>>PREVIEW
800 PROSPECT
Saturday, December 31
The Garage (Eau Claire Market)
"Come see us live," demands 800 Prospect singer-guitarist Colin Thrasher in half-jest.
Only half because as we all know, "come see us live" has become the refrain of anyone even remotely connected to a musical instrument. However, in regard to these Calgary natives, it’s almost a dare, as the quintet has been known to be particularly vicious on fuse boxes across Alberta.
"We blew the electricity three times at one show," says Thrasher, proving that their take on punk-influenced rock ‘n’ roll is particularly punishing. Almost as much as their, or rather, Thrasher’s struggle to find a solid lineup in the band’s half-decade of existence.
Yet as they prepare to followup their eponymous 2003 debut, the current incarnation featuring guitarist Justin Farris, bassist John Hanes and drummer Chris Skriver is shaping up to be the best to date. Weaving through various sounds and styles as they find their feet, Thrasher admits that the 800 Prospect of today is a very different beast than what one would find for download at the band’s website (800prospect.com), but the essentials are finally there.
"It has been a long road to get this band to the point we are at now – to find the members we have and to reach the level of play that we have," Thrasher says. "I think for the first time 800 Prospect is a full band. Everyone is on the same page and everyone has a stake in this. (We’re finding) new depths, changing not so much in style but more dynamic. We aren’t set to one style or sound.
Initially creating the band at the insistence of friends, Thrasher didn’t realize exactly how weighty this endeavour would prove to be. It wasn’t until he was pushed to the forefront that he realized his own voice and the full impact music and lyrics have had on his own psyche. It’s what pushes 800 Prospect, not to carve out a new path in rock music, but to inspire others to create genuine music of their own.
"I grew up listening to bands that inspired me because of their honesty and sincerity in their music and lyrics. The most important thing to me in terms of music is that the person listening to it can make it their own. They can relate to it – develop a personal connection to it."
In keeping with that sentiment, Thrasher and crew shy away from the other band catchphrase, "this song is about…," leaving it up to the audience to decipher.
"It sometimes bothers me when people ask what a song means. That’s not really up to me. I can tell you what I wrote it about, but that may be totally different from what it actually means to someone else. I guess I would rather look at us as continuing a standard rather than offering something that was missing." |
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