Ten years ago, Stereos was one of the hottest pop-rock bands in Canada. The Edmonton-bred, Toronto-based band was in full-throttle mode enjoying a Universal record deal, performing arena shows and living the rock-star lifestyle.
The Juno-nominated band’s platinum selling single, Summer Girl (2009), became the year’s must-have download. But by 2013, disagreements with their label, creative differences between musicians and erratic personal habits forced the fivesome to dissolve.
A decade later, the musicians have a savvy outlook developed from riding the music industry’s rollercoaster. Any old wounds from the breakup have healed and the band reunites for a one-off on Friday, Aug. 16, at Station on Jasper. What better time to stage a reunion than on the 10th anniversary of Summer Girl?
“When I moved back two years ago, I got the idea to do one more show in Toronto since most of the guys live there now. I wanted to do it on our own terms inviting close family and friends,” said lead singer Patrick Kordyback.
“We put the wheels in motion and sold-out a 500-person venue. It blew us away. I did not expect to fill a 500-person venue after being away for so long,” added the Bellerose High graduate.
Supporting Kordyback are original musicians Robb Chalifoux (guitar), Miles Holmwood (guitar/keyboard), Daniel Johnson (bass) and Aaron Verdonk (drums).
For Kordyback, the Edmonton gig is a special return to where Stereos developed. Back in the early 2000s, the pop-rock garage band started gigging first as Turn It Up! and then as Stand By Me.
Their big break was an appearance on MuchMusic’s talent show, DisBand, where they premiered Summer Girl, an R&B influenced pop-rock song. The song spiked to No. 1 on iTunes in just three days pushing Black Eyed Peas out of the No. 1 spot.
The band moved to Toronto where deals were signed, tours scheduled and festivals played. The new Canadian pop darlings crammed it all in – concerts, autograph signings, video shoots, publicity interviews, rehearsals, new recordings and, whenever possible, quiet time to write new material.
Throw in easy access to alcohol and drugs and by 2012, the singer-songwriter-musicians suffered band collapse syndrome.
“I’m the first to look back and see how very easy it was to believe your own hype – especially when people kept telling you how good you are. And when you have five personalities working together, you are bound to have disagreements,” Kordyback said.
Taking lessons they’d learned from Stereos, Kordyback, Johnson and Chalifoux went on to reinvent themselves as I65 while Holmwood and Verdonk stayed in Toronto.
I65 was signed onto 604 Records, a label co-founded by Chad Kroeger and Jonathan Simkin. Although a 10-track was recorded, it was never released.
“As Stereos, we accomplished something and we should only have positive things to say about it and give it the credit it’s due."
Pop punk band, Calling All Captains, another St. Albert band, opens the showcase. Their debut EP, Nothing Grows Here, on Equal Vision Records and Rude Records was released Feb. 8.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 at showpass./com/stereos.
