BamBoo getting to where they want to be

June 17, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilons
Members of BamBoo have undergone some self-realization.
And this personal epiphany of sorts has led to the indie band’s newest album, one that could pave the way for future success.
BamBoo is getting some exposure, too, with an appearance at the upcoming NXNE festival, followed by a home-town appearance.
The four-man band includes King City native Mike Schmidt (bass, vocals) – a man of many talents. Not only is he a musicians, but he produces a small Formula 1 podcast, is a game designer and is “ridiculously good” at Devil’s Sticks.
The 29-year-old is joined by Steve Benjamins (lead vocals, keyboard), who also runs a website on current events. Vancouver native Nick Collett (drums) is the “classic Canadian kid.”
Marcus Retterath is a music enthusiast and audio engineer who produced the first BamBoo EP. He also performs the managerial duties and bookings for BamBoo.
The group is excited about performing at NXNE, a week-long party in Toronto that brings together bands big and small in front of music enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. It runs June 17-21.
“We’re really excited to play the legendary Horseshoe Tavern on June 20 (at 2 a.m.) this year. Not only is the Horseshoe the ideal venue for a festival like NXNE, but the 2 a.m. slot that many would see as a curse is actually fantastic because people flock to The Horseshoe for their extended last call during the festival. We’ve also become very fond of The Horseshoe and its crystal-clear sound, so we feel very at-home and have delivered some of our best performances there,” Schmidt said
The reception since their first show in December 2013 has been fantastic.
“We’re blessed with a large group of supportive friends and family that have come out to countless shows and never hidden their enthusiasm,” Retterath added. “We’ve played at some great Toronto venues, most notably The Silver Dollar and The Horseshoe. The promoters for those clubs have taken us under their wing and really helped us realize our potential. Bridging the gap between friends and fans can be a hard step for any independent band, but our fan base is growing and we’re starting to attract listeners who we don’t know personally but share the same enthusiasm as our close friends and family.”
BamBoo has been playing consistently for the last year and a half. The promoters for The Silver Dollar and The Horseshoe gave them the push they needed to try playing concerts at least once a month in Toronto.
“We like to think that people leave more inspired and excited after a BamBoo show,” Schmidt said. “We tend to give it all we’ve got onstage and we’ve all been overcome with how much energy the audience sends back to us every time we play.”
They will be embarking on their first tour in September, playing eight shows in 10 days between Toronto and Montreal.
“We’re really excited to take everything we’ve learned on the road and to some fresh audiences,” Retterath noted.
Members come from a slightly different musical backgrounds, but there are definitely some standout artists that influence what they’ve done so far. They include mostly Canadian bands like Half Moon Run, Tokyo Police Club, Broken Social Scene and Alexisonfire. BamBoo’s style is indie with post-rock punch.
“We draw a lot inspiration from each other while writing the music. Various members bring in parts and it’s usually a pretty organic process of jamming until we find something that speaks to all of us,” Schmidt added.
The lyrics vary from fiction to personal experience, but they always encapsulate an emotion. Benjamins likes to write in a stream-of-conciousness style, and then he’ll go over what he’s written and lift sections that appeal to him and work for the song. He’s a very proficient writer and a naturally poetic person, and his lyrics can be ambiguous at times, which leaves them open to interpretation.
Songs on the new album – Chances – have different sounds and messages, but there is an overall cohesion to the album that will set it apart from the group’s first effort. Since the subject matter of all the songs is so different it’s hard to pinpoint an underlying theme.
“But if we had to we would say it revolves around self-realization and the choices you make to get there.”
They’re currently finishing the new album, with the intention of releasing it just prior to their fall tour.
You can catch a glimpse of the group in King when they perform at Tim and Brenda’s Cruise for the Cure fundraising car show July 19. BamBoo will be performing alongside The Carpet Frogs, Pop Cherry and Freedom Train.
BamBoo will also be releasing a music video for their song “What Can I Say” from their first EP, “Mountains.”
Fans can also check out our Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/listentobamboo. Anyone can go to www.listentobamboo.com to listen to, and download, the first album Mountains.
Self-realizing with a punch! Well, it seems BamBoo made the right choices getting where they want to be.