Boats

We are going to make a new record real soon.

mat — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:24:10 +0000

We wrote a bunch of songs! Now let’s record them!

Meanwhile, our next show is February 25th at Lo-Pub in Winnipeg. It’s a fundraiser for our new album be we are dead-ass broke! Come on down!

Kill Rock Stars Releasing Cannonballs, Cannonballs on CD in the U.S. on August 16, with a bonus track. Also: TOUR!

mat — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:41:17 +0000

The bonus track is called “Bird Week.”

Do you like tour dates?

October 8 – Chicago @ Ultra Lounge
October 10 – Cleveland @ Now That’s Class
October 11 – Toronto @ The Horseshoe Tavern
October 13 – Montreal @ Cagibi’s
October 14 – Boston @ P.A. Lounge
October 15 – New York @ Matchless
October 17 – Chapel Hill @ Nightlight
October 21 – Houston @ The Mink
October 22 – Austin @ Beauty Bar
October 24 – Phoenix @ Trunk Space
October 25 – LA @ Silverlake Lounge
October 26 – San Francisco @ Brick and Mortar Music Hall
October 28 – Portland @ Doug Fir
October 29 – Kennewick @ Red Room
October 30 – Seattle @ Comet Tavern

Way more dates to come…

Cerebral Pop Review: Boats “Cannonballs, Cannonballs”

mat — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:36:10 +0000

Another fruit from the fertile indie grounds of Canada, Winnipeg’s Boats ‘ music is a mix of feel-good indie-pop and quirkiness that often strikes a great balance between the two — even when it sometimes steps into cartoonish territory.

What controls this balance — even more than the music itself — is singer’s Mat Klachefsky’s vocal performances. Klachefsky has a knack for playing with his vocal strings in a way that gives him a strangely fitting, high-pitched androgynous voice — although, sometimes, he also does some sort of pirate impersonation or uses his regular vocal output.

This allows the band to change the dynamics of a song on the fly without really having to tone down (or up) the music. The technique works great for songs like the slow-paced ‘Chrome Eyelids’ (one the record’s high points) and ‘Summercamp vs. The Fake Moustache’. Sometimes, though, it’s taken a bit to the extreme — especially on the record’s faster songs — a move that yields results that would be right in place as the score for a Looney Tunes cartoon (‘Haircuts for Everybody’).

Musically, the band’s cut from the same cloth as bands like Mock Orange and Chin up, Chin up. The guitar sound borrows its fair share of influence from indie-pop staples like Built to Spill and Modest Mouse; and the synth sounds reflect a love for 80s new wave. Still, some folk undertones and cheerful vocal harmonies are thrown into the mix to give the sound a personality of its own.

In the end, If you look past its sometimes overindulgent wackiness, Cannonballs, Cannonballs is a fine indie-pop record — the kind that, due to its quirkiness, might take a few listens to grow on you. Who knows, you might even end up enjoying Klachefsky’s ocasionally over-the-top vocal excitement.
(4 out of 5)

Boats signs to Kill Rock Stars in the U.S. and Thistime Records in Japan

mat — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 23:16:27 +0000

Boats is pleased to announce that they have joined forces with two new labels, Thistime Records in Japan, and the mighty Kill Rock Stars in the United States. Kill Rock Stars will be releasing “Cannonballs, Cannonballs” digitally on March 1st, and Thistime Records will be announcing a date soon. Boats will be touring the U.S. to promote the new release, here are the dates:

March 11 – Winnipeg, MB @ Lo Pub
March 12 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cause Soundbar
March 13 – Lincoln, NB @ The Clawfoot House
March 17 Austin, TX @ The Marq (SXSW)
March 21 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
March 22 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
March 23 Los Angeles, CA @ Three Club
March 24 Fresno, CA @ Bel Tower (All Ages)
March 25 Bakersfield, CA @ The Gate (All Ages)
March 27 San Francisco @ Hemlock Tavern (w/David Dondero and Franz Nicolay)
March 30 Eugene, OR @ Luckey’s
March 31 Portland, OR @ The Woods
April 3 Seattle, WA @ High Dive
April 4 Olympia, WA @ The Northern (All Ages)
April 7 Edmonton, AB @ Brixx
April 8 Calgary, AB @ Broken City

Live in Bellwoods

admin — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:21:07 +0000

CANNONBALLS TOUR!!

mat — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:04:56 +0000

Sept 16- Regina, Ohanlons

Sept 17- Calgary, Broken City w/ Great Bloomers

Sept 18- Kamloops, Leisure Loft w/ Hot Panda

Sept 19- Nelson, The Royal w/ Hot Panda

Sept 21- Seattle, Sunset Tavern

Sept 24- Portland, Berbati’s

Sept 25- Vancouver, Railway Club (Olio Festival)

Sept 26 – Vancouver, Neptoon Records (2:30 free instore performance)

Sept 27- Penticton, Voodoo’s

Sept 28 – Calgary, Higher Ground Cafe

Sept 29- Edmonton, Haven Social Club

Sept 30 – Saskatoon, Amigo’s

Oct 2- Winnipeg, Lo-Pub

Oct 6 – Minneapolis, Kitty Cat Klub

Oct 8 – Waterloo, 130 King St

Oct 9- Ottawa, Raw Sugar w/ Casiotone For The Painfully Alone

Oct 10- St Catharines, Merchant Ale House w/ Hot Panda

Oct 12- Toronto, Rancho Relaxo

Oct 13- Kingston, The Mansion w/ Hot Panda

Oct 14- Quebec City, L’Agitee w/ Hot Panda

Oct 15- Rimouski, L’après-Match w/ Hot Panda

Oct 16- Fredericton- The Capitol w/Hot Panda

Oct 17- Charlottetown, Babba’s w/ Hot Panda

Oct 18- Moncton, The Paramount w/ Hot Panda

Oct 19- Sydney, Bunker’s w/Hot Panda

Oct 21 – Halifax, Seahorse Tavern (Halifax Pop Explosion)

Oct 23- Halifax, Company House (Halifax Pop Explosion)

Oct 26- Montreal, Casa Del Popolo

Oct 27- Brooklyn, Goodbye Blue Monday

Oct 28 – New York City, Pianos w/ Oh No Oh My

Oct 29- Toronto, The Rivoli
More to come hopefully!

NXNE – Trinity Bellwoods, Toronto ON June 17

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:36:12 +0000

Despite the scattered press in attendance, Boats’ acoustic Trinity Bellwoods set had an impromptu vibe to it. Setting up shop under a tree on a breezy afternoon, the stripped-down Winnipeg outfit played utterly charming, minimalist arrangements of their whimsical pop; punters on blankets applauded politely. Armed with an acoustic guitar and John Darnielle-ish vocals, singer Mat Klachefsky held the audience rapt regardless of the passing cars and children. While the park is always filled with strumming troubadours, Ashley Roch’s playful glockenspiel and handheld keyboard legitimized the ad hoc show. Benefiting from brevity, it was a short and entirely enchanting gig. – Scott Tavener

Boats Cannonballs, Cannonballs

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:21:08 +0000

Once you’ve listened to the excellent new Boats album you will realize the band hasn’t heard of the fabled sophomore slump. Matt Klachefsky and his band of the moment have overshot expectations with their second self-released album and proven that the first record wasn’t a fluke.
Cannonballs is more of the same as their debut, Intercontinental Champion, in a very good way. It is, of course, loaded to the brim with Klachefsky’s stream-of-consciousness lyrics lifted to even odder heights courtesy of his cartoon-like vocals and clattery rhythms. His main aide-de-camp, Ashley Roch, delves even deeper into her arsenal of distinctive keyboard sounds and every track will have you wondering how some particular electronic whistle, buzz or howl was created.
And while Klachefsky has broken no new ground with these tracks the solid production and flat-out creativity is invigorating and even more fun to listen to. 4 stars

Review: Boats – Cannonballs, Cannonballs

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:19:47 +0000

The sophomore album from one of Winnipeg’s most fully-realized bands plays through like a Saturday-morning cartoon jamboree, with Mat Klachefsky’s high-pitched singing, fast-paced songs, and sing-alongs around every other corner. Most of Klachefsky’s lyrics either seem like they’re about growing up (“Haircuts for Everybody,” “Summercamp vs. the Fake Moustache Tree”) or they seem like they’re coming from a naively young point of view (“Sunrise on the Muffin District,” “Movie Scores; We Hummed”), even though they’re way too absurd for even a kid to think of. But whether you’ve got an inner-child to appeal to or not, most songs chug along to the shuffle of a keyboard’s preset drum pattern or some oddly propulsive drum beat, making them intrinsically happy. And Klachefsky and co. have come in and made them catchy, one thing that they do quite well. If you’re ever in need of a sugar high, this album would definitely do you just as well.

Quick Hitters: Boats Cannonballs, Cannonballs!

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:18:58 +0000

It’s been a while since we checked in on the quirky synth poppers from Winnipeg. Boats! made an appearance on our Manitoba Mixtape and Mat’s awesomely named debut (Intercontinental Champ – of which Ricky Steamboat was the all-time great) was a pleasant discovery to say the least. Well, since that time it seems they’ve dropped the ! and that decision corresponds with a more mature outlook and sound.

The band still displays some Unicorns-ish whimsy, kinetic energy and quirky, discount bin synth sounds – Drinking The Lake and Movie Scores; We Hummed for example – but Cannonballs, Cannonballs! finds Mat exploring more complex narratives and the band using bigger textures and taking some risks. I’m not sure if I could have predicted Mat and his rotating cast of characters crafting a beautiful electro pop gem like Smokestack & Lucy’s Magnificent Cabaret last time out, but it’s one of many highlights on the new record.

Interestingly enough, when their last record came out I remember Dave Ullrich saying that Boats was like Arcade Fire without the drama. At the time I thought he was off his rocker, but now the comparison seems very fitting. As I let TV Scientist fade into the heavier drums of Summercamp vs. The Fake Moustache Tree, feel the thump of Chrome Eyelids or settle into the catchy Our Athletic Friends I get swept up in the potential of this young Winnipeg outfit. CBCB! is only their second album, but they put together twelve songs that are powerful, but never attempt to be bigger than the instruments they use or the sounds they prefer. They don’t throw on layer after layer hoping to impress you; Boats lets you feel like you are a part of the song, and slowly builds to a climax after hooking you in early. Plus, at the end of the day I don’t think they’d ever steal my basketball.