The Lovebullies

The Lovebullies, When I Get Through With You -

Just because these Calgary veterans are clearly having fun, doesn't mean there isn't considerable craft found on this loving homage to 1960s, surf-loving, girl-band guitar pop. Guitarists Kevin Herring and Chantal

Vitalis have developed some fearsome chops and at least four of the songs reach harmonious, jangle-rock perfection. Just try and keep from smiling when you listen to it.

- Calgary Herald

Spotlight

The Lovebullies perform Friday at the Ironwood Stage & Grill.

Q: You recorded your debut album When I Get Through With You at Calgary's Audities Foundation, what made you want to go to a big studio when a lot of indie acts are going the lo-fi, record-in-the-basement route?

A: We really wanted something that sounded professional. I have recording stuff in my basement and a lot of the other musicians do too. But we wanted to put it in the hands of someone who wasn't in the band. (Audities producer David Kean) was really able to capture a vintage sound. We were lucky that he has so many vintage keyboards. We usually don't have a keyboard player, but it's great to have access to those instruments. He also had vibes already there. It was nice to have those actual instruments and not digital simulations of sounds.

Q: The songs (written by Vitalis and Caroline Connolly) certainly recall another era. Was it a conscious decision to pay homage to the 1950s and 1960s guitar pop sound?

A: I guess it was sort of intentional, for me at least. I wanted to play music that was fun and when I think of fun, that is the era I think of. (Guitarist Kevin Herring) was really helpful, he's been playing rockabilly for long time and played with (rockabilly great) Ronnie Hayward. He was very much into retro guitar sounds.

Q: I noticed there are a number of YouTube postings of the band. What has YouTube and MySpace meant for indie bands?

A: I think it's really great. Those weren't posted by anyone in the band. It's just great that those are available. At least there's nothing on there that can embarrass us that has been posted yet. I might change my mind in six months.

Q: The songs on the album have a old-school girl group sound to it, like the Shangri-Las and Lesley Gore. Were those performers an influence?

A: There's definitely something melodramatic to it and we are a bit melodramatic, too. It's that borderline cheesy, melodramatic and a little bit tongue in cheek for sure. But it's also very real.

Q: You name Miss Patti Page as an influence on your MySpace site. She was just in town performing at the age of 80. Do you think you guys will still be playing at that age?

A: I bought tickets for my mom and dad to see the show for Christmas! I think it would be great if we were still playing at the age of 80. Most of us have already been playing for the past 20 years. I couldn't foresee not doing it for another 20 years.
- Calgary Herald

Posted By Reagen Sulewski

Posted Feb 1, 2010

Whatever you might call the event vintage-pop group The Lovebullies is holding, don't call it a CD release party.

That's because their latest album, Swang Swang Swang, isn't available on CD.

"We think that CDs are going to become obsolete pretty soon," said one of the lead singers of the group, Caroline Connolly, who lives in Cochrane.

Instead, the album's only physical format will be on vinyl record, though in a nod to the 21st Century, each album will come with a card for an mp3 download. The album will have its debut at The Local 522 in Calgary on Feb. 6, starting at 8 p.m.

The format fits the mood of the album, which is composed of lounge-style and girl-pop songs that hearken back to the glory days of '50s and '60s pop music.

Connolly said the band's release strategy isn't radical and more bands are choosing vinyl over CD.

"Here in Alberta it seems pretty cutting edge to be releasing on vinyl, but in other places it's the norm," she said.

Connolly praises the tactile nature of a vinyl record, the giant packaging and smoother sound quality, which she said listeners pay more attention to.

"You can hear every nuance in the music on the vinyl way better than you can on CD. Mp3s are square, they have edges, where vinyl is more like waves on the ocean," Connolly said.

Connolly and her writing partner Chantal Vitalis write songs with a retro-sensibility in mind, emphasizing melody and harmony, two things they feel are missing in much of today's modern pop music.

"I think people really love melody and our songs are very upbeat, they're not dark, they're not angst ridden. They're love songs, but I would happily get my heart broken to get a love song like this," said Connolly.

Connolly said these kinds of songs spoke to her even when she was going through her punk-rock phase as a teenager and 20-something.

"Even in the '80s when I was walking around dressing like a punk rocker and dancing by myself at the Warehouse, I was going home and listening to Patsy Cline," she said. "I think those are just the voices that have been with me and the sounds that have been with me."

Connolly also likes to incorporate humour into her songs, keeping her music fun and lively.

"The worst thing an artist can ever do is take themselves too seriously," she said.

"I'm about entertaining and not being exclusive and I just think people like to feel good and have fun and be entertained. And I think that's the best way to do it sometimes, is be whimsical and a little silly."

For their live shows, the group dresses the part, complete with miniskirt dresses and go-go boots, daring as that may be.

"We're not afraid at 44-years-old to let our booties hang out a little. People do listen with their eyes, so we give them that, the visual and the music," said Connolly.

The release party for Swang Swang Swang takes place Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. at The Local 522, at 522 6 Ave SW in Calgary. Tickets are $20 and include an mp3 download of the album. - Cochrane Times

By Heath McCoy, Canwest News Service
February 8, 2010

Doris Day at the lesbian wedding of sexual provocateur Annie Sprinkle?

Just picture it. The feminine symbol of white-picket fence America serenading the self-proclaimed "post-porn modernist" as the latter married her lady lover, breasts bared all the while.

What an image. And what a subversive notion.

Obviously Day, the American singer and actress, wasn't really at the Sprinkle wedding, which was presented as a performance art piece three years ago as part of Calgary's High Performance Rodeo.

But songwriter Chantal Vitalis did her best to conjure up Day's spirit with her song "The Gayest Wedding Ever," which she sang for the colourful couple on that merry day.

Now the song is available on Swang Swang Swang, the sophomore album from Vitalis' Calgary band, The Lovebullies, and the guitarist doesn't mind a bit if it pushes people's buttons, even though she insists that wasn't her intent.

"I'd be pleased if some right wing straight group, if it sort of got under their radar," says Vitalis. "With the word gay in it, it's bound to attract attention. . . . I don't mean to necessarily push people's buttons. . . . It's a little tongue-in-cheek wink-and-a-nod thing ... and I think it's kind of funny."

Vitalis says she doesn't see the song as being pro-gay marriage. Instead, she characterizes it as simply "pro-marriage," adding: "I don't differentiate one from the other. You are what you are and if you want to get married you should be able to. . . . It's a shame that it's still an issue."

Indeed, the legality of same-sex marriage is still being fought over tooth and nail in the United States. In Canada, same-sex marriage is legal.

But Vitalis accurately points out that the song itself does not take a direct stand on the topic. "Artistically, it reminds me of Doris Day," she says. "It's like an innocent song from a bygone era. . . . It's pretty innocuous and benign sounding."

True enough, the sunny tune is full of cute lyrical double entendres. The gay wedding mentioned could just as easily be read as a happy affair. When the narrator looks in the mirror and sings "I've never felt queerer," one could argue that's simply a case of the pre-wedding jitters.

But to Caroline Connolly, the Lovebullies' lead singer, her bandmate's intent is clear.

"I think it's definitely a pro-gay marriage song, for sure," Connolly says. "If you're talking about Chantal, subversive is her middle name."

But the hot-button topic is handled with the same sense of fun that The Lovebullies are known for, Connolly adds.

The band, whose sound pays homage to the girl groups of the 1960s, typically sings vintage pop songs rooted in such staple themes of the genre as love, heartache and lust in the back seat of a car.

On that note, "Golden Cadillac," a song penned by Connolly, is perhaps her dearest song on Swang Swang Swang.

The tune, given a spicy vocal delivery by Connolly, is an ode to the 1970 Cadillac Sedan de Ville hardtop that she once owned and cherished.

She fondly remembers the old vehicle, which she drove for years to gigs.

"There's something about a Cadillac that just goes hand in hand with rock 'n' roll," Connolly says. "They're loud, fast and sexy."

© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service



Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Lovebullies+lust+Cadillacs/2536674/story.html#ixzz0fg2qsSg6

- Calgary Herald

February 10, 2010
By: Lindsay Wilson

A band has exploded into the mainstream with a sound that takes their audience back to the 50s and 60s — an era sporting beehives and go-go dancers, accompanied by memorable tunes that get stuck in your head.

The Lovebullies are a six-piece band bringing vintage pop back to the masses.

“We call it that (vintage pop) because it’s reminiscent of the 60s girl bands,” says Cochrane native and lead vocalist Caroline Connolly.

“The sound is upbeat, with upbeat love songs layered with harmonies. People hear our original songs and think they’ve heard them before,”

“We dress the part – short dresses and go-go boots, and we pay a lot of attention to our hair,” laughed Connolly.

The performance value of this band is second only to the tightness of their sound, which has taken them four years of practices and gigs to develop into what it now is today.

The Lovebullies are made up of Caroline Connolly (lead vocals, flute), Chantel Vitalis (lead guitar, backup vocals), Kevin Herring (lead guitar), Joni Brent (bass), Andrea Revel (vibraphone, percussion, backup vocals) and Paul Jahn (drums).

The most recent success for the band was their album release Feb. 6 for their record, Swang Swang Swang, which features 11 original tracks, at the Local 522 club in Calgary.

The club was packed, and the stage was full of instrumentation, with guest appearances made by Ron Casat and Mike Little on the Hammond B-3 Organ. Calgary rockabilly band, Alien Rebels, set the tone for the fun-filled night by opening up for the vintage pop band.

The Lovebullies made the careful choice to record on vinyl and MP3 download, rather than on CD. This trend of reverting back to vinyl is becoming increasingly popular with bands today, despite the extensive mastering process and the cost — about four times more than a CD.

“From an audio standpoint, vinyl is superior, and there’s a renaissance towards vinyl right now,” explains Connolly.

The Lovebullies released their new album in Calgary Feb. 6. Caroline Connolly from Cochrane, centre, is the lead singer.

An interesting part of the recording process for The Lovebullies is the studio they recorded their album in.
Recorder and producer David Kean of the Audities Foundation, a non-profit recording studio based out of California, has a charitable foundation located in Bearspaw.

The studio is something of a museum on display. Part of the foundation’s mission is to preserve electronic musical instruments, featuring a collection that numbers over 150 pieces.

“It’s a world class studio in Bearspaw, with a collection of vintage instruments and rare recording equipment,” said an amazed Connolly.

The Lovebullies are not planning a tour just yet, but hope to record more orignals. They have considerable support from radio stations such as local CBC, CJSW and CKUA, but the band would like to start getting into the mainstream radio market – which is one of the biggest ways to get noticed and gain fans.

“Expanding the fan base is really huge for us right now,” explains Connolly.

With a busy year of bookings up ahead, the Lovebullies look forward to lighting up the stage with their unique stylings and groovy tunes.

The Lovebullies can be contacted at 403-932-4544 or at www.thelovebullies.com.

To learn more about the Audities Foundation, or for a tour, visit www.audities.org.

- Cochrane Eagle

By: James Callsen

Calgary is a cowboy town.

There. I said it. There are hundreds, if not thousands, in the Stampede City who are trying to kill the 1000-foot tall cowpoke that seems to tower over this city, but they can't. Calgary is built on the spirit of the cowboy. Not your gun-slinging John Wayne, George W. Bush cowboy spirit, but the independent, hard-working, who - gives - a - fuck - what's - happening - everywhere - else - let's - do - it - OUR - way spirit.

It's that mindset that's created a scene that's incredibly unique, full of attitude and heart and always ready for a challenge. In fact, challenge is actually a word I would use to describe this affluent city of a million. It's a challenge to get to work through mind-splitting gridlock. It's a challenge not to punch Abercrombie & Fitch-wearing douchebags with their gold-digging oil bunnies strolling down 17th avenue on a Saturday night. It's also a challenge to be a musician, or a music fan, in a city where anything artistic, gutsy and above all else, original, permanently sits on the back burner next to things like development, profit and some mega-millionaire club owner's idea of what entertainment should be. (Hint: It seems to involve fake breasts, waitresses wearing holsters and bars named after vaguely "western" things.) A venue trying to promote original music is going to have a hard time convincing their landlord not to increase their rent when a sports bar could easily make five times the profit in the same spot.

But we're here to talk about music, not real estate, aren't we?

The independent streak that runs through Calgary has resulted in some of the most original music you've likely never heard. Take a stroll into one of the dozen (or so) venues on a Friday night, and you could find a '60s girl pop band like The Lovebullies mashed up against the brunt force of an alt-country powerhouse like The Culls. And you know what? The mixture of accountants, construction workers and coked-out kids sporting American Apparel don't care if it doesn't seem right on paper. It works.

Broken City is seen by many as the epicentre of Calgary's downtown scene. Here you'll find wood floors, cheap cans of Lucky Lager and kids in skinny jeans getting off at the Celebrity Hot Tub dance party, or getting down to The Ostrich (one of Calgary's biggest bands that even Calgarians don't know exist). With their tall cans in the air, there's sometimes a fake aura of hipster cool . . . You get the feeling the hipsters are dressing how they think the kids do in Brooklyn, wearing ironic moustaches and praising whatever Spin says is cool. Scenesters aside, you're likely to find something good to dig at Broken City, five days a week.

If there's one place that sums up Calgary's rise to a challenge, its independent spirit and its western roots, it's The Palomino. Sometimes going there feels like you're entering the Alamo because it's basically crack central on the 7th Avenue C-train line. Going outside for a smoke involves scaring away crackheads and drunks. Get inside and it's everything about this city in a bundle. Old Nashville show prints on the wall, lots of rough cut wood, southern smoked BBQ and some of the city's best, diverse music on its basement stage. In a span of a night you could wind up seeing the intelligence of metal/riot girls Kilbourne backed with the poppy-mod-nice guy punks The Neckers or the surf cum spaghetti western-flavoured Ramblin' Ambassadors.

If one wants to venture further out into the suburbs, four miles from downtown, you can find music's last stand in open country. The Stetson has been booking . . . well, basically anyone who wants to play for the past three years, and if there is a sense of "fuck y'all, I'm from Calgary," it's the bunker on McLeod Trail. The Stetson feels like you're at your dad's bar or in Pantera's basement, but it plays home to some of the hardest, most honest acts in the city – folks who don't care they're not playing downtown, or playing to the cool kids.

Oiltown even has a hip hop scene. Yes it's small, but its epicentre is fresh. A guy like Nova Scotia native Ricca Razor Sharp sums up the cross section of Canadians making their home here. Rhyming in his east coast twang, Ricca (aka Jonathan Stoddart) sets Cowtown stereotypes on their head, proving to anyone who cares to listen that we're not all a bunch of oil drilling hicks.

Rolling through town any day of the year (save the ten days of inane debauchery known as the Stampede) you'll find a city based on energy dollars and commercialism, but underneath the layers of concrete and suburbia, you'll find pockets of the real. When one listens to The Evidence, you feel the urgency of the city. It's ever-changing and ever-growing. Turning on The Dudes transforms a sunny afternoon on The Ship & Anchor patio (bar none, the best patio on earth) where all is good and righteous. Cranking The Martyr Index brings out the frustrations in all of us, when rent is sky high and homelessness is on the rise.

Our neighbours to the east and on the coast may sneer, but when you peel away the layers of plastic, polish and oil money, the substance is real. Vancouver may be more open minded, Montreal may have the scene and Toronto could be where it happens, but you can take your western stereotypes and burn them. With original music, no bullshit and welcoming faces, Calgary comes second to none. - SoundProof

Nostalgia reigns supreme in this week’s concert listings
Published June 5, 2008 by Peter Hemminger in Music Previews

It would appear the recent spate of nasty weather has Calgary’s musicians longing for better times. This week, the keyword for concerts is nostalgia.

Chances are good that anyone heading to Broken City on Thursday, June 5 is too young to have lived through the doo-wop era — it’s been awhile since neighbourhood toughs gathered around flaming garbage cans to work on their harmonies. That’s not stopping the fine ladies of Woodpigeon from stepping into the role of The Pigeonettes, the girl group Phil Spector would have killed for (is that tasteless?). Add in The Lovebullies, a bake sale and a post-concert 1950s dance party, and you have one boss night — and that’s the word from the bird. - ffwd fast forward weekly