Smother on some cherry
lip gloss and spend some time with THE NECKERS in…
Love and Infection
For a band that hardly rehearses together, The Neckers end
up playing tight live shows that attract even the most shy wallflower
onto the dance floor. Playing peppy rock ‘n’ roll
anthems suitable for a rave-up as well as the backseat, The
Neckers have had years to become the house band for fun on the
Western Canadian scene.
Their origins date back to junior high school when Jim
Blood (guitar, vocals) and Brendan Tincher
(drums, vocals) bonded over worn out Metallica and
Crue cassettes and started writing songs about Cheech and Chong
skits. At this time, Blood was also honing his pop songwriting
sensibilities by composing jingles with his sister. A few years
later, Blood and Tincher would connect with Bil Hetherington
(vocals) in high school. They coerced him to be their
front man with a promise that their first single would be named
in his honour. In perfect Hetherington form, the front man proudly
debuted the song in front of their high school friends, belting
out the verse (and chorus) of “B - I - L.” The cafeteria
audience would never be the same. Nor would Hetherington’s
parents. After joining the band, Hetherington was promptly grounded
for two months.
The next few years were spent sharpening their sound. They
wore out Nuggets box sets and vinyl by The Clash and Velvet
Underground. They worked in an indie record store to fund and
feed their rock ‘n’ roll dreams. They were also
trying to find a perfect match in a bass player. The group felt
that they struck gold with bassist Steve Elaschuk (bass,
vocals). A veteran of the scene and perfectionist punk
rocker with discerning taste, Elaschuk was quickly recruited.
The Neckers were finally a complete package suitably equipped
to work their audiences into a frenzy.
The charismatic quartet’s undeniable chemistry is on
full display throughout Love and Infection, their third effort.
Experience, ability and excellent music taste have neatly intersected
in an irresistible collection of rock’n’roll and
twangy songs that are built to endure repeated listens. With
deeply melodic choruses and classic influences finally surfacing,
Love and Infection is a curve ball in The Neckers’ repertoire.
Decidedly a mature release, The Neckers are no longer a garage
rock band, but a band. There are plenty of hooks leaping from
each song …and those lyrics that you’re bopping
along to actually have some heavy duty meaning behind them.
It’s time to meet the boys that girls can’t help
but wink at and their boyfriends don’t mind. They’re
a bunch of sassy naturals with as much talent as a sense of
humour. At the end of their songs, the girl comes back along
with the dog and the house. Calgary has come to depend on them
to remedy any bad mood caused by Stanley Cup losses and Chinook
headaches, but we’re willing to share. Hear their album
that made a splashy debut on the national campus radio charts.
Meet Calgary’s eight-legged instant dance party. Meet
The Neckers. They’ll make those summer nights last all
year long.
