"Like a fine wine or a wooden guitar,
A hunk of French cheese or a Cuban cigar,
Maturity counts in a rock ‘n’ roll star."
-
Loudon Wainwright II
Watch
Me Rock, I’m Over Thirty
Toronto’s The Free Press are a bold
breakthrough in Pop music – a band that thinks as hard as they rock, or in the
context of their live show, a band that entertains as much as they ask their
audiences to think. It’s a combination
that comes from the band’s unique blend of personal and musical backgrounds,
and from their enduring belief that – as cliché as it might sound – rock ‘n’
roll can still change the world.
Alex Oliveira, Len Ottesen, Jesse Pitcher,
James Dallas Smith and Mick Torbay build a relationship with an audience that’s
bigger than life, taking you on a journey that alternates between making you
want to sing along and fight back.
Musically, it’s a full palette, with a full range of dynamics and
emotions, powerful vocal harmonies, and rich instrumental lines that stay with
you. Emotionally, everything is up for
grabs.
The five bring together an eclectic yet
profound combination of personal life experiences, distilling big themes and
tough ideas into strong, enduring melodies.
Among the group are a tv star, a political analyst, an award-winning
comedian, a marketing weasel and a guy with no employment history worth writing
down. But alternately, there’s a First
Nations Canadian, an ex-con, a seasoned session player, a pilot and, frankly,
several who’ve struggled through tough relationships, successfully and
otherwise. That’s led to a body of work
that challenges the listener, pulling them through an exploration of
relationships, careers, faith, child abuse and social responsibility.
And while there are no small stories in The
Free Press, their deeper examination of ideas doesn’t mean hopelessness and
brooding – the inexperienced angst of a younger band without lives of context
within which to tell their tales. The
Free Press bring a joy to their playing as much as they bring maturity. Their performances are cathartic – for them
and for the crowd. It’s a band that
loves to play for people who love to listen.
With the release of Half Truths & Whole
Lies, The Free Press puts everything at stake.
Working tirelessly with legendary producer and industry veteran J.
Richard Hutt (Northern Pikes, Skydiggers, Tom Cochrane, 2000 CCMA Producer of
the Year) The Free Press have left everything behind to make this album soar. It’s an
intense, meaningful, and most of all a compelling collection of music and emotions,
with an energy you can feel as you listen.