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Bad Poetry Band

 
Bad Poetry Band

The Bad Poetry Band is known for its energetic and dynamic live performances; funky, melodic, and blue. Collectively, the Poet's broad musical influences focus

4 top 50
14 songs
3.3K plays
1
Picture for song 'Blues for D' by artist 'Bad Poetry Band'

Blues for D

Jacob Charles - guitar, Ian Davis - tenor sax, Ken Layton - drums, Phil Smith - vocals, Peter Thorn - bass. Special guest Andy Thompson on keyboard.
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2
Picture for song 'House of Blue Light' by artist 'Bad Poetry Band'

House of Blue Light

Jacob Charles - guitar, Ian Davis - tenor sax, Ken Layton - drums, Phil Smith - vocals, Peter Thorn - bass. Special guest Andy Thompson on keyboard.
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3
Picture for song 'Life Is' by artist 'Bad Poetry Band'

Life Is

Jacob Charles - bass, Ian Davis - tenor sax, Ken Layton - drums, Phil Smith - vocals, Peter Thorn - guitar.
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4
Picture for song 'Dance Me Round' by artist 'Bad Poetry Band'

Dance Me Round

Jacob Charles - guitar, Ian Davis - alto sax, Ken Layton - drums, Phil Smith - vocals, Peter Thorn - bass.
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5
Picture for song 'Mystery Train' by artist 'Bad Poetry Band'

Mystery Train

This song has the feel of being aboard a fast moving freight train. | Val Alyea - bass | Ian Davis - tenor sax | Ken Layton - drums | Mike Manning - vocals/harmonica | Dave Papple - lead guitar | Peter Thorn - rhythm guitar
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The Bad Poetry Band is known for its energetic and dynamic live performances; funky, melodic, and blue. Their musical style is attributed to it's members' diverse ages...over a three-decade span. Collectively, the Poet's broad musical influences focus and meld the core of their BLUNK sound: blues, rock, ska, jazz, and funk. While the band performs unique interpretations of other artists' songs, their original music straddles the boundaries of traditional and alternative blues. The band: Jacob Charles - guitar/bass/vocals Ian Davis - saxes/percussion/vocals Ken Layton - drums/vocals/guitar/and other sounds Phil Smith - lead vocals/guitar/bass/percussion Peter Thorn - bass/guitar/vocals
Band/artist history
Bad Poetry formed through the association of fellow punters to the Stinking Rose Pub. It really was the proverbial evolution. And, as it turned out, the formation of Bad Poetry and playing gigs in this micro-Pub (legal capacity 29--including staff and bands--but 75 could fit in if you squeezed really hard) kicked off a renaissance in amateur homegrown performing bands. (Local garage bands existed before, only now they had a venue to come out to. The band was initially formed by Tom Barber, Mike Manning and Peter Thorn shortly before New Years Eve, 2004. Val Alyea joined just before the band's first "gig" at the Stinking Rose Pub that New Year's Eve. In February of 2005, Ian Davis joined. Not having a drummer, they picked up Jason Crossen for two gigs in May. Shortly thereafter, Bob Orrett joined as Bad Poetry's drummer. After a Canada Day performance in the Campbellford Band Shell, guitarist Tom Barber left the band. This now left the second core group of Bad Poetry. And until June of 2007, Bad Poetry remained a 5-piece band. Val Alyea: Bass Ian Davis: Tenor & Soprano Sax Mike Manning: Vocal and Harmonicas Bob Orrett: Drums and Vocals Peter Thorn: Guitar & Vocals. That September, Bad Poetry recorded their demo in Toronto. The demo's producer was Dave Orrett of Windward Music (Bob's son); http://www.getreadytoplay.ca/studio.html. Four tracks were laid down: Everyday I Have the Blues (reached #1 in Blues General at SoundClick); Hoochie Coochie Man; San Francisco Bay Blues; and, Folsom Prison Blues (this song reached #2 in SoundClick's Country Blues genre). Bad Poetry entered a new blues band competition at Peterborough's Red Dog Tavern. They were runners up at this 2006 event. Aside from other area gigs, they were a featured band at the 1st Annual Community Fund Raiser at the Aron Theatre. In the early spring of 2007, after 20 months of relative stability, Bob Orrett left the band. Shortly thereafter, Ken Layton joined as drummer. By early summer, Dave Papple joined the band. This gave Bad Poetry a second guitar and voice. Logistically, six musicians on stage was a challenge in small venues. Regardless, several new songs were introduced and others rearranged for lead and rhythm guitar. Of course, having both sax and harmonica in the band contributed largely to their unique sound. This edition of Bad Poetry was very active in the summer/fall of 2007. Now with two vocalists, a complete rhythm section, lead guitar, harmonica and sax, Bad Poetry produced a big sound. They were very well received at Belleville's Farmers Market community blues events and later in the year at a concert in the Aron Theatre. (Of course, there were many successful gigs between these dates.) Just before Christmas, Ian Davis left the band. By February of 2008, Val Alyea and Dave Papple also moved on. The remaining core group of Mike, Peter and Ken carried on with various bassists sitting in. Eventually, Glenn Girard became the regular bassist. In the late fall of 2008, Mike announced he was leaving the band. At this point, Bad Poetry essentially stalled and Ken and Glenn were picked up by other bands. However, Mike's departure was very brief and he and Peter reformed Bad Poetry. Les Kota then joined them on drums. Glenn occasionally sits in on bass. ====================== (Updated January 19, 2011.) Through the winter of 2008 and into 2009, the band billed itself as “Bad Poetry Blues”. BPB attended their first “End of Winter Blues Festival' run by the Loyal Blues Fellowship at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario. Through to mid-summer of 2009, Mike Manning continued on as lead singer and harpist with Peter Thorn on guitar, Glen Girard on bass, and Les Kota on drums. Aside from local gigs, Bad Poetry Blues also performed at the first Frankford Island Blues festival. Later in the summer, Phil Smith replaced Glen on bass. With Phil's addition, another lead vocalist was available to the band. This incarnation of the band continued through to February, 2010 when guitarist Jacob Charles was recruited. Around the same time, Mike decided it was time for a change and parted company for the last time. (He subsequently went on to form Low Down Blues.) Since the band had signed on for a fund-raising gig at the Aron Theatre at the end of February, and were now minus their lead singer, the band decided to continue onward by tweaking it's lineup. Phil became lead singer with Les providing more and more background vocals. As well, former band member Ian Davis was recruited to join the band on saxes. As well, Jacob and Peter also began sharing bass-playing duties. New arrangements were immediately introduced to the band. This change marked a shift from playing almost exclusively a traditional electric, Chicago-style sound, to a more eclectic blues-rooted sound including elements of R&B, funk, reggae, punk, and rock. By the beginning of summer, the band also began writing and performing original material. The changes inspired a minor change to the band name: The Bad Poetry Band (TBPB). The Bad Poetry Band was again invited to the 2010 End of Winter Blues Festival and the summer Frankford Island Blues Festival, both run by the Loyal Blues Fellowship. Based on these performances, the band was invited to compete for the Loyal Blues Fellowship's nominee for the International Blues Challenge. On October 30, the band (and others) performed at Stix & Stones in Trenton, Ontario. Ultimately, TBPB was selected as the band representative at the 2011 IBC event (Feb 1 to 6, 2011) in Memphis, Tennessee. An unexpected line-up change in December brought in former drummer Ken Layton to replace Les. Ken has a wide range of musical influences and this sensibility helped give the band additional drive both to the new original songs as well as covers. At the time of this writing, The Bad Poetry Band is preparing for its appearance at the 2011 IBC with warmup performances at Rubbs BBQ Bistro in Campbellford, at the Loyal Blues Fellowship's fundraiser at Stix and Stones in Trenton, and a final send off gig at the Stinking Rose Pub in Campbellford. ====================== This is a little on the lengthy side. Gotta give credits though... (Updated March 18, 2011) The boys returned home after a successful adventure to the 2011 IBC in Memphis. Their experience at the IBC gave them new insights to what they want to do as a band. The short to medium term goal is to bring to life many new originals. These will be the core music the band plays. At the time of this writing their originals include: Dance Me Round, Blues for D, House of Blue Light, Life Is, Holes, and 266.
Have you performed in front of an audience?
Our home base is in Campbellford, Ontario. We've gigged for Belleville to Peterborough to Toronto...and points in between. We recently returned from the 2011 International Blues Competition (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee. The band was quarter-finalists.
Your musical influences
A huge range really.
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