Cowboys in Cardigans is a shiny, rock-pop juggernaut waiting to invade your ears and make you dance, dance, dance! Both ‘Cockatoo’ and ‘Platypus’ channel 1994 with caffeine-infused rock riffs, and a tongue-in-cheek, wicked sense of humour. The sounds echo West coast elements of crushing guitar fuzz from bands like Smile or Nirvana; the swirling psychedelic textures of Wellwater Conspiracy and The Dandy Warhols; dance-inducing funk rhythms of Sublime and Red Hot Chili Peppers; the intellect, timbre, and tasteful production of Stone Temple Pilots; and quirky, off-kilter, ear-wormy vocals akin to The Pixies. Every song is different from the next, and the bouncing effect of this sun burnt soundtrack is heightened upon multiple listens.
Jamie Reaume (vocals), Jordan Tough (drums), and Devon Pastorius (guitars) met years ago at a jam night and their energies were instantly compatible. After honing their skills and cultivating their groove together, they were ready to record an album of their own. Taylor Horne (bass), who occasionally popped up around the scene, was the final piece of the puzzle. Years of playing together before Cowboys in Cardigans existed as a band led to the sonic explosion and potent kinetic energy of two studio releases in 2014.
Channeling the energy and explosiveness of the music, Cowboys in Cardigans released two albums in 2014, their debut full-length Cockatoo (April 25) and the follow up 7 song EP Platypus (Dec 19). With the means to capture the ears and attention of a wide audience, they have received Canada-Wide airplay on college and community radio stations, and have been receiving a growing amount of airplay on commercial radio stations in Ontario, from Modern Rock stations, to the CBC. The band has also been recognized by CBC and 89X as one of the top 10 bands in the Windsor/Detroit region.
Having been described as having flavours of the 90’s mixed with a modern rock edge, Cowboys in Cardigans have been well received by audiences an critics alike. Matt Jensen of The Equal Ground said that Cowboys in Cardigans are “Thoroughly enjoyable, unpretentious rock.” and Jamie Greer from The Urbanite has described the band as “modern rock warriors… [who are] veterans of the stage.” They have performed multiple club shows, as well as appeared on the bill for 2 international music festivals in Windsor, the most recent appearance was in support of The Tea Party at Windsor’s Fork and Cork fest. The band is also currently awaiting their approval to perform at Canadian Music Week, North By North East, and JunoFest.
On December 19th, 2014 Cowboys in Cardigans released the sudden and unexpected follow up to their debut Cockatoo; that follow up was called Platypus. Made possible in part by the generous funding of the City of Windsor’s Arts, Culture, and Heritage Fund, Platypus started as an idea for a 2 song release, and blossomed into a 7 song EP. In October 2014, Cowboys in Cardigans entered SLR Studios with sound engineer Marty Bak to give birth to Platypus. 7 days later, the 7 songs were recorded, mixed, and ready for release.
The album’s name is indicative of its nature: A platypus is a strange combination of contrasting parts, coming together to form a whole that is seamless, yet bizarre. Platypus features the heaviest and softest songs Cowboys in Cardigans have released to date. From the aggressive opening track “She Should Be The Queen” to the lilty and fun “Kiss Me” to the spacey dream funk of “Spinning”, Platypus is unique, charming, sexy, and violent, all in a compact and efficient box. Listen for yourself, over and over again. It’s a little bit different every time.