Alright Alright

As soon as this song started I was expecting to see 60’s go-go dancers swinging their arms and doing the “Watusi” (look that one up), and they totally delivered.

Sounds like: The 1960’s Arctic Monkeys - AlanCross.ca

A reminder that Elektra Records' series of 'Nuggets' compilations have inspired many a two minute pop song amongst those looking to eschew musicianship in favour of rocking out and looking very, very cool. - NxNE Festival

There’s a kind of simplicity to Alright Alright; the band makes straight ahead power-pop songs fraught with catchy hooks and a retro sensibility about them. The entirety of their recently released four-song EP, Girl, clocks in at right around thirteen minutes; there’s no time for frills or drawn out solos. Alright Alright is comfortable saying what they have to say and leaving it at that. No need to dress it up.

And that’s a completely fine attribute to have. In a musical era where much seems to be made about adding electronic flourishes and other oddities to songs, it’s refreshing to listen to a straight four-piece: guitar, vocals, drums, bass. It’s a classic lineup for a classic sound. As far as contemporaries, think of The Kooks and you’re there.

Alright Alright hails from Toronto, and the band is playing on the Friday of NxNE in their hometown. They’re an earlier show – going on at 9 at Cameron House – but if you’re unable to catch them at the festival, the band has a few dates before and after their NxNE appearance around Toronto as well. - Tympanogram.com

They live here, they play here, and now these Oakville band members have come out with an EP that they plan to perform here.

The rock band Alright Alright has just produced its second CD, a four-track untitled album. There is no word yet when they will hold a CD release party, but the band aims to do it sometime this summer.

The project took six to seven months to produce and follows the band’s first EP in 2008, Is this a Lion or a Factory?

Lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Omar Saab said the band takes its influenced from garage rock of the 1950s and 60s and from artists such as The Beatles, The Clash, Elvis Costello along with Motown and pop music.

“You can hear our influences all over,” he said

It is perhaps the varying influences and sound styles that the band has decided to release two short albums and is already in the beginning stages of a third.

“We kind of always enjoyed the concept of having multiple CDs, instead of just one CD with everything we’ve got. We like the aspect of giving people a little bit and a little more,” Saab said.

“Our style kind of ranges. There’s certain songs that will go together well and there’s certain songs that we want to plan for the next EP that will have more fluidity to it. We want to keep some continuity in the EP.”

The band consists of longtime friends and close neighbours including Saab, Graeme Moffatt, songwriter and bassist, Dave McCamus, guitarist, and Curtis Courtemanche, drummer.

All, save Moffatt, graduated Abbey Park High School in 2007. Moffatt instead went to Cawthra Park Secondary School for the arts in Mississauga. Despite one member attending a different school, they were all close friends and neighbours and played together. It was when they graduated that they became more serious about their art and began writing and recording their own tracks.

The band currently has more than a dozen tracks at its disposals and performs regularly around Oakville and beyond.

The most recent CD was recorded in Moffatt’s basement and mastered in a recording studio.

“That has been our long-time rehearsal space,” Saab said, of why the group chose the basement to record, “so it was a factor of comfort and that’s a very important part of the recording process.”

The new CD has not yet been distributed to stores but is available at Alright Alright concerts. CD price is $5. People can also listen to the CD on the band’s myspace page at www.myspace.com/alrightalrightband. The band’s next Oakville show is on Friday, July 30 at Less Than Level, 381 Kerr St., at 9 p.m.


- Metroland Media

Fans of traditional rock and roll often find Toronto-based band, Alright Alright right up their alley.

The band recently played Toronto’s International Indie Week and released its second EP titled Girl, which includes four new tracks.

Alright Alright has turned influences such as The Beatles, Velvet Underground and The Clash into their own contemporary twist on rock and roll.

Alright Alright began in 2007 when all four musicians from Oakville joined forces.

Lead singer Omar Saab said he would describe the band as energetic with a pop sensibility.

“We really enjoy songs within a two- to four-minute time frame,” said Saab.

The band also includes members Graeme Moffatt, a Humber College music student, on bass, Dave McCamus covering lead guitar and Curtis Courtemanche on drums. Moffatt and Saab work together as a lyrical duo.

The band got its name the trademark expression of Matthew McConaughey’s character in the movie Dazed and Confused.

Throughout the past two years Alright Alright has been playing shows in small venues around downtown Toronto such as the Rivoli and even the University of Guelph’s frosh week in 2009.

“Playing the Sound of Music festival with the Stills was probably one of our biggest highlights this past year,” said McCamus.

Alright Alright’s manager, Ayman Saab, Omar’s brother, joined the team following the release of the first EP Is this a Lion or a Factory?

“We want to play shows with bands that fall under the same genre as us and also get the chance to meet other artists,” he said.

Alright Alright’s new EP will be sold at shows for $5 or people can check out some of the band’s tracks at www.myspace.com/alrightalrightband.

- Humber College

Five Oakville bands duked it out in the first round of Metroland’s Best of the West Battle of the Bands competition, with Alright Alright coming out on top.
The local band received the most online votes and will move onto next week’s championship round, where it will take on the winners from Milton and Burlington.

Omar Saab, vocalist and guitarist with Alright Alright said the band was overjoyed with the victory.

“It’s quite a thrill,” he said. “We had entered it knowing there is a lot of talent in Oakville, but it was through networking and fantastic support that we won, so we really owe it all to them.”

Alright Alright was up against Everywhere, The Orange Freestate, Icarus, and Fries With That. Saab said he checked out the videos posted by the other groups and was impressed by what he saw.

“It just shows there is quite a lot of talent in the area and we knew it was going to be a stiff competition after listening to the other bands,” he said. “It is something for our area to really be proud of.”

The band officially formed under the name Alright Alright two years ago. It consists of four Oakville natives, who are all aged 19. Members include Saab, bassist Graeme Moffatt, guitarist Dave McCamus and drummer Curtis Courtemanche.

However, their friendship goes further back than the band’s birth two years ago.

“Three of us went to Abbey Park High School together and our bass player, Graeme, went to Cawthra School of Arts, but he had gone to elementary school with Dave, our guitarist, so they had always been playing with each other,” said Saab.

Saab said he classifies Alright Alright’s music as rock ‘n’ roll.

“Our main influences are people like The Clash, The Beatles and Buddy Holly,” he said. “At the end of the day, we like to think we are a rock ‘n’ roll band. I think we offer something a bit more unique. Mainly what we listen to is older music, so it kind of rubs off on our sound.”

The band has already enjoyed success. It has opened for many established acts, such as Dala, Hello Beautiful, Ronnie Hawkins, as well as headlined their own sold-out show at The Edge studios in Toronto.

The group released a four-song demo disc Friday night at a concert at the Rivoli in Toronto. A full-length album is a long-term goal for the group.

“The plan right now is to release some demos first to get our name out there,” Saab said.

The group performs a lot of original material. Most of the songs are written by Saab and Moffatt, who was the musical genius behind Girl, the winning entry for this competition.

“The bass player and I are the main writers, but everyone in the band puts in their parts because they are all talented in what they do and we all bring something to the table,” said Saab. “The best part is that the songs keep coming. We write about what we know, about being young and the things that happen. We write about real-life experiences because we know people can relate to that.”

The four guys still call Oakville home, although Courtemanche is temporarily away at school in Guelph.

They are all pursuing post-secondary education, with Saab working on a general arts degree at the University of Toronto, Moffatt and McCamus studying music and Courtemanche taking a degree in hotel administration.

Despite going to school and working, the four guys are devoted to Alright Alright. Right now, they are performing gigs about once a week. During the summer, they expect to be playing at least two to three shows a week.

“You have to pay for the gas and recording costs, so we all have jobs, but music is a priority,” Saab said. “It is sometimes hard getting everyone together to practice, but we still manage to make it work. It is kind of like a long-distance relationship. This is something we are all committed to. It would be ideal if we could continue to do this for the rest of our lives.”

Saab said making good music is the main objective of the band.

“The vision is to get our music out there and for as many people to enjoy it as possible,” he said. “And for us to continue to love what we are doing.”

The group is managed by Saab’s brother, Ayman, who jokingly agreed he deserves a raise after not only being the person who found out about Metroland’s Best of the West competition, but also for helping organize the entry and press information.

If you want Oakville band Alright Alright to beat out Burlington’s We Are Bravest and Milton’s No Reason to Stay, make your vote count by going to our homepage and click on the Metroland’s Best of the West link under the features heading.

Voting starts on Monday, March 23 and will close on Sunday, March 29. The winner will be announced the following week.

“We’re asking Oakville for their votes,” Saab said. “We’re just hoping for the best and we wish nothing but the best of luck to the other bands.”

The winning band will be featured in the Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Flamborough newspapers, and will have the opportunity to play at the renowned Burlington Sound of Music Festival this summer.

“The Sound of Music Festival is a fun event and we’ve attended it many times, so it would be amazing to play it,” Saab said. “It would be a great opportunity.” - Tina Depko, Oakville Beaver Staff

That was a great set at The Rivoli for Pop With Brains. A stew of pounding high-energy rock with catchy rhythms and a brash edge. A chiming spirit in full bloom. Onwards and upwards for the band. - Lonely Vegabond