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Down with Webster

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Down With Webster
Down With Webster performing at Edmonton's Capital Ex in 2010
Down With Webster performing at Edmonton's Capital Ex in 2010
Background information
OriginToronto, Canada
Genres
Years active
  • 1998 (1998)–2015
  • 2020–2021
LabelsUniversal Motown / Universal Music
Past members
  • Tyler Armes
  • Patrick Gillett
  • Cameron "Camm" Hunter
  • Andrew "Marty" Martino
  • Martin "Bucky" Seja
  • Kyle "Kap" Fairlie
  • Dave "D!ggy" Ferris
  • Matt Campitelli
  • Mitchell Wong
  • Kierscey Regozo
[a]
Websitedownwithwebster.com[dead link‍]

Down With Webster is a Canadian rap rock band from The Beaches area of Toronto who signed with Universal Motown in April 2009.[2] The band's 2009 EP, Time to Win, Vol. 1 which comprised the singes: "Rich Girl$", "Your Man" and "Whoa is Me". Their 2011 album, Time to Win, Vol. 2 included the track "She's Dope". The album Party For Your Life (2014) contained the songs "One in a Million" and "Chills." The band has been nominated for Juno Awards, MuchMusic Video Awards, and Canadian Radio Music Awards.

History

1998–2007: Early years

Down with Webster originally started as a instrumental jazz band[3] that was formed for a music class[4] at Glen Ames Senior Public School in 1998 by band members Patrick Gillett and Tyler Armes.[5][6] They, along with the original members of the band, quickly named the group toward the end of class after the titular character they loved from the 80s sitcom Webster, who is played by Emmanuel Lewis.[7][8] After winning their school's "Battle of the Bands" competition,[9] they were joined by Andrew Martino and Martin "Bucky" Seja, students from Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts,[10][11] and other members from Malvern Collegiate Institute.[12] As a jam band, they made funk and jazz inspired music in Armes' father garage.[13] They started to incorporate hip-hop elements into their music when Seja become a part of the band.[14]

The band released a six-track CD-R EP titled The Reverb Session July '03. This release was primarily sold at shows and local concerts from July 2003 to 2004. In 2007, they released an independent self-titled album.[15]

2008–2012: Time to Win, Vol. I & II

The band played at Lee's Palace in the 2008 Canadian Music Week. Their performance was described by Jill Langlois of Chart as "one of the best shows I've ever seen" and "the band exploded onto the stage and never slowed down or stopped. Words will never really describe the Down With Webster experience." The magazine described the band as "flashy and obnoxious, but fun and loveable".[16] The band won the Rogers Mobile/Universal Music Best Unsigned Artist in Canada award. KISS frontman Gene Simmons and Timbaland had expressed interest in signing the band to their respective labels. Simmons also had aspirations for them to appear in a reality series to promote their music.[17] According to Timbaland, "That group is the most amazing and creative, innovative group that's going to come out in 2010."[18][19] Ultimately, they signed with Universal/Motown."[20] The band's debut EP Time to Win, Vol. 1 was released on October 6, 2009.[19] The lead single from EP "Rich Girl$", which sampled the Hall & Oates' track of the same name, peaked at No. 21 on the Canadian Hot 100. In the fall of 2009, they opened for Forever the Sickest Kids on the Cheap Date Tour.

The band opened for Timbaland on two dates in February 2010 on the Shock Value II Tour. The follow-up single "Your Man" peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100, and was certified double platinum in digital downloads by the CRIA.[21][22] Down with Webster's first headlining tour, WINtour 2010, had the band tour Canada and the United States in January and February 2010.[23] The tour started in Halifax on January 7 and ended on February 1 in Vancouver. The band also opened for The Black Eyed Peas on one date in The E.N.D. Tour in Sarnia, Ontario. They were nominated for "New Group of the Year" at the 2010 Juno Awards, losing to Arkells.[24] The band was also nominated for "UR Fave: New Artist" as well as "Pop Video of the Year", "UR Fave: New Artist" and "Pop Video of the Year" at the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards.[25] Down with Webster won the "Online Artist of the Year" at the 2010 Canadian New Media Awards.[26] The third single "Whoa Is Me", was released on June 15, 2010, and peaked at No. 13 on the Canadian Hot 100.[27] Over the summer, they played at festivals such as the SCENE Music Festival[28] and the Ottawa Bluesfest[29] After finishing the Streets of Gold Tour with 3OH!3 and Hellogoodbye, the band would "lock ourselves in the studio for a couple of months" and finish Time to Win, Vol. 2.[30] The tour was completed on November 24, 2010, at Albuquerque, New Mexico. They then performed at the pregame show for the 98th Grey Cup.[31] In December 2010, the EP was certified Gold in Canada.[32]

WINtour 2011, a cross-Canada tour that supported their upcoming album, Time to Win, Vol. 2, began on February 22, 2011, in Lethbridge, Alberta and ended on March 12 in Toronto.[33] Down with Webster were nominated for two awards at the 2011 Canadian Radio Music Awards: "SOCAN Song of the Year" and "Best New Group or Solo Artist (Contemporary Hit Radio)".[34] In 2011, they were nominated for two awards at the Juno Awards of 2011, Group of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.[35] The band also performed at the awards ceremony on March 27, 2011, at the Air Canada Centre.[36] The band was nominated for four 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards[37] and won one award for Pop Video of the Year for "Whoa Is Me".[38] On May 12, 2011, the band shared that hype man Kyle "Kap" Fairlie was no longer in the band, citing their reason as "6 guys going in one musical direction that didn't quite fit with the 7th."[39]The band played at summer festivals and exhibitions including the Red River Exhibition, and at Salmonfest in Grand Falls-Windsor, where they opened for Kiss. Time to Win, Vol. 2 was released on October 31, 2011,[40] and reached No. 9 on the Canadian Albums Chart. The first single from the album, "She's Dope", was released on May 23, 2011. It peaked at No. 18 on the Hot 100. "Big Wheels" was released as the album's second single on September 9, 2011. The song peaked at No. 51 on the Hot 100. On December 20, 2011, the band released iTunes Session, an EP that featured live versions of songs from the album.

In 2012, the band made a cameo appearance in the film The Movie Out Here later that year.[41] "Royalty" and "Jessica" became the final singles from the album.

2013–2015: Party for Your Life

On March 20, 2013, the band released the single "One in a Million". The band continued to open for Marianas Trench on the second leg of the Face The Music Tour in Canada[42][43] after opening for them in the fall of 2012.[44][45] On August 13, 2013, the band released the song "Party for Your Life". It was later revealed that Party for Your Life is also the name of the upcoming album, originally scheduled for release on October 22, 2013. On October 14, the band confirmed via Facebook that the album would be pushed back to January 2014, because they wanted to include newer material in the album. Down With Webster's version of "Saturday Night" was played during the NHL's 2013-14 season on Hockey Night in Canada.[46][47] The single "Chills" was released on December 17, 2013, and the album was released on January 28, 2014. On February 9, 2014, a different version of "Feel So Alive" was played during the CBC Olympic broadcasts of the 2014 Winter Olympics.[48][49] The band toured from 2014-2015 across Canada and the US. Ferris decided to stop touring with them in 2014 after his girlfriend became pregnant with their first child.[50] In the US, they toured with many artists, including Hoodie Allen,[51] Timeflies,[52] and Jonny Craig.[53]

2016-2021: Other projects and V

In 2016, Armes released two songs that he had made with Gillett under the name Best Night Ever. The proceeds from the singles supported Kids Help Phone and The Trevor Project.[54] Seja started a new project called Karter Park, with original Down with Webster member, Kierscey.

Gillett opened up about his struggles with mental health[55] and created music with Armes, Martino and Hunter while maintaining his sobriety[56][57] which later became a part of an album, released under the band name Honors, titled Feel Better (2018).

During the summer of 2020, the band released the songs, "Love Is Not Enough"[58] and "Take Us Alive"[59] from an unreleased album called V which was recorded back in 2015.[60] Armes shared that V is their final album after its release in February 2021.[61]

Hunter has continued to release solo albums.[62][63] Armes and Martino are currently songwriters and producers. Martino has worked on Hunter's music as well as Victoria Duffield's[64] and Theo Tams'.[65] Armes created the scores for the CBC series, Anyone's Game[66] and Run the Burbs.[67] Gillett releases music independently.[68]

Members

Past members

Influences

Their influences range across many genres including pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, and electronic music.[72] Armes has cited Michael Jackson and electronic artists Justice and Skrillex, and jazz fusion musicians Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorious as inspirations,[9][73][74] while Gillett and Hunter has credited hip-hop groups Beastie Boys, Wu-Tang Clan, Cypress Hill and rock bands Rage Against the Machine, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and Soundgarden for helping the band shape their genre-bending music.[75][76]

Discography

Main article: Down with Webster discography

Concert tours

Main article: List of Down with Webster concert tours

Awards and nominations

Down With Webster awards and nominations
Totals[b]
Wins7
Nominations24
Note
  1. ^ Also known as Kierscey Rand[1]
  2. ^ Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They acknowledge several different recipients, have runners-up, and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.

Down With Webster has been nominated for 22 awards including 12 MuchMusic Video Awards and 6 Juno Awards.

Canadian New Media Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Down With Webster Online Artist of the Year Won[40]

Canadian Radio Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 "Rich Girl$" Best Group or Solo Artist Won[77]
"Your Man" SOCAN Song of the Year Nominated[77]
2014 Down with Webster Heatseeker Won[78]

Juno Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Down With Webster New Group of the Year Nominated[79]
2011 Down With Webster Group of the Year Nominated[79]
Time to Win, Vol. 1 Pop Album of the Year Nominated[79]
2012 Down With Webster Group of the Year Nominated[79]
Time to Win, Vol. 2 Pop Album of the Year Nominated[79]
2015 Party for Your Life Pop Album of the Year Nominated[79]

MuchMusic Video Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 "Your Man" Pop Video of the Year Nominated[80]
"Rich Girl$" UR Fave: New Artist Nominated[80]
2011 "Whoa Is Me" Video of the Year Nominated[81]
Pop Video of the Year Won[81]
UR Fave: Video Nominated[81]
UR Fave: Artist Nominated[81]
2012 "She's Dope" Video of the Year Nominated[82]
MuchFact Indie Video of the Year Nominated[82]
"Royalty" Director of The Year Nominated[82]
"Big Wheels" Post Production of the Year Won[83]
2013 "One in a Million" Pop Video of the Year Nominated[84]
2014 "Chills" Pop Video of the Year Nominated[85]

Rogers Mobile/Universal Music Best Unsigned Artist

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 Down With Webster Rogers Mobile/Universal Music Best Unsigned Artist Won[86]

SOCAN Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 "Chills" Pop/Rock Music Award Won[87]

References

  1. ^ Stead, Julia (15 April 2014). "INDIE RADAR: The Muso Project". She Does the City. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Down With Webster reviews, music, news". Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  3. ^ "Interview – Cam Hunter from Down With Webster". Canadian Beats. August 23, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  4. ^ Khan, Joshua (June 26, 2010). "INTERVIEW – DOWN WITH WEBSTER". Blare Magazine. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Liss, Sarah (July 24, 2003)."10 teens taking over Archived October 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Now. Retrieved September 13, 2011
  6. ^ Infantry, Ashante (August 13, 2010). "Down with Webster’s at the Bandshell" Toronto Star. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  7. ^ "Down With Webster Interview Concludes". Chase March. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  8. ^ @festofriends (August 9, 2014). "From Friday, @DOWNWITHWEBSTER gets down with the real life Webster - Emmanuel Lewis - on our Main Stage!..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ a b Van Zanten, Michael (April 10, 2014). "Down With Webster brings the party to Live @ Veishea: "Bring Your Helmet"". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Q & A with Down With Webster". The Sputnik. September 13, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  11. ^ Ayuka, Ryan (October 17, 2017). "Down With Webster's Andrew Martino on his new project, Honors". Streets of Toronto. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "Down With Webster heads home to play Malvern Collegiate prom". East York Mirror. June 23, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  13. ^ Murdoch, Lorie (January 9, 2014). "Songwriter staying in tune". Beach Metro Community News. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  14. ^ Wright, Kayla (October 25, 2012). "DWW, up with rap-rock". Algonquin Times. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  15. ^ "Toronto Music Scene, November 2, 2010". Torontomusicscene.ca. 2007-07-10. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  16. ^ Langlois, Jill (March 8, 2008)."Down with Webster @CMW 2008 Archived April 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  17. ^ "Gene Simmons finally signs a band to his Canadian label". Toronto Life. March 12, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
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  19. ^ a b Down with Webster’s Time To Win, Vol. I in Stores Today Archived 2010-10-09 at the Wayback Machine Business Wire, October 6, 2009
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  35. ^ 2011 Juno Awards Nominees Archived 2011-02-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved February 1, 2011
  36. ^ Jane Stevenson (February 1, 2011). "Juno noms announced". Toronto Sun. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  37. ^ Stevenson, Jane (May 17, 2011). "Dobson, Desman top MMVA noms" Toronto Sun. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  38. ^ "List of MMVA 2011 winners". Archived from the original on 2011-08-04. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
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  41. ^ The Movie Out Here Official Red Band Movie Trailer... on YouTube
  42. ^ "Canadian indies who rock in 2013". The Belleville Intelligencer. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  43. ^ "Face The Music:With A Vengeance". Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  44. ^ "Face The Music Tour". Retrieved 19 September 2022.
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  47. ^ HNIC Down With Webster Saturday Night montage 11/9/13 NHL Hockey. on YouTube
  48. ^ "Sam Roberts Band, Fefe Dobson unveil Olympics-themed songs". CBC. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  49. ^ Down With Webster - Feel So Alive (Sochi 2014 Music Video) on YouTube
  50. ^ "Cameron Hunter: The Sweetest Thing". Greatness Adjacent Podcast. June 4, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  51. ^ "Down With Webster to Join Hoodie Allen's Hanging With Hoodie Tour". Digital Tour Bus. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  52. ^ "Down With Webster & Timeflies Announce Fall Tour!". Stage Right Secrets. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  53. ^ "Jonny Craig announces new collaborative project". Alternative Press. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  54. ^ "Best Night Ever". Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  55. ^ John Kennedy (March 6, 2020). "Canadian Musician Pat Gillett Opens Up About Personal Struggles". iHeartRadio. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  56. ^ "Behind the Pain". Stories for Caregivers. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  57. ^ "Honors & the Significance of Feel-ing Better". Sawdust and Gin. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  58. ^ "Down With Webster Resurfaces With 'Love Is Not Enough'". Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  59. ^ "Down With Webster - Take Us Alive - Review". 29 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  60. ^ "Album V". Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  61. ^ @tylerarmes (19 February 2021). "The Final @downwithwebster album is out today ❤️..." – via Instagram.
  62. ^ "Camm Hunter rocks the Ob". 20 March 2015. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  63. ^ @cammhunter (6 August 2021). "New album at long last.…" – via Instagram.
  64. ^ "Victoria Duffield- Shut Up and Dance". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  65. ^ "Theo Thams". Ontario Festival of Small Halls. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  66. ^ Chris Dart (February 10, 2021). "How one chart-topping musician made the move into TV scores". CBC. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  67. ^ @tylerarmes (14 January 2022). "I Love writing to picture 🎵📽 Been quietly working on this awesome TV show recently…" – via Instagram.
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  74. ^ Robb, Peter (February 11, 2014). "Down With Webster's newest album a departure — but still a party". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  75. ^ Kennedy, Brendan (March 25, 2011). "Down With Webster: The fans' band". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  76. ^ Smith, Charlie (June 21, 2012). "Down With Webster gets down with Samsung in Vancouver". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  77. ^ a b "Nominations Announced For the 2011 Canadian Radio Music Awards". Retrieved July 27, 2022.
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  81. ^ a b c d "2011 MuchMusic Video Awards". Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  82. ^ a b c "Marianas Trench leads with seven nominations at the 2012 MMVAs". May 15, 2012. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  83. ^ Etan Vlessing (June 17, 2012). "Justin Bieber Protege Carly Rae Jepsen Wins Big at MuchMusic Video Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
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  86. ^ Ashante Infantry (August 13, 2010). "Get Down With Webster at the Bandshell Aug. 28". The Star. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  87. ^ "2015 SOCAN Awards: Dallas Green, Randy Bachman among Canadian music creators honoured". CBC. June 23, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
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