The Collapse
Calgary, Alberta, Canada | SELF
Music
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When looking at the history of the Collapse, one might find their name choice strangely, though perhaps unintentionally, fitting: with line-up changes, members moving to different cities and a self-described floundering, their name seems to anticipate their destiny. With the arrival of a new drummer, Jordan Schenstead, and vibrant new singer, Jenny Kost, the Collapse were elevated, marking what the band describes as the latest chapter in their saga: the Collapse 2.0.
“We didn’t really get started until Jenny came aboard in September this year. The four of us used to all sing and the results could vary,” says guitarist John Hadley. “We didn’t really know what we wanted to do and then we got Jenny on board and it sounded really cool.”
Kost’s enthusiasm is recognizable as she discusses being included in the line-up, beaming as Hadley comments on her addition.
“I love this band a lot. The level of creativity and freedom is amazing, particularly with John and Ken (Price, bass) because they’re the primary songwriters. I come in and they hand me something and I get to do whatever I want with it. It allows for creativity and spontaneity.”
Often when artists compare their environment for growth here in Alberta, their tone can be somewhat disheartening when comparing their location with that of Montreal or Vancouver. However, the Collapse thrives off Albertan pride, not denying their homeland or its complexities, but finding inspiration in its contradictions.
“I was meeting a lot of people from the Maritimes with such a rich musical history and I would wind up at a party and they would say, ‘Play some of your Albertan songs!’” describes Price. “I’ve always wanted to start developing and finding an Albertan history that can match that.”
Hadley discusses Alberta in much the same way as his bandmate, while admitting to still finding challenges in understanding the most famous of all Albertan stereotypes: an obsession with country music.
“I moved to Calgary and I found myself listening and getting into the country side of Bob Dylan and picking up more and more instruments,” he says. “Country music started making more sense. I mean it still is a really big mystery, but I like its stories about everyday life and people who aren’t scenesters or something like that.”
“When people think about Alberta, they think about business driven, oil driven people, but there are so many beautiful things about this province,” adds Kost. “It provides such rich ground for exploring… For me it’s important that people look at Alberta and say, ‘Yeah, it’s an oil (province), but it’s also beautiful landscapes, wonderful people and interesting stories.’ I think we make a concerted effort to make that come across in our music. It’s important to us.”
“Our influences are really all over the map, (but) our sound is Alberta. Whatever you imagine western prairie people listen to, just wrap it all together. So, you know, Willie Nelson just as much as punk rock,” claims Price.
So with experience, Albertan pride and a positive outlook, could there potentially be a Collapse 2.5? Perhaps, if you’ve got some serious keyboarding skills. When asked about the future of the band, this seemed to be the predominant issue.
“Come out to the Blind Beggar on the 27th and bring your keyboard-playing friends with you,” Kost says with a grin.
- Beatroute
I wasn’t brought up in Western Canada, or Canada, or North America, or the International West for that matter, so naturally I am not inclined (or genetically programmed) to enjoy anything even remotely similar to Country Music. But yesterday, at That Empty Space at the UofC, Calgary band The Fucking Collapse changed that.
TFC dont play twangy-shania-twain country music (although they easily could if they wanted to), but they do play something more like My-Morning-Jacket-badass-cowboy-motel inspired-country music. Both are accessible and radio friendly, but there is a significant difference in their music.
Guitarist John Hadley knows when to shred the shit out of his guitar and knows when to lay back and throw in a couple of effects for atmosphere. Bassist Ken Price not only lays down the grooviest bass lines this side of Red Deer, but also provides powerful backing vocals along with Hadley. As for the Vocalist, Jenny Kost, her voice is very suitable for TFC’s music. It is not poppy, but powerful. Jenny didnt sound like she wanted us to think she had a pretty voice, but an honest one, and her voice is both.
The band can instantly go from a motel-loving slow-drive mellow sound to Arena-filling Suck-it-U2 rock and roll, and this is mostly shown by the talents of drummer Jordan Schenstead.
The Fucking Collapse, along with having the best band name of the month, have a really good fun sound that will definitely resonate with anyone from the indie-hipsters to the truck-driving disciples of Nashville. - Calgary Music Blog
Discography
Kills 56: LP - April 2006
The Collapse: EP - June 2010
Photos
Bio
Calgary once described itself as “The Heart of the New West” but this was more about economics and the size of your bank account then it was about soul. This kind of ill-defined definition prompted a debate of what Calgary actually is, what it should be.
The four members of the Collapse are an example of what Calgary is, even with the odd dent and flecks of rust. Formed by guitarist John Hadley and bassist Ken Price in the small town of Olds, Alberta (a sleeping satellite community for those who think the suburbs are too close), over used records and late night CBC broadcasts. After digesting a variety of influences and locales, the duo reunited in 2003 to start the Collapse. The band changed personnel before adding vocalist Jenny Kost, who doubled as the former singer of punk rock band the Martyr Index and as a working actress in stage and film. Drummer Brian Van Staalduine, the grandson of jazz musicians, began drumming at age 10, played in hardcore bands as a teen and is the reliable pick-up of the band.
After releasing a self-titled EP in June 2010, the Collapse focused into their current country damaged rock sound. The damage accrued from too much wisdom, too hard, too early, such as graduating with a degree to find only debt and menial jobs, the curse of holding a torch for a lost love, and whiskey, so much whiskey. These are the kind of narratives found in songs planned for the Collapse’s upcoming album. The song “Droughtweeks” opens with Kost’s lament of “Night falls on the the flatlands, you’re in your hometown feeling old / and that one comes calling through the whiskey’s gold” and builds with Vans’ fills while Price’s driving bass keeps time like so many highway lines on your 3am drive and Hadley’s guitar wails, unfulfilled. “Did our band break-up when he moved out of town? / I was off, getting bombed getting at the bar?” shows some of the band’s classic country leanings in “New Tires” as do the drum brushes and poignant twangs. But “there’s some band on stage, I hear they’re all the rage, I can’t listen to a note that they play / and he asks me to dance but I’d rather just sit here and drink until it all goes away” shows the Collapse’s wry observation on independent music’s predisposition to hype-over-substance. Finally, “West or East” is a question constantly asked by young, disillusioned Calgarians; it could just as easily be titled “Vancouver or Montreal?” In this song, it’s between lovers torn by the decision. However, the chorus “if your compass leads your astray, the old familiar walls beg you to stay / I’ll come back for you, anyway, come back and bring you home” acknowledges youthful mistakes and the fact that, now that you’ve lived elsewhere, your hometown isn’t such a bad place after all.
The live show is as powerful and unexpected as any prairie storm. This combination of confidence and stage presence prompted alt-country mainstay Leeroy Stagger to proclaim “I have a new favourite band, the Collapse!” The fact that this was in front of a sold out crowd of Leeroy Stagger fans, filling Calgary venue The Palomino, was the icing on the cake. Their live abilities have only increased since then, and the band plans to tour, west and east, to increase their national exposure.
The Collapse is Calgary, and what a band from the city of oil towers and belt buckles should be. The songs are as equally influenced by the varied landscape of prairies, mountains and foothills as they are by heartbreak, hard work and a glimmer of hope at the bottom of your glass. They are the heartbeat of the new west. What else would you expect from a band who lists “Alberta” as one of their influences?
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