The Steadies

Social Listening: What's on in Sask. livestreaming concerts this week

Author of the article:Matt Olson
Publishing date: May 8, 2020

Saskatoon rock band The Steadies, fronted by Earl Pereira (centre), is releasing their first album since the death of guitar player Justin Lee in 2017. The album release party will be a two-show event at the new Prairie Sun Brewery location on Broadway Avenue on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9, 2019. (Supplied / Photo courtesy of Earl Pereira)
Saskatoon rock band The Steadies, fronted by Earl Pereira (centre), is releasing their first album since the death of guitar player Justin Lee in 2017. The album release party will be a two-show event at the new Prairie Sun Brewery location on Broadway Avenue on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9, 2019. SUPPLIED / PHOTO COURTESY OF EAR / Saskatoon
Article Sidebar

Share
TRENDING

Elk Ridge Golf and Conference Centre for sale
Saskatoon will be among cities hardest-hit financially by pandemic: report
Drive-in theatre creates a social distancing-friendly movie experience for Saskatoon
COVID-19: Saskatoon lab explores scaling up vaccine production capacity
Kids say the darndest things ... about COVID-19
Article content
There’s no need to be deprived of live entertainment during COVID-19 social distancing. Here are some of this week’s livestreamed events:

Don’t miss Edmonton-based alt-rock band The Royal Foundry playing right away on Thursday afternoon. The ultra-talented team is playing as part of the National Arts Centre’s #CanadaPerforms series, and they’re a welcome western Canadian addition to the lineup.

Social Listening: What's on in Sask. livestreaming concerts this week


The Royal Foundry’s music is chock full of intense guitar lines and heavy synth sounds. If you’re looking for something along the lines of a more electric version of Imagine Dragons, this is the show you’re looking for. It’s exciting to see what they’ll do in a live-streamed-from-home sort of setup.

Thursday, May 7, 4 p.m., via Facebook Live on The Royal Foundry’s page and on Instagram.

Tom Wilson, the man behind Lee Harvey Osmond (stylized as LeE HARVeY OsMOND), has an incredible voice. Working from a unique niche in the psychedelic folk realm of music, Wilson’s sound is smooth and funky at the same time.

Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content continued
Lee Harvey Osmond has been nominated for a Juno Award in the past, and his music has been longlisted for the Polaris Prize. It’s unique, enjoyable, and deserves a listen as part of the NAC’s #CanadaPerforms series. Let the psychedelic melodies and Wilson’s incredible raspy vocals carry you away in this livestreamed concert.

Saturday, May 9, 5 p.m., via Facebook Live on Lee Harvey Osmond’s page.

Earl Pereira has been a staple of the Saskatoon music scene for years now, dating back to his days with rock band Wide Mouth Mason. Now, as a member of The Steadies, Pereira’s music has pushed outside the classic blues-rock sound that so many Saskatoon performers are famous for. Pereira will play solo as part of the SaskMusic Open House streaming series, but just because he doesn’t have the full weight of the band behind him doesn’t mean his performance will lack any power.

Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content continued
The Steadies’ most recent album, Tiro De Leone, wades into funk and reggae influences to give their rock a unique sound. It’s yet to be determined what Pereira will play, but you can guarantee it’ll be interesting.

Sunday, May 10, 7 p.m., via Facebook Live on the SaskMusic page.

If you’re looking for a show to enjoy with the family, Sylvia Chave‘s show is a great bet for a night of entertainment for the kids. Chave’s “Singing with Sylvia” has made her a beloved children’s entertainer in Saskatoon, and most recently she’s been working with Wide Open Children’s Theatre to help host “Toddler Storytime” each morning on Facebook Live.

Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content continued
Chave is an acoustic performer with skills to play an assortment of instruments. You can expect this instalment of the SaskMusic Open House series to be relaxed, melodious, wholesome fun.

Tuesday, May 12, 7 p.m., via Facebook Live on the SaskMusic page.

Are you a Saskatchewan artist planning a livestreamed show? Keep us in the loop by emailing amartin@postmedia.com or maolson@postmedia.com.

Note to readers: We know the speed and volume of coronavirus-related news is overwhelming and a little frightening. To help with that, we will dedicate a Saskatoon StarPhoenix reporter each day to devote their time to synthesizing the most important coronavirus-related news, especially as it relates to life in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan. All our coronavirus-related news can always be found here: thestarphoenix.com/tag/coronavirus.

Click here to sign up for our new email newsletter dedicated to local coronavirus coverage. - Matt Olsen

Music brings people together — which is why COVID-19 restrictions on crowds, venues and travel have dealt the industry a significant blow.

In Saskatchewan, more than 150 individuals applied for help through the one-time SaskMusic COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund last month.

“We knew we wanted to respond quickly and do what we could to support artists,” said Mike Dawson, the executive director of SaskMusic.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Ottawa earmarks $500M for arts and culture, with details to be determined

Dawson said his work now is focused on how the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit will help artists and the impact of upcoming festival cancellations.

On Friday, the federal government announced early plans to give $500 million to Canada’s arts, sports and cultural sectors as they weather the COVID-19 pandemic — but exactly who will benefit remains to be determined.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

Dawson said the SaskMusic fund has its limits and will be distributed to recipients in the coming days.

“I know we should be expecting it, but I’m hoping we don’t lose the summer. It’s just the best time to be playing.”

TWEET THIS
He noted while artists are a primary focus, the current situation impacts all facets of the industry.

“The way that that whole net weaves itself together, all of the sound techs … the impact it has on music venues, you know, most of them are open just for those events,” he said, adding the inability to tour is delivering a double hit.

“That’s where musicians sell the bulk of their merchandise, the bulk of their music.”

Dawson said people wanting to support musicians can buy directly from them online, through platforms like Bandcamp, and by attending live shows once the opportunity returns.

Musicians turn to live streams, post-pandemic plans

While members of Regina folk-bluegrass band The Dead South have been isolated from each other, the group shared some welcome news with fans with week.

[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]

Their single In Hell I’ll be Good Company certified gold in the US last week, after earning the claim in Canada last fall.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Juno Awards 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus concerns

“Any good news is very welcome right now,” said banjo player Colton Crawford from his home in Regina.

“It would be nice to be celebrating out on tour in Europe, which is where we’re supposed to be, but you make do with what you can.”

The Dead South wrapped up a UK leg of their world tour at the end of February.

They returned to Canada for what they expected to be a few weeks for a performance at the televised Juno Awards in Saskatoon.


“Since then it’s kinda just been one thing after another,” said Crawford.

The group has postponed all its European dates, originally slated for May, and Crawford said it’s likely plans will be pushed back a year with the uncertainty of international travel.

“It’s a bummer for sure, but it’s completely out of our control,” Crawford said.

READ MORE: Big-name music artists taking performances online during coronavirus pandemic

“We’re sort of just trying to enjoy a little bit of downtime at home and we’re getting excited to kick back up when things get back to normal again.”

STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

On Friday, The Dead South released a video showing the musicians, individually isolated, playing Little Light of Mine together.

Crawford said he’s personally trying to maintain a routine of practice and fitness, so he’s ready to jump back into performing when the time comes.

Canadian music group The Steadies had to sideline tour plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canadian music group The Steadies had to sideline tour plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. thesteadies.com
He noted the forced downtime has brought financial hardship to people in all facets of the industry.

“I’ve been chatting with a few people and the story is kind of the same just, ‘what do you do?’ You just kind of wait and hope it gets better soon,” he said.

Canadian group The Steadies also had to sideline their tour plans, which included playing at events around the 2020 Memorial Cup in Kelowna.

READ MORE: Lawyer by day, One Bad Son drummer by night

Frontman Earl Pereira said he’s now working on an online store for band merchandise, while also playing some virtual solo acoustic shows.

“It’s a different world and totally different situation and scenario in performing, but I think everyone is kind of learning,” he said.

Pereira said bands are still figuring out how to have isolated musicians play a live show over a stream. He noted with even the slightest internet delay, the group can’t even practice all at once.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

Pereira said he’s been able to continue producing for another group during the downtime but is eager to secure gigs. Right now, the group still has dates set for July and August.

READ MORE: Saskatchewan singers learn from ‘The Voice’ TV show vocal coach

“I know we should be expecting it, but I’m hoping we don’t lose the summer. It’s just the best time to be playing, festivals are my favourite type of show,” he said.

“To not do any would be heartbreaking.”

The SaskTel Jazz Festival in Saskatoon announced Friday this year’s event has been postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was originally scheduled for July 3-12. - Daniella Ponticelli

Earl Pereira
Performer and producer, currently with The Steadies
Q: How do you feel about the Junos being in Saskatoon?

A: “I remember when it first came here in 2007, the excitement. That was the very first time the Junos came to Saskatoon, Nelly Furtado was the host … now fast forward 13 years later and it’s back again. I think the city’s just as excited, I think the Junos have only grown that much more since. There’s a big buzz as it’s approaching.”

Q: What are your Bridge City must-see/must-do’s?

A: “I’d recommend taking a little stroll along the river, taking in the beauty that is the riverbank … on hopefully not too cold of a day, right up to the weir from the art gallery is just beautiful.”

Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content continued
Q: Are there any bands/artists you’re excited to see this weekend?

A: “I haven’t seen City and Colour live … he’s just such a talented songwriter, kind of one of the new Leonard Cohen types in our modern day Canadian music scene … he’s definitely someone I look up to for that.”

Q: Are you hoping for any celebrity sightings?

A: “I’d love to run into Jann (Arden) again. We have history — she tried getting my old band signed to her label back in the day and would come see us at club shows in Edmonton when she used to live there. I haven’t seen her in so long … and she’s just a great person, super funny.” - Ashley Martin, Matt Olson

Earl Pereira – the former Wide Mouth Mason bassist who set out on his own with the reggae-rock band The Steadies in 2010 – came close to quitting after the sudden death of his guitarist Justin Lee in 2017.

“I’d been working my ass off so hard, and things were just starting to go, me and Justin building this band to take it internationally,” Pereira says. “And we did: We toured Asia, China, Korea, we were on such a high, and then we get home and he passed away about a month later. It was a brain aneurysm. It’s so devastating.”

It was an especially difficult time for Pereira since he was also going through a divorce. “I had no wife and no best friend to play with anymore. I thought to myself: What the hell am I doing?”

So he was planning to do something else with his life when he came up with a song about his friend. Key lyric: “I hope I see you again, you’ll always be my best friend. You showed us how to live free, with a smile and love and energy. It’s not the end.”

That’s how Justin was, Pereira says. “He never really believed that you actually die. Your energy is just transferred to the universe. You can’t be seen anymore, but you’re part of everything. You’re present.”

Pereira also realized he was still rather good at writing songs, and so after a suitable break, The Steadies were back in action again, with drummer Kurtis Schultz, and guitarist Jesse James Clark. The single Not the End is included on the band’s third album Tiro De Leone (“Tail of the Lion”), whose Edmonton album release show happens Saturday, Nov. 16 at 9910 – part of an extensive Canadian tour.

Says Pereria, “I think Justin would probably be pretty pissed if I quit what we started.” - Mike Ross

It’s been a long process for Earl Pereira and The Steadies to start making music again. The death of a friend and bandmate will do that.

“It took me a while to even really want to write or create,” Pereira said. “I needed some time, for sure.”

The Steadies release first album since guitar player's death


It’s been a couple years since Justin Lee, one of the founding members of the Saskatoon-based rock band, died suddenly due to an aneurysm in 2017. For a while, Pereira said there was plenty of doubt about whether the band would continue.

But now The Steadies are about to release their newest album, Tiro De Leone (Italian for “tail of the lion,” as Pereira puts it) in early November — their first without Lee. The album comes out Nov. 5, and the release party will take place at the Prairie Sun Brewery grand opening on Broadway Avenue on Nov. 8.

It seems that their time away from the creative process hasn’t diminished their popularity — the Friday night show sold so quickly that they’ll play at the brewery on Nov. 9 as well.

Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content continued
MORE ON THIS TOPIC


Justin Lee died this week after a short stay in hospital.
Music community mourns passing of Justin Lee
Saskatoon band, The Steadies, had the opportunity to jam out with Netflix royalty earlier in December, as KJ Apa, who plays Archie in the hit series Riverdale, joined the band on stage during a performance at Guilt & Company in Vancouver B.C. A video of the performance posted to Instagram by the red-headed star has gone viral, being viewed more than 1 million times.
Saskatoon band rocks out with Archie from Netflix's Riverdale
The Steadies sit for a portrait in Saskatoon, Sask. on June 24, 2019. The Steadies are a Saskatoon dance-rock band, including members (l to r) Jesse Clark, Earl Pereira and Kurtis Schultz.
Jazz Festival local artist spotlight: The Steadies

“It’s a very confident-sounding record,” Pereira said. “I think that comes from not only international touring, but from … all the new fans we made, all the comments we’re getting about our music and our band.”

Pereira said while the new music isn’t all about Lee, there are plenty of songs he’s worked on since Lee’s death that he hopes can honour and respect his memory in some way.

“He’s been a huge part of the band, a founding member, one of my best buds,” he said. “It also led to some inspiration, lots of things to write about … how life can throw you curveballs when you least expect, and you’re left having to face them.”

Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content continued
The Steadies are inevitably a different band now than they were at the start. Their new guitarist, Jesse James Clark, was recommended to Pereira by a friend — and he moved from Vancouver to Saskatoon to be part of the band, Pereira said. The drummer Kurtis Schultz is also new since the last time the band released an album back in 2016.

They’ve still been touring, including a trip to Italy that inspired the name of the new album and a few of the songs and song titles. But as Pereira puts it, they’ve worked hard to preserve that “quintessential Steadies sound” while the band has evolved.

“We’re confident people from anywhere can like this,” Pereira said. “I really think we nailed exactly how I’ve always hoped this band could sound. I think it’s a more refined sound … it’s a full, collaborative effort.”

Pereira said he “puts a lot of pride” into songwriting, and he loves how much everyone in the band has worked together on making a new album for The Steadies to start working into the future.

maolson@postmedia.com - Matt Olsen

KJ Apa might play a brooding musician with an acoustic guitar on TV, but in real life ... the dude can ROCK OUT on the axe.

The "Riverdale" star -- who plays Archie Andrews on the hit CW show -- hopped onstage with Canadian rock band The Steadies Saturday night at Guilt & Co. in Vancouver ... and tore it up for them on the electric guitar.


We are told KJ goes to the small club a lot to enjoy the live music -- because "Riverdale" films nearby -- but it was the first time he had ever performed there. Apa led the funky jams for the band out of Saskatoon for about 35 minutes ... and plans on joining them again.

Our sources say KJ might even play on The Steadies' next album ... and he has made it known, his real dream is to be a musician.

It's life imitating art ... or vice versa. Either way -- rock on, Archie! - TMZ

We catch up with Earl and the Steadies before their two Beijing gigs (May 12 at Barn Bar and May 30 at Modernista). Earl Pereira, founder of Canadian rock band Wide Mouth Mason and their two solid golds, kicks it off with City Weekend's Alessandro Pavanello

Hi guys! Lovely to meet you. Let’s start... who are Earl and The Steadies?

We are a high energy power trio from Canada who specialize in getting people of all ages and races singing and dancing while spreading love and positive energy through our dance-rock-reggae style.

Musically speaking, who are your biggest Influences?
The Police, Bob Marley, The Beatles, and Prince

How do you feel about the internet in the music business?
We like the fact that the internet has revolutionized how to share our music to the world, the internet has also made it hard to make a living off selling our music which is why it is best to tour and be great live!

Could you briefly describe your music-making process?
I (Earl Pereira) am the main lyricist and usually write about personal experiences that others can also relate to you. We usually come up with the music together by jammimg and coming up with ideas spontaneously. I often record melodies and lyric ideas on my phone while we're on the road which I later use to turn into full songs.

What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
The evolution of the dj has hurt the live music business in that some venues that used to promote live bands don't anymore to save money by paying for a dj instead. We've been able to overcome it by working day in and day out and showing people how much of a more emotional and rewarding experience seeing a great band can be.



Are you excited about your upcoming China tour? Where have you been touring recently?
We are so excited to spread our music and perform in front of the Chinese audiences. We have been touring only across Canada so this will be our first international tour!

What’s the craziest thing that’s happened on one of your tours?
Last summer we were performing a concert on a 100 person house boat travelling around Lake Okanagan and a flash storm hit us which was pretty scary. We had to pack up so fast and luckily everyone made it off the boat safely.

This will be frontman Earl Pereira’s second Chinese tour, having toured in early 2000s with his previous band Wide Mouth Mason. Could you share with us what struck you the most the first time you performed in China?
I immediately fell in love with the country and the people as we were greeted at the airport with flowers and gifts, which was overwhelming. Being the first Canadian band to tour mainland China was such an honor and it was an emotional tour as Canadians from all over came to show their support. The hospitality the Chinese people showed me was amazing!



And as “tourists” in the country, what were your impressions of China?
I was taken aback by the country's beauty and I'll never forget standing on top of The Great Wall excited to come back. Unfortunately it took me 14 years, lol...

What are you expecting this time?

I don't know what to expect except knowing we are going to have a lot of fun performing, seeing even more of China this time, and making new friends. I think the people are going to love rocking steady with Earl & The Steadies!

Thank you so much for your time guys! Looking forward to see you perform on stage!



Find It:

Friday, May 12 at Barn Bar, 9-3 Jiangtai Xilu, 将台西路珀丽饭店西侧, Tel: 6437-8399
Tuesday, May 30 at Modernsky Lab, 5-108, B1, Building D, Galaxy SOHO, 银河SOHO, D座, B1, 5-108, Tel: 6437-8399 - City Weekend - May 2017

One of the top bassists in Canada, Earl Pereira is visiting Korea with Earl and the Steadies. Earl Pereira got his rock and roll pedigree as a founding member of the Canadian band Wide Mouth Mason, which is a 3-time JUNO (Canada's answer to the Grammy Awards) nominee. They have also opened for iconic artists like The Rolling Stones. In the early-to-mid 2000's, Wide Mouth Mason toured China, as the very first Canadian band to do so. However, Earl Pereira has wanted to try his own. He eventually came back with a new band, Earl and the Steadies, with guitar prodigy, Justin 'Juice' Lee, and drum phenom Kurtis Schultz.

Earl and the Steadies is a three-piece band from Canada who mixes pop-rock with funk and reggae. They have dubbed their songs a.k.a. Island-rock. Their 2016 release Love Revolution has received nearly 100,000 online views, national radio play on CBC, and introduced in Canadian Musician Magazine. Since their debut, Earl and the Steadies have played over 700 shows with talents such as Ziggy Marley, Kevin Brereton, and many more. They were showcased at the 2010 Winter Olympics and The Grey Cup, the championship of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and other industry conferences. In April and May of 2017, Earl and the Steadies will tour Korea followed by their visit to China, then they will be back to Canada for its summer festival touring. Now, they are one of the busiest bands in their hometown, Saskatchewan.

Seoul concertgoers will get to witness their talent on June 2nd, 8 PM, at Prism Hall. No matter what mood you are in, you can't help but smile, dance, and sing along. The Steadies are not invited to the party - They are the party. Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/674147392769369/ - Mi2N

Earl Pereira got his rock n’ roll pedigree as a founding member of Canadian rock band Wide Mouth Mason, who had two gold records, three JUNO nominations and a host of other accolades and awards. Earl has toured the world, playing nearly 3000 shows and has shared the stage with the biggest acts in the business including The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, The Guess Who, Alanis Morissette, Van Morrison, Nickleback, Nelly Furtado, The Roots, Ziggy Marley and many more. Earl was also named one of Canada's top bassists in Canadian Musician Magazine and is widely considered one of the best performers in his country.


In the early-to-mid 2000’s, Earl made history as he was part of the very first North American band to tour in mainland China, and later paved the way for many artists to do the same. Working with Warner Music China, Earl played in sold-out theaters, on live television shows which aired to millions across the mainland from Beijing to Wuhan, all while winning over fans with his infectious smile and energy. However, his band never made it back when all Pereira wanted to do was become an international success. So in 2010, Earl eventually left his old band to start his own brand new band calling it The Steadies, which showcased his world-class song writing, singing, and producing abilities. The band’s unique island-rock sound mixes pop-rock with funk and reggae, and allows Earl’s contagious personality to always get the audiences smiling, dancing and singing along. After years of building up his new band in Canada, Earl & The Steadies are finally ready to make their mark in China though their exciting high-energy style of rock steady music!


"After 20 years in the music business I feel like I am just hitting my stride musically and I'm having more fun than ever. Basically, I just love performing my music in front of new audiences and making people happy." - The Beijinger

Music media and management company MusicDish announced the signing of Canadian island-rock band Earl & The Steadies for representation in Greater China. The band will tour mainland China in May in support of the release of their 2016 album "Love Revolution." This will be frontman Earl Pereira's second China tour, having toured with Warner Music China in the early 2000s with his previous band Wide Mouth Mason.

Set to be release on on Chinese streaming services such as QQMusic and Xiami, "Love Revolution" has received national radio play in Canada, nearly 100,000 online views, landed the band featured articles in Canadian Musician Magazine and Brooklyn NY based music magazine Punchland.

"The groove of Wide Mouth Mason seemed to come from Earl Pereira. He was one of three quarterbacks with the band that made the move to starter role with The Steadies. So naturally whether it is on disc or the electric live show, he is an outstanding performer, bass player, and vocalist that can play with the best in show business." John Jones | Warner Music Canada

Earl Pereira got his rock n' roll pedigree as a founding member of Canadian rock band Wide Mouth Mason, who had two gold records, three JUNO nominations and a host of other accolades and awards. Earl has toured the world, playing nearly 3000 shows and has shared the stage with the biggest acts in the business including The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, The Guess Who, Alanis Morissette, Van Morrison, Nickleback, Nelly Furtado, The Roots, Ziggy Marley and many more. Earl was also named one of Canada's top bassists in Canadian Musician Magazine and is widely considered one of the best performers in his country.

In the early-to-mid 2000's, Earl made history as he was part of the very first North American band to tour in mainland China, and later paved the way for many artists to do the same. Working with Warner Music China, Earl played in sold-out theaters, on live television shows which aired to millions across the mainland from Beijing to Wuhan, all while winning over fans with his infectious smile and energy. However, his band never made it back when all Pereira wanted to do was become an international success. So in 2010, Earl eventually left his old band to start his own brand new band calling it The Steadies, which showcased his world-class song writing, singing, and producing abilities. The band's unique island-rock sound mixes pop-rock with funk and reggae, and allows Earl's contagious personality to always get the audiences smiling, dancing and singing along. After years of building up his new band in Canada, Earl & The Steadies are finally ready to make their mark in China though their exciting high-energy style of rock steady music!
https://www.thesteadies.ca

Launched in 2010, MusicDish*China has been developing a growing roster of artists in Greater China's music market through social media marketing, music distribution, performances and touring. With a focus on live music, it has worked with leading music festivals such as OCT-LOFT, Dream Sonic, Midi Festival and SOTX as well as major events like Beijing Music Day, Shanghai Formula 1 and HitFM Live Series. It has also consulted Taiwan's Government Information Office, coordinating cultural export missions to conferences such as Midem, Canadian Music Week and CMJ.
http://china.musicdish.com
http://musicdish.sxl.cn - Desifest - January 2017

When Earl Pereira talks about his time with Wide Mouth Mason, he conjures up memories of a young man chasing his dreams only to get ground up by an industry that sees him as nothing more than a commodity.

Pereira co-founded Wide Mouth Mason in 1995, and watched as his first experience getting in front of a crowd and playing with a band transformed into international success. After the group exploded, the harsh reality set in that being a headlining act could have dark implications beyond screaming fans and shining spotlights.

“What I didn’t anticipate were all those horror stories you hear about what happens to bands that turn into a business when they get involved with the music industry. I didn’t think I would be one of those stories,” Pereira said.

“But I lived to tell the tale.”

While the rest of Wide Mouth Mason continues to tour, Pereira left the band in 2010 to take a break from it all and regroup. These days, he’s taking another shot at the big time with his new gig as frontman and bass player of The Steadies.


The group, which Pereira founded in 2012, is a blend of funk grooves and reggae dancehall rhythm — an island cocktail born in the heart of the snow-crushed Canadian Prairies.

Pereira was born and raised in Saskatoon, and credits his music-oriented family with instilling in him a love for the craft that dates back as long as he can remember.

“Sometimes, especially when you’re young, you wonder what you’re going to be when you grow up. It took a while to figure that out, but it wasn’t until I saw my oldest brother making a living out of being a touring musician that I realized I could actually do that. If he could do it, then I could do it, too.”

That same love for the craft eventually led to the creation of Wide Mouth Mason. As soon as he was old enough to perform in licensed clubs, Pereira, Shaun Verreault and Safwan Javed founded the band — which was also Pereira’s first group ever — with little more than an ambition to play and a thirst to perform some songs for a rowdy crowd, shouting for an encore with pint glass in hand.

“As soon as I turned bar age, I started playing in bars. That was all I wanted to do,” he said, laughing. “I was so excited to book a gig with my band in a bar.”

The Steadies are comprised of Justin Lee (left), Earl Pereira and Lexie Miller.
The Steadies are comprised of Justin Lee (left), Earl Pereira and Lexie Miller. NICOLE ROMANOFF
Though he readily admits to wanting The Steadies to be a hit in the same vein as Wide Mouth Mason, and is actively planning nationwide shows and international touring schedules to make that dream a reality, Pereira said part of the motivation behind The Steadies was to bring things back down to earth and re-discover his connection with the city he grew up in and the home he wishes he’d frequented more often with his first band: Saskatoon.

“I think it’s because we didn’t spend much time here while we were first getting established. I had a couple of times where I was doing 300 shows a year, and another five of 200 shows a year. It was a crazy time. It was nice, once we had a bit of a hiatus there, to get more involved and get back in touch with everyone in Saskatoon and be a bigger part of it.”

Even though he ducked out of the limelight for a few years, Saskatoon never forgot Pereira.

“I think that Saskatoon is Earl’s home. When I go out with that guy, he’ll talk with at least five or six people. He’s constantly getting stopped by people, whether it’s family or friends that know him, maybe it’s from The Steadies or friendships over the years,” said Steve Hawes, manager for The Steadies.

“This is his home that he knows very, very well and he’s very, very comfortable in. Just being home around everyone he knows, it’s a huge support system for him.”

Hawes first met Pereira in the studio seven years ago, while he and his bandmates were recording a new album with the latter musician’s brother. When The Steadies’ frontman — the group was then operating under the band name Mo Badass — visited the studio, it wasn’t long before he was helping shape the record alongside old family and new friends.

“He was really good to us. He was a really friendly guy. He really helped us with writing a lot of the album and took us on the road touring a little bit. He took us under his wing, basically,” Hawes said, adding it was Pereira’s humility that immediately struck him.

“We were pretty starry-eyed. We were this young band that wanted to cut a CD, and we’ve got the guy who was in Wide Mouth Mason sitting with us, giving us help. And he wasn’t lording it over us or anything that he was in Wide Mouth. He didn’t really want to talk about it, he just wanted to help.”

Earl Pereira performs with Wide Mouth Mason in April 1988 when they opened for the Rolling Stones at the Molson Centre in Montreal.
Earl Pereira performs with Wide Mouth Mason in April 1988 when they opened for the Rolling Stones at the Molson Centre in Montreal. ALLEN MCINNIS / POSTMEDIA FILE PHOTO
The encounter isn’t a far stretch from the norm for Pereira. To this day, he likes to spend time with fledgling musicians and bands on the rise and guide them as they’re getting started. It’s his small way of giving back to Saskatoon, says Hawes.

“You see that in very practical ways — like young artists. That’s why we talk about helping young artists. He produces a lot of things, does coaching for school kids and does songwriting classes.

“That’s his personality. He’s just a really warm, welcoming, awesome guy. He’ll help out anybody.”

According to Kevin Korchinski, simply being able to carve out a successful career for himself has given Pereira a wealth of knowledge he can pass on to those Saskatoon peers.

“The fact that he has remained here and been able to succeed is a big influence to others. As he is now one of the ‘veteran’ musicians in the province, even though he is still a kid in my eyes, he can give some very sage advice to other musicians on the ins and outs of the music business,” Korchinski said via email.

“That business has changed mightily from the early days of Wide Mouth Mason, and Earl has seen much of it first-hand.”

Though he has since transitioned into a career with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils, Korchinski once worked for Warner Music Canada during Wide Mouth Mason’s heyday. As the Saskatchewan rep for the group, he spent a great deal of time with Pereira and his bandmates attending shows, planning media events and scheduling event appearances.

It was in those moments, when Pereira was most in touch with his home province’s music scene, that Korchinski took note of how much local musicians helped shape his own career and style as an artist.

“I think he has taken the many influences that are part of the Saskatchewan music scene and brought them into his music. Contrary to what many believe outside the province, it is not all country or hard rock here. I think Earl’s connection to other cultural scenes here has been huge.”

Regardless of how it found its current form, Korchinski thinks the driving force behind Pereira’s work has, more than anything, been his unparalleled love of music.

“His pure joy of performing has always shone through whether he was playing in front of 50 or 5,000, and that is not always the case with musicians — particularly young ones.”

Those first performances with Wide Mouth Mason were more than two decades ago, and since then Pereira has watched the Saskatoon scene grow as more and more musicians sprout up in the city. Through it all, he says the standby advice for new groups works just as well today as it ever did.

“The more you get out there and play shows, the better you’re going to get. It’s experience you just can’t buy or teach or even practise. A month of rehearsal doesn’t equal playing live in front of different crowds in different situations, and being able to handle yourself.”

These days — eager as he is to take The Steadies on the road, playing on international stages and picking up new fans along the way — Pereira is glad for the time away from the glitz and glamour of it all. It helps him, he says, to stay grounded with the people who are most important to him.

“I didn’t really have a normal life for a long time. I didn’t see my family much, or friends. Friendships just start to fade when you don’t spend time there. I’m really glad that there’s a way better balance in my life now. It’s about 100 shows a year now, which is about perfect. It’s still a lot, but there’s a plenty of time to visit family and friends and do normal stuff.”

With plans to reboot past successes on the horizon, Pereira is more hopeful than ever that his vision and enthusiasm for music will help his new ventures with The Steadies prove just as successful.

“Touring and playing for people is my favourite part. The stress, for me, is feeling like you’re not in control of your own life — like someone else is at the wheel and you’re along for the ride and hopefully they don’t crash. That’s scary to me,” he said.

“It’s really nice now to know that I’m at the wheel, and I can guide us where we need to be and need to go, and hopefully avoid some past mistakes that might throw us down.” - Bridges Nov.2016

As founding member of blues rock trio Wide Mouth Mason, bassist Earl Pereira had the chance to tour the world before leaving the band to concentrate on The Steadies on a full time basis. Fusing rock, reggae, and dance music, the band's second full length record Love Revolution, boasts an abundance of groove, no doubt thanks to the trio's impeccably tight musicianship, which confidently weeves it's way through every track of the LP's offerings. From the opening track "Run Run" through the breezy "Cali Sun" and the underdog anthem "Phoenix", The Steadies will have you on the dance floor before you know what's going on. - Canadian Musician Magazine - Toronto ON

Earlier in the Summer The Steadies released their brand new album titled Love Revolution. With a sound which is all of their own – a mix of Reggae, Rock, Pop, Jazz and even a hint of Hip Hop and to a tone that is Rocksteady.

The Steadies rely on their catchy grooves to make each song work throughout the album, either it be between the guitar and drums, or the Bass Guitar and Drums. Each song has a specific tone and rhythm applied to it.

The album starts off with my favourite track off of the album “Run Run”. Earl starts off the song with basic rhythm that leads you right into the song. I really liked how Earl and Juice shares spots during the intro of the song instead of playing overtop of each other. The vocals also possess a different sound throughout, I found it really depends on who is singing lead vocals either it being Earl, Juice or Lexie. The backing vocals provided by Lexie adds a nice extra layer within the vocals and help fill in the void that would left.

Up next is another upbeat track with “Take Me”. Now here is an interesting sounding song especially genre wise. The combination of the bass and drums gives “Take Me” its rhythm throughout. Now vocally speaking the reggae tone is dropped right out as Earl switches to more of a smoothed and glossed over pop approach. The guitars are also a different driving sound as well, I found a I really got a 70’s funk approach to them. The left to right play that came through my headphones throughout the track was a different approach, technique and sound as well.

Now a bit of a throwback sound to the album “Rocksteady” does the job. The guitars screams early surf and Rocksteady. Just the tone of the guitar from Juice has quite the vintage sound applied to it.

http://www.thesteadies.ca/ - Kingston Music Reviews - Kingston ON

Post by Nicole Irvine
Live music in the summer always has a special quality to it – yes, it is entirely cliché. But after being cooped up for over six months of the year, it feels good to finally strip away the oversized, cable-knit sweaters and let loose with the perfect summer soundtrack.
Luckily for us in Ottawa, we’ll be able to get that ball rolling with some performances by reggae-dance rockers The Steadies.
The Saskatchewan natives are coming to the Heart & Crown Byward this week, bringing their unique flavor of “Island Rock”, a style of music that they’ve invented for themselves.
“It’s our own style – it’s a hybrid of mixing different sounds together to make things new because a lot of things have been done already,” says Lead Vocalist and Bassist Earl Pereira, explaining that it combines some of the most interesting and high energy aspects of music: reggae, funky groove based sounds and rock n’ roll.
For The Steadies, combining the different styles is easy as each member is able to bring something new and unique to the table. Pereira was a member of the Juno nominated band Wide Mouth Mason, while Guitarist Justin “Juice” Lee hails from Trinidad, bringing his Caribbean flavor, and drummer Lexie Miller uses her hard metal background to bring lots of energy to the set.
The high energy and unique sounds can be seen on The Steadies’ most recent effort, Love Revolution. The inspiration for this album came not only from their friends and family, who they watched go through hard times, but through the worlds recent hardships as well.
“When you start writing an album, there [are] some concepts you want to talk about… with the Paris attacks and other stuff like Syria – just horrible things that have been happening – we just think that the world needs some love,” adds Pereira.
Pereira also describes their newest addition as, “the whole global idea of spreading goodness and positivity… because that’s the energy we like to give off when we play music.”
With this overarching theme of self-love, The Steadies have also gone beyond this to work with local Saskatchewan charities. This can be linked to their newest initiative, which partners them with Music Heals Canada, which assists in encouraging show attendees to collect and bring in used iPods to donate to the Music Heals iPod Pharmacy and in support of music therapy initiatives in Saskatchewan.
While The Steadies are working to bring their good vibes to Ottawa crowds, they point out that this isn’t the first time that they have played in the city. Eclectic crowds have a tendency to gather at their Ottawa shows, full of a variety of people from different walks of life. In fact, Pereira looks on Ottawa shows fondly, especially with a bit of unexpected spontaneity after playing shows over Canada Day weekend here in the capital in 2013.

“We played like four nights and it was like a sea of glass that was broken, and we ended up bloody by the end of the weekend. We were just cut up, and like ‘what is happening?!’ It felt like we were playing CBGB’s in New York or something.”
With that being said, The Steadies will definitely be rocking the house during their performances this week. Whether you love their brand of ‘Island Rock’, the self-love message of their music, or just the high-energy summer vibes that transcend beyond their music to their audiences, it surely defines the start of a great live music season.
Catch The Steadies on the Mother McGintey Stage for three sets a night at the Heart & Crown Byward May 26th, 27th and 28th from 8pm-2am. Attendees wishing to support Music Heals Canada can bring iPods to the show for donation.
Lead single “Take Me Home” and the rest of the Love Revolution album can be sampled and bought at, http://www.thesteadies.ca/music. - Apartment 613 - Ottawa ON

Although it still seems somewhat odd to imagine blues rockers Wide Mouth Mason without their erstwhile bassist Earl Pereira, there’s very little that seems more right than Pereira fronting island rock power trio The Steadies.

An evolution from an earlier version of the band Mobadass, The Steadies have built a name across Western Canada for their high intensity and highly danceable shows, with Pereira helming the bandleader and front man duties like a seasoned veteran.

Having played a number of memorable shows in the Queen City over the last few years, the band returns for two CD release shows Friday and Saturday at Durty Nelly’s (formerly McNally’s Tavern).

“We’re going to be playing pretty much the whole album live,” Pereira enthuses, “as well as some of our older stuff and some classic high energy party vibe. It’s more exciting this time because it’s always weird when you’re playing a show without something new, especially after a couple years.

“The last time we were in town was great because there were a lot of people out but I felt bad because we didn’t have anything. We didn’t have merchandise, CDs, or any new music, so I’m looking forward to making sure that we have all that good Steadies stuff that people are hopefully going to want to grab both nights.”


While their 2013 debut Starcity Shakedown demonstrated the promise of a trio on the rise, their new disc Love Revolution shows a band that has developed a singular voice that will scream out until it’s heard.

“It was a lot of work getting the album done but it was fun,” ponders Pereira. “It’s a musician’s dream when you’re creating an album, putting it out and then hoping people enjoy it. It’s really why we do this. I think the work really starts now — we’re working with a publicity and promotion team, a marketing team, and just really having a strategy to make sure our music gets heard because there’s a lot to do. We want to be in a lot of places and make some inroads out of Canada this year. That’s the big goal.

“We definitely want to build things bigger in Canada and that’s a focus but we’re also looking at the big picture which is international touring.”


Asked if the band’s ascension was seemingly familiar to the rise of Wide Mouth Mason, Pereira agreed that feelings were similar.

“It really does (feel familiar). It’s trippy. It’s like a 20-year déjà vu. I remember literally having all these same feelings with Wide Mouth when our independent debut came out. The difference is that I’ve gone through all that stuff so I tend to know what to expect. I’m also kind of running the show so I can help dictate where we want to go, when we go, and how we’re going to do this — what the journey is going to look like.

“It’s exciting because working with my bandmates, Lexi (Miller) and Justin (Lee); they haven’t really done this at this level before so I can feed off of the excitement they’re bringing. The unknown feels like those old feelings again even though I know what can happen.”

The local music scene in Regina has been very supportive of Pereira and his fellow band members over the years and he anticipates the same this weekend.

He also is quick to encourage newcomers to come experience the music and the vibe at some point over the weekend.

“We’re getting better and better all the time,” he states matter-of-factly. “You always want to be your best when you come back to Regina so I can guarantee that when you come this weekend we’ll be playing the best we ever have. The new music is just so much fun to play. People who haven’t even heard the new stuff will see us play it and it will get the best reaction out of anything we do. It’ll be an exciting weekend and it’ll definitely be a party – we’ll make sure of that.” - Regina Leader Post - Regina SK

The Steadies released Love Revolution to kick off the month of April. Spring invokes energies of change, and The Steadies picked the perfect time to share positive vibes through music. Frontman and bassist – Earl Pereira – shared in an interview that he is a naturally positive individual. Earl said he “likes to project good feelings and vibes” everywhere that he goes. Pereira’s life is filled with musical experience, and he gleans life lessons along the way. Music and songwriting is a way for him to relate his good intentions to the world. But he does not do it alone – each member of the trio contributes and imprints their artistic bend to the tracks. 3716037 Lexie Miller runs percussion, and Justin Lee wraps intense reggae chords on the guitar. The whole trio contributes to vocals. The Steadies rely on one another for support – musically and as close companions. In the past, music became about big business, and Earl did not feel connected to the members of his old band, Wide Mouth Masons. The negative energy did not sit well, he said, “You’ve got to be happy.” Earl said that he feels it is important for The Steadies to connect with each other and enjoy the experience.

Earl wants everyone to feel good – the audience and the artists. The upbeat rhythm and leading vocals of “Take Me Home” automatically brings a smile. Pulling on disco-esque momentum, The Steadies weave a pop-funk combination with reassurance that a good-time will follow. He says, “I broke your heart, you broke mine, but it’s not too late, let’s give it one more try.” The message is hopeful, letting go of past mistakes to move forward to a happy outcome – most of all, another chance for experience to happen. Earl said that a person can change, that one needs to: “Be positive and take action.” When asked if Earl thought other musicians picked up on the optimistic energy that The Steadies emanate, he said, “I hope so. I wouldn’t doubt it. It’s an undeniable feeling.”

Positivity, even when it comes natural, requires effort. Shortly following the release of their last album, Starcity Shakedown, Earl ruptured his Achilles tendon – forcing physical limitations on his performance. Stephanie McKay said, “Recovery took nearly a year. It was a challenging experience for the typically upbeat Saskatoon musician” (StarPhoenix). Touring came to an abrupt end for The Steadies in 2014. Fortunately, Earl’s natural lean toward a positive character helped him to search for a silver lining during rehabilitation. 3716045

The Steadies’ silver lining lay in songwriting. Earl’s injury forced him to spend more time and effort on lyrics and song construction. When asked how The Steadies went about writing a song, Earl noted that it is different for every band – sometimes, even different for each album. McKay noted that Pereira did not collaborate with others on songwriting in the past, “but he wanted Lee and Miller (who also created the album art…) to feel comfortable [and] contribute ideas [, growing] as songwriters themselves” (StarPhoenix). The trio worked together with Love Revolution, piecing riffs and building chemistry. On a literal playing field, music rehabilitated Pereira. The Steadies used Earl’s limitations as an advantage, adding hope to difficult times. Earl said, “[The injury] forced me to slow down…no touring so we worked on band chemistry and lyrical content.” He seized up on the forced physical limitations to flex his creative mind, crafting tracks out of jam sessions.

Earl said that while he was recovering, The Steadies sat around together jamming. Earl recorded intense twenty-minute sessions of all three playing their hearts out, free-spirited connection to music. Later – unbeknownst to the others – he went back and sculpted their cathartic jams into four-minute tracks. When he played the tracks to Justin and Lexie, the two said they liked the sounds but didn’t recognize the artist. They were blown away when Earl revealed the tracks are tailored pieces from their jams. He said they couldn’t believe they could make music like that. It was later they added the lyrics, McKay said, “The songs on [the album] continue the tradition of fun, party music, but lyrical content strives to go deeper” (StarPhoenix). Click HERE to read McKay’s full article. A key feature of Love Revolution is in the album construction. Earl said he took an “old school approach to record this album.” The whole record was recorded with a live performance – from start to finish. They then came back and laid the vocals. However, while playing, Earl continued to sing. Singing and playing comes natural to Pereira, and separating the two expressions has affects. He kept it traditional to maintain the heart and soul of the effort – a feat that trained musicians will recognize when listening to the whole album.

“Happiness” opens with Justin Lee’s signature reggae sound and Earl’s heartfelt lyrics. Listening to this piece, it is easy to see why The Steadies shared the stage with Bob Marley’s band The Wailers. Earl noted that the band members of The Wailers were friendly and offered networking capabilities for The Steadies in the North-East. Earl hopes to experience The Steadies in New York, and the band enjoyed time spent with other like-minded musicians. Instantly in “Happiness,” the mind wanders to an ocean-mentality. Earl said that the beach grants “the feeling of being free and clearing the spirit.” 603305

The Steadies incorporate “beach-living” with reggae and positivity…no small feat since they are a Canadian band – separated from the beach by a seventeen-hour drive to Vancouver Island. Not to mention the separation from the tropical islands, Canada is geographically removed from tropical experience. However, The Steadies work to incorporate beach culture and lifestyle by capturing it in music, and Earl said the effort alone leads to one’s spirit. Whenever one wants the beach – just listen to this track. Earl shared The Steadies’s current ambition of creating a video for every song on the new album. They plan on going in order, and the video for “Happiness” is already in the works. Creating music is how The Steadies express their passionate positivity, and they have a pro in Justin Lee who, originally, is from Trinidad. Lee’s signature reggae slant connects Canada to the islands, and his heritage provides an additional cultural layer. The Steadies are scheduled to explore Earl’s cultural heritage this coming winter in his initial voyage to the Philippines. The Steadies will love the Philippines! And the tracks they will be able to create from the experience are sure to please.

More appreciation for beach-living is found with “Cali Sun” and “Phoenix,” both of which invoke visions of heat, fire, and festivities. In constructing “Cali Sun,” Earl said, “Lyrically, it makes sense to write from the song title.” Young love and fun fill the California sun, and The Steadies charge the track with danceable delight. “Phoenix” calls on the individual adaptability found in every individual. The lyrics say: “Like a phoenix, we will rise above… Surround yourself with happiness, it’s a strength we all posses.” This reinforces the ability to change and incorporate freeing elements of self-discovery. The lyrics note that opening one’s eyes allows them to see the happiness around them, and Earl feels that it is very important to understand that every person deserves to be happy. He said, “Let yourself deserve happiness,” meaning that happiness naturally exists inside everyone. “Phoenix” is a transformation of the self – the breaking away from negativity in efforts to create a rebirth. Earl said it involves “a spiritual belief in the self.” He stresses that it is an affect available to all.

The Steadies Effects:
Lexie Miller designed the album cover pictured with the tracks. The image shows the heart located in the head, illustrating the importance of compassion – not only in loving others but beginning by loving the self. Vines and roots depict natural beauty growing from within. 2157844

Not only is Lexie a talented drummer and creative artist, McKay quoted Earl who said: “[Lexie’s] definitely our missing piece. You can’t be a great band without a great drummer and she aspires to be a great drummer” (StarPhoenix). Including crayons with purchase,The Steadies debut EP – Starcity Shakedown – is also a coloring book. One can relax, listen to the CD, and partake in the recent adult-coloring-book craze hitting the shelves this spring. Click HERE to view and purchase band merch.

The Steadies were on the road during the interview, and Earl noted that his pre-show routine often involves driving. Luckily, Earl views driving as calming, and the trio keeps trips upbeat during road-trips. He said they love to learn and often listen to podcasts while touring. Most of all, they are close friends who offer emotional support and realistic expectations. Earl said perfection is not the goal. The beauty is in the effort, the process – the twisting flair of music to offer positive vibes and good-times.

Album Info:
The Steadies’ 2nd full-length album Love Revolution offers ten tracks and is available online for $10.00. Click HERE to purchase through The Steadies website. “The overall lyrical theme [of Love Revolution] is about finding the light within the darkness and overcoming fear and adversity delivered through uplifting and energetic music” (@TheSteadies). - Punchland - Brooklyn NY

“That did not go how we wanted it to go.”

Earl Pereira is open about how disappointing the launch of The Steadies’ last album, 2013’s Starcity Shakedown, was for the band.
Momentum stalled a month after the album came out when Pereira ruptured his achilles tendon on tour. He wasn’t able to walk, let alone tour. Recovery took nearly a year. It was a challenging experience for the typically upbeat Saskatoon musician. The band never toured the record, instead forging ahead with new writing.

Three years later, the band is back with a new album, a more solidified lineup and heaps of optimism. Love Revolution, the band’s third full-length, comes out in April. It’s the first to feature relatively new drummer Lexi Miller (who joins Pereira on bass and guitarist Justin Lee). The injury was a big blow for Pereira, but he found the silver lining. It forced him to work on other skills, like production work, which he could do with his leg elevated. It also gave the band time to gel and write new music.

Pereira has never really allowed anyone to collaborate with him on songwriting before, but he wanted Lee and Miller (who also created the album art for Love Revolution) to feel comfortable to contribute ideas and grow as songwriters themselves.

“Sometimes you’ve got to trust people more and I wanted them to feel more a part of the band and the music. I think when you collaborate the music is stronger,” he said.

Most of Love Revolution’s songs were created during extended jams. Because the band members are “nerds,” their jam space is set up to multi-track record every session. The trio would play for hours, stockpiling days of files. After, Pereira would edit them, taking the best bits and turning the jams into three and a half minute songs.

“I would show it to them and they’d say ‘This is really cool. Who is this?’ ” he said with a laugh. “Then we started replaying them in that arrangement and lyrics came after that.”

Through that process, a theme also started to solidify. Pereira’s desire to be positive through his recovery found its way into the album and turned into a broader theme of staying positive and persevering.

The songs on Love Revolution continue the tradition of fun, party music, but the lyrical content strives to go deeper. The first single Take Me Home might sound like a happy, club song, but it’s actually about a couple of exes who realize they still have feelings for one another. Love Revolution is a piece Pereira started writing years ago. He finally finished the song, about making the world a better place through love, and knew it was the title track.

The Steadies (formerly Mobadass) has been through several lineup changes in its history. When asked how the current lineup came together, Pereira takes on a tone of mock frustration.

“All through my brother,” he said. “He’s always been the key for me. He’s the reason why I’m playing music too.”

He was actually trying to recruit Efran Pereira, a local music producer, to play in the band, but instead he recommended Lee. Years later when drummer Jason Hattie left to pursue other things, big bro came to the rescue again with a contact for Miller.

“She’s definitely our missing piece. You can’t be a great band without a great drummer and she aspires to be a great drummer,” said Pereira, adding she adds youth and energy to the band. “I kind of need that boost. It makes me feel 22 again.”

In turn, he helps his bandmates navigate the music business, bringing decades of touring and recording experience in The Steadies and his former band Wide Mouth Mason.

The Steadies just returned from several western Canadian dates opening for Bob Marley’s band The Wailers. The Saskatoon album release happens April 2. He said there will be another one when they get the album on vinyl, the first real record release of Pereira’s career. - The Stear Phoenix - Saskatoon SK

One of Canada's most popular touring bands will perform twice at the 66th annual Penticton Peach Festival.

The Steadies created island rock by taking popular Top 40 sound and mixing it with rocksteady and reggae influences. They have headlined countless festivals and have showcased at the 2010 Winter Olympics and the Grey Cup. This summer their performances include Canada Day in Ottawa, the Calgary International Reggae Festival, Duncan Music Festival and the Nanaimo Bathtub Festival.

"We're extremely pleased to have The Steadies coming to Peachfest," said entertainment director Bill Kolter. "They create an incredible party atmosphere every time they step on the stage."

Frontman Earl Pereira got his rock n' roll pedigree as a founding member of Wide Mouth Mason, who had two gold records and three Juno nominations. Pereira was named as one of Canada's top bass players by Canadian Music Magazine and has been featured on MTV.

The Steadies will be appearing in Penticton just in advance of their new full-length album, Starcity Shakedown, due out in September. The band will be on the main stage in Okanagan Lake Park on Aug. 8 and Aug. 10.

For more information on the Penticton Peach Festival visit www.peachfest.com. - Penticton Western News - July 2013

In what has been an incredible year of change, the Steadies are doing their best to live up to their name.

Lead singer Earl Pereira recently left his hometown of Saskatoon for the bright lights of Toronto as his wife accepted an internship at Elle Magazine. He believes the move will also have a significant impact on his own career.

“I can do my work anywhere, I was just hoping that if we left Saskatoon we wouldn’t go anywhere smaller,” Pereira said. “I’ve grown to really enjoy the things that Toronto can bring.”

In a telephone interview, Pereira stressed that despite the geographical differences, the Steadies are stronger than ever. Their single See You When I Go has received significant radio play in Canada, cracking the top 50.

Pereira attributes the success to another big change as the band switched names last year, leaving their original moniker, Mobadass, behind.

“I just don’t think we were being taken very seriously, a lot of people in the industry scoffed at the name, mainly because it wasn’t meant to be a serious band. It was a side project.”

The Steadies became Pereira’s full-time job when he left his previous band, Wide Mouth Mason.

While he has mixed feelings about splitting with his former bandmates Shaun Verreault and Safwan Javed, he learned a lot about the music industry during his time with Wide Mouth.

That information has come in handy as he is now part of another band on the rise.

“That sped things up for us a lot; we can avoid some of the mistakes that were made in the past. The industry’s changed a lot, but there are always some key things that will apply.”

Only time will tell if that knowledge helps The Steadies reach the same level of success as his previous band, Wide Mouth Mason, who received two gold records and three Juno nominations. But Pereira says he hopes the bands will have at least one thing in common: A social conscience.

To that end The Steadies will be performing a benefit concert this Saturday, with ticket proceeds going to Red Cross flooding relief efforts in The Philippines and Trinidad, the home countries of Pereira and guitarist Justin Lee respectively.

“We wanted to play in Saskatoon sometime in the fall, but I didn’t want it to be just a show. It means a lot more to everyone else and ourselves if we can do something good.”

Filipino performances

The Steadies benefit concert at The Odeon on Saturday night will also feature cultural performances from The Philippines. Ninety-two people were killed during flooding caused by monsoon season last month and the situation has gotten worse with the recent arrival of typhoon Sanba. Flood waters in the capital city of Manila have reached as high as two metres. - Metro - 2013

The Steadies define their genre as island rock and their mix of rocksteady and reggae influences with pop music takes listeners to the beach or rumbling on the dance floor.

In short, The Steadies aren’t invited to the party, they are the party. Their steady beat is a perfect match for the Okanagan Lake Park venue during the Penticton Peach Festival next week and has landed them two slots at the oldest free family festival in B.C.

“It’s why we love B.C. People just get our music here and we are super excited about Peachfest. We hear nothing but good things,” said frontman Earl Pereira. “It is so nice to play at festivals because it is better for making real fans, there really is no comparison.”

You may have seen Pereira strumming with the popular Canadian band Wide Mouth Mason where he earned his rock n’ roll pedigree as a founding member, or perhaps rocking the Barking Parrot at the Lakeside Hotel in Penticton with his side project Mobadass, and maybe at last year’s Rock The Peach festival with The Steadies. Wherever it was you probably will remember he was brimming with energy.

“I love collaborating with people, but there is something to be said about having something of your own that represents you completely and when Wide Mouth Mason was slowing down I didn’t want to stop. I am like a kid, still full of energy and this is the perfect way for me to carry on,” said Pereira. “As a musician, you feel like you can always get better and improve and this really helps me reach my potential, or get closer to that as a singer and songwriter. With The Steadies, I am kind of responsible for everything and I love it.”

Having played over 3,000 shows and opening for iconic artists like the Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Nelly Furtado has helped The Steadies. Pereira co-wrote and co-produced Wide Mouth Mason’s entire award-winning catalogue and gave him the opportunity to work with a roster of legendary producers including David Leonard (Paul McCartney, Prince) and Todd Burke (Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, Johnny Cash).

“Having that big stage experience with groups like the Rolling Stones has helped us jump a couple of levels because I push the guys in my band a lot as far as really putting on a performance,” said Pereira.

The Steadies have cut a name for themselves with performances with The Roots, The Wailers, K-OS, Arrested Development, Bedouin Soundclash and Ziggy Marley. Rocking alongside Pereira are talk show host/drummer Jason Hattie and Trinidadian guitar prodigy Justin ‘Juice’ Lee. Their self-titled EP was nominated for a 2012 Western Canadian Music Awards with plans to release their first full-length album Starcity Shakedown in early-fall.

“There will be some collaboration on Starcity Shakedown. What will probably be our lead single is a dance-floor packer that hip hop artist Kyprios, who I go way back with, will be on. It’s a fun and funky track. We took a piece of the music from a classic 10cc song called Dreadlock Holiday and we built a song around that. It turned out really well,” said Pereira, adding he hopes to collaborate with Daniel Wesley who recently played a gig in Penticton at The Mule Nightclub.

Pereira is engineering and producing Starcity Shakedown himself. It is just another evolution in his career and one he believes he always wanted to take on.

“I think, looking back at that time with Wide Mouth Mason, I was unknowingly in their face. Usually it was me right beside whoever our producer was at the time, guys like David Leonard who has produced Prince and other amazing artists like the Barenaked Ladies, Aerosmith, Bryan Adams and Gordie Johnson. I have always been interested in producing and mixing deep down, so it makes sense now when I look back at the information I absorbed from those guys and it really paid off because that is experience you cannot buy,” said Pereira.

Expect to hear a few of the new tunes at Peachfest next week.

“We are really focused on having a certain sound that is super-upbeat and energetic. We just want to keep making melodic songs that people can sing and dance to in their kitchen while cranking up the sound,” said Pereira.

The Steadies perform at Okanagan Lake Park Aug. 8 at 7:35 p.m. and Aug. 10 at 1:25 p.m. All events in Okanagan Lake Park are free.

- Penticton Western News - August 2013

Earl Pereira has long been a smiling, familiar face to music fans in Saskatoon — and that same mug has been plastered all over MuchMusic and seen on stages around the world.

Pereira started his career in the ‘90s with Wide Mouth Mason, and was more recently known for his ‘island-rock’ band Mobadass. Mobadass got a reboot this year, unveiling themselves as The Steadies at the 2012 Saskatoon Jazz Festival.

The new name and a first single from the upcoming album Star City Shakedown has garnered them mainstream radio play across Canada — even going to number one in Saskatoon on Magic 98.

“All in all, we've accomplished more in one year as The Steadies than Mobadass did in five years, which feels pretty great,” says Pereira. “A lot of the new vibe has to do with us becoming more of a band, rather than me and a bunch of really good hired musician friends, like it was with Mobadass.

“Jason Hattie, Juice Lee and myself are entering our fourth year as a group and things are really coming together now because of the chemistry we've been building, which is key for any band to be successful. Like brothers, we have each other's backs at all times and being on the road is always fun for me now, which is how it should be.”

The thing that sets The Steadies apart from most indie bands is their unabashed pursuit of mainstream pop, a genre that’s gotten a bad name as of late, with marketing departments taking over as the main creative force as opposed to the songwriters and performers themselves. The sheer talent of acts like Michael Jackson or Prince have been usurped by lip-synching karaoke stars like Justin Beiber, something Pereira wants to change.

“There doesn't seem to be many good [pop acts] around anymore, compared to when I was growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” he says. “To me, 'pop' is [the short form] of ‘popular’ — meaning you appeal to a wide range and large number of people, as opposed to sounding 'poppy,' which is lame. So bringing back music that sounds fresh, creative, and catchy to the mainstream is what we’re hoping to do. It seems to be working so far.”

Though they’re spending time in Toronto right now finishing the album and doing some touring, The Steadies are playing a hometown show on September 22nd at The Odeon. It will be a great chance to hear how they’ve evolved, but it’s also a really important benefit gig for The Philippines and Trinidad Flood Relief Fund.

“My dad's hometown and province are being devastated by floods,” explains Pereira, “as is our guitarist Justin Lee's home country of Trinidad. So we felt the best way we know to help is to put on a show where the proceeds will go to our home countries that are in dire need of help. There will be performances from The Filipino Folk Dance Troupe and well as The Caribbean Steel Band and one of the best DJs in Canada, The Gaff, will be closing the night, turning it into an old-school Odeon dance-party!” Craig Silliphant - Planet S Magazine - 2013

The Central Bar was bopping, bobbing and stomping (RIP Stompin’ Tom) to a dynamic triple bill brought to you by the sights and sounds of Renee Parr, The Other Colour and headliners The Steadies. I enjoyed the diversity of genres that these artists all brought to the table. It was a fun night, and my debut night out on town since my Achilles injury back in early January. While I was sore the next day in more ways than one (physio AND a show was too much in one day for me at this point…hard to believe I used to work 8 hours or more on my feet THEN go to the bar) I was glad my comeback night was spent with so many great people all down for a good time.

Touring headliners of the night The Steadies rocked steady with a bombastic vibe that surely helped to melt everyone’s winter blues away (as well as the remaining snow outside.) This is such a positive and happy band, both on and off stage. Hard to believe that the dance-rock-reggae sonic assault they create is produced by only a trio of talent. The Saskatoon, SK band (formerly known as MOBADASS) is fronted by three-time Juno nominee Earl Pereira (co-founder of Wide Mouth Mason) and have their own genre of music, dubbed “island rock.” I’d love to see The Steadies tear up some outdoor Summer music festivals, that would totally be in their wheelhouse. They had some hardcore fans dancing up a storm in front of the stage, which is always nice to see. - Revolution Peak Music/Mediazoic - 2013

While the name may be new, band members of The Steadies are familiar faces in the Bow Valley.

Earl Pereira, in the late 1990s, was the bass player and a founding member of the popular blues-rock band Wide Mouth Mason. Then in 2005, at the height of WMM success, he started a side project, Mobadass, with more of a reggae and rocksteady-influenced sound.

In 2011, Pereira departed WMM to make his side project his main gig, and in the process changed the name to The Steadies.

Starting tonight (March 28) the Saskatoon-based rock pop band The Steadies play five shows in the Valley, first March 28-30 at the Rose & Crown in Banff, followed by the Drake in Canmore, April 5-6.

“These shows, the Rose & Crown and Drake, were the first places that gave my new band a chance, and I feel I’ll always come back and play for them because of that,” said Pereira. “They treated us really well, even when I was still with Wide Mouth and this was just a side project for me, and I really appreciated that.”

Indeed, The Steadies played shows at both venues at about the same time last year, as well as many shows in 2011.

“I can’t ever remember having a bad gig at those places, and it just seems like the vibe of the people who come out always have a good time and it lends itself well to the style of music that we do, it goes over perfectly,” said Pereira. “We played New Year’s Eve out there and sometimes it gets really crazy.

“The Rose & Crown we almost caved-in the dance floor to the business beneath, and they had to get that fixed – there were too many people jumping around.”

While the music of WMM tended to be blues-based and melancholic, The Steadies’ sound is uplifting, inspiring the crowds to get up and dance.

“We get a really good dancing crowd, it gets crazy, and our fans know that,” said Pereira. “They come from wherever just to experience those shows in Canmore and Banff – it is different than it is anywhere else. It’s something to see.”

Since 2006, the band has released three albums, including two EPs and the first two under the Mobadass name. Now, the first full-length disc for The Steadies – to be called Starcity Shakedown – will hit the streets later this year.

“We call our music island rock, which is a mix of reggae and rocksteady, mixed with those kinds of influences, and dance beats,” said Pereira. “We fuse all that stuff together, stuff we really enjoy playing, and try to make something really unique out of it.

“It seems to be coming into our own, we’ve been honing it the last couple years, and we’ve got a new record coming out – the full-length debut of The Steadies – and we’re really excited about that. We’ll be testing out those songs.”

When it comes to his departure from Wide Mouth Mason, Pereira didn’t hold back, but rather said it was like a divorce.

“I really understand now why this happens to bands,” he said. “You spend so much time together as a band – for us it was 15 years – and you grow apart musically and personally, almost to the point of it being like a divorce.

“A band breakup is almost like that, especially in the music business when you have contracts and things involved.”

Right now his mindset is on the new music, and getting back together with WMM isn’t going to happen.

“I love the fans, I feel most sad for them – the kids in the marriage – I know the guys still aren’t wanting to talk about it much,” he said. “But it wasn’t working anymore and I needed to do my own thing. And it was for the best, because I can honestly say I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

“It’s weird, because even though I achieved so much success and I was doing a lot of crazy things on such a high level and I was having a lot of fun, the industry was in such control of my life, a lot of me wasn’t really enjoying it as much as I should have. It took the fun out of it and it almost became like a job, where we were forced to do things all the time.”

Now he feels more free and in control of the musical direction of the band.

“It’s purely me, and it’s déjà vu a little bit – I’m playing a lot of the same places Wide Mouth played when they started out – and it feels like the same things are happening again,” said Pereira. “But it’s different now, I’m older and wiser and appreciating things a lot more.”

And the music he’s making now is the complete opposite of what WMM was, he added.

“That was blues-based, and the blues can get pretty depressing sometimes, and that’s not me at all, my personality. I try to bring the joy out in my live shows and get people having a lot of fun,” he said. “That’s the ultimate goal, making everyone feeling good, and people know they will every time they see us play.”

Besides making music for himself, Pereira has also gotten into producing.

“I’ve got maybe too many projects at the moment, but it’s great, I love it,” he said. “I did a lot of co-producing with Wide Mouth – I loved sitting and working - The Rocky Mountain Outlook - 2013

STARCITY SHAKEDOWN
The Steadies
by Noah Siegel

To record their first full-length album Starcity Shakedown, the Steadies’ frontman Earl Pereira had to reflect on the tricks gleaned from working with some of the world’s top producers. As the bassist in Juno-winning trio Wide Mouth Mason for close to two decades, he had plenty of opportunities to see how the A-list get the right sounds. When it came time to lay down some new dub-pop concoctions, there was no question that it would be done DIY. Along with guitarist/former engineer Justin “Juice” Lee and a fresh perspective from new drummer Lexie Miller, Pereira nailed down what he believes is the finest moment in his career so far. It shows; the 12-track album comfortably blends dance and reggae with infectious pop, making them a unique voice in their hometown of Saskatoon. Starcity Shakedown can be purchased from the band’s website. Fans of 10cc will undoubtedly recognize "I Don't Like Music (I Love It)" as a smart spin on the Brit band's #1 hit "Dreadlock Holiday".

The Steadies are touring in Saskatchewan and host a CD release party this Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Artful Dodger in Regina. - New Canadian Music - November 2013

Take one dash of dance, a tablespoon of rock and smattering of reggae, and mix them together in one funky blend. Now to top it off add a liberal dose of 3-Time JUNO Nominee Earl Pereira (formerly of Wide Mouth Mason) an what do you get? One of the funkiest bands in Saskatoon! Formerly known as Mobadass, The Steadies have a sound they've dubbed 'island-rock'. It's like Top 40 meets reggae with a little bit of extra goodness tossed in. Since forming in 2011 The Steadies have become a seriously in demand band playing along side the likes of the Roots, Ziggy Marley, K-Os, Bedouin Soundclash and more. They will be having their album release party at Amigo's this Friday with special guests Tasman Jude. - Verb Magazine - Saskatoon November 2013

In a few short weeks The Steadies will celebrate the release of their first, full-length album. It’s an achievement that Earl Pereira says is a long time coming and required a full group effort.

“It’s something that we’ve been working towards for quite a while now,” says the band’s frontman.

“When it came time to making our record, doing things in a big studio, or any professional studio these days, is not cheap. It got to the point where I just figured I would learn to do it all, even the technical side, the engineering and recording.”

Together with guitarist Justin Lee, a certified engineer, the band found a way to produce the kind of music they always wanted. Pereira recalls using his background as an arranger to help him when it came time to mixing the album. He also spent a lot of time learning everything he could about the technical side.

“I really just spent the last six months soaking up as much as I could about that craft. As we were driving around, instead of listening to music, I’d be listening to podcasts and tutorials and learning a ton,” he says.

Starcity Shakedown drops on Nov. 29, but Grande Prairie fans will get an early taste of the new music when The Steadies perform at Better Than Fred’s on Nov. 15-16. Tasman Jude opens the show.

“What we’ve got is our new record and I’m probably the most proud of it than anything I’ve done because I had my hands on everything. I got to really make it sound and feel exactly how we wanted it to,” Pereira says.

“To have the ability to do it and actually make it happen, I still can’t believe it. I’m really happy with it and genuinely excited about it.”

The band is in the midst of the album promotion tour and being on the road isn’t something that’s new for Pereira. He estimates that they get in about 100 shows a year.

“It’s something I’ve been used to since I started out with Wide Mouth Mason. At that time, when I was younger, we were gone a lot more. I think we did about 300 shows a year. So 100 doesn’t seem like a lot. It’s just right,” he says.

“I know that we’re probably going to start getting busier once the album is out, and from this point onwards, I can see us picking things up more. For now, it’s a good pace. For the amount that we’re playing I can be home and in the studio.”

What’s interesting for the band on the road this time around is seeing how new drummer, Lexie Miller reacts to the lifestyle and the various towns and cities.

“To see things through her perspective, because she hasn’t had the chance to be in a pro-band that tours like we do, it’s been cool. We’re going to places that she’s never been and seeing her excitement,” Pereira says.

“For example, her first time in Banff, she was just soaking it all in and it reminds me of what it was like when we first saw these places. You kind of take it for granted that you get to see these beautiful places and meeting great people everywhere you go.”

The recent snowy weather might not make the roads as beautiful to travel on their way up to GP, but The Steadies are looking forward to a return to the Swan City. Following their shows here, they’re back on the road promoting Starcity Shakedown and eventually want to make a move into the U.S. market by spending some time down in California.

“We’re touring all the way up until December. We’ve got five shows during the Grey Cup so we’re keeping busy then. (...) In the new year we plan to do cross-Canada, try to get all the way to the Maritimes,” he says.

Kirsten.goruk@sunmedia.ca - The Daily Herald Tribune - November 2013

In a few short weeks The Steadies will celebrate the release of their first, full-length album. It’s an achievement that Earl Pereira says is a long time coming and required a full group effort.

“It’s something that we’ve been working towards for quite a while now,” says the band’s frontman.

“When it came time to making our record, doing things in a big studio, or any professional studio these days, is not cheap. It got to the point where I just figured I would learn to do it all, even the technical side, the engineering and recording.”

Together with guitarist Justin Lee, a certified engineer, the band found a way to produce the kind of music they always wanted. Pereira recalls using his background as an arranger to help him when it came time to mixing the album. He also spent a lot of time learning everything he could about the technical side.

“I really just spent the last six months soaking up as much as I could about that craft. As we were driving around, instead of listening to music, I’d be listening to podcasts and tutorials and learning a ton,” he says.

Starcity Shakedown drops on Nov. 29, but Grande Prairie fans will get an early taste of the new music when The Steadies perform at Better Than Fred’s on Nov. 15-16. Tasman Jude opens the show.

“What we’ve got is our new record and I’m probably the most proud of it than anything I’ve done because I had my hands on everything. I got to really make it sound and feel exactly how we wanted it to,” Pereira says.

“To have the ability to do it and actually make it happen, I still can’t believe it. I’m really happy with it and genuinely excited about it.”

The band is in the midst of the album promotion tour and being on the road isn’t something that’s new for Pereira. He estimates that they get in about 100 shows a year.

“It’s something I’ve been used to since I started out with Wide Mouth Mason. At that time, when I was younger, we were gone a lot more. I think we did about 300 shows a year. So 100 doesn’t seem like a lot. It’s just right,” he says.

“I know that we’re probably going to start getting busier once the album is out, and from this point onwards, I can see us picking things up more. For now, it’s a good pace. For the amount that we’re playing I can be home and in the studio.”

What’s interesting for the band on the road this time around is seeing how new drummer, Lexie Miller reacts to the lifestyle and the various towns and cities.

“To see things through her perspective, because she hasn’t had the chance to be in a pro-band that tours like we do, it’s been cool. We’re going to places that she’s never been and seeing her excitement,” Pereira says.

“For example, her first time in Banff, she was just soaking it all in and it reminds me of what it was like when we first saw these places. You kind of take it for granted that you get to see these beautiful places and meeting great people everywhere you go.”

The recent snowy weather might not make the roads as beautiful to travel on their way up to GP, but The Steadies are looking forward to a return to the Swan City. Following their shows here, they’re back on the road promoting Starcity Shakedown and eventually want to make a move into the U.S. market by spending some time down in California.

“We’re touring all the way up until December. We’ve got five shows during the Grey Cup so we’re keeping busy then. (...) In the new year we plan to do cross-Canada, try to get all the way to the Maritimes,” he says.

Kirsten.goruk@sunmedia.ca - The Daily Herald Tribune - November 2013

If being in a rock band is like a marriage, it follows that a band break-up is the ugly divorce. Who gets the money? Who gets custody of the kids? How did our love come to this? It can be just as painful as any relationship gone awry.

“Having to leave Wide Mouth Mason was pretty devastating – I felt like part of me was taken away,” says Earl Pereira, singer-bassist for the Steadies, his new full-time Saskatoon power trio. They play the Pawn Shop Friday night. It’s been two years since he left WMM, with Big Sugar’s Gordie Johnson filling in on bass, and Pereira says he still has trouble talking about it. He’d run into mutual friends and “it wasn’t a happy hello. They’d say, ‘you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.’”

He can’t even bring himself to see the old band.

Last time through town opening for Big Sugar, there was something amiss with Wide Mouth Mason. Without Pereira, the band – especially singer-guitarist Shaun Verreault – seemed to be striving too hard to be too cool, uncorking too many blistering solos. (A riot of disruptive hairstyles and pretentious hats was just a symptom of the entire evening of being too cool for its own good, although the guys in the Steadies sport natty headgear, too. More study on the hat-rock relationship is needed.)

Bands break up, musicians move on and new bands are reconstituted “from the ashes” of other relationships all the time. But the trail of broken hearts is quite real. Fans can be just as bummed out.

“I don’t want to make it seem like it was so easy to go do this – because it wasn’t,” Pereira says. “Fans are like kids, in a way, and I know how much people thought we were a real band, not with someone who could be replaced – easily.”

Johnson, who produced Wide Mouth Mason before he joined them, tried to act as marriage counsellor, but differences were apparently irreconcilable. Like any marriage happy from the outside, no one has a clue what’s really going on inside a band except the band members themselves, and sometimes not even then.

As Pereira tells it, it was a combination of burn-out from being on the road too long (since 1995, off and on, starting with gigs at Blues on Whyte and then the Sidetrack Cafe) and a couple of “bad decisions.” Specifically, he says, it was not being willing to step down a level – from tour bus to van – which successful Canadian bands have to do in order to be successful in the U.S. There was some bad timing in there. Drummer Safwan Javed spent six years getting his law degree, and by the time the band was ready to get back at it full time again, The Steadies (formerly known as Mobadass) was a going concern. Pereira made his decision. He wanted to do his own thing, no surprise. He was originally the frontman of a Saskatoon band called Vendetta, which brought in Verreault on guitar when he didn’t even sing. When Verreault turned out to be a double Stevie threat (Wonder vocals, Ray Vaughan guitar) and formed Wide Mouth Mason, Pereira took a back-up role. Given the odd time he was given the spotlight in WMM, it was clear he had unrealized potential.

It wasn’t just one deal breaker.

“Nobody really knows why – I don’t think we even knew why,” Pereira says. “It was just at that point in our lives when we had to part ways – and it’s sad. There’s no bad blood, but at the same time, we’re not good. That’s what makes it even harder. I can’t even explain it to fans. It is a divorce. We’re getting a divorce. And it’s still ongoing.”

Pereira says he always thought WMM would be together forever, “I thought we were going to be the biggest band in the world. That was my thinking the whole time. I never doubted that.”

He declares he will put that same passion and dedication into The Steadies – which is trying to do for reggae what Wide Mouth Mason did to the blues. The band has a full-length debut album on the way, with a catchy ska-rock single therein, See You When I Go.

Read into that what you want. - Gig City - Mike Ross (formerly of Edmonton Sun)

THE STEADIES:

Saturday, June 30. Friendship Park Free Stage, 9 p.m.

Sunday, July 1. Bessborough Gardens. Opening for The Roots, 6 p.m.

Jazz festival marks a special anniversary for The Steadies.

The group, which once played under the moniker Mobadass, became The Steadies at last year's event.

They've continued to bring their party vibe across the country - they're a favourite at ski resorts - but say they look forward to playing the festival at home each year.

"I almost use it as a benchmark every year to see how we've improved and see what we need to improve on. I sort of compare every performance with the year before. It's a way to keep moving forward and know that you can get better," said frontman Earl Pereira. "You just can't help but get inspired and want to play a level above your best."

The roster of groups they've opened for includes k-os, Los Lobos, Arrested Development, Sharon Jones and Bedouin Soundclash, who played a hand in their evolution as a group.

Pereira shares his favourite jazz fest memory:

"My favourite memory of a jazz fest show might have been our Bedouin Soundclash show. Still to this day I think that was our best one. I think we were playing in front of the perfect crowd for us. The bands are similar. I just remember feeling like that almost led to knowing we needed to change our name. Everything was going so well for us with Mobadass and I just felt like at that point, I remember thinking to myself 'I want to be where these guys are. Bedouin and beyond. I don't think that's going to happen with the name we have, so better start thinking of something fast that suits our sound and can be international like those guys are.'"



- The Star Phoenix - Jeanette Stewart

The Steadies caught my attention initially not because it’s the new vehicle for ex-Wide Mouth Mason bass player and vocalist Earl Pereira but because they created a damn awesome album cover. It’s a mini-album sleeve created in the form of a children’s colouring contest entry. It even comes with four crayons. Fans are encouraged to colour the cover and submit it to the band for a prize. Very clever marketing right there. As for the music, Pereira has pulled as far away from the Wide Mouth Mason train station as one can go. Overall, it plays to a Two-Tone ska and reggae audience. The opening track – a most radio friendly groover – is a cross between Hedley, Maroon 5, 10CC’s “Dreadlock Holiday” and Moving Targetz’s 1988 college radio tune “Who We Are”. “See You When I Go” is straight up second generation Ska which has the energy of King Apparatus’ “Made For TV”. “Heart of Ice” veers off the path as a reggae track featuring the skat hip-hop rhymes of someone named Make It Hap’n. “Foolish Game” is 1960s psyche-garage power pop complete with “Palisades Park” Farfisa accompaniment. “No Time For Love” breaks the momentum and plays out as a second generation Fastball outtake. Overall, the effect has me intrigued because the band hasn’t settled into stylistic rut. Would like to hear what else Pereira has been keeping back after his years with WMM. The Steadies: See You When I Go - Jamie Vernon -“Don’t Believe A Word I Say”

THE STEADIES

EP release party Friday, Louis'

Earl Pereira calls himself a late bloomer. The Saskatoon musician has a musical history that includes opening for the Rolling Stones and three Juno nominations with Wide Mouth Mason, but at 35 is still a lifetime student of music who only now feels like he's finally coming into his own as an artist.

"I do still physically feel like I'm 25, but at least I have the wisdom now to be smarter about everything and be more open to change and adversity. I used to be so up and down all the time. It was like Rolling Stone tour 'woo' and then back playing in a Barrie, Ont., bar," he said recently in an interview over coffee and cheesecake at Calories.

But with new music on the way from his band the Steadies, Pereira is older, wiser and even more ambitious, with his sights set on international success.

Pereira and his bandmates Justin Lee and Jason Hattie abandoned the name Mobadass this year, debuting the new name the Steadies at Jazz Fest.

Pereira admits it was difficult to let go of the old moniker, but it was time for a change.

"I kind of outgrew it. Mobadass really suited the snowboarding, skiing party band thing, which is what we were when we started. We weren't even doing originals. It was all cover songs, which was fun. But things got more serious on the last record and that's where things started to shift," he said.

Turns out, it wasn't just Pereira who was ready for a name change.

"Promoters were pulling me aside and saying, 'I didn't want to say anything, but I'm really glad you changed your name.' I just thought, 'Thanks guys,' " he said with a laugh.

Though the band is sticking to its self described "island rock," the new name means a fresh outlook, both musically and stylistically.

"It's more of an international, global appeal or image now. That's what I've always wanted," he said. "That's what I've wanted to do since I was 10 years old. I didn't quite get to reach those goals with Wide Mouth Mason; I came close."

Having the Steadies reach ears around the world is something Pereira is ready for. The timing is right because the bass player and songwriter said his new music is the strongest he's ever made. He says this with confidence, not because he's trying to plug a new EP, but because he's genuinely worked at getting better.

While performing and playing bass come naturally to Pereira, he made a concerted effort to improve his songwriting with the Steadies. At an Alberta conference, where he was actually hired to be a performance coach, Pereira became the student. He met veteran Nashville songwriter Ralph Murphy at a songwriting workshop and he agreed to lend a critical eye to Pereira's songs. Pereira said he had a new confidence coming out of the conference having learned so much about the craft of songwriting.

"That's where you're going to get fans for life, with your song. When people say, 'That's my song,' you know you did your job. That's the biggest compliment ever."

He's excited about the new music, but Pereira isn't ready to reveal too much yet (though the interview just so happened to be during a break from recording one of the songs, a 1950s throwback with a Steadies reggae rock twist). The revelation will have to wait until the EP release on Friday, when the Steadies will perform and sell copies of the five songs that make up the new recording. It's just a taste, Pereira said, of a full-length album scheduled for 2012.

He hopes the EP will open doors and catch the interest of industry people. First Saskatoon, then the world.



Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/Ready+Steadies/5439952/story.html#ixzz1bjp8D7tJ - The Star Phoenix

THE STEADIES

EP release party Friday, Louis'

Earl Pereira calls himself a late bloomer. The Saskatoon musician has a musical history that includes opening for the Rolling Stones and three Juno nominations with Wide Mouth Mason, but at 35 is still a lifetime student of music who only now feels like he's finally coming into his own as an artist.

"I do still physically feel like I'm 25, but at least I have the wisdom now to be smarter about everything and be more open to change and adversity. I used to be so up and down all the time. It was like Rolling Stone tour 'woo' and then back playing in a Barrie, Ont., bar," he said recently in an interview over coffee and cheesecake at Calories.

But with new music on the way from his band the Steadies, Pereira is older, wiser and even more ambitious, with his sights set on international success.

Pereira and his bandmates Justin Lee and Jason Hattie abandoned the name Mobadass this year, debuting the new name the Steadies at Jazz Fest.

Pereira admits it was difficult to let go of the old moniker, but it was time for a change.

"I kind of outgrew it. Mobadass really suited the snowboarding, skiing party band thing, which is what we were when we started. We weren't even doing originals. It was all cover songs, which was fun. But things got more serious on the last record and that's where things started to shift," he said.

Turns out, it wasn't just Pereira who was ready for a name change.

"Promoters were pulling me aside and saying, 'I didn't want to say anything, but I'm really glad you changed your name.' I just thought, 'Thanks guys,' " he said with a laugh.

Though the band is sticking to its self described "island rock," the new name means a fresh outlook, both musically and stylistically.

"It's more of an international, global appeal or image now. That's what I've always wanted," he said. "That's what I've wanted to do since I was 10 years old. I didn't quite get to reach those goals with Wide Mouth Mason; I came close."

Having the Steadies reach ears around the world is something Pereira is ready for. The timing is right because the bass player and songwriter said his new music is the strongest he's ever made. He says this with confidence, not because he's trying to plug a new EP, but because he's genuinely worked at getting better.

While performing and playing bass come naturally to Pereira, he made a concerted effort to improve his songwriting with the Steadies. At an Alberta conference, where he was actually hired to be a performance coach, Pereira became the student. He met veteran Nashville songwriter Ralph Murphy at a songwriting workshop and he agreed to lend a critical eye to Pereira's songs. Pereira said he had a new confidence coming out of the conference having learned so much about the craft of songwriting.

"That's where you're going to get fans for life, with your song. When people say, 'That's my song,' you know you did your job. That's the biggest compliment ever."

He's excited about the new music, but Pereira isn't ready to reveal too much yet (though the interview just so happened to be during a break from recording one of the songs, a 1950s throwback with a Steadies reggae rock twist). The revelation will have to wait until the EP release on Friday, when the Steadies will perform and sell copies of the five songs that make up the new recording. It's just a taste, Pereira said, of a full-length album scheduled for 2012.

He hopes the EP will open doors and catch the interest of industry people. First Saskatoon, then the world.



Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/Ready+Steadies/5439952/story.html#ixzz1bjp8D7tJ - The Star Phoenix

Armed with a team of up-and-coming talent, acclaimed musician Earl Pereira is ready to fight for his second shot at success.

Pereira got his rock n’ roll pedigree as a founding member of Wide Mouth Mason, who had three gold records, three Juno nominations, and a host of other accolades and awards. He has toured the world, playing over 2000 shows and opening for iconic artists like The Rolling Stones and AC/DC.

Since leaving Wide Mouth Mason in 2010, Pereira has continued to play more than 100 shows a year with his critically acclaimed solo project, Mobadass, which he started in 2006. The band has opened for some of the biggest acts in the country and has headlined festivals and major events including the Winter Olympics and the Grey Cup.

After five years of establishing Mobadass, Pereira decided it was time for a change. This summer, Mobadass officially changed their name to The Steadies, which comes from the ‘rocksteady’ style of music for which the band is known. Pereira commented, “Mobadass served us well but we just needed a name that people would take more seriously, something that better suited our sound. Response to the new name has been tremendously positive and I think people are just excited to see what we’re going to do with it.”

On September 23rd 2011, the band will release new music for the first time since their 2008 debut, Island Rock. The 5-song EP includes tracks with award-winning producers Ryan Stewart and Factor. Pereira has met with a small number of Canadian labels, both Independent and Major, and hopes the success of this release will gain label support. Video footage from the release party will be used in David Cropper’s (MTV / AUX TV) new television series, Caribbean Rocks.

Promising new talent Chad Reynolds opens the show with his energetic blend of gritty throwback soul, while The Steadies headline, promising an electrifying set of rock-out party songs, radio-worthy new originals, and a heap of fan favorites.



When: September 23rd 2011 | Doors 9:00 pm | Chad Reynolds 10:00 pm | The Steadies 11:00 pm
Where: Louis’ Pub | Tickets $15 at Louis & Momentum | Free copy of the EP with admission

For more information or to request an interview with The Steadies, please contact Kate Matthews:
(p) 306.222.9516 (e) kate@thesteadies.ca (w) thesteadies.ca (epk) sonicbids.com/thesteadies
- Kate Matthews

"Earl Pereira, bassist of the Saskatoon blues-rock power trio Wide Mouth Mason, has established himself as one of the countries best bass players. He has become widely known for his intensely energetic stage presence and ability to connect with an audience..." - Canadian Musician

Packing the dancefloor everywhere they play with the their funky island sound, for the second straight year Earl Pereira's Mobadass has been voted by the public as Saskatoon's Best Local Band! - Planet S Magazine

by Mark Medley

Here's Earl from Mobadass - you may remember him as the bassist from Wide Mouth Mason.

What was the first album you ever bought and do you still listen to it?

The first album I bought was 1988's "Kick" by INXS but it was a tape so I don't listen to it anymore, although it is a great album. It was also the first concert I went to see and the reggae group Steel Pulse opened, who I loved and definitely still listen to.

What is your best/worst/wackiest story from your time on tour?

The best story was meeting Sir George Martin during CMW 1998 in the elevator of the Westin Hotel. I was carrying my first gold record and he asked about it. The worst story was playing in a bar in southern Alberta when I was 19 and there were more chickens than people in attendance. The wackiest story probably had to be opening for the Rolling Stones at Skydome in 1999 and feeling like I was going to fall over during our set, it felt so weird and I just couldn't keep my balance.

Do you get more groupies than Nickelback? Why or why not?

I actually hung out with Chad recently and he told me that back in 99', my band's bus was the first tour bus he had ever been on. I'm pretty sure he gets all of the groupies now which I am totally fine with.

Who are your musical influences?

I would have to say my family, especially my dad. He got all of us listening to the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Motown, all of the good oldies. My favourites of all time are probably Otis Redding, The Wailers and The Police to name a few.

CMW will be successful if we...

Continue to focus on growing, developing, and supporting up and coming Canadian talent. Some of us artists have traveled a long way and paid a lot of money for this opportunity so increasing the exposure with interviews like this definitely helps.

• Earl Pereira & the Mobadass Allstars play Revival on March 6 at 10 p.m. - Canadian Music Week 2008: Earl Pereira & the Mobadass Allstars

by Mark Medley

Here's Earl from Mobadass - you may remember him as the bassist from Wide Mouth Mason.

What was the first album you ever bought and do you still listen to it?

The first album I bought was 1988's "Kick" by INXS but it was a tape so I don't listen to it anymore, although it is a great album. It was also the first concert I went to see and the reggae group Steel Pulse opened, who I loved and definitely still listen to.

What is your best/worst/wackiest story from your time on tour?

The best story was meeting Sir George Martin during CMW 1998 in the elevator of the Westin Hotel. I was carrying my first gold record and he asked about it. The worst story was playing in a bar in southern Alberta when I was 19 and there were more chickens than people in attendance. The wackiest story probably had to be opening for the Rolling Stones at Skydome in 1999 and feeling like I was going to fall over during our set, it felt so weird and I just couldn't keep my balance.

Do you get more groupies than Nickelback? Why or why not?

I actually hung out with Chad recently and he told me that back in 99', my band's bus was the first tour bus he had ever been on. I'm pretty sure he gets all of the groupies now which I am totally fine with.

Who are your musical influences?

I would have to say my family, especially my dad. He got all of us listening to the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Motown, all of the good oldies. My favourites of all time are probably Otis Redding, The Wailers and The Police to name a few.

CMW will be successful if we...

Continue to focus on growing, developing, and supporting up and coming Canadian talent. Some of us artists have traveled a long way and paid a lot of money for this opportunity so increasing the exposure with interviews like this definitely helps.

• Earl Pereira & the Mobadass Allstars play Revival on March 6 at 10 p.m. - Canadian Music Week 2008: Earl Pereira & the Mobadass Allstars

"..Mobadass' Earl Pereira Wide Mouth Mason bassist Earl Pereira is taking his Island Rock debut album across much of Canada this summer with a smokin' hot tour..."

ITUNES REVIEWS: "Great album 5/5...Big ups on the stellar first album from Mobadass...Highlights being 'Nobody Knows, 'No Excuses, and 'Thinkin'. Great vibes, a must have summertime album! PEACE"

"Diggin it 5/5...Saw you at the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. Love the style! I drive for a living and this album is always fun to put on. has a great energy to it! Look forward to future releases!"

"Amazing!!!!! 5/5...I just saw these guys live last night at a bar in my hometown and they gave me a cd ..these guys are awesome!! If you're into listening to some really chill reggae rock, this stuff is for you. And of course they're from Canada so I really hope they make a name for themselves. Keep it up boys, and get the album everyone!!" - Mobadass Island Rock Tour

Best Provincial Pop Song
Mobadass - No Excuses

Best Dance Song
Mobadass - Reggae On Broadway (Ovi Bistriceanu - Island House Mix)

Best Provincial World CD Album
Mobadass - Island Rock - Toronto Exclusive Magazine

With the weather taking a nice turn, a little island music just might be the sound you are looking for on this Easter weekend.

Conceived by Wide Mouth Mason's Earl Pereira, Mobadass is a funky quartet that yanks on deep rhythmic patterns and dispenses pulsating grooves that roll reggae, hip-hop and rock into an authentic, tasty blend.

This project has had time to steep. After four years of massaging tunes, working on arrangements, recording and playing select live dates, Pereira is ready to take Mobadass to the masses.

"In the beginning, we were doing a lot of covers, but we were packing dance floors, and the shows had a great vibe. I'd start slipping in the odd original. If you can put a new tune between a couple of classic reggae tunes and nobody leaves the dance floor, you know you are headed in the right direction," says Pereira, who will be balancing originals and covers this weekend, as he and his partners in Mobadass work up three sets a night.

The group's debut album, Island Rock, is impressive. Superb playing is one of the keys to the disc, where a constant hypnotic pulse received preferential treatment over showcasing needlessly flashy passages.

Lyrically, Pereira doesn't shy away from social commentary and he also whips up a few straight-from-the-heart love songs. The title track is his take on racism, and on the polyrhythmic Nobody Knows, he is joined by old friend Kyprios of Sweatshop Union fame. - Mobadass brings its hypnotic blend of reggae, hip-hop and rock

Performer brings Island Rock to Kelowna
Thursday, October 1st, 2009 | 6:00 am

Earl Pereira brings his summery sound of island rock to Kelowna with his band Mobadass. (Photo contributed)

By Holly Miyasaki

Taking the leap from one popular Canadian band to creating his own has paid off for Earl Pereira.

The bassist for Wide Mouth Mason started Mobadass in 2004 as a side project and has seen it grow in leaps and bounds.

It is through Mobadass Pereira has been able to channel his unique sound of “island rock.”

“It’s a very summery type of music, very upbeat, energetic, danceable and it has a happy, good vibe,” explains Pereira, adding he treats his band like a “hockey team.”

He says there have been about 17 different performers taking turns in the band, switching out depending on who is available when. “I get to play with different guys all the time, it keeps it fresh,” he says.

Pereira was last in the Okanagan performing at the Centre of Gravity Festival held in City Park.

“The Centre of Gravity event was just massive,” recalls Pereira. “To be a part of that was really awesome for us. You can’t beat a beach party, especially with our sound.”

His most recent release, Island Rock, features songs like Home To Me, a pop anthem and Nobody Knows which sees Kyprios, of the West Coast hip-hop group Sweatshop Union performing alongside Pereira.

At the same time, Pereira is kept busy with Wide Mouth Mason. The band’s drummer has just finished law school and is an entertainment lawyer and the group will be releasing their first live album and DVD.

Mobadass will be performing live at Doc Willoughby’s Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.

Island Rock can be purchased online from sites like iTunes, Amazon.com and www.cdbaby.com.

entertainment@kelowna.com
250-575-0613


What’s on: Mobadass at Center of Gravity

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009 | 10:54 am

Wide Mouth Mason bassist Earl Pereira hits the music scene with Mobadass, and will be performing live today at Center of Gravity.

Kelowna's Center of Gravity is BC's hottest sport and entertainment festival.
The COG showcases the Okanagan Valley at its very best. Three days of live music, fashion, and world class sports along the lake in Kelowna’s City Park, July 31st – Aug 2nd (August long weekend). Sports events include beach volleyball, freestyle mountain biking, basketball and wakeboarding.

The concert will feature KARDINAL OFFISHALL, one of the biggest winners at this year's Juno Awards, winning both Single and Rap Recording of the Year. Pop star DANNY FERNANDES will also be performing at the Beach Concert. Danny recently won Best Pop Video at the MMVAs for his new hit Private Dancer. BIF NAKED is a Juno Award-winning, multi-platinum record selling, Canadian rock singer-songwriter. She will be performing Saturday evening on the Sun FM Main Stage. MOBADASS will close out the wicked weekend of sports, live music, fashion, and fun. They'll have the beach rockin with songs from her new album Island Rock when they hit the SUN FM Main Stage after the pro beach volleyball finals.

Nakusp Music Festival
(Out of Town)

The Nakusp Music Festival has established itself as one of the top Rock Events in all of Canada.
The show always serves up a high energy feast infused with a massive dose of high echelon 'rockers'.
This successful event demonstrates how a production company, a society, a band of community volunteers and a creative town combine their efforts to produce memorable music extravaganzas while generating significant economic activity which benefits so many ~ A true testament to the spirit of community.

July 17-19, 2009

Featuring performances by John Kay and Steppenwolf, Blues Traveler, Sweet, Sam Moore, Colin James, Emerson Drive, Gregg Rolie (ex-Santana), the Zombies, Suzie McNeil, Sweatshop Union, Nick Gilder and Sweeney Todd, Trooper, Delhi 2 Dublin, and Mobadass. - Kelowna.com

Performer brings Island Rock to Kelowna
Thursday, October 1st, 2009 | 6:00 am

Earl Pereira brings his summery sound of island rock to Kelowna with his band Mobadass. (Photo contributed)

By Holly Miyasaki

Taking the leap from one popular Canadian band to creating his own has paid off for Earl Pereira.

The bassist for Wide Mouth Mason started Mobadass in 2004 as a side project and has seen it grow in leaps and bounds.

It is through Mobadass Pereira has been able to channel his unique sound of “island rock.”

“It’s a very summery type of music, very upbeat, energetic, danceable and it has a happy, good vibe,” explains Pereira, adding he treats his band like a “hockey team.”

He says there have been about 17 different performers taking turns in the band, switching out depending on who is available when. “I get to play with different guys all the time, it keeps it fresh,” he says.

Pereira was last in the Okanagan performing at the Centre of Gravity Festival held in City Park.

“The Centre of Gravity event was just massive,” recalls Pereira. “To be a part of that was really awesome for us. You can’t beat a beach party, especially with our sound.”

His most recent release, Island Rock, features songs like Home To Me, a pop anthem and Nobody Knows which sees Kyprios, of the West Coast hip-hop group Sweatshop Union performing alongside Pereira.

At the same time, Pereira is kept busy with Wide Mouth Mason. The band’s drummer has just finished law school and is an entertainment lawyer and the group will be releasing their first live album and DVD.

Mobadass will be performing live at Doc Willoughby’s Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.

Island Rock can be purchased online from sites like iTunes, Amazon.com and www.cdbaby.com.

entertainment@kelowna.com
250-575-0613


What’s on: Mobadass at Center of Gravity

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009 | 10:54 am

Wide Mouth Mason bassist Earl Pereira hits the music scene with Mobadass, and will be performing live today at Center of Gravity.

Kelowna's Center of Gravity is BC's hottest sport and entertainment festival.
The COG showcases the Okanagan Valley at its very best. Three days of live music, fashion, and world class sports along the lake in Kelowna’s City Park, July 31st – Aug 2nd (August long weekend). Sports events include beach volleyball, freestyle mountain biking, basketball and wakeboarding.

The concert will feature KARDINAL OFFISHALL, one of the biggest winners at this year's Juno Awards, winning both Single and Rap Recording of the Year. Pop star DANNY FERNANDES will also be performing at the Beach Concert. Danny recently won Best Pop Video at the MMVAs for his new hit Private Dancer. BIF NAKED is a Juno Award-winning, multi-platinum record selling, Canadian rock singer-songwriter. She will be performing Saturday evening on the Sun FM Main Stage. MOBADASS will close out the wicked weekend of sports, live music, fashion, and fun. They'll have the beach rockin with songs from her new album Island Rock when they hit the SUN FM Main Stage after the pro beach volleyball finals.

Nakusp Music Festival
(Out of Town)

The Nakusp Music Festival has established itself as one of the top Rock Events in all of Canada.
The show always serves up a high energy feast infused with a massive dose of high echelon 'rockers'.
This successful event demonstrates how a production company, a society, a band of community volunteers and a creative town combine their efforts to produce memorable music extravaganzas while generating significant economic activity which benefits so many ~ A true testament to the spirit of community.

July 17-19, 2009

Featuring performances by John Kay and Steppenwolf, Blues Traveler, Sweet, Sam Moore, Colin James, Emerson Drive, Gregg Rolie (ex-Santana), the Zombies, Suzie McNeil, Sweatshop Union, Nick Gilder and Sweeney Todd, Trooper, Delhi 2 Dublin, and Mobadass. - Kelowna.com

"Reggae On Broadway sums up the band's Saska-Rasta fusion...while Home To Me sounds like a soon-to-be big song..." - Cam Fuller

Mobadass is Marvelous
Wednesday, 03 June 2009 16:17 Richard Amery

Have you ever gone to a gig not knowing what to expect, then returned home wondering what you witnessed, but was impressed nonetheless. That was of Mobadass and Kyprios’ May 29 gig at the Blarney Stone. Not being a rap fan, I wasn’t sure what I was about to see, but I had to check out rap performed with a crack live band behind it.

Kyprios kept the crowd hopping and dancing while Wide Mouth Mason bassist Earl Pereira proved he is a dazzling bassist, as well as has a wicked voice, which leans heavily on the R and B side. His voice was complemented perfectly by Kyprios, who had a crowd bouncing in front of the stage, keeping up their energy. He also proved to be quite the singer as well

They played their hit “Nobody Knows” as well as some Sweatshop Union hits as well as original Mobadass/Kyprios material which they said on stage they hadn’t played before an audience before.
------

Earl Pereira, best known for playing bass for Saskatoon blues rock trio Wide Mouth Mason, is looking forward to flexing his musical muscles in Lethbridge, Friday with his band Mobaddass, which comes to the Blarney Stone on Friday, May 29 with rap star Kyprios.

“We‘ve only done three shows but we’re confident we want to do it again in September,” Pereira said during a weekend stop in Nanaimo.

Kyprios is best known for performing with Sweatshop Union as well as a solo artist.

“We‘re old friends from back in the day,” Pereira said, enjoying a day off in Nanaimo, three days into their two week tour of B.C. and Alberta.

Pereira got to know Kyprios years ago when the budding rap star was dating Pereira‘s cousin and Wide Mouth Mason was opening for ZZ Top in Vancouver. Pereira got them backstage passes and a relationship began.

“Kyp and I both like all different types of music, which is really what Mobaddass is all about. Mobaddass is based on reggae music like Wide Mouth is based on the blues. But that‘s not all we do,” Pereira said adding they will be playing a 90 minute set together with with the Saskatoon version of Mobaddass.

Guitarist Ryan Unger and drummer Jason Hattie will be playing the Alberta leg of the tour. Pereira also has a Vancouver version of the band.

Pereira is enjoying working with Kyprios. They have just released their new single to the radio, “ Home to Me” and will be working on a video for it during the summer. But in the meantime he is enjoying the tour.

“ My band is really what he needs to take his music to the next level. For me it‘s about having someone I can play off of. He‘s not just a great MC, he can rap but he‘s a really great singer as well. And he plays percussion and sings harmonies. People are freaking out about it,” he continued.

“It’s a a really fun, energetic, feel good show with a lot of different music,” he enthused

“If you like hip hop, Kyps’s the best in Canada. He can sing and rap. It‘s all about positive energy. He’s really easy to work with. A lot of people in hip hop have big egos, but he‘s a down to earth guy,” he enthused.

“It‘s about having the right people working behind the scenes,” he said adding the first tour has had it‘s share of headaches such as a show cancellation in Tofino last week.

“The folks there pulled some very uncool moves. The Lethbridge show is one we‘ve been really looking forward to because the people there are really organized,” he said adding while Mobadass hasn‘t played Lethbridge before, Kyprios has.

“On this tour we’re getting to play for a lot of new people,” he said.

After the tour winds up in Medicine Hat (there are only two shows after the Lethbridge show) he will spend the summer touring with Wide Mouth Mason, which also includes a Lethbridge stop at the Roadhouse, June 13, then hopefully be back on the road with Kyprios and Mobadass in September.

But he also wants to complete a video for “Nobody Knows” featuring Kyprios.

“It’s going to be very cool. It’s very trippy black comedy,” Pereira enthused adding that won‘t affect touring with Wide Mouth Mason.

“We have people working on it behind the scenes. Summer tours are really just playing weekends. Festivals are usually Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. The rest of the week I can take to focus on Mobadass,” he continued he is looking forward to the Lethbridge show.

“I hope lots of people come out because they will be in for a treat. We‘re definitely going to be at our best. We‘ll have fun with the crowd.”

The solid 90 minute set will include Mobaddass material, some of Kyprios‘s solo and Sweatshop Union hits as well as some brand new material which will be introduced to the crowd.

“It will be an action packed set,” Pereira promised. - Wide Mouth Mason bassist is Mobadass playing with Sweatshop Union's Kyprios

HOMEGROWN TALENT ON FULL DISPLAY DURING JAZZ FESTIVAL
by Craig Silliphant

One of the great things about the Jazz Festival is the fact that it gives local artists exposure alongside the international acts it brings to the city. Though the thought of jazz might cause one to conjure up a mental image of berets and smoky lounges, Saskatoon’s Mobadass will have you thinking more about cresting waves and margaritas. Dubbing their sound, ‘island rock’, Mobadass is a resort cocktail filled with the good-times spirit of hot funk, dance rock, and reggae. Mobadass was formed in 2004 by Earl Pereira, who was the bassist for one of Saskatoon’s better known exports, Wide Mouth Mason. You can catch them Friday, July 3rd on the Bessborough main stage at 7 PM. - Planet S Magazine

Saskatoon has had plenty of success stories in the music world (hello, Northern Pikes and Wide Mouth Mason) — but in a town this size, it’s still truly exciting when a local band looks poised to take a shot at the big time.

For many observers, Mobadass — the funk-rock project founded by Earl Pereira — is right at the top of any list concerning Saskatoon bands most likely to get the notice of both audiences and industry types. Even better: they’re almost ready to release a new album.

“We’re literally in the studio right now, recording the follow-up to our first record,” says Pereira. “It’s essentially an evolving sound, even though we’re keeping reggae as the sound we launch off from.”

Since their inception in 2004, Mobadass has gained a well-deserved reputation as one of Saskatoon’s top party bands — but their popularity certainly isn’t limited to their hometown. Mixing high energy retro-funk with world beat and reggae flavours, the multi-instrumental band has toured across Canada several times, and played numerous festivals.

These days, Pereira is happy to report that the band finally has a solidified line-up — one which is bringing new energy to the project.

“The key for me was to make Mobadass a more legit and serious project — I think [it’s always] looked that way to the public, but behind the scenes it’s been musicians who have busy schedules and can’t always play,” he says. “Things are now falling into place perfectly. [Our new] keyboard player I met completely serendipitously when I was on tour with Wide Mouth Mason — he was part of an opening act in Ontario, so I ended up stealing him away. And the guitarist is from Trinidad-Tobago — he came here to help out at a studio, and it just so happened that he was perfect for the band with his style of playing.

“The ideas I have in my head are sounding better with these players, which is really fun for me,” says Pereira.

Although the band’s first album, Island Rock, garnered plenty of accolades for the group, Mobadass seemed destined to be a side project for Pereira, who also held down bass duties in Wide Mouth Mason. But with the release of the new album, Pereira says the band is pushing hard for success — and gearing for up their most ambitious period yet.

“It can be hard to make something a priority when you have another band,” he says, “but there isn’t really anything stopping me from bringing this forward to where I want it to be. We’re definitely doing another tour right away, and we want to spend a good chunk of time on the West Coast. We want to make Los Angeles our headquarters, especially during the colder months.”

L.A.notwithstanding, Pereira is also looking to create more of a presence for Mobadass right here at home.

“I want to be more active in Saskatoon, especially since we took about a year off from playing here since last summer,” he says. “And now we can re-establish ourselves with the new line-up and new songs, so playing the Reggae Festival was the perfect opportunity for that.” /Chris Morin - Planet S by Craig Silliphant

Earl Pereira of Saskatchewan's Mobadass (the longtime bassist from Wide Mouth Mason) has been touring festivals all summer with his brand of breezy island rock, and he can't get enough of the open-sky format. He's excited to return to Edmonton at a new venue.

"If I had my choice, I would want to make a career out of just doing festivals. As much as we like the bars, I guess the whole point in growing in the industry is to get to those big festival stages," Pereira says.

"Sometimes at the bar, people are going to be there anyway and are just waiting for the DJ to come on. But festivals are great: you get the atmosphere and the vibe, plus a great sound system and a bigger stage. I just love it."

Rounding out the day will be Victoria roots-rockers Current Swell, Vancouver's urban funk act Goodbye Beatdown, and Edmonton's own soulful chanteuse Dani Jean.

As famous as Edmonton is for events like Folk Fest, Richards adds that it's exciting to have new music genres making their way into the festival calendar. Blues Fest takes place under the Amphitheatre tent, too, but Richards says it will look a little different this weekend with all the beach balls bopping around. He's bought 500 of them. - Edmonton Journal by Fawnda Mithrush

Earl Pereira snared his share of local fans while playing bass for the popular Canadian rock band Wide Mouth Mason.

This time, he’s promising something a little Mobadass.

Pereira’s reggae-flavoured, danceable elektrock project Mobadass bounces into the valley for a pair of shows next week — Tuesday, 9 p.m. at the Crofton pub, and Wednesday, 8 p.m. at the Duncan Garage Showroom.

“I wanted to make music that would honour my Filipino-Canadian heritage, a project where I could mix reggae, electro-rock, dance and soul…I’m just lucky that people ended up loving it!” said Pereira in a press release. - Cowichan News Leader

Earl Pereira snared his share of local fans while playing bass for the popular Canadian rock band Wide Mouth Mason.

This time, he’s promising something a little Mobadass.

Pereira’s reggae-flavoured, danceable elektrock project Mobadass bounces into the valley for a pair of shows next week — Tuesday, 9 p.m. at the Crofton pub, and Wednesday, 8 p.m. at the Duncan Garage Showroom.

“I wanted to make music that would honour my Filipino-Canadian heritage, a project where I could mix reggae, electro-rock, dance and soul…I’m just lucky that people ended up loving it!” said Pereira in a press release. - Cowichan News Leader

Mobadass

As a double platinum artist and 3-time Juno nominee, Mobadass' Earl Pereira has established himself as arguably the most entertaining bass player in the country. Being the bassist and co-founder of one of Canada's best live bands Wide Mouth Mason, Pereira has already had a successful career highlighted by numerous top 20 radio and video hits, touring with the Rolling Stones and ACDC, sharing the stage with Alanis Morrisette, Nickleback, Nelly Furtado, Van Morrisson and selling nearly 250,000 albums over an 6 year span with Warner Music Canada. Earl can also be seen performing in the 2003 motion picture "The Recruit" starring Colin Farrell and Al Pacino. From childhood entertainer, to nation wide rock-star, Earl has always been an extraordinary crowd pleaser. Canadian Musician Magazine named him one of the country's top bass players however, most people do not know that he is also a remarkable singer, songwriter, and producer.

By 2004, Pereira felt it was time to put his energy and experience into a new passion. He founded Mobadass as a creative outlet for his distinct style of "island rock" music. This is a sound created by combining music of his two cultures, the Philippines and Canada with soulful reggae-rock, electro and house. Mobadass has shared the stage with Divine Brown, Bedouin Soundclash, Sloan, Los Lobos, Me'shell N'degeocello, Blue Rodeo, K-OS, and more. Being voted "Best Local Band" in 2006 and 2007 by Saskatoon's Planet S Magazine earned them the official title of hometown favorite. They continue to impress a growing fan base across Western Canada with catchy songs and an energy that is guaranteed to rock the dance floor!

This concert was recorded at the 2010 SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. You can hear the concert again at CBC Radio 2's Concert on Demand site - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Earl Pereira snared his share of local fans while playing bass for the popular Canadian rock band Wide Mouth Mason.

This time, he’s promising something a little Mobadass.

Pereira’s reggae-flavoured, danceable elektrock project Mobadass bounces into the valley for a pair of shows next week — Tuesday, 9 p.m. at the Crofton pub, and Wednesday, 8 p.m. at the Duncan Garage Showroom.

“I wanted to make music that would honour my Filipino-Canadian heritage, a project where I could mix reggae, electro-rock, dance and soul…I’m just lucky that people ended up loving it!” said Pereira in a press release. - Cowichan News Leader

The Steadies released Love Revolution to kick off the month of April. Spring invokes energies of change, and The Steadies picked the perfect time to share positive vibes through music. Frontman and bassist – Earl Pereira – shared in an interview that he is a naturally positive individual. Earl said he “likes to project good feelings and vibes” everywhere that he goes. Pereira’s life is filled with musical experience, and he gleans life lessons along the way. Music and songwriting is a way for him to relate his good intentions to the world. But he does not do it alone – each member of the trio contributes and imprints their artistic bend to the tracks. 3716037 Lexie Miller runs percussion, and Justin Lee wraps intense reggae chords on the guitar. The whole trio contributes to vocals. The Steadies rely on one another for support – musically and as close companions. In the past, music became about big business, and Earl did not feel connected to the members of his old band, Wide Mouth Masons. The negative energy did not sit well, he said, “You’ve got to be happy.” Earl said that he feels it is important for The Steadies to connect with each other and enjoy the experience.

Earl wants everyone to feel good – the audience and the artists. The upbeat rhythm and leading vocals of “Take Me Home” automatically brings a smile. Pulling on disco-esque momentum, The Steadies weave a pop-funk combination with reassurance that a good-time will follow. He says, “I broke your heart, you broke mine, but it’s not too late, let’s give it one more try.” The message is hopeful, letting go of past mistakes to move forward to a happy outcome – most of all, another chance for experience to happen. Earl said that a person can change, that one needs to: “Be positive and take action.” When asked if Earl thought other musicians picked up on the optimistic energy that The Steadies emanate, he said, “I hope so. I wouldn’t doubt it. It’s an undeniable feeling.” - Punchland - Brooklyn NY