artist Chris Staig

Chris Staig:

Has won praises for his solo recordings, and for his work with other performers.

Used to play guitar for a bagpipe funk band called Taxi Chain. Way back in the mid nineties when one could play 3 nights a week in bars and not starve. Even if there was a bagpiper in your band.

Made 4 solo CDs he's proud of. Deeper We'll Dream (2000) caused Kurt Swinghammer to call Staig "surprise local discovery of the year" and The Toronto Sun to call him "a song writing Charles Atlas". Songwriter Jonathan Seet best summed up Staig's second CD, Death of Romance, as "damn f**** straight, man". Both discs received commercial, campus and CBC radio play.

Played a lot of guitar with Greg Hobbs live and on the CDs "Drake Motel" (2001) and "Threats and Promises" (2004). Hobbs says "Staig has an uncanny ability to colour a song perfectly without showing off." Staig has also recorded and played live with Jason Collett of Broken Social Scene. His guitar playing is featured on the track "Blue Skies" from Collett's CD "Motor Motel Love Songs"

Is probably the only songwriter who will have his work covered and recorded by both power pop cynic Dan Bryk ("Honest Love") and Canadian novelty song act The Arrogant Worms ("Buy a Bottle of Booze")

His third CD is titled "Davenport". A glowing review noted that "Davenport features a winning combination of power pop, roots rock and singer/songwriter pop. There are also hints of Neil Young and John Lennon as well as Grandaddy's Jason Lytle." "Davenport" placed 78th on absolutepowerpopblogspot's Top 100 of 2006. 

2008 saw the recording of Staig's fourth CD titled "Mary". "Mary" features 12 outstanding songs with tremendous performances by Staig's band. The CD also features a duet with famed Canadian vocalist Oh Susanna, and keyboard contributions from Jack Breakfast and Mike Johnston (Skydiggers). Produced by Joe Dunphy (Skydiggers, By Divine Right) the CD was released in early 2009.  2009 also saw Staig take the lead guitar spot on the album "Gentrify You" by Jimmy Byron and partake in riotous shows with Jimmy at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto.

Chris Staig's current band consists of Jeff Dunk on the bass, Mark Wessenger on piano and organ, and Robin Pirson on the drums.