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Northumberland News
Jan 07, 2010 - 04:11 PM
BY PEG MCCARTHY
'JANE'S PARTY' TO PARTY IN PORT HOPE
Toronto band performs in Roesch House concerts
PORT HOPE -- A garage band of York University music students is about to rock a Port Hope neighbourhood.
'Jane's Party' - Zach Sutton, Jeff Giles, Tom Ionescu and Devon Richardson - have performed their rock/pop sound for almost two years.
"The Port Hope concert will be our second anniversary," said Mr. Sutton.
The concert will begin at 8 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 23.
In 2009, Jane's Party was named to CBC's Fresh Air Top 10 list for Ontario-based music.
The local Roesch House concert series presents the band in an intimate setting, with acoustic guitars and minimal percussion, and only 30 tickets will be sold.
"We found busking was a unique and creative way of gaining new fans and supplementing our tour costs while on the road," said Mr. Giles, the lead singer. "We feel we're most comfortable in intimate situations where you can really connect with your audience. House concerts provide this opportunity for us."
The band notched 100 shows in its belt last year to help produce the album 'The Garage Sessions'. That included events at The Halifax Pop Explosion, Toronto Indie Music Week, the International Pop Overthrow Festival and feature performances at The Horseshoe and Hugh's Room. They did gigs from Toronto to St. John's, Nfld., from big events to house parties.
"We all live together - with a puppy," said Mr. Sutton.
The band recorded The Garage Sessions at Ryerson studios during the York University strike. The album is a reflection of their busking side.
"I'd put us in the pop/rock genre, with fold and reggae influences," said Mr. Sutton. "The Beatles are a huge for us - we're really rooted in that stuff."
Mr. Sutton said they originally called themselves 'After Party', but Google revealed there were at least 15 other bands with the same name, including one Toronto electro-pop-rave dance band.
"That left some of our audiences confused, although we do love to get people rocking," laughed Mr. Sutton.
They changed their name to Jane's Party because they live near Jane and Finch in Toronto.
The 21- to 23-year-old members of the band, who teach music on the side, are all graduating this spring.
"We're going to cry and pray," joked Mr. Sutton, but he added they have a large number of gigs lined up that will mean at the very least, a five-month road tour.
Tickets are $15, and are available by calling 905-885-3730. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/janespartyband.
