At first glance, Calgary’s rock trio The Static Shift (made up of Mitchell Brady (Guitar / Vocals), Keone Friesen (Bass / Harmonica), and Isaiah Stonehouse (Drums / Background Vocals)) are decidedly different than most acts in today’s music scene. Dressed in retro garments that reflect their sound, The Static Shift are an embodiment of their love of rock n’ roll and are nothing less than spectacular. Since bursting onto the local music scene 5 years ago, the guys have made a name for themselves here in the city and regularly play gigs at local venues, all the while inspiring their peers and playing their hearts out for people of all ages and backgrounds. The three young musicians have yet to turn 20 years old but they already have 2 albums, a gig at LA’s Whiskey A Go Go, several awards and an appearance on a new CTV reality show under their belts, among other impressive achievements. I approached them recently to talk about CTV’s “The Launch”, their music, being young musicians in Calgary and everything in between and they were gracious enough to accept. So without further ado, keep on reading and be sure to watch them on “The Launch” which airs on January 24th at 8pm MST on CTV!
YAA: How did you guys meet and when did you guys form the band?
The Static Shift: “Mitchell and Keone met when they were 12, at a rock band camp here in Calgary. About 6 months after that, Keone messaged Mitchell on Facebook asking if he wanted to create a band together. They played together for a few years, going through multiple members, before finding Isaiah. Isaiah moved to Calgary in late 2012 when he was 14, and after only a few weeks of living in the city, ran into a paper ad on the wall of Axe Music (a local music shop here in Calgary) that read “14 year old boys looking for drummer”. The rest really is history, and we’ve been playing together for 5 years now!”
YAA: Where does the name “The Static Shift” come from?
TSS: “Before our first full length album came out, we actually went by the name “Stone of Nowhere”, a name thought of by a previous band member a few years back. People simply could never remember the name, so we knew we had to change it before we released our first full album. After many months of name ideas, we finally decided to settle it one afternoon at The Ship & Anchor, a restaurant here in Calgary on 17th Ave. Us three, and our dads, rated each name idea out of 5 using a deck of cards. It came down to three names, The Static Shift being one of them. It was only after deciding on The Static Shift that we realized how contradictory the name is. Static, being something that stays put, and Shift, being something that is always moving. We originally were drawn to it simply because of its uniqueness, and it reminded us of the retro image we are always trying to show, while still having a modern twist. Sadly, there’s no secret meaning behind this band name like there is with some.”
YAA: What did you guys grow up listening to?
TSS: “We really did grow up listening to all sorts of music. Some major influences being, The Beatles (of course), Led Zeppelin, Super Tramp, and the Allman Brothers. Our parents introduced us to some of these artists, but many of them we found ourselves, through lots of exploring and digging around. There really are so many artists we could name.”
YAA: Who are your favorite fellow Calgarian musicians?
TSS: “There are some GREAT local bands here in Calgary, many who we’ve had the pleasure to play with. Some of our favourites include Crooked Spies, Amy Bishop, Timeboy, Free the Cynics, Fever Feel (who now reside in Victoria), and 10 Minute Detour.”
YAA: You released your debut album “Windsor Street” in 2014 and followed it up with your sophomore album “Common Bliss” last year. What did you learn after releasing the first record that you synthesized into your second record?
TSS: “I think one of the biggest things we learned between making the two records was to be more relaxed in the studio. Although we all still love Windsor Street, there were certainly some stressful moments in the studio, where we felt like we couldn’t “nail” a certain part. It was only when we learned to start treating recording more like we were still practicing in Keone’s basement that we put out the product we wanted.”
YAA: What’s your favourite song of yours to play live?
TSS: “This was a tough one, and we all have varying opinions!”
Keone – Elephant in the Room
Mitch – My Love
Isaiah – Somethin’ Else (a yet to be recorded song!)
YAA: When you guys started playing shows, you weren’t quite the age of majority here. Did you find the opportunities available to you guys were hindered by your age? If yes, how did you overcome this obstacle?
TSS: “We would say yes, there were certainly some opportunities hindered by our age. We were able to work around it, though. When we were 15, with the help of our dads, we were able to build a “mobile stage” that we drove around the city in, which allowed us to set up and play wherever we liked. We won’t lie, there were a few encounters with the police and by laws and what not, but it was totally worth it for us. At the same time though, venues like The Blues Can, The Ironwood, The New Black, and Ship & Anchor were extremely supportive in letting us play all age shows, and we can’t thank them enough for believing in us.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KW5m9OMGVk
YAA: What’s your favourite venue to play in Calgary?
TSS: “The Ship & Anchor. They have been so supportive of us over the years, and playing shows there is simply a blast. It is always packed. Not only that, but they are one of the few places in Calgary that will actually clear the floor, to allow fans to come right up to the stage. We highly recommend it.”
YAA: Recently you’ve started hosting youth jams at The Blues Can. What inspired you guys to do that?
TSS: “I think for us, it comes back to this idea of giving back. 5 years ago, places like The Blues Can were so open to letting us come in and play, and now it’s our turn to continue this. Also, we just love playing, and jamming for that matter. But really, that’s how we started. We want to give back, like others did to us when we were young. We really do want to lead the charge in providing more opportunities for young musicians to play here in Calgary.”
YAA: Do you think there’s enough opportunities for musicians under the age of 18 in Calgary and if not, what do you think the city of Calgary can do to improve the scene?
TSS: “No, absolutely not. We are making progress, but there needs to be more all age venues, and different bar licenses allowing minors to play later. We believe the city should invest some dollars into providing a few more venues like The New Black, which was forced to shut its doors a few years ago. As well, there needs to be a more accepting culture towards young musicians. They are more talented than you think, and really, they are the future!”
YAA: You guys are slated to host a youth workshop and play a show in Golden, BC next month. What can youth expect to learn at your workshop?
TSS: “There are so many things we’d love to teach next month at the workshop in Golden. I think ultimately, a message we want to get across is that as a young musician, IT IS POSSIBLE to pursue a career in music. It does take hard work, commitment, and willingness to practice your craft, though. If you are willing to do these things, the opportunities WILL come, just like they have for us. Things like how to develop a practice schedule, stage presence, and how to convey yourself as an artist are also things we have learned over the years that we would love to pass on.”
YAA: You guys are participants on the inaugural season of CTV’s The Launch. Describe the moment you guys found out you guys were gonna be on the show.
TSS: “Yes, we are!!! The whole experience really has been a blast. When we first found out we were for sure going to be on the show, we were actually about to play a gig at Broken City here in Calgary with Apollo Suns (a fantastic band out of Winnipeg, check them out!). As you can imagine, playing at Broken City that night was all the more exciting, knowing all that was to come.”
YAA: What was it like working with Dann Huff and Nikki Sixx?
TSS: “Absolutely amazing, really. It was such an honour just to bounce ideas and notions off of them. They both have been through so much, and know everything there is to know about the music industry. Furthermore, they know what it takes to create a hit song, let alone launch a career. We cannot wait for everyone to see us with them on The Launch!”
YAA: What’s your favourite part about the show’s concept?
TSS: “We loved that it was a completely different take on the classic music TV show. While it is still a reality show, it isn’t always focused on the drama. Rather, the music itself takes centre stage, and that was the most exciting part about it for us.”
YAA: When can people watch your episode?
TSS: “January 24th (Wednesday), 8pm mountain time (9pm everywhere else), on CTV!”
YAA: How would you guys describe your music to somebody who’s never heard it before?
TSS: “Loud. Hah! There are many ways we could describe our music. One of our favourites is, “a classic rock and roll sound, with a modern twist”. Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers are certainly influences, but we are inspired by many modern bands as well. And not just rock bands, but all types of artists! We would name them all, but we could fill an entire book with artists that have inspired us.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnEYEiLzf9U
YAA: If you could play a festival with 5 other acts (from the past or present, dead or alive) who would you guys pick and why?
TSS: “Wow, great question. Honestly, our answer would change everyday. If we had to pick 5 for today, we’d go with the Allman Brothers, David Bowie, Mac Demarco, Alabama Shakes, and Tame Impala.”
YAA: Any words of encouragement for fellow aspiring musicians?
TSS: “Don’t be afraid to be yourself, have fun, and don’t take yourself too seriously!”
YAA: And finally, any parting words?
TSS: “Long live good music and rock n’ roll! Thank you for reaching out to us, this was a pleasure.”
Huge thanks to Mitchell, Keone and Isaiah for chatting with me. If you’re 18 or older, you can catch them at their next gig this Saturday at Mikey’s on 12 avenue. Tickets are 10$ and the show starts at 9:00pm. For more information click here.
Wanna stay in touch with them? Check out their social media!
(All photos received are courtesy of Natalie Cole from Bell Media or retrieved from the artist’s Facebook/Website. NOT our own)