Canadian indie-rock supergroup Tuns headlines a Sept. 23 fundraising concert at Burl's Creek Event Grounds in support of the Orillia Youth Centre. Mike O'Neill (left) of the Inbreds, Matt Murphy of Super Friendz and Chris Murphy of Sloan will hit the stage after performances by Skye Wallace and Aurora Blue. - Vanessa Heins/Submitted
by Frank Matys
Dubbing your band a “super” group can be a risky proposition, lest discerning listeners decide the result is anything but.
In the case of Canadian indie rockers TUNS, however, the designation appears well-deserved.
Since 2015, Chris Murphy (Sloan), Matt Murphy (Super Friendz, Flashing Lights) and Mike O’Neill (Inbreds) have been creating and performing infectious power pop laden with soaring harmonies, driving beats, and guitars that crunch and chime.
“I value singing over musicianship; but, those guys — Matt is a really special guitar player and Mike is such a beautiful singer,” Chris Murphy says in advance of a Sept. 23 performance at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds. “And Matt’s a great singer, too.”
All proceeds from the upcoming concert go to support the Orillia Youth Centre.
Skye Wallace and local music-makers Aurora Blue open the show.
“There is going to be a silent auction and the concert,” said Kevin Gangloff, the youth centre’s director. “Everything is coming back to us.”
The downtown facility provides a range of services, including cooking lessons, horse therapy, art and music, along with a well-used drop-in program.
“This year, so far, we’ve had 8,000 visits,” Gangloff said. “Youth of all walks of life are coming through the doors and take part in different stuff.”
The upcoming concert “puts the youth centre in front of different people that might not know what we are doing,” he added.
TUNS formed in October 2015 to play an all-star benefit show organized by Hayden at Toronto’s historic Massey Hall.
“It is really fun and inspiring to play with these great players and singers,” Murphy said of his bandmates. “And they are also old friends of mine.”
The group’s name is an acronym drawn from the former Technical University of Nova Scotia — now part of Dalhousie University.
The school “was where they would have a lawn jam … and every year, bands would play at TUNS,” adds Murphy, a Halifax native. “I had the good fortune to play at the lawn jam, I think in 1989.”
--taken from: Simcoe.com
No comments:
Post a Comment