GravenRecords

009 - Silver Speakers - Never Was

2011-10-07T11:15:00.002-04:00

Inspired by Toronto’s desolate yet beloved port lands district -- which serves as a blue collar oasis in the shadow of the city’s metropolitan core -- “Never Was” contrasts the freedom of being out on the water with the feeling of being trapped on dry land, in our lives, in our history, and in our pain.

The album is a stripped-down, handmade record that blends dry acoustic guitars with overdriven electrics drenched in echo. The songs, all written, recorded and performed by Tyrone Warner, represent a diversity of lyrical subjects, influences, and takes on a dirty, introspective and intense look at God, Facebook and 1970’s science fiction.

There’s also a cameo from Jodie Foster.

DOWNLOAD THE RECORD FOR FREE, RIGHT NOW, HERE:

http://silverspeakers.bandcamp.com/album/never-was

For hi-res photos of "Silver Speakers," as well as other press clippings, CLICK HERE.

008 - Graven - Zenith The Meadow

2011-06-14T15:13:00.005-04:00

From the guts of Matt McKechnie's expressive core comes the newest Graven offering: Zenith The Meadow.

Departing from the usual and personal sentiment of Matt's lyrics, Zenith is a straight concept record about a married, middle-aged man who lost his two young daughters in a horrific accident. Although the songs were written, recorded and produced over a 4 year period, the songs come from the soul of a man who is crying out and trying to find hope, meaning and the strength to survive in a dark and abysmal world.

Zenith is definitely Graven's most well-produced and sonically daring release to date. Heavy on synths, loud distorted guitars and thundering drums, Matt and the Graven posse are once again showing that they cannot be pegged down to one musical genre.

The album features guest appearances from a number of Matt's friends and fellow musicians (including Tyrone Warner, Dean Watson, Rehuel Ernest) and the sound production and mastering of Glen Teeple (who worked with Matt back in the Sunkissed Keilah days). Piecing this album together took Matt almost 2 full years to release as some of the songs were recorded through various recording mediums, in many different cities, throughout the years 2006-2011.

The incredible cover art was done by an exceptional artist from Salt Lake City, Utah named Michelle Condrat. While browsing the internet for some interesting designs, Matt found the exact picture he wanted for the cover and contacted Michelle who was super accommodating and very willing to come on board with the project.

Zenith The Meadow sounds like no other Graven offering to date and is, symbolically for the main character and the band, a departure to larger and greener pastures ahead.

Feel free to stream a few of the tracks here.

Press contact: matt@gravenrecords.com

007 - "ICELAND" AS PERFORMED BY THE SILVER SPEAKERS

2010-10-27T13:46:00.004-04:00

The Silver Speakers are back with an all-new album of original material inspired by a jaunt to the Northernmost capital city in the world. The album will only be available in a limited edition run of red audio cassettes, as well as digital downloads available exclusively at Bandcamp.

Click here to listen to the album now!

Silver Speakers is the moniker for GravenRecords recording artist Tyrone Warner, who is joined in live performance by a rotating cast of friends. Silver Speakers has been played on CBC Radio, featured in the CBC Radio 3 Podcast with Grant Lawrence as well as being highlighted on their "Song of the Day" segment. Silver Speakers has also appeared on TORO TV, reviewed by Chart and Earshot! magazine and extensively performed around Ontario, including venues such as the Artel in Kingston, The York Tavern in Lindsay, and The Boat, The Oxford Hotel (RIP), The Cameron House and The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.

GravenRecords & Friends Sampler #1

2010-06-21T12:35:00.012-04:00

For the first time in the short history of GravenRecords, all of the family heads involved (including even semi-distant cousins) got together around a big table of turkey, mashed taters and cranberry sauce and decided to get something out there with the GravenRecords namesake on it - The GR Sampler.

Finally, after all this time, Friends and Fans of GR can get a glimpse of what this community is all about. Although there are only 4 active bands fully invested in the label/community itself, many friends who are in and around the GR ideals have stepped up and pitched in to make an astounding free sampler of music. Featuring tracks from Silver Speakers (Toronto), Dave Norris & Local Ivan (Ottawa), Meredith Luce (Ottawa), The Gentlemen Husbands (Cobourg), Texting Mackenzie (Guelph), Prior Peter (Kingston), James & Blackburn (Ottawa) and yours truly, Graven (Kingston), the songs span many genres and locales along the southern to eastern Ontario thruway.

The beautiful & handcrafted artwork for the cover was done by a good friend of ours - Amanda Drodge.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SAMPLER

006 - GravenRecords & Friends Sampler #1

2010-06-19T14:19:00.002-04:00

The record is available for free digital download from the GR website NOW!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SAMPLER

New free Silver Speakers EP: Fracture Clinic

2010-04-03T18:21:00.005-04:00

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

A new "bedroom" record from Silver Speakers, featuring live favourite, "Wrong Blood," recorded for the first time. Written, recorded and performed entirely by myself, this album is about my own struggle with faith and the battle against the physical implications of anxiety and depression. This is an "after-midnight" record, a record by a living, breathing human being in all its raw and amateur glory. Inspired by the writings of Flannery O'Connor, several songs ruminate on the qualities of death and faith, and my own struggle with uninterrupted darkness. The EP closes with a track I recorded over a year ago (and at this point no one else has heard) called "The War is Over," written and tracked as one-half of a "double A-side" single by a band that has yet to be formed called "Format War." The album also includes a cover of my favourite Mountain Goats song, and a echo-drenched version of an old hymn. Please note, this record has not been mastered, so at times it may be quieter than the highly compressed/produced tracks in the rest of your audio collection. Thanks for listening.

-- Tyrone Warner, Silver Speakers

005 - Silver Speakers - 'Fracture Clinic'

2010-01-16T22:30:00.001-05:00

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

-- Tyrone Warner, Silver Speakers

Merry Christmas from GravenRecords

2009-12-04T08:08:00.003-05:00

Hey everybody, Tyrone here... just wanted to let you know that the Silver Speakers are back with yet another FREE Christmas EP... this year's entitled, "Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, R. Kelly." Grab the ZIP file here, and get more details about the EP (including links to EP of years before) here.

Oceans

2009-12-01T15:33:00.002-05:00

Through music room jams in high school and several shaky starts,

Kate and Will were very lucky to meet up with Kyle (who is

graduating this year from Ottawa U for percussion). Kate and

Will attend The Audio Recording Academy at Raven Street

Studios and are planning ideas for an EP to begin in the winter.

Although just newly birthed, Oceans is eagerly writing and

recording. Stay tuned for some demos & keep checking for

updates!

Recently, the suave sounds of Will, Katie and Kyle have won

them some acclaim in Ottawa as they are playing at the

Live Lounge (88.5 FM) at the end of January. They also

rocked a crowd of 100+ and left many in want at the first ever

GravenRecords Christmas Part-ay (which featured Oceans,

Graven and a few other friends this past Dec. 22 @ The

Rainbow Bistro in Ottawa).

Check out more info on Oceans by going to their myspace

here.

Gone Fishin'

2009-07-08T16:21:00.006-04:00

Well, it was a great season. As you may have noticed, the August

dates never really materialized due to pieces of the Graven fam

moving all over the map (from London, Ontario to Halifax, NS).

To those of you who made it out to a show or two (or FIVE!),

thanks for comin' along for the ride. To those of you who didn't

make it out to any of the shows, worry you not - there is more

to come.

Unravelling the theory of the valley is just the beginning of the

Graven adventure.

Here is a list of our dates (may they rest in the rocking glory of

your memory):

Valley Theory Tour Dates:
06/03 - Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod's (CD Release Party w friends
Dave Norris & Local Ivan and Eric Vieweg of 'The Withering
Pines')

06/17 - Toronto, ON @ The Horseshoe Tavern (NXNE
Preview Night w friends Meredith Luce, Silver Speakers &
The Gentlemen Husbands

06/30 - Ottawa, ON @ The Rainbow Bistro (opening for
Jane's Party)

07/04 - Westport, ON @ Duck's Roadhouse (w friends
Dave Norris & Local Ivan)

07/16 - Kingston, ON @ The Living Room (w friends
The Gentlemen Husbands)

Hit up Graven on myspace!

004 - Graven - "Valley Theory"

2009-07-08T16:20:00.008-04:00

"...I was quite taken aback by the sounds of the Valley Theory EP
by the underground Canadian rockers Graven. As opposed to
reaching out for the anthemic pop heights of its countrymen and
women, these guys have opted for reinventing and revisiting some
solid ‘90s Midwestern rock. If not for regular references to
Northern touchstones like Halifax, the Northern Lights, and the
Lodestar, Graven could easily and deservedly be mistaken for yet
another hard-working bar rock band from the American Midwest."
-Adam P. Newton, Dryvetyme Online

The newest release from Matt McKechnie's brainchild (and manchild)
of Graven. The founding fathers rock hard on this 5 song EP that lets
the listener know that there is more to come. As the entity of Graven
is representative of a journey, 'Valley Theory' gives a layout of the
upcoming landscape for the 5 man electrical mash. With the latest
lineup of his band in tow (including the additions of O no!'s Owen
Edwards, Landon Kotchapaw and old Crushing Shelbyville drummer
Paul Godin switching modes to 2nd lead electric guitar), Matt's voice
never cut deeper through the slate of the Canadian Shield on this tale
of sadness, rejoicing and electrical wizardry.

Track Listing:
1. Northglow
2. I Speak Your Sadness
3. Golden Garage
4. Harsh
5. Country Stars (bonus track)

Get it on iTunes NOW!

Press for 'Valley Theory' and the Valley Theory tour:

"With roots in east coast Canadian Rock and production from Charles Austin (producer of Joel Plaskett, Matt Mays, Buck 65 and musician/songwriter for The Super Friendz), Matt McKechnie's unique and inter-personal lyrical style lets loose on a bedrock slate of 3 guitars, 1 bass and 1 drummer. Currently based in Ottawa, the five man electrical band of Graven has been dubbed as 'a sure up and comer' by CBC 3 Radio. Be sure to check them out on their summer mini-tour in promotion of their new EP 'Valley Theory'."
-HighFive

Review of Graven's CD Release show in Ottawa, June 3rd
'About a week ago the band, Graven, pulled into town and ripped things up - down in the market. I had to pull my creaky bones out of my soccer-dad lawn chair and see this event in person. Other Ottawans and Iawahians of all shapes and creeds rambled out of the suburbs to hear "the lads"...I went home later, shaken', cranking the Graven CD over the fields of Navan. Cows, chickens and sheep looked up in shock - and oddly enough - pleasure...Graven brought the sound and reforged a community. The revolution has begun.'
-Olsonomics

Myspace: http://myspace.com/gravencanada
EPK: http://sonicbids.com/gravencanada

'Who The Heck Is Matt McKech?'

2009-07-07T10:51:00.075-04:00

BIO:

Matt McKechnie was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and is now a resident of Port Hope, Ontario where his wife is a high school teacher. Since a young age, Matt has always had a knack for writing creatively and began to channel those talents into two main focuses: Music and Journalism. After gaining an Honours BA in English (with a minor in Drama) from the University of Guelph, Matt began living in Guelph and working a few odd jobs while playing lead guitar for a band that was started through some mutual friends (Julie & Merilee Shields and Zac Jolliffe) called 'Sunkissed Keilah'. After practicing and working with SK for over a year, the band wasn't able to move forward and Matt moved back to Ottawa to work landscaping and pay some bills. Matt has always had a side-passion of working with young people and has spent over ten summer and spring seasons working at Camp IAWAH (a Christian-based children's camp and outdoor education centre near Westport, Ontario) and

continued to work and volunteer there every summer from 1994 to 2002 consecutively. In 2004, Matt married his wife and long-time close friend Sarah and they moved to St. Catharines, Ontario (so Sarah could attend Brock University). During this time, Matt put in a 3 year stint as full-time customer
account manager at a call centre. Although this was an extremely hard season for Matt, it was his most creative and allowed him to see that he needed to pursue music and writing to his fullest ability.

Today, Matt is an accomplished freelance journalist and a talented musician with a growing arsenal of connections and a plethoric portfolio of experience within both realms.

MUSIC:

-has performed and written music within bands 'Natural Bridge', 'Stir-Fried Gypsies', 'Crushing Shelbyville', 'Sunkissed Keilah' and currently 'Graven'.

-early Graven productions (Pilot Light Out and Charles Called It...Anthemic) had Halifax production from Charles Austin (musician from Super Friendz, The Lodge, Lost Wax Guild and producer for Joel Plaskett, Matt Mays, Buck 65 and many more).

-the most recent album 'Valley Theory' (garnering some CBC attention and college radioplay across Canada) had production from Dean Watson in Ottawa, Ontario (of 'The Gallery Studios' - producer of Meredith Luce and The Soiree).

-Matt also manages GravenRecords (an up and coming music collective and homegrown record label that features the works of 3-4 musical artists) with design help from the uber-talented Tyrone Warner (of 'Silver Speakers') and a few other friends.

-has 3 upcoming albums to be released over the next year and a half with each one based in a different musical milieu (acoustic-based folk/cottage rock, full out electric art rock, and backwoods old-country)

-toured across western Canada with Winnipeg folk artist JD Edwards and Whistler B.C. musician Trish Jamieson for the month of November 2010.

JOURNALISM:

Freelance writer for CTV.ca
Published Blogger for The Ottawa Citizen
Music writer and part-time Head Music Editor of the Burnside Writers Collective (based in Portland, Oregon) for 2+ years (wrote and edited alongside best-selling authors such as Donald Miller, hollywood actors Susan Isaacs and Tony Hale).
A lead writer/masthead for Thick Specs (www.thickspecs.com) - an online music magazine linked to Canada's leading independent music download platform (called Zunior) run by Canadian musician Dave Ullrich (ex-drummer of 'The Inbreds') and rock writer Chuck Molgat
described as a 'rock n roll journalist' by Joel Plaskett after traveling with Joel & The Emergency (his band) to start the beginnings of a documentary called 'We Stand On Guard' - (video snippet below)
Currently the Associate Entertainment Editor for The Algonquin Times (publication of Algonquin College) as part of the Journalism program.
Toured with Doc Walker and filmed/edited daily videos of 'Life On The Road' during their 'Are You With Me Tonight?' 2011 Tour (see video below:)

PUBLISHED CLIPPINGS:
(ALGONQUIN TIMES):
A New Breed of Politician (Eugene Haslam)
Passionate Grad Turns Heads
Algonquin Grad takes hospitality to a new level
Getting Your Fix from E-cigs
Dave Norris: Music In Ottawa

(OTTAWA CITIZEN):
On The Road And Getting Course Credit

A Glorious Homecoming: James and Blackburn returns to Ottawa

REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS:

Brendan Canning - 'Something For All Of Us'

Sloan - 'Parallel Play'

AC Newman - 'Get Guilty'

The Weakerthans - 'Reunion Tour'

Wilco - 'Wilco (The Album)'
Joel Plaskett - 'EMERGENCYs, false alarms, shipwrecks, castaways, fragile creatures, special features, demons and demonstrations'

Jimmy Eat World - 'Invented'
Sloan - 'The Double Cross'

Joel Plaskett

Amy Millan

Matt Mays

Stephen Carroll (The Weakerthans)

The Good Lovelies

Dave Marsh (Joel Plaskett Emergency, True Love Rules)

Jay Ferguson

Meredith Heron

Gordie Johnson

Wax Mannequin

Christine Bougie

Bill Priddle

Ben Gunning

Stephen Ramsay (Young Galaxy)

Andrew Whiteman (Broken Social Scene, AOH)

Julie Doiron

Keith Coogan (Hollywood Actor)

Jim Bryson

Rob Huebel (Hollywood Actor/Comedian)

David Bazan

Andrew Scott (Sloan)

Jill Barber

Jon Lajoie

HOPEFUL INTERVIEWEES:

-Gordon Downie

-Dave Grohl
-Stephen Malkmus
-J. Mascis
-Tom Petty
-Bruce Springsteen
-Wayne Coyne
-Sarah Harmer
-Kathleen Edwards
-Feist

BLOGGING:

-Matt is an avid blogger and has been since 2003. He runs his own personal blog (where he is aiming to blog 365 days during 2009) here and another music-oriented zine here.

THE MATT SHOW:

-Always wanting to get into the realm of television and film media, Matt has recently started an oddly comedic show that is somewhat of a spoof of his real life that is simply titled 'The Matt Show' (you can view episodes here). The show is written by Matt and stars himself as the main character who either sits around a lot or travels to meet musicians and either book them or tell them 'they suck'.

Prior Peter

2009-07-03T15:26:00.005-04:00

Prior Peter started as a fluke when Ben Gresik

(former drummer of O nO! & current Graven collaborator)
decided to participate in a project called RPM where the goal
was to write, record, and produce a record in the short month
of February. Ben completed the first album, put it up on the
shelf and then stopped writing and recording until quite
recently.

You can now find him grinding out songs periodically (in varying stages of quality) over at his blog here. You can also get any music he's made available here.

Graven, SS & Friends - June 17 @ The Horseshoe

2009-06-11T00:05:00.004-04:00

Download Graven's new acoustic EP now

2008-11-27T11:40:00.002-05:00

'It doesn’t take much effort to get this EP...but it is definitely worth the five minutes out of your day to download and the thirty-three minutes it takes to listen. The songs are made with honesty and heart and invite you along for a little drive down a black highway. It is a short trip any northwest music-lover should take.'
-Michael Dallas Miller (music journalist)

It's finally here - Matt McKechnie's newest recording, an acoustic EP, free for all fans of Graven! Download the album here.

COMING SOON - The Owen Edwards Project

2008-11-26T15:08:00.008-05:00

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE OFFICIAL T.O.E.P. MYSPACE SITE

The Owen Edwards Project is a solo project of Owen Edwards
(main songwriter, guitarist, and vocal frontman for O nO!). Coming
out with a new EP in a few months, TOEP is guaranteed to treat your
ears and soul to a sensory experience of soundwalls, haunting
melodies and passionate vocalizing. Be sure to check back soon for
updates.

Trouble Clef

2008-11-26T15:01:00.006-05:00

Troble Clef (J Pig) is a solo project of Joseph Popma (bassist,
vocalist and songwriter from O nO!). Jo wants to change the
world with his music...but if he can't do that...he at least wants
some groupie love.

"Streetlights and Stars" is officially out there

2008-10-08T20:46:00.008-04:00

After a wildly successful CD release show at the Renaissance Cafe in Toronto, Tyrone Warner's latest album as Silver Speakers, "Streetlights and Stars," is finally available for listeners. The album is highly limited, with an initial pressing of only 250 total copies (including promo) pressed. If you'd like a copy, act fast, because nearly half are gone -- click on the Paypal button below to purchase.

Find out more about the GravenRecords release, check out this page with sample MP3s and the complete lyrics.

If you're interested in reviewing or sharing this album in your blog/podcast/magazine/radio show, please contact Tyrone for a promo copy or direct download link.

Thank you for taking the time to listen and checking out GravenRecords!

Introducing GravenRecords

2008-08-17T17:47:00.002-04:00

GravenRecords is mainly a collective of contributing musicians who try their best to inspire each other in a way that goes outside the boundaries of the current parameters of the music industry.

It is a community-based record label and distribution forum. GravenRecords is not exclusive to one city and has specific artistic regions in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto.

It is a dream and a vision that is still heavily in the making...but it is also something that is gaining momentum with every waking hour.

If the chief end of GravenRecords had to be summarized, it would be 'to have musicians making music the way they want and making that music as listener-accessible as possible'.

Watch out this fall for a new Acoustic EP from Graven entitled "From Mountainview to Canyon Heart" and a full-length from Silver Speakers, "Streetlights and Stars."

003 - Silver Speakers - "Streetlights and Stars"

2008-08-17T17:42:00.006-04:00

Track listing:

1. (What Is) The Light
2. Chemical Reaction
3. Crosses and Bibles
4. Joshua
5. Singer-Songwriter Anthem
6. Cresent Park
7. We Lost Our Way
8. Are You Only In My Head?
9. The Actuary's Lament
10. Scarborough Sky

Credits:

All songs written and performed by Tyrone Warner, featuring additional voice by D. Paas and piano by Ian Cusson. Recording took place from January to June, two thousand and eight, in the Warner bedroom. Thank you to my wife, family and friends for continued inspiration and love; you are each a fragment of this record. thank you for listening.

Lyrics:

(all words and music owned by Tyrone Warner in 2008 copyright)

1. What is the light?

The drunks at the pink flamingo line up at 11 am,
Got change inside their pockets from begging on the street since 10.
Domestic in a glass for 2.50, native cigarettes an even five.
Police show up once in a fortnight, and no one else knows they’re alive.

What is the light?

A power failure darkened the Danforth’s neon signs,
Restaurants filled with silence, round tables all were blind.
And up the avenue at Donlands, the Muslims still rejoiced,
Filled their sidewalks with their singing, but no one heard their voice.

What is the light?

There’s a bible on my bedside, a book I have hardly read,
Still I put my faith in Jesus, for no greater man has ever lived.
Sunday morning I am in church, bible study on a Tuesday night,
I’ll never claim to be perfect, but I hope someday I am right.

What is the light?
(What is the light? What is the light?)

2. Chemical Reaction

I got a mark upon my head, I thank God nothing happened yet
But a curse pulses through my fingers and my bones.
I love the smell of clove and spice, and the silence of the night,
But every gentle hour that passes is less sweet.

I am a chemical reaction, I am elements combined,
I have a simple form of software, sending signals down the line
Cleaning me of impurities; sending blood all through my heart
Dividing cells I look like hell you know this is the hardest part.

When I escaped from my hometown, a command the boss laid down,
I realized he never told me what comes next.

The sights have changed, but the grind remains.

3. Crosses and Bibles

Crosses and bibles don’t make a church, nor allegory and metaphor a sermon require.
Scripture need not only warning and doom, prayer lives freest in the most private of rooms.

Are you the operator that calls? I did not recognize you without your mask and gloves.
Where are your instruments that cut? I’ll show you where it hurts if you give me your (???).

A song requires more than vibration and waves, and a musician electricity and charts.
Romance ain’t made by two hearts set adrift, love is a film that scratches and fades.

4. Joshua

There were lilacs on the ground, there were lilacs in our sound,
Your twisted hair in my fingertips, you laugh, it’s all a dream till I snap awake.

Josh I always loved your smile, I wish I had your sense of style,
But you gave up and moved to Fredericton, no escape you left you left you left you left.

There are wrinkles in my clothes, as my insight slowly erodes,
I wish I could hear your laugh in my ear, one mistake is all it takes for us to break.

I saw you on the train at Yonge and Bloor, you walked in as I walked out the door.
There are no lilacs in my phone, as I head eastbound all alone.

5. Singer Songwriter Anthem

I am a singer-songwriter, I strum my guitar and I play,
Got a handful of chords and a couple of words,
Put together make me feel like I’m complete.

And if I’d show you my heart, it’s all ragged and worn,
Loved so hard and so strong and so deep,
That’s why I hide it away, I’m afraid of the pain,
And what you’d see if I’d stand in the light.

I am a jaded old news man, seen all the worst that mankind can do,
Every single day it’s just more words on the page,
A headline, a lede and some truth.

I am a traveling showman, I live and I die up on stage,
Got a bag full of tricks that I’ll use if I wish,
To make you feel entertained and alive.

6. Cresent Park

My mind has become still, and has seen a night most dark,
When I loved the most beautiful girl, in all of Cresent park.
The heavy humid air was thick on a warm summer day,
The sky was about to break and drown us in its rain.
And we kissed in the grass, in the shadow of Victoria trains,
They passed with screaming sounds, as I feel the strangest thing...
My body had split in half, and I felt a pain so strong,
Took a second to close my eyes and that beautiful girl was gone.

How do I get back in your heart?
How do I get back in your heart?
How do I get back in your heart?
How do I get back in your heart?

7. We Lost Our Way

When I was a little child, I didn’t hear what anyone said,
Didn’t know or care what day the calendar read.
Had no fear and wore the biggest smile,
Didn’t know how short life was, didn’t know what laid ahead.

Somehow I lost, I lost my way.

When we first met, it was flowers everyday,
But as the months rolled past I let you slip away.
I’m not really sure what happened but something in me changed,
I wish I was the man you loved, but I wish you’d stay.

Somehow we lost, we lost our way.

When I heard his voice cry for the very first time,
I couldn’t believe that this little child was mine,
In his eyes I see my father, in his eyes I see myself,
I wonder where he’ll go, I wonder what he’ll find.

Somehow we lost, we lost our way.

8. Are you only in my head?

There is silence in the dark, in the valley where we fall apart.
I kissed your mouth in a strangers room, no there’s nothing left of you.
I ran so fast to find my truck, left your duplex in the dust,
I remember your drunken plea, it has stolen a part of me.

Are you only in my head?

Do you hear me when I pray? Do you hear every word I say?
If you wait you’ll see me break, I don’t give I only take.
The church taught me to deceive, but the spirit taught me to believe,
There’s a man with a counterweight, and he’s somewhere off in space.

Are you only in my head?

Fingers between the frets, strings tied at the head,
Your arm waves back and forth – played for all it’s worth.

9. The Actuary’s Lament

Stephen obsessed over math and stats, chased numbers in his sleep,
Making the random common place with charts and rules and faith.
The ancient trade had drawn him in with the promise of hidden fame,
A secret band that rocks and rolls, watching things that never change.

So get your exercise and get your rest,
Pay off your credit card and reduce your debt,
Surprises come when you least expect,
That’s why the actuary laments, that’s why the actuary laments.

If the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star stop printing their daily rags,
Would anyone miss the ink they spilled, or would the news just go away?
If mankind is doomed to repeat itself, is there any such thing as change?
Progress is a myth that we believe to hide the evil growing day to day.

10. Scarborough Sky

One day our skin will turn grey as grey as the Scarborough sky,
But our love, which rises like the bluffs, surely our love will never die.

Climb those concrete stairs in that station made of glass,
Clutch that paper transfer in your hand.
But when you get back home, I’ll be long gone, yeah life is sometimes never what we planned.

Our skyline rises from the shore like a mountain made of streetlights and stars,
But this beacon is worthless without your heart, and I can’t see exactly where we are.

Down where Broadview intersects with Queen Street, rides the Dark Horse with flowers in her teeth.
And pretty girls stare out from poster laid on brick, it’s nothing but a pain he can’t resist.

002 - Graven - "From Mountainview to Canyon Heart"

2008-08-17T17:39:00.011-04:00

'It doesn’t take much effort to get this EP—simply go to the website and click
a link or two—but it is definitely worth the five minutes out of your day to
download and the thirty-three minutes it takes to listen. The songs are made
with honesty and heart and invite you along for a little drive down a black
highway. It is a short trip any northwest music-lover should take.'
-Michael Dallas Miller, Burnside Writer's Collective

DOWNLOAD THE FULL EP NOW

Release date: Winter 2008.

Info: Free acoustic EP, featuring Brendan Lorimer.

Tracklist:

Fresh Fish For Everyone
Last Train To Leamington
Hwy 5
Barely Oregonian
Carsleepers
Inside Space Mountain
Please Stay Bright, Desert Stars
Jonboy
Thirty Dollar Hotel
Last Light Of The Canyon

(Liner Notes):

This work represents a trip I took out to Seattle, B.C., Portland, Vegas, Arizona and L.A. back in the spring. The EP/album was recorded all over the place on my wife's old G4 iBook. To add to the drama of the creative process, the whole computer crashed and I had to transfer all of the files on to a flash drive (while pressing the laptop down, on both sides, as I held it across my knee, pushing up on the loose logic board chip...it was really fun.) All of the songs are very personal and very stripped down. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it.

It's an EP served best on a cold afternoon with headphones on. Thanks for your support of Graven so far. Cheers!

-matty

(Artist/Song Listing)

Fresh Fish For Everyone

Matt - everything

Last Train To Leamington

Matt - guitars, vocals

Aaron Martin - guitars, harmony vocals, random outbursts

Dan Larocque - bursts into room at the end and says 'that's disgusting'

Hwy 5

Matt - everything

Barely Oregonian

Matt - everything

Carsleepers

Matt - banjo, vocals

Brendan Lorimer - slide guitar

Inside Space Mountain

Matt - everything (Brendan originally played a track on this song but I basically had to re-record the whole song from scratch as the audio units became corrupted)

Please Stay Bright, Desert Stars

Matt - everything (except for random door creaks. friggin people).

Jonboy

Matt - everything

Thirty Dollar Hotel

Matt - piano, guitars, vocals

Brendan Lorimer - background acoustic wankery

Last Light Of The Canyon

Matt - everything

001 - Share Favourable Brother

2008-08-17T17:33:00.004-04:00

Release date: April 22, 2008.

Track Listing:

1. Monster
2. Left Loose
3. Billboards Talking Strange
4. March on Myself

Notes:

The second of O nO!'s two EP's. It's definitely the better of the two, recorded over a few frantic hours at Leopard Frog Studios in Kingston. Album artwork done by Hilary Mason.

About/Contact

2008-08-17T17:29:00.002-04:00

GravenRecords is mainly a collective of contributing musicians who try their best to inspire each other in a way that goes outside the boundaries of the current parameters of the music industry.

It is a community-based record label and distribution forum. GravenRecords is not exclusive to one city and has specific artistic regions in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto.

It is a dream and a vision that is still heavily in the making...but it is also something that is gaining momentum with every waking hour.

If the chief end of GravenRecords had to be summarized, it would be 'to have musicians making music the way they want and making that music as listener-accessible as possible'.

CONTACTS:

Matt McKechnie -- matt@gravenrecords.com
Tyrone Warner -- tyrone@gravenrecords.com

Gigs

2008-08-01T10:02:00.016-04:00

GravenRecords in a town near you! Mark these down.

Upcoming Shows

Graven

(THE 'FRIENDS, FEARS & PRAIRIE FIRES TOUR'
WITH JD EDWARDS AND TRISH JAMIESON - more info
at http://friendsfearsfires.blogspot.com)
11/03/2010 - BREEZE BAR w JD (OSOYOOS, BC)
11/04/2010 - CHOPHOUSE w JD/Trish (WHISTLER, BC)
11/05/2010 - MINSTREL CAFE w JD (KELOWNA, BC)
11/06/2010 - HOWE SOUND BREWERY w JD/Trish
(SQUAMISH, BC)
11/07/2010 - CAFE DEUX SOLEILS w JD/Trish
(VANCOUVER, BC)
11/08/2010 - DUNCAN GARAGE w JD (DUNCAN, BC)
11/11/2010 - PEMBERTON HOTEL w JD/Trish
(PEMBERTON, BC)
11/15/2010 - THE CELLAR w JD/Trish
(VANCOUVER, BC)
11/17/2010 - BEATNIQ JAZZ CLUB w JD
(CALGARY, AB)
11/18/2010 - VERN'S w JD/tba (CALGARY, AB)
11/19/2010 - TIMES CHANGED w JD
(WINNIPEG, MB)
11/20/2010 - ALL CITIZENS w JD (BRUNO, SK)
11/21/2010 - CAFFE SOLA w JD (SASKATOON, SK)

11/30/2010 - MEET AT 66 w Tanya Davis
(COBOURG, ON)

Prior Peter
Silver Speakers
Oceans

Past Shows

Silver Speakers

-CD release party - Friday, Sept. 26 @ The Renaissance Cafe, Toronto
-w/ Courtney Lynn - Sunday, Nov. 16 @ Rancho Relaxo, Toronto
-"Gather Round" - Sunday, Dec. 14 @ The Boat, Toronto

-Gentlemen Husbands, Meredith Luce & Graven (releasing their new EP

'Valley Theory') - Wednesday June 17 @ The Horseshoe Tavern

Graven

11/17/2006 - SCOTT ST. CHURCH (ST. CATHARINES, ON)
01/22/2007 - ZAPHOD'S (OTTAWA, ON)
02/02/2007 - THE RED ROOSTER w Counterfeit 50 & Tin Bangs
(BURLINGTON, ON)
04/25/2007 - THE HORSESHOE TAVERN w Everything All The
Time - (TORONTO, ON)
11/24/2007 - THE ARTEL w The Wooden Sky & Knock, Knock
Ginger - (KINGSTON, ON)
09/26/2008 - RENAISSANCE CAFE opening for Silver
Speakers - (TORONTO, ON)
06/03/2009 - ZAPHOD'S w Dave Norris and Local Ivan &
Eric Vieweg - (OTTAWA, ON)
06/17/2009 - THE HORSESHOE TAVERN (w Silver Speakers,
Gentlemen Husbands & Meredith Luce - TORONTO, ON)
06/30/2009 - THE RAINBOW BISTRO w Jane's Party,
(OTTAWA, ON)
07/04/2009 - DUCK'S ROADHOUSE w Dave Norris & Local
Ivan - (WESTPORT, ON)
07/16/2009 - THE MANSION w Gentlemen Husbands -
(KINGSTON, ON)
11/14/2009 - THE ARTEL w Silver Speakers & AudioPark -
(KINGSTON, ON)
12/22/2009 - THE RAINBOW BISTRO (w Ty West & TBL -
GravenRecords Christmas Part-AYY! - OTTAWA, ON)
03/11/2010 - THE CARLETON (HALIFAX, NS)
03/12/2010 - THE CARLETON (HALIFAX, NS)
03/13/2010 - THE CARLETON (HALIFAX, NS)
03/27/2010 - THE MANSION (w Whale Tooth & The Crooked
Brothers - KINGSTON, ON)
04/25/2010 - LOCATION TBD (GUELPH, ON)
05/01/2010 - AVANT GARDE w Texting Mackenzie (OTTAWA, ON)
05/22/2010 - ZAPHODS w Raccoon Wedding (OTTAWA, ON)
05/23/2010 - LE DIVAN ORANGE w Dave Norris & Local Ivan
(MONTREAL, QC)
06/30/2010 - ZAPHODS w Birthday Cakes & Ace Kinkaid
(OTTAWA, ON)
07/31/2010 - THE BRANCH (KEMPTVILLE, ON)

Oceans
-backing band for Graven on June 30th 830 PM @ Zaphods

-(w The Me Monster and Audiopark) - Mar 21st 9 PM @ The Mansion ($5 at the door)
-Acoustic Set and Interview - May 9th 5 PM @ Canteen Art Shop and Gallery

Graven

2008-07-03T21:34:00.047-04:00

BIO:

Graven is something built mostly on inconclusive terms... it is a resounding drip in the depths of a dark cave that gives way to water and light. It is a minuscule bird somewhere in the sky-blue backdrop of a massive wilderness portrait. It is a side project amidst the rest of life. Hopefully some shows, some albums, some success here and there, but I'm realizing that the greatest success that can come from music is the sheer enjoyment and the creative outlet of it all. I used to believe that the best part of playing music would be the fame and celebrity status and legions of fans that would come from it and that some big record label would knight me as their prodigy. Those thoughts are gone, and this disheveled fragmented soul is all that's left. Trying to make some sense of it all. Like it - hate it - be who you are because I'm gonna keep making it.

Fresh off a tour of Western Canada with singer/songwriters JD Edwards (Winnipeg, MB) and Trish Jamieson (Whistler, BC), Graven is carefully and cantankerously calculating the next move and evaluating upcoming projects (of which there are many!) - so stay connected.

REVIEWS:
'(Matt's) smooth, evocative voice meshed well with their mellowsound and his ability to mix singing while playing the guitar andharmonica was very impressive...The harmonica riffs were so reminiscent of “The Times They AreA-Changin” that the Tambourine Man himself might as well have beenplaying along with them.' -The Queens Journal

'A sure up and comer!' -CBC Radio 3

'Musically, the band puts the emphasis on a warm, spacious sound. It’sslightly fuzzy around the edges but never overdriven and neverstretching past a comfortable gallop.' -Bob Ham, The Voice Of Energy

"...I was quite taken aback by the sounds of the Valley Theory EP by the underground Canadian rockers Graven. As opposed to reaching out for the anthemic pop heights of its countrymen and
women, these guys have opted for reinventing and revisiting some solid ‘90s Midwestern rock.'
-Adam P. Newton, Dryvetyme Online

'Graven may not set the world on fire, or even usher in a belatedjangle-rock revival, but they're good at what they do, and anyone elsewho pines for Toad The Wet Sprocket should find plenty here to enjoy.' -iheartmusic.net

LIVE RADIO PERFORMANCES:

CFCR SASKATOON - FRIDAY, NOV 19TH, 2010

CFRC KINGSTON/QUEENS - WEDNESDAY, FEB 9TH, 2011

CAST:

Rehuel Ernest
Owen Edwards
Landon Kotchapaw
Paul Godin
Matt McKechnie
Brendan Lorimer
Ben Gresik
Tyrone Warner
and others...

CATALOGUE:

GRAVEN - SELF-TITLED DEBUT - (1999)

out of print

PILOT LIGHT OUT (2005) - iTunes

CHARLES CALLED IT...ANTHEMIC (2007) - iTunes

FREE MP3: "Left Open"

FROM MOUNTAINVIEW TO CANYON HEART (2008)

(click above link for free download - digital only)

VALLEY THEORY (2009)

Digital: iTunes, Zunior, Amazon, Amie Street, Napster

CD format: IndiePool

WESTERN WAY (2011)

Digital only: Bandcamp

UPCOMING SHOWS:

03/26/2011 - THE BRANCH w DAVE NORRIS & LOCAL IVAN
(KEMPTVILLE, ON)

03/27/2011 - THE ELMDALE TAVERN w DAVE NORRIS &
LOCAL IVAN (OTTAWA, ON)

PAST SHOWS:

11/17/2006 - SCOTT ST. CHURCH (ST. CATHARINES, ON)

01/22/2007 - ZAPHOD'S (OTTAWA, ON)

02/02/2007 - THE RED ROOSTER (BURLINGTON, ON)

04/25/2007 - THE HORSESHOE TAVERN (TORONTO, ON)

11/24/2007 - THE ARTEL (KINGSTON, ON)

09/26/2008 - RENAISSANCE CAFE (TORONTO, ON)

06/03/2009 - ZAPHOD'S (OTTAWA, ON)

06/17/2009 - THE HORSESHOE TAVERN (TORONTO, ON)

06/30/2009 - THE RAINBOW BISTRO (OTTAWA, ON)

07/04/2009 - DUCK'S ROADHOUSE (WESTPORT, ON)

07/16/2009 - THE MANSION (KINGSTON, ON)

11/14/2009 - THE ARTEL (KINGSTON, ON)

12/22/2009 - THE RAINBOW BISTRO (OTTAWA, ON)

03/11/2010 - THE CARLETON (HALIFAX, NS)

03/12/2010 - THE CARLETON (HALIFAX, NS)

03/13/2010 - THE CARLETON (HALIFAX, NS)

03/27/2010 - THE MANSION w (KINGSTON, ON)

04/25/2010 - LOCATION TBD (GUELPH, ON)

05/01/2010 - AVANT GARDE w Texting Mackenzie (OTTAWA, ON)

05/22/2010 - ZAPHODS w Raccoon Wedding (OTTAWA, ON)

05/23/2010 - LE DIVAN ORANGE w Dave Norris (MONTREAL, QC)

06/30/2010 - ZAPHODS w Birthday Cakes (OTTAWA, ON)

07/31/2010 - THE BRANCH (KEMPTVILLE, ON)

08/19/2010 - DONSTOCK (HALIFAX, NS

(THE 'FRIENDS, FEARS & PRAIRIE FIRES TOUR'
WITH JD EDWARDS AND TRISH JAMIESON - more info
at http://friendsfearsfires.blogspot.com)
11/03/2010 - BREEZE BAR w JD (OSOYOOS, BC)
11/04/2010 - CHOPHOUSE w JD/Trish (WHISTLER, BC)
11/05/2010 - MINSTREL CAFE w JD (KELOWNA, BC)
11/06/2010 - HOWE SOUND BREWERY w JD/Trish
(SQUAMISH, BC)
11/07/2010 - CAFE DEUX SOLEILS w JD/Trish
(VANCOUVER, BC)
11/08/2010 - DUNCAN GARAGE w JD (DUNCAN, BC)
11/11/2010 - PEMBERTON HOTEL w JD/Trish
(PEMBERTON, BC)
11/15/2010 - THE CELLAR w JD/Trish
(VANCOUVER, BC)
11/17/2010 - BEATNIQ JAZZ CLUB w JD
(CALGARY, AB)
11/18/2010 - VERN'S w JD/tba (CALGARY, AB)
11/20/2010 - ALL CITIZENS w JD (BRUNO, SK)
11/21/2010 - CAFFE SOLA w JD (SASKATOON, SK)
11/30/2010 - MEET AT 66 w Tanya Davis (COBOURG, ON)
02/08/2011 - CLARK HALL PUB (KINGSTON, ON)

LINKS:

Silver Speakers

2008-07-03T21:34:00.038-04:00

(click photo for extra large version)

Full discography available for streaming and download at Bandcamp.

Silver Speakers are available for reviews, interviews, or exclusive performances for your blog/website. Email press@gravenrecords.com for details.

Press:

"While Warner is in all intents and purposes a folk artist, he stands out as someone unique with the ability to create a great song without much anesthetic. I don’t have any comparisons to throw out to you, I know folk-artists are a dime a dozen but artists like Tyrone should be part of the cream of the crop that I personally find to be rare." -- Allan's World of Music

"...the songs bounce between spacey rock and warbly folk, creating a sound that is both familiar, yet all its own... In the end, what is important to take away from Streetlights And Stars, besides being an indie-folk/rock record that deserves the adjective “indie,” is that it’s an appealing album, made by a talented musician on his own terms for fans of good music that’s devoid of industry pretense." -- Burnside Writers Collective

"This solo basement tape makin' dude lists Hayden, Pedro The Lion and Neil Young amongst his influences, but we're sure there's some secret punk rock in there because those grumbly, throaty vocals are exactly what all old punkers sound like when they drop the electric and go acoustic." --Chartattack.com

"...Beautiful, weird outsider-pop." -- Grant Lawrence, CBC Radio 3

"...Warner is certainly heading in the right direction. You can tell he has taken time to paint a vivid lyrical picture and his vocals are soft and comforting." -- Soundproof Magazine

"My advice: listen to it and I think you'll like it" -- Bolachas Gratis

O no!

2008-07-03T21:34:00.033-04:00

Bio:

O nO! is a band that began as a joke between guitarist Owen Edwards from Westport, ON and drummer Ben Gresik from Kingston, ON. Owen would often remark “Hey Ben, we should start an indie band” to which Ben would reply “Yes”. Eventually the two of them got together for a jam session in April of 2007 and ended up deciding that the chemistry between Owen's carefully constructed guitar riffs and Ben's theme based drum beats was enough to warrant starting a band. At this point Bassist/Keyboardist Joseph Popma was brought in to fill out the sound and change things up a little. The name O nO! was chosen after the band though they were having “Yoko Ono” syndrome after Joseph had to miss a practice because of a date. The band has been hard at work writing in the past year and has played a few shows here and there. In December of 2007 they released a 5 song EP entitled “A Taste of Things to Come” recorded in Ben's basement. Following this, they released their final EP entitled "A Taste of Things to Come" in April of 2008.

Cast:

Owen Edwards, Ben Gresik, Joseph Popma

Hometown:

Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Recordings:

A Taste of Things to Come (2007)

Share Favourable Brother (2008)

Links: