By Victoria King
Life’s not too bad when you’re playing music with friends and hanging out on the slopes.
When Stylus caught up with Until Red over the phone, the fellas were on the road from Canmore, AB to Saskatoon, SK. The Brandon-based trio were finishing up a short tour out West, and heading home today for a gig at the Times Change(d) on Thursday evening. For the last year, the band (comprised of Roman Clarke, Liam Duncan, and Dylan Macdonald) has been figuring out how best to plan tours, which venues to play, and how to connect with their audience.
The group first came together in Brandon, in their mid teens. All participating in separate music programs through three different high schools in Brandon, the boys met through kismet and mutual friends. One of their players, Liam, had opened for Roman and Dylan’s initial band – he joined them shortly after that to form Until Red. As things progressed for the band over the past year, Until Red has developed a stage ritual of inviting their audience to be involved in the fun and banter of the performance, with a goal of inclusion and friendship.
That desire to create a sense of community with their audience first took root after seeing several shows where performers or artists didn’t try to connect with their audience and left attendees feeling isolated. Liam recalls thinking, “that was a fun show, but I don’t want to go buy the record because I don’t feel like I’m friends with them.”
Things really clicked for the guys after a particular performance from the Bros Landreth accompanied by Donovan Woods. Talking about Woods’ performance, Liam recalls, “I felt like I knew him.” The group feels that the intimacy they strive for is a uniquely Manitoba quality. Noting artists like Del Barber, Sweet Alibi, and the aforementioned Bros Landreth, they feel like they all share a particular sound. “Music from the Prairies sounds different from the Coast,” Liam explains. Perhaps it’s the tall grasses or the long winters, but there is something about the flat plains that unifies a lot the music coming out of this place.
Those Manitoba-sounds and the friendly-minded nuances are both qualities that you can look forward to when Until Red release their self-titled album on September 12 at the West End Cultural Centre. Laughing, Liam admits that most of the record is made up of songs about girls, with playful songwriting and emotional qualities to support. The album was recorded at Unity Gains Studios. Finished in early April, their full-length debut will feature nine original tunes. In support of the record, the boys are planning an appropriately intimate tour model. Starting in November, they’ll be shipping out of the prairies for a two week Home Routes tour. The tour will consist of 12 house concerts, and Liam explains, “It’ll be us playing at a stranger’s house. They’re welcoming in three stinky road musicians to play for their community.”
Happening tomorrow (Thursday, April 30), you can catch Until Red at the Times Change(d) with Guest. Show starts at 10, Until Red at 11. $7 cover.
Find them online at untilred.com