ON – “BREAK YOU”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE
If you lived through the 90s (and even if you didn’t but you are no stranger to the particular sounds of this special decade), you will automatically have it in your blood to love some savourty college rock flavour of the ilk dished up by such bands as Nirvana, Hole, Veruca Salt, L7, Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins. From that particular line of consciousness comes our own homegrown talent in Toronto power trio ON, who proudly wear those very influences on their sleeve – and may we say, to our own delight.
Sitting pretty at the heavier end of the College Rock sound, the band has managed to pull off a clever blend of pop melody with raw rock abrasiveness in quite a potent sonic sucker punch. Their very tight weave of classic and alt rock coated grunge works fabulously, a tendency extending from this single “Break You” throughout their entire eponymous ON album, released via Toronto indie imprint Indiestructable Records.
ON is a power trio made up of Lucy Di Santo (vocals, bass), Dan Cornelius (drums) and Steve Fall (guitars) – formerly of popular Toronto acts Acid Test, Danko Jones and Deliuss. Always pushing forward with their trademark sound while also paying homage to their post-punk, grunge, old-school funk and 90s college rock roots, they dish out infectious guitar riffs with a dash of p-funk groove to create positive heavy music recalling the golden days of American college radio.
Lucy Di Santo says, “The song “Break You” soars like a goodbye love letter to a toxic person, place or substance; it’s a decree of emancipation – and breaking away from what dictates and captures the human soul. It is an outcry, a battle cry, and finally a freedom cry of intention – all wrapped up in a hardcore punk-metal riff that end with Sabbath-esque overtones.”
Earlier, ON released the singles “Blackmail” with video directed and edited by Michael Gucciardi and “Underdog” with lively video filmed by Lindi Gordon and edited by Gucciardi. One would not be mistaken by noting such bands as Cage the Elephant, Pixies, Royal Blood and Refused in the same breath, though it might also be worth adding a dash of Veruca Salt in that mix for healthy measure.
Written in Toronto and New York, ON guitarist Steve Fall says the ON album is “a document of friendship navigating explores in pain, and hope. Looking at the world with a collaborative effort to document what we see, witness and feel through songwriting and chemistry as a band.” Following pre-production recording with Drew Howard at Star Sound Studios in Cape Coral, the band worked with sound engineer Darius Szczepaniak (Sum 41, Black Crowes, Big Sugar, Bare Naked Ladies, Jann Arden) out of Phase One Studios.
The full ON album is out now and available , including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. It can also be ordered at https://indiestructablerecords.com or along with some fab merch at www.theonstore.com
The band will also be embarking on their North American tour, which gets underway in San Diego on February 14 following intense recording sessions for new material with legendary producer Ed Stasium (Ramones, Talking Heads, Motörhead, the Smithereens, Living Colour). If you are elsewhere outside of Toronto, do the wise thing and check out tour dates below to see if ON is coming to a venue near you.
Album Credits
Written, arranged by ON (Di Santo, Fall, Cornelius)
Lucy Di Santo – vocals, bass
Dan Cornelius – drums
Steve Fall – guitars
Produced by ON and Darius Szczepaniak
Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Darius Szczepaniak at Phase One Studios, Toronto
Preproduction & original engineering by Drew Howard at The Star Sound Studios, Cape Coral, FL
Additional drum programming (FLA) by Jay Aitch / The Star Sound Studios
‘Break You’ single cover by Michael Gucciardi
Single cover photography by Gord Hawkins
Also enjoy a few other fine audio-visual offerings from the band, as well as the aforementioned album:
ON
[Single]
(Indiestructable Records)
Release Date: January 20, 2023
Tour Dates
02/14 San Diego, CA @the Bancroft Bar
02/15 Los Angeles @The Offbeat Bar
02/16 Santa Barbara, CA @ Soul Bites
02/18 San Francisco, CA @ Hotel Utah
02/19 Reno, NV @ Alturas Bar
02/23 Eugene OR @Sam Bond’s Garage
02/24 Portland OR @Starday Tavern
02/25 Olympia , WA @ Le Voyeur
02/26 Chehalis, WA @ McFiler’s
03/01 Yakima , WA @Punk’s Bar
03/02 Boise, ID@ the Lounge at the End of the Universe
03/03 Murray , UT @ the Ice Haus
03/05 Durango, CO @the Hive
03/08 Pheonix, AZ @the Rhythm Room
03/09 Bisbee, AZ @ the Bisbee
03/11 Tuscan, AZ @the Screening Room
03/13 Houston TX @1810 Ojeman
03/15 Arlington TX @GROWL
03/17 Loreda, TX@Wonder Lounge
03/18 Austin, TX@Cherrywood Coffeehouse
03/20 Albuquerque, NM @Juno Pub
03/21 Denver, CO@ D3 Arts
03/23 Fort Collins, CO@Surside Seven
03/29 Butte, MT @Carpenters Union Hall
03/31 Stateline, ID @Cruisers Bar & Grill
04/01 Tacoma, WA@ the Valley
04/02 Seattle, WA @ Funhouse
Artist Links
Background Photo Credit: Lindi Gordon
