The Cheap Speakers

(Sat. Oct. 19th 2013 w/ Chang-A-Lang) - NOW (Toronto)

"Back in February iM premiered Switches & Levers, the excellent debut full-length from Toronto rock quartet The Cheap Speakers - an album that shifts between rock-and-roll cut from the jib of The Who, Talking Heads, The Cars, and Pink Floyd ... Directed/Produced by the Cheap Speakers themselves ... here we’re treated to a straight-up performance video with a certain meticulousness ..." - The Indie Machine (Toronto)

"A cross between Sonic Youth and Bloc Party (with a plethora of other tones bubbling through) ... the quartet finishes the night bigger than they started ... truly [delivered] a show." - The Baron UNB (Saint John)

"The group are keeping pace with the other up and coming artists of this time, and the release of the new video for their single 'She Has A System' is evidence of what they have to offer. A catchy and explosive sound makes for a great live show that sounds just like the record, and let’s the music speak for itself." - Anything But Nickelback (Toronto)

"Like any good band with a ton of talent, singing duties are shared between vocalists Natalia Manzocco and Brennan Gault, both providing a very different musical style per song. Its a little bit indie, a little bit rock, and a little bit pop, but most importantly, it's all the Cheap Speakers and it's all good." - Scene Magazine (Halifax)

"All of this hit its peak when The Cheap Speakers played a set of blistering, explosive rock n' roll, with the fury of The Who and the sludge of The Velvet Underground. We all left feeling like we'd experienced something really special - like we were in on a secret that was going to blow away the town. Everyone can experience some of that magic when The Cheap Speakers play at Bistro de Paris this Saturday, September 21st." - Midnight Poutine / Freshdaily (Montreal)

"The Cheap Speakers sound incorporates the poppier elements of Sloan’s music, and fuses it with a thick crunchy layer of guitars (think Veruca Salt’s 'Volcano Girls’). You should definitely check the track out and then hit up the Company House on the 26th of September where they will be sharing the stage with Halifax’s own (and HAFILAX favorites) This Ship." - HAFILAX (Halifax)

"The Cheap Speakers (an indie four-piece powerpop group out of Toronto) make their only stop in Halifax at The Company House ... it’s bound to be a great show. Head on down!" - The Halifax Musicphile (Halifax)

"... a genre-bending mix ... with Switches & Levers breaking the top 30 in a lot of cities, including a No. 2 slot in Saint John." - HERE (New Brunswick)

"Having issued their debut LP Switches & Levers earlier this year, Toronto indie-rock outfit the Cheap Speakers will now support the [album] with a fall Canadian tour." - Exclaim! (Toronto)

"Good DIY indie performance video. Nice work." - Alan Cross (Toronto)

"... packs a rock n roll punch, ranging from slow burning ballads to barnstorming riffs ... VERY cool stuff." (****/5) - Gonzo Online (Kelowna)

"One of my new favorite bands right here, folks. This song is current and classic all at once." - Anything But Nickelback (Toronto)

"The Cheap Speakers are power-pop favourites exploding in Toronto’s competitive music scene, who are starting to tour in support of their recent debut release, Switches & Levers." - The Independent (Windsor)

"Toronto fan favourites." - New Music Ten (Toronto)

"[The Cheap Speakers] have handily transcended their indie roots in one fell swoop with their performances on Switches & Levers ... the angle at which the band bounces its classic four-piece configuration off [the] eternal problems is a source of the real pleasure here as they play the spaces between the notes to great effect." (B+) - Scene Magazine (London)

"[Switches & Levers], released last week, is a strong follow-up ..." - The Lance (Windsor)

"... [The Cheap Speakers] are back with 11 tracks written by Gault, and better than ever." - The Indie Machine (Toronto)

"... the pretty pop song 'Window' from their newest album took on a life of its own, transforming into a hard-hitting rock explosion ..."

"... there was quite the full house out to celebrate the band’s release of their album 'Switches & Levers'." - Buying Shots For Bands (Toronto)

"... Toronto power-pop quartet The Cheap Speakers has now officially released Switches & Levers. They don't deny the Kinks, Beatles, Talking Heads and Pixies as influences but listen to 'She Has a System' and one can hear early Sloan." - New Canadian Music (Toronto)

"From one of the finest new garage rock bands in the Toronto scene, [Switches & Levers] is an impressive debut that presents a band with a sense of urgency and staying power."

"It is instantly clear that The Cheap Speakers are a band who have refined their craft on the road ... [Switches & Levers] recalls the great Cancon indie rock from the beginning of the last decade." - Dinosaurus Rex (Toronto)

"It's been a banner year for The Cheap Speakers, a power–garage rock band out of Toronto. In 2011, they've captured the attention of radio stations and music websites all over Canada, scoring enviable campus chart positions and positive press ... playing at APK Live on December 9 with Paper Lions, The Balconies and The Hamptons." - Fanshawe Interrobang / Bobby Foley (London)

" ... Jules and Gideon brought back the old Round Table format and interviewed two excellent Toronto bands at the same time! Chatting with Formalists and The Cheap Speakers we discussed their different approaches to making music, and got some great performances out of both bands!" - Indie Round Table (Toronto)

"The new record has eleven energetic indie rock/pop tracks that really displays their dynamic sound in a tight package. I had a chance to chat with the band about their new album, upcoming release show, and a few surprising facts about the band." - Toronto Is Awesome (Toronto)

"... [The Cheap Speakers] are playing the CD release show for 'Switches & Levers' at the Horseshoe Tavern on March 2, 2013." - T-MAK World (Toronto)

"... like Franz Ferdinand meets Modest Mouse ... sometimes nothing beats a pair of cheap speakers." - Alan Cross Blog - Juliette Jagger (Toronto)

"... like Franz Ferdinand meets Modest Mouse ... sometimes nothing beats a pair of cheap speakers." - Alan Cross Blog - Juliette Jagger (Toronto)

"... a slick piece of work; we’re stoked for the full album." - The Indie Machine (Toronto)

"... one of Toronto's best bands." - SYNW (Toronto)

"[The band is] releasing a full length sometime soon and celebrating it’s release on March 2nd at the Horseshoe Tavern." - Ride The Tempo (Toronto)

"... I like where they're going with this song." - Alan Cross (Toronto)

"Hot ticket this Friday ..." - Canoe (Toronto)

"Indie-rockers Dilly Dally, The Cheap Speakers and Alex Pulec (guitar/vocalist for The Ruby Spirit) join the line-up as Cambridge, Ontario's band-to-watch HotKid headlines Sneaky Dees." - BlogTO (Toronto)

"... some really energetic local bands that are on the rise these days ..." - Dork Shelf (Toronto)

" ... uptempo with hooks of raw melodramatic charm ... there is something about Rancho and The Cheap Speakers that screams continuity ..." - Toronto News 24 (Toronto)

"... makes you want to dance ... played a great set to a very sweaty crowd." - The Indie Machine (Toronto)

"... what NXNE is all about ... the most insane event at NXNE 2011." - BlogTO (Toronto)

"I instantly liked this band from the moment I first caught wind of them ... a real amalgam of early '90s alt-rock and modern pop-power indie rock." - 101.5 The Wolf (Peterborough)

"Eclectic Toronto outfit The Cheap Speakers have been featured on the hill before – their debut EP prompted me to break out a Son of Berserk reference, and now will be making a trip out to the home of the hill with a show here this coming Tuesday at Gus' with Glory Glory (nee Man United) and Mad Chatter. They’ve also released a new song, the fairly rocking, and appropriately named Speak, which you can check out below." - Herohill (Halifax)

"Here's another Toronto band to add to the list ... rock vibe mixed with indie power-pop." - Ride The Tempo (Toronto)

"Here's another Toronto band to add to the list ... rock vibe mixed with indie power-pop." - Ride The Tempo (Toronto)

"Toronto's The Cheap Speakers have a new song out and The Indie Machine wants you to know about it ... we've seen these guys (and gal) before and they put on one hell of a live show!" - The Indie Machine (Toronto)

"Fresh off a big show on April 30th in hometown Toronto with Papermaps, The Cheap Speakers have released a new single – 'Speak' – to take them on tour." - Buying Shots For Bands (Toronto)

"Power-pop is a tough genre to get a handle on, but The Cheap Speakers have been perfecting their feel-good, garage-tinged version of it for three years now. Winning over fans and critics alike at their live shows in Toronto, this foursome has just released their debut, self-titled EP. With catchy hooks, impressive vocals, and dance beats that won't let you sit still, The Cheap Speakers know how to rock out without ever forgetting to have fun."

Original URL: http://www.edge.ca/Music/IndieOnline/Home.aspx - 102.1 the Edge (Toronto)

"The Cheap Speakers seemed to make it their mission to get the crowd to dance while still rocking out ... energetic drumming from Kochberg, impressive guitar work from Dafoe and powerful vocals from Gault, complemented nicely by Manzocco ..." - Buying Shots For Bands (Toronto)

"The Cheap Speakers have a garage rock vibe and unproduced sound that enhances their power pop aspirations. Their music is warm and accessible, but without the sugar-coating so associated with power pop." - The Take Media (Toronto)

"The band's CD release party goes down April 29th at Sneaky Dee's with The Cheap Speakers and Ketch Harbour Wolves – a damn fine bill." - The Indie Machine (Toronto)

"If you are new to the world of CMF or having trouble deciding who to see, here's a “Must-See” list of great bands to check out."

"The Cheap Speakers – Indie rock featuring guy-girl vocals with touches of Motown, dance-pop, and '90s alternative" - The Well Rounded (Toronto)

"... one of my personal favourites, The Cheap Speakers ("I'll Be Along") who remind me of early 90s alt-rockers the Lemonheads. If all new breakthroughs could sound as good as each artist recorded on this mix-up, rock’s future would be looking pretty good."
- SoundProof (Toronto)

"So who are we excited to see playing CMF this year ... ?" - The Take Media (Toronto)

"... a consistent force around the local concert circuit." - Dork Shelf (Toronto)

"This power-pop quartet is a heavy hitter live, taking few breaks between songs except to give thanks to the crowd and the other bands with which they shared the stage. They are loud, with tuneful riffs from Dafoe and skillful rhythm work from Kochberg, but they are also melodic. The band works well together and they put on a great set to end off the night of solid indie." - Buying Shots For Bands (Toronto)

"... a rockin', head bangin', bloody amazing set as opening acts for London, Ontario’s Raised By Swans at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern." - The Ambitious C (Toronto)

"Where the critics will be Friday" (critics' picks) - NOW Magazine (Toronto)

"Where the critics will be Friday" (critics' picks) - NOW Magazine (Toronto)

"... this EP certainly hints at some real promise for The Cheap Speakers." - Herohill (Halifax)

"... a strong debut -- and one that other bands of this ilk should look to as an example of how it should be done."

"Catchy riffs, songs that don't overstay their welcomes, solid (but not too over-polished) production values, the aforementioned strong lead singers ... the band has all of those things in spades." - i(heart)music (Ottawa)

"Tim Dafoe's guitar work on tunes like “Alibi” sets the Speakers apart from their local bar-band peers ... licks and muffled chords that sound like a puma getting smothered with a pillow." - EYE Weekly (Toronto)

"... [Natalia] Manzocco is a pleasure to watch on stage." - Sticky Magazine (Toronto)

"... immense energy in the air ... [The Cheap Speakers] had everyone doing the head bob and the leg shake." - The Take Media (Toronto)

"Every layer and texture has clearly been toiled over, and it sounds great." - Two Way Monologues (Toronto)

"... a great set at Rancho Relaxo. A side-order of hook-filled melodies, chiming guitars, rhythmic energy, giving a nod to everything from 60's pop to Big Star." - Lonely Vagabond (Toronto)