Street Pharmacy

Street Pharmacy, Free Delivery
Self Released

There must be something in the water for our Canadian friends up North, because this is the third excellent recent release that has crossed my desk this year. Firstly, there was the must-listen sophomore album from Redeye Empire (Diary of Everett Miley), next was the the laidback stylings of Jon & Roy (review to be posted soon) and now we have got the Street Pharmacy with its fantastic second album, Free Delivery.
For the most part the writing on Free Delivery is clearly heavily influenced by Sublime, as it follows a raw street reggae sound. Not that this is a bad thing cause the band does it very well, particularly on the album’s opening two tracks – Welcome to tha Street Pharamacy and Sober State of Fame. There is also no denying the infectious fun of the reggae rock influence on the sweet It’s Better That Way.
Yet, from time to time the band will wander off into more unfamiliar territory and that is where it actually reaps the greatest rewards. Crazy Gunner is an entertaining story supported by a just as interesting music accompaniment with some funk, reggae and pop switch ups. Then there is Degenerate, a minimal acoustic jam, remniscent of Beduoin Soundclash, which showcases singer Ryan Guay’s amazing vocals. And without a doubt the album highlight is the brilliant Broken Compass, that features the combination of subtle reggae grooves and a haunting melodic chorus.
It’s through this courageous experimentation that makes Street Pharmacy a band to watch and Free Delivery a more than worth-while purchase.

Reviewed by Pilipo, March 2008
- The Pier, March 2008

Wellanders top Niagara Music Awards
Oliver Black, Guv'nor Generals, Street Pharmacy blossom from Rose City scene
Posted By GREG FURMINGER
Posted 23 days ago

WELLAND

Ryan Guay points to a lack of activity for Welland youth as giving rise to its exploding music scene.

With no pool halls or a wide variety of destinations afforded within much bigger cities such as Toronto, weekend and after-school time for many teens and 20-somethings means plugging a Fender into an amplifier, checking the squelch for a microphone and laying down tracks on a home computer.

In the Rose City, Guay said, there’s just “not enough infrastructure” to keep youth occupied.

“That results in either becoming a hockey player in Welland or a musician.”

Where it comes to filling the prescription for homegrown music, Guay and his band are making good.

Reggae rock band Street Pharmacy, fronted by singer and guitarist Guay, was among the big Welland winners at the first-ever Niagara Music Awards, Tuesday night.

Street Pharmacy won the awards for people’s choice and original song of the year, for Sober state of Fame.

Other Welland acts that brought home hardware from the event include bar band of the year Sukkapunch, rock group of the year the Guv’nor Generals and group of the year Oliver Black.

Oliver Black’s lead singer Serena Pruyn was also named female vocalist of the year.

Oliver Black led all artists with five nominations.

Advertisement

“I’m in shock right now … I’m hyperventilating,” Pruyn told Osprey News after receiving her vocalist trophy.

“It’s an honour, and it’s so cool to be part of something that’s just starting. It’s the first year for these awards, and I’m just so honoured,” she said.

The next day, after all the excitement, Pruyn turned her focus back to matters that all hard-working bands endure, in this case getting the group’s problematic van fixed at a garage.

She joked with The Tribune about what’s behind Welland’s successful musicians.

“It’s the canal. there’s something in the water,” she said with a laugh.

On a more serious note, she suggested because Welland has fewer venues in which to perform, competition breeds excellence, moreso than in bigger cities.

“It’s a gift,” Pruyn said, “to come from a small city and work harder to get noticed.”

Her Oliver Black bandmates who include guitarist, Nicolas Lesyk, bassist Greg Zack and drummer Allan Colavecchia have seen much success blossom from their Welland roots since they first took to the stage in 2002, with album releases and touring south of the border.

They’ve worked with Grammy and Juno Award-winning songwriter/producer Daniel Lanois, who’s produced for U2 and and Bob Dylan, and other responsible for sounds of Soundgarden and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“Being from a small town makes you want to get out there and play bigger cities and strive to be the best,” Pruyn said in a January 2007 interview with The Tribune. “(Oliver Black) works harder to get there because we're from a smaller place that nobody knows of. Plus, I think it makes you a little more humble.”

Still, that Niagara’s music scene is worthy of its own awards show is just one sign that something much bigger is happening here.

“When people ask where the bands are, a lot of them are coming from Niagara,” guitarist Lesyk said back in 2005. “That turns heads, attracts the attention of record labels to this region.”

Among those signed to labels is the Guv’nor Generals, who include Charles Horse and Kevin Patrino both on guitar and vocals, bassist Frank Roy and drummer Damien Smith.

"Welland has played a huge part in making us the men we are and it comes through in the songwriting that we do,” Horse said in a 2006 Tribune interview.

“Every song that we've ever written is based on our lives in Welland, things we've gone through, relationship problems, good times and bad. I've always said that Welland is a tough town – and if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere."

The rock group of the year, at Tuesday’s awards event, said it’s better late than never to shine the spotlight on Niagara’s music scene, which struggles for recognition being so close to Toronto.

“There’s been a scene here for years, they just haven’t been looking,” said Horse, taking a swig from his flask backstage.

“Bands from Niagara have to work a lot harder,” added Roy. “By the time bands get out of Niagara and go to Toronto, they’re smokin’.”

Some of Tuesday night’s biggest cheers went to Honeymoon Suite, who were given the Special Achievement Award for putting Niagara Falls on the musical map two decades ago.

Lead singer Johnny Dee said it was “about time” Niagara musicians had their own awards show.

“There’s a lot of great talent in this room, and I’m glad to see it firsthand.”

Said Street Pharmacy’s Guay, “I guess it goes to show that Niagara’s music scene is a force to be reckoned with.”

In their early 20s – Guay’s bandmates are Nate Triano (guitar), Brandon Ventresca (bass) and Danial Fretz (Drums) – Street Pharmacy were among the youngest entertainers in the field.

“It was really good networking. We met a lot of people from Niagara we’ve heard but that we’ve never met,” Guay said.

The first-ever Niagara Music Awards is in the books a winner, thanks to its surprisingly polished show at the Niagara Centre for the Performing Arts.

“I don’t think a lot of people expected what they saw here tonight,” raved show co-ordinator Morgan Whelan about the energetic, two-hour bash.

“They probably thought, well, it’s a local music awards show – it’s gonna be cheesy, it’s gonna be boring.”

Far from it. It’s where some 700 people in attendance could see Canadian Polka King Walter Ostanek

mingling with Niagara metalheads Flatlined.

Fashion ranged from leather jackets and sneakers to posh gowns and three-piece suits. The live music went from flashy rapper Just Isaac to blues pillar Jack De Keyzer.

The awards themselves seemed secondary to the good vibes and cheerleading all night.

“There’s just so much talent here … it’s truly an honour,” said guitarist Digital X of St. Catharines rockers Modern Digital Militia (MDM), who won the unlikely combo of heavy metal group of the year and dance recording of the year.

Welland-based Oracle, a Jethro Tull cover band, won the award for tribute act of the year.

“You don’t do it for the money, you do it for the love of the music,” said Denis Gignac, the band’s lead guitarist.

But the accolades are nice, too, he added.

Oracle, led by singer/flutist Cary Clouser, has been performing since the early 1990s, and have won several battle of the band competitions.

But earning the award during the Niagara Music Awards competition “meant a lot to the band,” Gignac said.

Oracle also includes Steve O’Brien on drums, Clayton Kelly on bass and Marie Nobes on keyboards.

The awards show “was really well organized,” Gignac said.

“They had slide shows of the bands and music up there while you’re getting the award. It was really organized. I was impressed.”

- with files from Osprey News entertainment writer John Law, Tribune reporter Alan Benner and The Tribune
- The Tribune: Welland

The main goal of the Niagara Music Awards is to promote the extraordinary talent of local artists who may not get the attention they deserve. But with the devotion of Niagara musicians, the annual awards are certain to grow and help create a reciprocating cycle of support within the region.
"The support was unreal. I never heard of [some of the] people that came out of the woodwork to submit, which was why we wanted to do this," said Whelan. "There is so much talent in the Niagara region, but unfortunately we don't have the venues for them to be performing all the time which is why we don't hear of them. We want to get these people out there, promote them, get them exposure, get them more jobs in Niagara and create more of a scene for all genres."
One local band who sympathizes with the need for local endorsement is The Street Pharmacy. They are a ska band from Welland who love the local scene, but are frustrated with the complete lack of venues within their town. They have been nominated for Best Original Song of the Year, Original Band of the Year, and Album of the Year. They hope that this award show will excite the public and create unity within Niagara bands.
"We are Niagara through and through. We are Welland boys, and we even wrote a love song about Welland on our last record," said singer and guitarist Ryan Guay. "The NMA are bringing people together within Niagara and acknowledging them for their talent. I think it will open some doors for us and open some doors for the rest of the Niagara scene."
Overall, the Niagara Music Awards are about unity and promotion of the local scene. The Street Pharmacy encourages all to come out to the awards and to shows in the future, so you can celebrate the diverse talent of the local scene. After all, music is about enjoying yourself. So if you show up and want to have a good time, the bands are certain to return the favour.
"It's going to be a sweet time, please come. If you're a musician you should come too, because you might be able to meet some people and network with other bands," said Guay. "We're a university band; we like to party. We are a reggae-rock band that just wants to have fun."
The Niagara Music Awards will take place March 25 at the Niagara Centre for The Performing Arts. Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.ca. - The Brock Press: St. Catharines

By TARA BRADY

Noise Staff

Funky reggae beats and love for music was the inspiration for this new Welland based talent.

Ryan Guay, 20, Nate Triano, 20, Brandon Ventresca, 21, and Dan Fretz, 21, all of Welland comprise the self- proclaimed “pharmacists” in the band The Street Pharmacy.

Guay sarcastically says the band started when he came out of his mother’s womb as he “always wanted to be in a band and play reggae music.”

Guay met Triano in Grade 8 and practically taught him how to play guitar. Guay says their mutual love for reggae started his attempt to cultivate a solid reggae band.

“The Street Pharmacy happened out of the breaking up of another band, Euphoria. Rather than starting from scratch again, Triano and I decided to compile songs from Euphoria plus six new songs.”

In May the pharmacists went into Studio 282, on David Street in Welland and recorded their album Self-Prescribed Feel Good in a mere 37.5 hours.

“We got some of the guys from the old band Euphoria, Josh Learn and Jesse Aubertin, to play drums and bass on the album, as a favour to Triano and I.”

After the recording of the album, the CD was pressed, packaged, and then distributed on ITunes by Indie-Pool Records in Toronto.

“I called Indie-Pool and told them I had a really good product and I’d like them to press it.” It cost $1,800 to press 500 Cds, however, Guay says he had the CD pressed inexpensively because that was their rate. “I didn’t get anything special. I was at the right place at the right time, so I took advantage. It’s a relatively small company, so they are willing to do things for cheap.”

At this point in the band’s career, things seemed to be going well, but the pharmacists still needed another member to complete the circle.

“Dan Fretz, ‘the second coming,’ came to me as he was going through another band break up and told me he wanted to play reggae music. I cried tears of joy.”

Guay says Fretz believed in what they were doing. “That’s crucial because Triano and I never experienced another band member who believed in what we were trying to do. It was like when Oprah met Dr. Phil, Nate being Oprah, Dan being Dr. Phil.”

Their Aug. 6 CD release party at Port Mansion, in Port Dalhousie, attracted a new fan base and sold 130 tickets.

Summer 2006 Guay had the chance to study in London, England. He was in school at Brock University in St. Catharines and saw the opportunity to travel to England for 17 days. He stayed at Good Enough College Graduate Residence at the London School of Economics. While in England, although traveling for educational purposes, he delved into the musical quality that England provided.

“EMI, the first real deal record label in London, was literally a football throw away from where I was staying.”

Guay says he started knocking on doors to get someone to listen to his CD and eventually get a record deal.

Colin Daily, the stage manager for the Sex Pistols and Def Leppard, and other 1980s bands, was one of the originals at the Hope and Anchor Bar in Islington.

“I was sitting at the Hope and Anchor Bar eating food, trying to sell my record to the bartender, a good looking woman from Greece, Sarah Dyer.”

Guay says Daily helped him get into EMI and Heavenly Records and get a meeting with a band scout.

“I got through the door and talked to Matt Rumbold and Matt Edwards, A&R managers at EMI, and Dani Mitchell at Heavenly Records. It taught me to try, although nothing has happened as of yet.”

Guay says he was advised to get a press package, business cards, and encouraged to have a photo taken of the band and send it to EMI.

Guay played two acoustic shows in London, opening for the City Bowl Mizens, an old school rock ’n’ roll band from South Africa. Guay says he came home from England with “a lot of energy.”

“With help from the guys from Toronto-based band These Three Cities, we played shows. Our brothers from another mother - since they’re older than us - contributed their knowledge, like the big brothers we’ve always wanted. They believe in what we’re doing. It’s all about love with those guys, they love us, we love them.”

“Now with our new bass player [Ventresca], the band has gotten a whole lot tighter, and we’re working on new material for our album, Free Delivery, which we plan to record and release next summer.”

Guay says there will be eight new songs unveiled on this album. Some have already been heard at their show on Sept. 29, in London, Ont., for the Bastid Sonz release party at Call the Office.

The Street Pharmacy discusses themes and issues in their song lyrics that are relevant to this Welland-based band’s life experiences such as insanity and drug abuse.

“I See Yellow Not Red is about the experience I had with mental decapitation, and Joey Beans is about someone being addicted to ecstasy. Pull Out the Bat is about boyfriend- girlfriend drama. The most meaningful song on the CD, In This Town, is about growing up in Welland.”

Guay says their next album is similarly based on personal experiences with broader themes based on the socialization of 19 to 25 year olds. Topics of status quo, style of life without any choice, what college and university do to a person and what society inflicts on people. Society forces people to have a family, a husband or wife, and make $120,000 a year.

Street Pharmacy is planning on touring after this year of university to promote present and future albums. Also, the pharmacists are taking a break until Dec. 20 to concentrate on their studies.

“It’s hard being in a band and going to school, it’s like having a mistress when you already have a wife.” - Noise at Niagara: Niagara College

....The next band up was Street Pharmacy from Welland Ontario. Even though all these musicians played the same genre of music, they all sounded so different. Street Pharmacy was reggae/dance/rock pop. Perfect music to dance to and bop your head. Ryan Guay has a really good voice. I really loved hearing his voice. Totally unique, totally his own sound. These reggae guys are all so cool, but so different. None of the bands I saw that night sounded the same. Street Pharmacy had a totally different sound than the other two. Reggae seems to be a really unique style of music. I know nothing about reggae, but I'm definitely thinking of checking out another show...... - Heather Curtis Blog

Free Delivery is the second album from Welland's own Street Pharmacy. The album is a rocking reggae album that incorporates a bunch of different genres in that helps to differentiate it and makes for some added diversity and interest. The odd funky guitar riff and a fewer slower rock ballad-type songs help to break up the album and make it an enjoyable listen throughout.

Lyrically the album is very strong, with the upbeat songs somewhat masking the darker and more serious themes that are dealt with on the album. Lead singer Ryan Guay's voice is clean and powerful with good range, which along with the solid production quality of the album, make for one great listen.

Overall this a great album throughout, and we can only look forward to hearing more from Street Pharmacy. Standout tracks are: Sober State of Fame, Crazy Gunner, Broken Compass, Go It Alone.

www.myspace.com/streetfarmacy - http://www.thelioness.co.nr/