Wildlife
Conceived in the Gaelic mists of Scotland, Wildlife was born when lead singer/guitarist Dean Povinsky relocated to Glascow from Kingston Ontario in 2005 with his Queens University college mate/guitarist Darryl Smith. After spending time in the dark rainy climes of Scotland, writing, recording and playing small venues, homesickness set in and the band members decided to abandon the project and return to Canada.
Upon his return to Canada, Dean moved to Toronto and reconstituted the band with childhood friend and guitarist Graham Plant, they brought in drummer Dwayne Christie, bassist Derek Bosomwith and Tim Daugulis on keyboards. The newly minted version of Wildlife immediately began building their vision for the future, writing, recording and playing gigs throughout Southern Ontario. Word of the band’s music began to spread swiftly, winning over the hearts and minds of indie rock fans everywhere and garnering much early love from music critics on both sides of the border.
“Bold, full of angst and to the point but also filled with youthful exuberance and affirming righteousness” Exclaim Magazine.
This apt description is a perfect point of reference when attempting to encapsulate the essence of Wildlife. The Toronto based band is a living breathing entity, a shining example of the sum being greater than its parts. Word of the collective magic that these five talented musicians create each time they come together to play continues to spread like wildfire, as witnessed by the steadily growing crowds that come to see the band whenever they perform. It is without doubt the transformative alchemy of the band’s live shows that turns each first time listener into a hardcore believer.
Recorded and mixed in the fall of 2010 at Vibewrangler Studios in Hamilton Ontario, the band’s first full length outing ‘Strike Hard, Young Diamond” captures that live lightening in a bottle. From the angular jangle of the upbeat album opener ‘Stand In The Water’ to the rebellious shout of lead singer Dean Povinsky to “hold your head up!” on the epic ‘Sea Dreamer’ and the bass line driven somber sweep of “Drunken Heart” through the slow build to explosive climax on ‘Killing For Fun’ the album’s twelve sides take the listener on an emotional journey that moves from eternal optimism to raucous joyfulness, to open defiance and somber reflection. It’s a trip that once taken makes you want to repeat it again and again.
The “soft” digital release of ‘Strike Hard Young Diamond’ in the fall of 2010 was warmly embraced by the music community. With an official release to radio of their debut single “Stand In The Water” and loads of touring this fall, the official launch of ‘Strike Hard’ is set for September. Look for an expanded version of the digital album to launch on September 20th, with additional songs and a digital booklet containing alternative artwork. As well the band has put together a vinyl release of the album that will be made available online through the band’s website and to indie music retailers the same week. The impressive package boasts 180 gram cyan coloured vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve that also includes a CD with the full album. A week later, on September 27th, the CD will be released to physical retail across the country.
Wildlife’s ever expanding sphere of influence continues to grow as their touring takesthem further afield. 2011 has seen the band perform from Tallahassee to NYC to Vancouver and all points in between both on their own as well as with bands such as Young The Giant and Parlour. Wildlife’s planned conquest of North America continues through the balance of 2011. You can see the band as they take the stage on the Daytrotter Barnstormer tour that runs through the North Central US in August, sharing the stage with J. Mascis at this year’s Rifflandia Festival in Victoria BC in September and heading out across Canada with Hollerado throughout October.
