Review Text
Formed in the mountains of BC in 2004 BC's Sleddogs, consisting of Kenny Byrka, Michael Donley, and Eric Funk, have made a real mark on the Canadian rock landscape. Sleddogs vocally driven melodies are powerfully gritty yet sensual in their delivery led by Byrka's persuasively passionate lead vocals emphasizing the rich poetic and philosophical lyric content. The cosmic energy from the retro groove and slide of guitarist Donley further adds a unique potent punch along with his gut hitting vocal, all supported by the extremely solid chest pounding power of Funk on the drum kit. Their stunningly accomplished debut album, Great Escape, has labelled them as serious contenders, and it's first single, Bye Bye Life was a multi-format radio hit, cracking the Hot AC Top 70. The debut video also received out of the box adds from both MuchMoreMusic and MusiMax. Supporting the wide spread airplay, the Kelowna based trio raced across Canada in 2005-2006 playing a total of 280 shows in just 18 months adding many live radio appearances along the way. The follow up single Perfect Place surpassed expectations by charting in the Hot AC Top 40 and cracking the MediaBase ROCK Top 100. The Perfect Place video was added to medium rotation on MuchMoreMusic, as well as garnering a feature interview on The Loop Weekend in which they were "...touted as Canada's next Tragically Hip." The same video was nominated as a finalist in Italy's Digifest.net. Sleddogs followed up the success of Perfect Place with another cross Canada tour, concentrating on Eastern Canadian shows as a result of the success of the single. On CHOM97 in Montreal, Perfect Place received the third highest number of spins next to Cold Play. This year at the Canadian Radio Music Awards, BC's Sleddogs are nominated in the Best New Group - Hot AC category for their single Perfect Place. Vernon, BC played host to the 4th Annual Okanagan Music Awards 2006, where the Sleddogs, who were nominated for six awards including: Album of the Year - Great Escape, Group of the Year, Male Artist of the Year - Kenny Byrka, Rock/Pop Artist or Group of the Year, Song of the Year - Happy Face, and Songwriter of the Year - Kenny Byrka, had the honor of taking home the hardware for Group of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Rock/Pop Artist or Group of the Year. Sleddogs have also recently showcased at CMW 2006, Indie week 2006 and won the online fan based voting contest, Bandcast 2006 granting them a showcase spot at Vancouver's New Music West 2007. Further television spots have been recorded on Biker TV Network and The Rockin' Cookin' Kitchen Show in Ohio. Take Me Away, the first single and title track from the second disc was rerecorded with Vancouver producer Steven Drake, formally of The Odds, also known for his work with The Tragically Hip, 54-40, Michelle Wright, and Jeremy Fisher. The track was mixed by Richard Chycki (Rush, Aerosmith, Mick Jagger, Pink). The video for Take Me Away, directed by Juno Award winner Ante Kovac (Tragically Hip, Matthew Good) was added to Much Music, Much Loud and MMM. Preceding this, a rocking Christmas single of Frosty the Snowman had also been recorded in Vancouver with Steven Drake and mastered by Bob Ludwig! Frosty was well received by Canadian radio. The band has now completed their highly anticipated second CD in Vancouver with producer Steven Drake, and is targeted for a summer 2007 release date, followed by a three month Canadian college tour beginning in September, pushing the dogs further into new territory as this band continues to make a serious impact in the music landscape. A July tour through Western Canada has the band performing shows with Mr. Lahey and Randy of the Trailer Park Boys and XXX Hypnotist Tony Lee. Sleddogs will be releasing the next single Give Me a Sign to launch the tour as the release date for the disc approaches. A video for Give me a Sign will also be shot this summer!
