Every day this week, we'll introduce you to a pair of our Searchlight contenders who are going head-to-head in a sudden death vote to make it to the Searchlight Top 4. Click here to vote for your favourites.
This week, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland go head-to-head as Searchlighters Close Talker (from Saskatoon) and Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case (from Corner Brook) vie for a spot in the final four.
With their catchy indie rock hooks, you'd never know that Saskatoon's Close Talker started out as a wedding band. It may have started as a favour for their friend, but Close Talker now has a self-funded debut LP, "Timbers," and gigs lined up this year at the Regina Folk Fest and the Bengough Gateway Festival. Not too shabby for a band that's less than a year old!
The highlight of Searchlight so far? Bassist Jeremy Olson says the outpouring of support has been great, especially in the form of upped album sales. He estimates the band's sold about 30 to 40 records online since Searchlight has started.
Click below to hear "Bonfire," off Close Talker's debut album, Timbers (and click here to listen to their Searchlight entry song, "By The Lake").
listen"Bonfire" by Close Talker.
Across the country, on the western coast of Newfoundland, Corner Brook folkers Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case are giving Close Talker a run for their money. With their catchy, Ben Folds-meets-the Lumineers sound, the dreadlocked Downey and his band are in awe of the support they've received throughout Searchlight. As they wrote in an open letter to their fans: "when a break comes along, you have to seize the opportunity."
And there's no "ambiguous case" that the band is seizing as best they can. Band member Bill Allan, who also works as a substitute teacher, arrived at work one day to see the school's homepage encouraging students to vote for "Mr. Allan's band" in the Searchlight contest!
In their four years playing together, Downey and the Ambiguous Case have had a few opportunities to tour, and have also picked up some East Coast Music Awards. As their fanbase has grown over the years, one of the oddest and best things Downey says he's seen is fan tattoos inspired by their lyrics. Whether it's the large text "Keep Your Head Up" (inspired by the song of the same name) or an image of a wild strawberry (inspired by a line from the song "Five Little Fingers"), Downey says that, when writing new lyrics, he tries not to think about how it may inspire a different kind of ink.
Looking for some potential tattoo inspiration? Click below to hear their song "Windowsill" (and click here to listen to Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case's Searchlight entry, "Thick As Thieves").
listen"Windowsill" by Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case.
And there you have it, the second pair in the showdown to make it to the next round of Searchlight! Click here to vote daily for your favourites.
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