JON MCKIEL at the Velvet Underground (510 Queen West), Saturday (June 18), 10 pm. Free with NXNE wristband/pass or $10. nxne.com. See listing.
Halifax’s Jon Mckiel epitomizes the sound East Coast bands deliver so well: laid-back indie rock that’s unpretentious, stripped-down, slightly sludgy and catchy as hell. Think Shotgun Jimmie, Eric’s Trip, Julie Doiron, Cousins.
And when you’re an axe-heavy trio, guitar tone is terribly important. At a recent show in a Halifax pub, Mckiel had that in spades.
“I use a 1979 Fender Musicmaster through a Fender Blues Jr. and a CMAT Signa Drive pedal,” he says. “But would you believe that the pedal got stolen that night? It’s a real bummer. I’m looking for a new one.”
Drummer Aaron Mangle and bassist/backup vocalist Klarka Weinwurm round out the band, which, despite releasing the Confidence Lodge EP mere months ago, already has a full-length album, Tonka Warcloud (Saved by Vinyl), on the way. Oh, wait – and another one.
“[The EP and LP] were recorded during the same sessions. But because labels and business were getting in the way of releasing them, I got impatient and put out the EP with Halifax’s Youth Club Records.
“Releasing records is such a slow process that I actually have another record ready to record this summer. You can never stay current. But I’m happy with Tonka Warcloud. It’s the one I should’ve made first.”
