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artist Winchester Warm

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Ottawa, ON, CANADA
genres
Folk, Pop Singer Songwriter
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biographical info

Jonathan Pearce (formerly of Poorfolk) and Matthew Godin craft rich and rewarding songs, not just with sound, but with open-heart narratives and melodies that offset melancholy with anthemic arcs.” – 8/10 Montreal Mirror

"This folk duo from Ottawa really knows how to cut to the bone...this is another band to add to your list of great Canadian folk acts." - Grayowl Point

"Obviously, I couldn’t help but hear the similarity between Pearce and Will Sheff‘s vocals, but what also leads to the highly complimentary Okkervil River comparison is that even though Matt and Jon start tracks using only bare bone arrangements as open as the room they were recorded in, Winchester Warm slowly and assuredly expands using energetic builds and instrumentation that give a warmth to even the most melancholic tale." - Herohill

"The surprise of the night was dynamic duo Winchester Warm. Jon Pearce (Poorfolk/Soiree) on acoustic guitar/vocals and Matt Godin on drums/vocals was all this band needed to produce a tight, full-band sound. Having only heard a couple songs online within minutes I was smitten by their tandem vocals and emotive (but not mushy) lyrical sensibilities..." Amanda Putz - CBC Radio 3

"From the heart of Ottawa's rockers Poorfolk comes Winchester Warm. With only Jon Pearce on acoustic guitar and vocals and drummer Matt Godin on vocals as well, they offer a rich, tight, and surprisingly full live sound for only two people! Lovely lyrics and lively melodies like these don't need more than the perfect pair!" CBC Radio 2

Winchester Warm is Jonathan Pearce and Matthew Godin playing sometimes tender, sometimes raucous indie-folk.  Most often performing with only an acoustic guitar, set of drums, a pair of vocal chords and no technological trickery, Winchester Warm create a sprawling, lush musical experience.  Relentless acoustic guitar work is accented by interesting and off-kilter percussive threads and soaring vocal harmonies, which create Winchester Warm’s resonating and catchy sound.

While the band’s name may conjure images of the Wild West and the Winchester repeating rifle, in fact, it was borne simply of spontaneous lyrics arising from a rehearsal of Pearce’s other band, Ottawa-Montreal indie-rock mainstay, Poorfolk. While Pearce had started Poorfolk in 2002 as an outlet for his contemplative, acoustic song-writing, the band gradually evolved into a propulsive four member rock outfit.  Alongside with (and perhaps even spurred on by) Poorfolk’s success, Pearce eventually followed an instinctual pull back to his singer-songwriter roots, and along with Godin, the result is the duo Winchester Warm.

Winchester Warm’s debut album, “Sky One Room” was recorded at the historic McLeod-Stewarton United Church in centretown Ottawa by Jarrett Bartlett (The Acorn, Andrew Vincent) in August 2008 and August 2009.  Godin’s percussion and Pearce’s guitar work, blended with their vocal harmonies reverberate against the church walls and ceilings, capturing the ominous and beautiful acoustics of the church. On the record the core of the band is still anchored by Pearce and Godin on acoustic guitar and drums, but the songs are augmented by low piano rumblings, plaintive lap-steel swells and electric guitar sprinklings. The songs on “Sky One Room” are at once brooding and melancholic while at other times, soulful and anthemic. They whimsically laud one’s triumphs in one breath while wistfully seizing upon life’s foibles in the next.

                Free from the complications of lugging the sonic and instrumental baggage that comes with playing in a rock band, Pearce and Godin revel in the fact that in Winchester Warm, they can play music as a duo, with no restriction on where they can take their live show. They can play in living rooms and concert theatres, sandboxes and art galleries.

lineup

Jonathan Pearce guitarist/singer
Matthew Godin drummer/singer

influences

Will Oldham
Sun Kil Moon
Great Lake Swimmers
Gordon Lightfoot
Culture Reject
Octoberman
Jim Guthrie
Sea Snakes
John Fahey
M. Ward
Giant Hand
Sky One Room
Label Independent
Released May, 2010
Play Sky One Room
Sky One Room

"Sky One Room" National Release and Tour - and Southern Souls - and iTunes - and Hangover Helper!

posted by Winchester Warm on Dec 14, 2010  

Hi y'all - Just wanted to give you a quick update from ww headquarters.

We have a lot going on in the next little while so we figured we'd tell you about it.

National Release and iTunes

We are very excited to offically announce the national release of "Sky One Room." It now available on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/gcadIY

 

Southern Souls

When we were in Toronto recently we did a video shoot with Mitch Fillion for Southern Souls – you can watch the videos here:

Up in the Belfry

WINCHESTER WARM – Up In The Belfry from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Like Hell

WINCHESTER WARM – Like Hell from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

 

"Sky One Room" = Hangover Helper

We are very pleased to have been awarded "The Hair of the Dog Award for Most Successful Hangover Cure" from Coke Machine Glow. You can read the review here http://bit.ly/gHY8Kq  Another reason for our record to be the perfect stocking stuffer this time of year with all the drinking that usually occurs at this time.

 

Winter Tour w/ Giant Hand

We will be touring eastern Canada in January with our good friend Giant Hand - like real Canadians! Check out our tour dates and please invite your friends - here is a link to the facebook event page: http://on.fb.me/h1nxJU

We are still looking to play in Fredericton on January 15 so if you can help out in any way please do get in touch at info@winchesterwarm.ca We'll even play your living room! Or kitchen! Or shed!

posted by Winchester Warm on Dec 14, 2010  

earlier posts

"Sky One Room" National Release and Tour - and Southern Souls - and iTunes - and Hangover Helper!

posted by Winchester Warm on Dec 14, 2010  

"Sky One Room" Progress

posted by Winchester Warm on Aug 09, 2010  

"Sky One Room" album launch tonight, May 28th at Club Saw

posted by Winchester Warm on May 28, 2010  

"Sky One Room" has arrived!

posted by Winchester Warm on May 12, 2010  

Introducing "Sky One Room"

posted by Winchester Warm on Apr 14, 2010  
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