Toronto is quickly becoming one of the music meccas of North America. Boasting such diverse artists as Neil Young, KNAAN, Broken Social Scene, Feist, Holy Fuck, Metric, MSTRKRFT, and more, the city sprouts talent as quickly as flowers grow in one of those Discovery Channel time lapse videos. (That’s right, a Discovery Channel reference). Dinosaur Bones has become one of the latest Toronto bands worth giving some of your attention to.
The band, lead by lead singer Ben Fox, quickly transformed from a college daydream into an indie gem in the Canadian music scene in less than two years. Fox decided to drop out of college, trading his school books for a stack of lyrics and musical aspirations. Fox traveled to Toronto to collaborate with old friends and to find new ones; with Fox on vocals, Branko Scekic on bass, Dave Wickland on keys, Lucas Fredette on drums, and Joel Clifton on guitar, Dinosaur Bones formed and began creating haunting synth layers flowing through a powerful rhythm section.
Since late 2009, Dinosaur Bones has worked with producer Jon Drew (Fucked Up, Tokyo Police Club, the Arkells) to “lay down the foundation for their long-anticipated debut LP.” In the meantime, check out the band’s newly release 7-inch vinyl, Royalty/Ice Hotels, via Hi-Scores Recordings. The effort contains two tracks, “Royalty” and “Ice Hotels”, each of which can be heard on the band’s MySpace.
In support of the release, Dinosaur Bones recently embarked on a U.S. tour. The trek will take the band up the east coast prior to an appearance at Austin’s South by Southwest.
Dinosaur Bones 2010 Tour Dates:
02/04 – Ithaca, NY @ The Nines
02/05 – Syracuse, NY @ The Space
02/06 – Boston, MA @ Harpers Ferry
02/08 – Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo Gallery
02/09 – New York, NY @ Piano’s
02/10 – Washington, DC @ The Black and the Reds
02/13 – Brooklyn, NY @ Peachfrog
02/13 – Brooklyn, NY @ Surreal Estate
02/14 – Manchester, NH @ TBA
02/16 – Providence, RI @ Jerky’s
02/18 – Burlington, VT @ Monkey House
02/20 – Montreal @ Le Divan Orange
02/25 – New York, NY @ Piano’s – Hi Scores Records Showcase
02/26 – Ottawa, ON @ Live Lounge
02/27 – Barrie, ON @ Oscars
03/04 – Guelph, ON @ E-Bar
03/05 – Toronto, ON @ Steam Whistle Brewery
03/17 -20 – Austin, TX @ South by Southwest