104 "rock fingers" ... l to r: Wayne Nicholson, Doug "Dog" MacKay, and Bruce Dixon.
Charlie A'Court
Age Of Daze
Air Traffic Control
http://airtrafficcontrol.ca/live/
Alert The Medic
Matt Andersen
Black Moor
John Campbelljohn
Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold
Chris Colepaugh (& The Cosmic Crew)
The Danger Bees
Faded Blue
www.myspace.com/fadedbluerocks
Fed Pennies
Gloryhound
Grand Theft Bus
"Halifax Plugged In VII"
Click here for Tom Bedell's "Route 104" interview with Dennis Field of Denmark Productions
Hey Rosetta!
Andrew Hunter and the Gatherers
Hupman Brothers
Ian Janes
http://musicnovascotia.ca
Chris Kirby
http://chriskirbyonline.com
Levy Step
http://www.levystepmusic.ca
Long Distance Runners
www.thelongdistancerunners.com
Garrett Mason
Mir
Jon Mullane
1989 Q104 Homegrown Finalist – as "Jonathan M"
www.jonmullane.com
David Myles
davidmyles.com
Ross Neilsen (and The Sufferin' Bastards)
The Novaks
Paper Lions
www.myspace.com/paperlionsmusic
Brett Ryan
www.brettryanmusic.com
Shelter With Thieves
2008 champs of "Your Father's Moustache Battle of the Bands" presented by Q104
www.shelterwiththieves.com
Ian Sherwood
Slowcoaster
2001 champs of the Alexander Keith's Q104 "Rock of the Atlantic" Band Showdown
2010 winner of Radio Star national songwriting competition - Nova Scotia (Steven MacDougall), sponsored by Q104
www.slowcoaster.ca
Jay Smith
Soho Ghetto
http://sohoghetto.bandcamp.com
The Stanfields
Jonny Stevens
www.myspace.com/jonnystevensmusic
Stone Mary
Carleton Stone
Thom Swift
www.thomswift.com
Tom Fun Orchestra
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tom-Fun-Orchestra/5854229674
The Town Heroes
Carmen Townsend
Mike Trask
2007 champs of "Your Father's Moustache Battle of the Bands" presented by Q104
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Trask-Acoustic/128741543463
