A Primitive Evolution formed in the fall of 2007 out of band Lye (and before that Aphasia), vocalist Brett Carruthers and bassist Stephany Seki began jamming with drummer Stu Dead, founder of Playdead Cult, a clothing brand and creative lifestyle house located in Toronto. Playdead’s involvement in horror culture lead to inviting the owner of Darkside horror shop’s Dimitri Anastasakis to jam along on guitar. With this line up, they first publicly performed for Toronto’s Queen Street Fire fundraiser alongside Billy Talent and The Creepshow.
In 2007, The band self-produced the video for “Death on Wheels” alongside Frankenstein cheerleaders as part of the 2007 L’Oréal Fashion Week, which was voiced by Martin Streek. “Death on Wheels” would initiate, The Death Girls, cheerleaders and super-fans that dance and sing at A.P.E events, sometimes by joining the band on stage. Notable Death Girls include models from the adult website Suicide Girls. A Primitive Evolution would later appear on the adult news channel, Naked News. “Death on Wheels” was also featured on Alan Cross’s “Five Songs You Gotta Hear Today”.
In 2008, A Primitive Evolution played a Canadian Music Week showcase at The Bovine Sex Club. In 2008 the band continued writing and recording their debut album and worked on another music video for the song “Beyond True”. In May they posted a demo for the song “Empty Holes”, which would later also have a corresponding music video. Brett said in a 2010 interview that during these early years the band worked “just writing and figuring each other out”.
In the spring of 2009 the group founded the music festival VIVA LOS MUERTOS (2009 line-up featuring The Birthday Massacre, for whom Brett had performed live keyboards for during their Fall 2004 tour). The festival included “Major merch sales, dancing Playdead mascots and an eclectic long-weekend crowd that collectively offered plenty for the live eye”. The festival had an “overwhelmingly good response”, according to the band, hoping to further secure the creation and maintenance of a dynamic “Death Rock” scene in Toronto. Playdead Cult’s “Moop”, would continue to be the band’s mascot and can be seen dancing on stage during the band’s live performances.
Later on in 2009, the band’s self-produced debut video for “Death on Wheels”, voiced by veteran Toronto radio DJ Martin Streek, caught the attention of the production crew for the vampire musical movie Suck. This film debuted at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival featured the likes of Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper and Henry Rollins The film consequently utilized the band’s rehearsal space as a set for several scenes in the film. Finally at the end of 2009 the band would release their self-titled debut album.
February 16, 2010, the band released their debut album digitally for worldwide distribution. In the summer of 2010, Adm Shedden, formerly of The Birthday Massacre and currently of Hunter Eves, joined to perform on live violin for acoustic shows. In 2010, the band continued playing shows in Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Kitchener and Barrie.
On February 15, 2011, the band posted on their Facebook profile that Scott Carruthers (Brett’s cousin), would replace Dimitri Anastasakis on guitar. Dimitri had announced in the fall of 2010 also on their Facebook profile that he would be leaving the band due to pursue other goals important to his life. In 2011, the band recorded a new acoustic album, co-produced by John Wozniak, and welcomed back their friend, Adm Shedden for violin. The band encouraged fans to participate in its development by listening to rough mixes. The band documented the recording process with video, MP3’s and photo updates on their official website and also announced that 20% of the proceeds would be donated to ShelterBox. In July, the band performed at Trash Fest USA, in Philadelphia, PA. A Primitive Evolution was recommended by George Stroumboulopoulos for Canadian Music Week 2011 in his Top 3 Buzz Bands out of the 800 that performed.
A Primitive Evolution Tour Dates |
hello
Good morning!
Good morning!
I got a chuckle out of Friday’s post…111 versions of Little Drummer Boy?! Ha! Props to the brave listeners!
Snow fall here, looks all festive. Eager to take the new car out in it. (I’m in love, Hondas for the rest of my life)
I think that was Krib’s idea but I was the only one stupid enough to put it together. I didn’t think there would be that many versions.
Good morning! Garf, did you have to listen to all 111 versions as you compiled the list?
yes. I said it would be funny and horrible at the same time, and Garf went ahead and did it
no, that would be silly, I only listened to the intros for the first 100 or so to make sure they were indeed the same song. I can think of safer things to do than risk my limited amount of sanity on that song, like playing in a mine field
That is a relief! I was thinking you would have one heck of an ear worm if you listened to all of them!
I don’t have any earworms, parumpapumpum
What makes you think I have an earworm? parumpapumpum
I’m fine, parumpapumpum
Well good, I’m glad you’re fine then 🙂
I wouldn’t go as far as to say I am fine but I do fall within tolerances… just
Good morning!
How are folks?
Hi Sless, I’m well, how’s yaself?
Hello all!
Hi DarBar, or should I call you Awgwa
Awgwa #1 to be exact. Hiya Garf.
Good morning! If you’re Facebook friends with me you saw my memory posts – it was five years ago this past weekend when The Weakerthans came to play in San Francisco on a four day tour, a tour that had two stops, San Francisco and New York City, where they played each of their four albums in our successive nights. Great times there, with KristiArbo and MusicSoop. Sure had some late nights, and that pretty much indoctrinated Peggy into the R3 world! Five years ago. Wow.
Time flies huh. Good memories indeed.
Super slow here today.
I had a great weekend. After the show on Friday night there was a reception with food and drinks and then Saturday we had a matinee show and an evening show followed by a cast party. Both Devin and I had a blast with it all. I am in that glad to have a breather but sad it is over stage. Also exhausted. Devin has another audition to go to tomorrow night for a play in April. I really hope he gets a part in it as it was such an amazing experience for him both for his goals and for his self esteem. Proud mama here.
dar, contrats! (on the proud mother, thing, etc.)
Thanks Benoit. It really was so fantastic to see him do so well on stage and interacting and socializing with the other cast members.
I’m glad it was a positive experience for him! Will you audition for the play in April too?
Not for that one. They want a cast of about 7 young men and 1 young woman. It is a play about Canadian soldiers that were at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. I will audition for one after that is about 5 women that were in swim club together and get together every year for decades.
Gotcha. Well, good luck to Devin for his upcoming audition!
Thanks Janet!
My friend Sharon, released a Christmas album. You can take a listen here.
http://open.spotify.com/album/44NQYF46ENkOtV3ddOmDvH