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Black Hat Villain Looking For New Vocalist

by Jamie Taylor on June 28, 2011 · 0 comments

The boys in Black Hat Villain are looking for a new singer. They posted an article recently on their website asking people to come tryout for the band. It reads as follows:

AWESOME ROCK BAND SEEKS EQUALLY AWESOME FRONTMAN!!!

We are a very well established hard rock band from Victoria BC called BLACK HAT VILLAIN & we are seeking, not just a killer vocalist, but a killer frontman; someone who can sing their ass off while captivating an audience at the same time. We have solid management in place & have an extremely loyal, ever growing fanbase. We feel we’ve accomplished a huge amount in a relatively short period of time, but we also feel that with the right person behind the mic, we can achieve so much more.

Here’s a little bit about what we’ve done in the past year;

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In April 2010, we released our 6 song ep, “My Generation” (mixed by Mike Fraser-AC/DC, Metallica, Aerosmith etc.) earning us huge praise from some of the biggest names in the music industry.

In May 2010, we entered 99.3 the Fox’s annual “SEEDS” competition & beat out almost 500 bands, to be crowned “2010 SEEDS winners”! This subsequently led to playing some very killer shows at some very killer venues, most notably in August 2010 @ the legendary Commodore Ballroom w/Arkells & again @ the Commodore in December 2010 w/Steel Panther!

We have had our single, “My Generation” in regular rotation on numerous radio stations across Canada, including Vancouver’s C-Fox & Edmonton’s The Bear, Western Canada’s two largest radio stations.

In September 2010, we had a hugely successful 15 day tour of western Canada & plans are already in the works to do it again.

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So here’s the deal, below you’ll find a link that will bring you to 4 WAV files. Two are “Rain or Shine”, one without vocals & one with vocals from our “My Generation” ep. The other two songs are unreleased & unheard songs from our home studio sessions. You’ll probably notice that they have no vocals either & I’m sure you can guess why.

Here’s what we want you to do;

Step 1; Click the following & Download the files.

http://soundcloud.com/blackhatvillain

Step 2; Dump them files onto whatever recording thingy you have access to.

Step 3; Spit some rad vocals over top. Don’t worry about rad production, we’re looking for a singer, not a producer. As long as it’s audible & sounds half decent, that’s fine.

Step 4; Click the following and send ‘em back.

Send me your sounds

Step 5; Send a quick e-mail to abe@blackhatvillain.com with your contact info.

So if you are a great front man and you feel you could be a good fit with these gents, then download the files and make your attempt. They have a solid sound and years of experience. For those of you who remember, they were robbed of the grand prize in last years Fox Seeds contest, in my opinion (FOX SEEDS; HIGH OCTANE BATTLE).

Fox Seeds; High Octane Battle

by Jamie Taylor on August 29, 2010 · 0 comments

vampireseeds2010 6361 800 Fox Seeds; High Octane Battle Concert Addicts

Friday night at the Commodore Ballroom was a powder keg of passionate performances. The annual Fox Seeds was in full swing with the three finalists; Beyond the Fall, Stars of Boulevard and Black Hat Villain. Headlining the event was the always powerful Arkells, doing a superb job. The night was explosive, and the audience was an integral part in the chaotic momentum.

Starting the night was Beyond the Fall, who’s set was firing on all cylinders. The key part in this band is the lead singer, he owned the stage. As a whole they are always leaping around, and delivering, but the lead singer is the charismatic hook. He stormed the stage with real ownership and prowess. The drummer was having fun, pounding with a grin from ear to ear. Their sound is somewhat basic, a post-punk teen angst with a pop twist. As a whole the set was rhythmic and fun, but lacked anything amazing. The band has lots of room to grow.

1298 320x240 vampireseeds2010 5220 800 Fox Seeds; High Octane Battle Concert Addicts Next up was Stars of Boulevard, with a truly venomous display. The singer was channeling and early Axle Rose, including red bandanna and slithering body movements. Behind the drums, was an animal, rapping his arms with ferocity and intensity. The rest of the band, fit in with a sort of Motley resurrection, but with a more innocent feeling. This collection has, like the prior, a killer front man. The only difference being he owned that entire room. Every one in the building was captivated by his theatrical movements and over the top posing; still they weren’t musically original. The ensemble as a whole rocked the hell out of the Commodore though. It was still a little rough, but the glinting of that diamond shone through still.

Final performers to the platform were Black Hat Villain, from Vancouver Island. The vocalist of this band, came out in a white suit, a towering, lanky man with a big bushy beard. Unlike the first to leads, he brought more power to the stage. This crew had the most sincerity and organic rock blood. Each member owned his position, working hard but really pouring themselves into every note. Out of each of the three finalists, it was this one that had something truly amazing. Every song felt original, and again unlike the first two outfits, not like a rip-off of some other group. The explosive presentation rocked the audience, and had the building swaying. By far this was the best group.

The final verdict was about to be announced. Danger from the Fox was on stage and readied himself to deliver the news. After a brief explanation of what would be won, and thanking the sponsors, it was time to present which of these three contenders would walk away the big cheese. To the dismay of many in the crowd, it turned out to be Stars of Boulevard. Not that they didnt deserve it, but Black Hat Villain was even more astounding. It seems the decision was made on the more pop geared band, rather then the more talented band. Stars of Boulevard would probably sell more records in the beginning, but Black Hat Villain seemed like they would have staying power; a long career.

Now it was time for the headliners to rock the house and deliver some excitement. Hamilton natives the Arkells took to the stage in usual fashion; with an eruption. Max, the singer, was on fire, leaving scorch marks every where he stepped. Mike, on guitar, wailed hard, and poured his very soul into every individual note. Dan, on keyboards, was passionate and free spirited. Especially when he broke in with the harmonica, always a treat. Tim and Nick, brought the rhythm and they brought it with gusto. The moment the amp spat out that first wave of sound, the audience was alive, and the five piece on stage were electric. It was one of the best shows I have seen from the Arkells. 1340 320x240 n715415570 4467923 4926 Fox Seeds; High Octane Battle Concert Addicts

Moving up from the various smaller venues, it was inspiring to see them headline at the Commodore Ballroom. This Fox Seeds was a great night out. Not a face in site was showing any disappointment. It was all grins, high fives and real comradery. Despite the unjust outcome, all the bands had fun and in the end that’s all that matters. If you get a chance to see any of these bands, take it, they deserve your support. Get out there and enjoy the local scene. And if the Arkells dawn a poster in your area, break out the cash and grab some tickets. It will be one of the single best shows you will see.




All photos by Jamie Taylor

Before the Fall


Stars of Boulevard


Black Hat Villain


Arkells

Fox Seeds A New Batch Of Talent

by Jamie Taylor on August 23, 2010 · 0 comments

fox seeds Fox Seeds A New Batch Of Talent Concert Addicts

This Friday mayhem will swallow the mighty Commodore Ballroom as Fox Seeds takes over for another annual installment. This years crop was amazing, with Beyond The Fall, Black Hat Villain and Stars Of Boulevard taking the top spots. Each band is completely unique in its sound, and performance style. The icing on the cake though, is the fact that Canadian boys the Arkells are the headliners. This show will be a real treat and everyone should get their ass down, for this true rock show.

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