THE CRACKLING
BIOGRAPHY
In April 2011, The Crackling released their debut album, the critically acclaimed Keep Full Ambitious. They followed this up in 2012 with the limited edition EP, Ashen, made up of four new songs from the impending 2013 release, as well as the B-side, "Her Body's in My Arms" from Keep Full Ambitious. Their sophomore full length releases in late April, 2013 and is called Mary Magdalene.
Kenton Loewen's The Crackling bring its unmistakable darkened warmth, and invitation to the sometimes bleak, often challenging yet mostly hopeful subject matter found in 2013's Mary Magdalene. Lush with texture, deep with colour and free in its unbound expression, The Crackling maintain their emotional musical vocabulary in this evocative creation.
The musical diversity found in the members of The Crackling puts them in demand by several different projects, from Mother Mother to the Be Good Tanya's, to The Gord Grdina and Tyson Naylor Trios to the Dan Mangan band to name a few. A handful of the best free jazz musicians in the Vancouver scene join The Crackling on Mary Magdalene including JP Carter, Peggy Lee and Jesse Zubot. Josiah Boothby and Eyvind Kang, both from Seattle also join The Crackling on their respective instruments and Kang( Beck, Lou Reed, Bill Frisell) wrote the Orchestral arrangements. Debra Jean Creelman was responsible for backing vocals and special guest Dan Mangan also sang on two tracks. The Vancouver Children's Choir under direction of Rupert Lang also join The Crackling on one song.
The Crackling's upcoming release Mary Magdalene, includes the songs "The Crackling", "Keep Me Drunk" and the theme song from the 70's hit television show and movie M*A*S*H*, "Suicide Is Painless".
They are set to tour Canada and Europe in Spring and Fall of 2013.
The Crackling
Kenton Loewen• vocals, guitar
Tyson Naylor• keys, piano, accordion
Jeremy Page• bass
Gordon Grdina• guitars, vocals
John Raham• drums
Mary Magdalene Track Listing
1. The Harm
2. Keep Me Drunk
3. You're Sure That I'm Wrong
4. The Crackling
5. Suicide Is Painless
6. Ashen
7. I Ask You For The Courage
8. The Cold Sky
9. Sold The Children
10. I Love You Tonight
Kenton Loewen is best known as a drummer. The Crackling is Kenton’s first project as composer and singer. He is a trained jazz drummer. Kenton has worked extensively with Gord Grdina, and has played with such jazz notables as Mats Gustafsson, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten, Fredrik Lundqvist, Jeb Bishop, Kent Kessler, Simon Fisk, Jerry Granelli, Michael Moore, Mark Helias, Mark Destrube and Francois Houle. Kenton has also played in Po Girl, Submission Hold, Mother Mother, Dan Mangan and Josh Martinez and the Pissed Off Wild.