Ten2Nine ::: Indie Rock Band

As sophisticated as "marmalade"
By Lori-Anne Charlton
(eVent! Magazine) Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Ten2nine‘s long awaited tertiary album is now out, and the six-member band is in the mood to celebrate.
Cruel World has been in the works almost since the release of their sophomore album, X-II-IX, in 2005. But the three-year gap between releases has brought with it some maturity in the way the almost decade old band approaches their craft.
“It‘s like jam and marmalade,” said Jim LeGuilloux, the band‘s producer and guitarist. “If you thought the old album was jam, this one is marmalade. It has a more sophisticated taste.”
It‘s the first album release for the band under their current line-up, which includes LeGuilloux, engineer and keyboardist Vytas Sinkevicius and bass player Neville Bowman, along with original members Pat Brown on lead vocals, Randall Robinson on rhythm guitar and Scott Gamble on drums.
It‘s a more stripped down album, according to Robinson – more honest and soulful. But, he promises longtime fans, it‘s still Ten2nine at heart, and the music still boasts melody-rich overtone as well as other nuances that make the music, well, Ten2nine.
“What people have heard has been edgier and rockier, but at our core we‘ve made acoustic, melodic music since day one,” Robinson explained. “Along the way we added the edge because we thought that‘s what we needed to do. By stripping away the layers on this album, we‘ve revealed the truth below it.”
While some of songs on the album start out with the whole shebang of instrumentation, Robinson says the group started omitting tracks, one by one, until the song re-emerged.
“We had done so much to it that the song was gone – it had lost its soul,” he explains.
While it may not be as edgy an album, he adds that it is more adult-oriented. Despite the title, Cruel World, the lyrics are less about martyrdom or rage than about rising above our circumstances.
“It‘s not a sad or angry album. It‘s about looking at the world in a slightly different way. It‘s about rising above that and what you do with circumstances after. We‘ve seen a lot, the six of us. We‘ve experienced a lot. That comes through in the songs,” Robinson said.
LeGuilloux, who became an official member of the band two years ago, has actually been part of the process since the beginning. As producer, he‘s paid close attention to their sound and the progression it‘s made over the years.
“It‘s maturing is what it‘s doing,” he told eVent!
The songs on the new album were written by Brown, Robinson and LeGuilloux, over the summer of 2007. They called it “The Motor Home Sessions,” because the three would pack up in Robinson‘s motor home for the day and park it in nearby parks or on hillsides or beaches. They‘d bring their guitars and just write.
They‘ve already received interest from industry professionals, who got advance copies to critique. Using the radio connections they made with their single, Smoke in the Light, the band is banking on more airtime for the new album. Kelowna‘s Power 104 has already started playing select music from it.
The next item on the agenda is to record a live concert DVD, which they plan to do during the CD release concert. That will be used to further promote themselves in the industry.
Then, if things go according to plan, they plan to get out there and play. A lot.
“We want to spread our wings,” LeGuilloux said.
But first, they have a party to host, this Saturday at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
“We‘re shooting to be bigger and better than our last release,” Robinson said.
Prior to the show, the party will start in the theatre‘s lobby, with music by Kelowna jazz chanteuse Olga Osipova. Ari Neufeld opens for them on the main stage.
During intermission, a Rock Band (the game) showdown is planned, featuring winners from a Power 104 contest. And the show itself has lots of special things planned – although band members want to keep most of it for a surprise – including special guest appearances, audience interaction and the video shoot.
“I kind of wish I could be in the audience,” Robinson admitted. “There‘s going to be some really cool stuff. It‘s not just a rock show – it‘s going to be an event.”

Ten2Nine sporting new look
By Lori-Anne Charlton
Exerpt and photo from eVent Magazine - June 14/06 [cover story].

They were practically Ten2Niners anyway. So when word got out that Jim LeGuilloux (STIL, Who's On Bass) and Vytas Sinkevicius (Eden Grey) had become official members of the eight-year-old Kelowna rock band, no one ? or at least no one who knows anything about their history ? was surprised. "Vitas engineered and Jim produced on our albums from the start. They?ve been playing keyboards and guitar from the start on the album tracks ? we couldn?t afford not to have them anymore," said Randall Robinson, the band's rhythm guitarist. The decision was made to bring the two musical powerhouses in after the amicable departure of the band's long-time guitarist, Mike Kischnick, who left to tour with '80s metal icon, Thor. read the whole story

X-II-IX 82/100 - Burrn! Magazine

A recent review in Burrn!, Japan's biggest Hard Rock and Metal magazine, placed X-II-IX in the top 7 amongst new imports!

"This band's sound is very universal - many people will hear [them]..." (translated from Japanese)
Feb. 2006, Burrn! Magazine

(click to see larger)

SUPERB! SMOKIN!

"Currently the hottest Okanagan CD , this self-titled work [X-II-IX] only hit the public market March 1 and has been garnering lots of airplay since day one. The 10-song CD may turn out to be one of the best Okanagan products ever; a wonderful collection of well crafted, original, power rock songs."

"Band mates Randall Robinson and Pat Brown cut quick to the bone in their songwriting style, molding their messages with a statement and an edge. They are skilled craftsmen in the use of the double entendre."

"Led by the brilliant vocals of Brown, equally brilliant guitars, and one of my very favorite drummers, the multi-talented Scott Gamble, Ten2Nine have their own sound and a rapidly growing number of fans."

"There are several tremendous tunes on this album including last year's Scorpion Award's Song of the Year, Smoke In The Light (number one on the CD). Their release of that song last year was quickly snagged by local radio and created a huge awareness."

"The new CD proves last year's award was clearly not a fluke. Songs two, three, and four Don't Want That Anymore, Blue Again and Dear John are fantastic. All three could have easily been nominated for Song of the Year this year. Song number nine You're No Fun grabs my attention more and more each time I play the album. Brown's amazing vocal range and versatility shine throughout this clean sounding CD, and the team of engineers and producers who helped should be very proud of their accomplishment."
Charlie Hodge, The Okanagan Musician

CD RELEASE OF THE YEAR!
"It will no doubt be remembered as the CD release party of the year. After all, how often do you get two acts of such magnitude as Ten2Nine and STIL playing a double header, and both with new CDs. For those who like to rock, it was a night not to have missed. "

"Ten2Nine opened the show and practically blew the roof off the Kelowna Community Theatre leaving many wondering how on earth Jim LeGuilloux would be able to keep up the pace."

"What really made the night so great was to see the local support given to these two bands. Chalk one up for indie artists! Special mention has to go out to Power 104 and the Kelowna Community Theatre for jumping on board to make the event such a success."

"Songs that really stood out for Ten2Nine included the driving rhythm of "Are We There Yet" where lead singer Pat Brown got the audience singing along."

"Ten2Nine and STIL - definitely a couple of names to watch for in the 2005 Scorpion Okanagan Musician Awards."
Glenna Turnbull, The Okanagan Musician

WELL WRITTEN ALBUM!
"This is a very strong and well-written album that shows the incredible growth and maturity of Ten2Nine. The disc also features the Kelowna hit Smoke In The Light, which was only previously available on an E.P. There will be a very large and elaborate DOUBLE C.D. release party towards the end of March [March 24/05] featuring not only Ten 2 Nine, but also a new Kelowna band called Stil (correct spelling) at the Kelowna Community Theatre."
Power 104 Kelowna, BC

HIT POTENTIAL!
"Certainly hit potential there [regarding Smoke In The Light], and more importantly, without sounding like you were trying."
Tim McKay, 105FM The Fox, Fredericton, NB

BEST WORK EVER!
"You guy's have finally put all the pieces together. This new ep is the best work I've heard from you ever! The writing, lyrics and music is superb, the performance is top notch and [Jim Leguilloux's] production gives it a true professional gloss."
Ron Gilmour, Power 104 Kelowna, BC

AWESOME VOCALS!
"Brown's awesome vocals and the group's songwriting strength is well reflected in the demo CD."- Charlie Hodge, Kelowna Capital News.

MEGA HIT!
"Jesus Christ Superstar is a mega-hit with all the finish and impact of a Broadway performance! As Jesus, Pat Brown projects a hypnotic, other worldly aura. His singing in the garden of Gethsmane powerfully expresses the anguish, doubt and final acceptance of death as he addresses his Father."
Alanna Matthew, The Penticton Herald.

RAZOR SHARP EDGE!
"Pat Brown's vocals have a razor sharp edge. They slice deep and clean, whether he's reaching those incredible high notes that raised the hairs on audience arms in his sell out performances of Jesus Christ Superstar, or molding deep emotion with the lyrics Juno award-winner Dave Nicol created when he wrote Hey Kid."
Okanagan Life Magazine, Sept 2003.