L-R: Shaun Gibson, Jon Plett, Sean Vidal, Keli Martin.
Photos by David Hawthorne.
Since first hitting the stage in 2006, Winnipeg's The Details have hardly gone a day without seeing each other. The Details quickly established themselves as a hard-working band by releasing their EP 'Marching Sound' in November of that year and their full-length 'Draw a Distance. Draw a Border.' in September 2007, which cracked the top 100 on the CMJ charts in it's second week at 74.
The Details, not content to sit around, have played at the 2006 Western Canadian Music Awards, New Music West 2007, North By Northeast 2007, Pop Montreal 2007, both Canadian Music Week 2007 & 2008, both Sled Island 2007 & 2008, the 2008 Jazz Winnipeg Festival, and South By Southwest 2008.
They have shared the stage with a diverse group of great bands such as Stars (Arts & Crafts), Constantines (Arts & Crafts), You Say Party! We Say Die! (Paper Bag), The Meligrove Band (V2/Murderecords), Mother Mother (Last Gang), Great Lake Swimmers (Nettwerk), and many many more.
The Details are no strangers to TV viewers since appearing in interviews on Much Music and having song placements, including on NBC series 'Lipstick Jungle'.
From Halifax to Vancouver or vice-versa, The Details can't seem to see enough of Canada. They have spent the better part of the last few years crossing Canada supporting their various releases.
With no intentions of slowing down, you can expect to see The Details in your town soon.
Review: 'Draw a Distance. Draw a Border.'
Exclaim! (October 2007)
The Details
Draw a Distance. Draw a Border
By Rob Nay
The Winnipeg-based quartet gracefully unfurl a path of expertly mapped tunes on their first full-length. Draw a Distance. Draw a Border shows an expansive and urgent musical approach, widening the focus displayed on the group's strong self-released debut EP, Marching Sound. The slow, sombre pace of the full-length's opener builds into the propulsive and insistent "Reunion Souvenirs," setting the tone for the record's rich depth. Guests, such as the Weakerthans' Stephen Carroll, contribute to the wealth of layers on Draw a Distance. Draw a Border. The crashing cascades of tracks such as "Capture and Develop" and "A National Anthem" are skilfully balanced by the gently sway of "Floor Plans" and "Underground." Throughout the record, the Details convey a fierce command of melody and an impressive ability to arrange engaging songs.(Parliament of Trees)
Review: 'Draw a Distance. Draw a Border.'
A n E Vibe (September 23, 2007)
http://www.anevibe.com/music-reviews/the-details-draw-a-line.-draw-a-border.html
5 Stars
Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey
Winnipeg must be the next generation of Seattle; if you've been to both places, you will see that boredom could be conducive to 'making your own fun' and in this case, it would be music.
Welcome to the new sound of music and it appears God has placed it in The Details, yet again. Although this band has implications towards the subject of a higher being, for those non-believers out there, don't be dissuaded. In fact The Details will probably attract a large audience as music hasn't been this good in Canada since our Billy Talent discovery.
The band formed in 2005 and as lead singer Jon Plett states, they have 'the brand new band smell.' The four members, Plett, Sean Vidal, Keli Martin (a girl in a rock band, and on bass no less!) and Shaun Gibson have managed to earn their stripes as a formidable talent to be reckoned with when combined into The Details. OK, so that's the brief description, now let me tell you about the music.
Because in truth I didn't like The Details, Draw A Distance. Draw A Border., I LOVED the album. It is a debut collection of prolific, intelligent, orchestrated, tracks that are each unique and interesting to listen to as the last. Shear splendour for the eardrums!
The Details are rock but new rock like Keane, pushing how we think of rock music. They have created their distinct own sound; as Coldplay is to England, The Details are to Canada. If this band doesn't shape the state of Canadian music, then we are all in deep trouble. Each song stands on its own feet and draws you into its intricate and edgy lyrics. Why don't more artists go into the studio like The Details, with a game plan, an intention, a clear understanding of what they are creating, and all done with a apparent enough focus to make an album work in its individual parts and as a whole as well?
I don't care where you are, where you live, whether you have ITunes or $20, get Draw A Distance. Draw A Border if you think you know good rock music, if you think you know new talent, if you think you know what good sounds like. This CD will be released on September 25th mark your calendar!
Review: 'Draw a Distance. Draw a Border.'
Music Emissions (February 26, 2008)
http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/albums/index.php?album_id=8115
4 Stars
Reviewed By: Dennis Scanland
The Details mark another quality rock band coming from the prairie town of Winnipeg. Is boredom fueling the creativity in this city not really known for talent? Whatever it is, the home of the Weakerthans is about to be known as the home of The Details, another great pop-rock band that has the charisma and talent to go places.
Draw A Distance. Draw A Border is the foursome's first album and while they do have some similarities to that of the Weakerthans there is so much texture and diversity on here to set them apart. There's almost a Bruce Springsteen style opening on the first track "Always, Always, Always, Never" until the vocals enter. The simple yet stated guitar riffs lead to sheer enjoyment of this track generating buzz for the rest of the album. Then they throw a wrench in and rock out pretty hard on "Reunion Souvenirs", a great change of pace earlier on.
The mellow "I Asked What We Should Do. You Said, I Just Don't Want to Think." gives you a feeling of overwhelming heartbreak without being overly sentimental. Not an easy task whatsoever. It is the details in the production and guitar noodling that make this band stand out.
The quiet rock that The Details craft is not something to be taken lightly. All musicians know that these heartfelt songs are sometimes the trickiest to pull of in the studio but Draw A Distance shows that The Details have what it takes in order to succeed.
Review: 'Draw a Distance. Draw a Border.'
Winnipeg Free Press (September 8, 2007)
4 Stars
Reviewed By: Jeff Monk
The Details
Draw a Distance, Draw a Border
(Parliament of Trees)
Draw a Distance, Draw a Border is truly one of the best-sounding albums of the year. The thoughtful songs here are as emotive and frankly enjoyable as any you are likely to hear from a indie-rock band. Singer Jon Plett's earnest croon has a cracked vulnerability that engages the listener without resorting to screaming. On the heavier tracks, the band drives incessantly, and pretty much avoids guitar solos, in aid of a more democratic and powerful sonic attack. The pounding Demons/Heathens and the swell Hit Parade are definitive tracks and The Details should confidently set their collective sights on conquering the world outside the Perimeter Highway...
Article: Taking care of business:
Hard work, attention to the small things works for The Details
Uptown Magazine (September 6, 2007)
"Playing in an independent rock band will eventually make you equal parts truck driver, gladiator and mule. Glamour is for those with trust funds."
That's a Neko Case quote that was printed on the side of my Starbucks cup a few months back - and I was reminded of it when transcribing this interview.
While many musicians familiar with the realities that come with being in an unsigned and unsupported band will certainly nod in agreement, this quote seems especially fitting for a band with as Herculean a work ethic as The Details.
The Winnipeg indie pop-rock quartet - made up of Shaun Gibson (drums), Keli Martin (bass), Jon Plett (vocals, guitar), and Sean Vidal (guitar, vocals) - is gearing up for the release of its debut full-length album Draw a Distance. Draw a Border, an outing that joins a long list of highly-anticipated September releases from noteworthy Winnipeg bands, including The Weakerthans, The Paperbacks, Sick City and Tele.
That said, The Details is a surprise entry on that list. No one really expected the band to have an album out so quickly - especially as the band played its first show just 18 months ago. But, since that first night at the Albert in March 2006, the band has criss-crossed the country a few times, released a well-received EP, and been disciplined enough to write and record a full-length record.
"We've been working hard and we've kept working," Plett says over some post-gig pints.
"This record has been on the go for six months," Gibson adds. "It's nice to see the finished project."
"We tried to tackle everything in six months," Vidal says. "We basically tried to condense one year of work into six months. We've really hit the ground running and it's been non-stop."
"We all hold down full-time jobs, too," Martin adds. "But I think we like to be busy."
When Vidal says the band tried to tackle everything in six months, he isn't kidding. The Details headed into Unison Studios in January but it's amazing the project wasn't shelved, especially after a look at the group's tour schedule in that time. While recording the album, the band wanted to make sure it didn't miss out on honing its live skills.
You could say the four Details aren't the types to sit still.
"I had been in bands before, but I had no idea it took this much work," Plett says. "Luck always has a bit to do with it, but I really think that how successful you become is directly related to how hard you work.
"We just didn't want to wait around," he continues. "So we booked tours and continued to book shows while we made the record."
"We're also dumb," Vidal laughs. "We don't hire anyone else. I think we all chose the wrong profession. I think if we worked this hard at something else, we'd be wealthy."
Still, the band did enlist a few helping hands on the new record. Teaming up with the "very patient" local producer Jack Shapira - who also produced November's Marching Sound EP - The Details laid down its unique brand of hooky, sparkling indie pop and, happily, the finished project is a striking testament to the power of its players, beautifully building on a range of sound that was only hinted at on the EP. Friends such as Stephen Carroll (The Weakerthans), Allison Shevernoha (Paper Moon), Jay Churko (Chords of Canada) and Ashley Roch (The Western States) also dropped in on recording sessions to lend a hand.
Draw a Distance. Draw a Border is an impressive debut and, even though the band did bail to go tour while recording it, the record certainly doesn't sound like it was ever neglected.
"It did seem like it took a long time," Plett says. "But I like the fact that it took a while. If it were shorter, I think (there'd be more) things you'd regret."
"Even touring while recording was sort of a good experience," Gibson says. "It gave us a sense of what we're getting into."
The Details took its DIY ethos a step further in June, along with friends and regular tour mates The Paperbacks, when they co-founded a small label called Parliament of Trees, an imprint that will be home to both Draw a Distance. Draw a Border and The Paperbacks' latest, An Illusion Against Death.
"We thought it would be smart for monetary reasons," Martin says. "We were doing so much ourselves anyway, it made sense."
"It's more of a co-op than a label," Plett says. "We're the true meaning of an indie label."
"We just hate all of our friends is all," Gibson laughs. "We don't want to see them."
Though The Details are - chronologically speaking - a new band, most of its players have been intimately involved in music for a long time. The foursome eventually found each other through the incestuous nature of the Winnipeg music scene - and through a unanimous need to broaden themselves musically.
"Jon and I had played together before and we wanted to start something new," Vidal says.
"We begged Keli to play, but she turned us down a few times," Gibson says.
"I did turn them down a few times," Martin confirms. "I remember when I did come out the first time, I was so nervous. I'd never been to a try-out before."
"It wasn't a try-out," Vidal interjects.
"After we jammed for a bit, Sean and I went outside and said 'this is what we want to sound like,'"Plett says.
When the lineup was officially nailed down, the band went ahead with its first two practices - followed, fittingly, by its first business meeting.
"Two practices and then a meeting," Plett laughs. "We were even dividing tasks. That should have foreshadowed what was to come."
"And," adds Vidal, "we haven't slowed down since."
- Jen Zoratti