Ford Pier

From Maplemusic.com (and somewhat outdated, to boot): Ford Pier is known internationally for his many years' work collaborating in the studio and on tour with such diverse acts as D.O.A., Jr. Gone Wild, Neko Case, Tankhog, John (Spirit Of The West) Mann, and others. He remains in the regular touring lineups of Veda Hille, Martin (Rheostatics) Tielli, and Carolyn Mark, while continuing to write and record with NoMeansNo-affiliated supergroup, The Showbusiness Giants. Read more on Last.fm …read full bio

From Maplemusic.com (and somewhat outdated, to boot): Ford Pier is known internationally for his many years' work collaborating in the studio and on tour with such diverse acts as D.O.A., Jr. Gone Wild, Neko Case, Tankhog, John (Spirit Of The West) Mann, and others. He remains in the regular touring lineups of Veda Hille, Martin (Rheostatics) Tielli, and Carolyn Mark, while continuing to write and record with NoMeansNo-affiliated supergroup, The Showbusiness Giants. Most who have experienced his solo work - which has been his principal focus for the past several years, agree that on his own he sounds unlike any of them, yet not unlike all of them; at once, separately, and otherwise - with a twist! Like the kind you'd get in your neck from whirling about too quickly to catch a glimpse of a traffic accident. In 1995, Wrong Records released his debut, Meconium, a 14-song mosaic of raging post-punk, true-blue country, folk balladry, and avant-garde soul of which The Vancouver Sun's Katherine Monk was moved to write, "If one indie release could speak for the West Coast, this is the one. The song "What's Wrong With Lumme", featured on the compilation Johnny Hanson Presents Puck Rock Vol. 1 was cited by The Hockey News as being one of the Top 20 Hockey Anthems of all time." Live, Ford has shown himself to be an engaging performer equally at home with the acoustic folk set (Ford has been a featured solo act at Canadian folk festivals including Vancouver and Winnipeg) or sharing a club stage with a hardcore band; alone or with longtime rhythm section Keith Rose (Hard Rock Miners, Huevos Rancheros, Roots Roundup, Bocephus King) and David Macanulty (Royal Grand Prix, Paperboys, Sarcastic Mannequins). This lineup formed the backbone of 1999's 12-Step Plan, 11-Step Pier on Sudden Death Records, a refining and expanding of the musical terrain mapped by the previous release. Tom Harrison of The Vancouver Province called it "Formidable", while NoMeansNo's Rob Wright called it "Stentorian." Exclaim called it "a punk 2112 for the Millenium" and went on to compare it favourably to The Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack. In early 2002, Ford entered the studio with producer Michael-Phillip Wojewoda (Rheostatics, Barenaked Ladies, Ashley MacIsaac, Change Of Heart, Jane Siberry, and many more) armed with his strongest collection of songs yet and a cast of thousands including members of a goodly number of the above-mentioned groups. Arrangements represent a paring down of the density that characterized the last couple of releases in favour of a more evenly textured approach recalling symphonic composition. Indeed, many of the songs from the forthcoming record feature as their primary aural signature chamber ensembles of brass and/or string players. Recording proceeded at a relaxed clip, allowing time for reflection and adaptation. Ford is enthusiastic and confident that this is his finest outing to date. Michael agrees. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

…shrink me down again