MINTO: Press

Minto finally gets serious
By Adrian Mack
You’d have been forgiven for not taking them entirely seriously, back when Minto started appearing around town under the name the Smokes. The five-piece was chiefly a country-folk proposition, but a slightly ripe gothic edge and a habit of slipping into sunshine pop made it feel as if you were hearing the Gun Club one minute and Arthur Lee’s Love the next (minus the smack, madness, and death). With unkempt gang vocals that swelled with inebriated energy, the Smokes furthermore came off like a bunch of tanked-up Atlantic fishermen attempting gospel.

Their 2006 debut album, Fields and Factory Floors, was a low-budget charmer with a couple of mix-tape classics tucked inside, in the shape of “Mountain Tree”, reminiscent of Magnolia Electric Co., and a breezy samba-based concoction called “Microphone”.

What made the Smokes faintly ridiculous, if lovable, was vocalist Ryan “Wally” Hoben’s tireless determination to establish himself as one of Vancouver’s drunkest frontmen. Equally silly were some of the group’s extracurricular activities, like drummer-filmmaker Jimi Cuell’s Legion of Impact, a lunatic series of shorts about an underground fighting league.

But things have changed for the Smokes along with the name, which itself reflects a new attitude inside the group, according to Hoben and guitarist Kalvin Olafson.

“We’re a bunch of actors and writers and stuff,” Hoben tells the Straight, over coffees at JJ Bean on the Drive. “And we were just playing music for fun, to get friends together and party and hang out.”

“But we got to a certain age,” Olafson continues, “and it was like, ‘Are we gonna be in a band or are we gonna be in a band?’ And we started practising hard-core. We improved our work ethic, and this time we ain’t fuckin’ around. Last time, we recorded with a friend, for cheap—very lo-fi. This time, it was balls-out.”

Hoben and Olafson are days away from the release of their second full-length, Lay It on Me, recorded by Steve Albini in Chicago last February, under the name Minto Chipman. While working on the record, Albini mentioned that Minto Chipman sounded like a “college band that didn’t make it”, and thus it became Minto. Beyond that, the legend who recorded Nirvana’s In Utero didn’t interfere too much.

“He just hard-wired stuff,” Hoben recalls. “Like Ma Bell in the ’20s. There was no Pro Tools, just tape. And he’d cut it sometimes.”

“So fast, too. He’d be back within two minutes,” Olafson adds, after describing Albini and his coverall-sporting engineers as “farmers of tape”.

“He helps with things like amp choices,” continues the guitarist, “but they’re our songs in the end. That’s his thing.”

Hoben mentions that a few friends of the band questioned the wisdom of spending $25,000 on a recording expedition—“All of our savings, and then some,” he says—but his and Olafson’s animated recollections of the “dream trip” suggest that it was money well spent. Not to mention that Lay It on Me is a pile-driving progression from Fields and Factory Floors, on which the band’s big ideas were undermined by thin sound.

Olafson neatly characterizes the difference. “With this one, we’re a rock band. I went from playing acoustic guitar all the time to playing electric guitar all the time. I went from clean to fuzzy.”

It’s also the work of a better band with a tighter grasp on songcraft, not to mention a defiantly live-sounding effort that pushes and pulls in all the right places.

Opener “New Bones” signals the change, with Cuell and bassist Suzy Easton’s hard-hitting foundation setting everybody up for the one track remodelled from the first Smokes record, where it was titled “Bones”. Gritty pounders like “Tonight I Lay My Head” and “Bird’s Eye View” further the agenda, while “Train Bridge Blues” mirrors the airiness and charm of “Microphone”. But Minto also breaks the mould on “City Folks Dream”, with its sideways rhythm, snaky Meat Puppets guitar line, and breathily downcast vocal. Ditto for the pretty piano interlude “Tiny Terror”, and the mandolin lullaby that closes the album, “Home Away” (written in tribute to their friends in the Hotel Lobbyists).

There’s no reason the triumphant sophomore record shouldn’t aid Minto in fulfilling its not-unreasonable ambition of climbing aboard a Secretly Canadian or Dine Alone–sized label and then touring its ass off. “That’s all we want,” says Hoben—although there’s still some unsettled business, apparently.

“We need a cover,” the vocalist idly mentions, as the interview wraps up. “I’m thinking ‘Crimson and Clover’, ” he says.

After a thoughtful beat, it seems to dawn on Hoben that his roommate, best friend, and ever-inventive lead guitarist Evret Tucker isn’t around to defend himself. “And then Evret, of course, wants to do ‘Sister Christian’ by Night Ranger,” he snorts. “So he’s been transposing the organ solos to electric guitar. I hear him late at night, working so hard. For like, three months he’s been trying to do it. ‘Motorin’…’ ”

Hoben shakes his head and sighs. “He’s passionate about his shit.”

Minto plays the Biltmore Cabaret on Friday (July 31).

Minto
cross-country hiccups don�t stop the rock
By Glenn Alderson
Life on the road for an independent touring band was never meant to be easy. But when Vancouver’s Minto set out at the beginning of October, they didn’t know what they were in for.

The five-piece beer-swillin’ gang tore the roof off the Ship & Anchor in Calgary on the first stop of their tour with their soulful rock gospel sideshow at the beginning of October, but after a couple weeks playing shows across the country their van was stolen right from under their noses the night before their anticipated Toronto showcase. While this would usually mean the end of the road and a plane ride home, because of a pact made at the beginning of tour to never leave their gear in their van overnight Minto managed to come out fairly unscathed.

“We’re a mess, but it’s awesome,” says frontman Ryan (Wally) Hoben from his hotel room in Ottawa where a water main has just broke leaving the band unable to shower. “All they got out of that van was like ten empty Doritos bags, a bunch of Mr. Noodles packets and our Sirius satellite radio. I also had this Chip & Pepper sweater that I got at this place in Thunder Bay, which is now gone. That’s what I’m most concerned about.”

Since it’s illegal to rent a van with a tow package, the band was forced to leave all of their gear in Toronto and take a rental van with their guitars and what little luggage they could fit inside to continue on their way with the tour.

“It was pretty crazy man. We had a really shitty day but then we had an awesome show in Toronto and Montreal the next day with everyone lending us their gear,” Hoben says. “The real silver lining to all of this though is that a friend of ours who is on tour with us has parents in Peterborough who are selling us a van tomorrow that is in good shape with a tow kit for like 1200 bucks.”

After returning the rental van to Toronto the band will be ready to go back west, playing a string of shows in the prairies along the way before stopping back in Calgary for the final stop of their tour.

“We’ve had some really successful shows though so it looks like we’re going to break even after all,” Hoben says with a lighthearted chuckle.

Van perils aside, it’s been a successful tour in terms of spreading the Minto name and people and critics alike have been extremely receptive to the band’s sophomore effort, Lay It On Me.

Released independently in July with the intentions of shopping it around to try and spark some label interest, Lay It On Me boasts 11 solid tracks that were recorded in early 2009 in Chicago by the infamous engineer Steve Albini. A familiar name in music circles, the Shellac guitarist is best known for his work engineering big name acts like Nirvana, the Pixies and PJ Harvey. Turns out, a two-week stint with the analog wonder wasn’t that much more expensive than recording at home in Vancouver, so the band jumped at the chance to work with someone in the industry who they admired.

“We made the plans to go down there before we even had the money to pay for it and then we just worked our asses off. It was the best experience ever,” Hoben says. “When we first met him we were like ‘Oh my god, should we talk to him? What should we do?’ but after a day of doing bed tracks it was awesome. We got along great and we were all laughing and bugging each other. There’s even a photo of me with him in a headlock.”

The final product was definitely something the band can be proud of. Somewhere in between party rock and anthemic gospel sung from the heart, Minto finds a place to serenade you with ease. The one track that jumps out in particular from the record is “Burnt Down Trainbridge Blues (Lawyers),” a poppier lo-fi number that recalls a sound similar to early Kings of Leon. The best selection for a first single and music video, you can catch their humorous pseudo-instructional music video online filmed and edited by drummer Jimi Cuell on “How To Record A Music Video.” According to Hoben, MuchMusic has expressed interest in the video as well and it will soon be featured on the Wedge.

“The day we shot it we went to Value Village and got the most eighties costumes that we could get and then we just improvised in front of a green screen at Jimmy’s school,” says Hoben. “We shot it on a Thursday and by Sunday it was on the Internet.”

A testament to how fast they can work when they want to get something done, Minto is a hard working band but they know how hard they have to work to get it. With plans to ride the Olympic shit storm in their hometown come February and a tour of the southern US towards Austin, TX for SXSW in March, you can bet that you’ll be hearing a lot more out of Minto.

Catch Minto online or on November 7 at Vern’s Taven (Calgary) alongside Key to the City, The Paperbacks and guests.

Vancouver rockers release powerful debut album [- Hide]
Tandem, By Kerry Doole
The excitement in MINTO lead singer Ryan Hoben’s voice is clear as he tells Tandem about the band's upcoming first national tour. “Just 12 days to go! I can’t wait. We’re tying up loose ends, getting our finances in order, chasing a B.C. musicians’ travel grant, keeping in touch with all the venues. A busy time!” In turn, lovers of literate yet fiery guitar-based rock ’n’ roll should be getting excited about MINTO hitting their town. Their recently released album, Lay It On Me, is certainly impressing this writer as one of the best records he’s heard all year.
Officially, it is MINTO’s debut, given that an earlier record, 2006’s Fields And Factory Floors, came out under their previous band name, The Smokes. MINTO comprises original Smokes members Hoben, guitarists Everet Tucker and Kalvin Olafson, and drummer Jimi Cuell, plus a more recent addition, bassist Suzy Easton.
According to Hoben, MINTO is “shopping the record around, looking for a small label perhaps. I’m excited about the future but I’m just proud of the album. We took a big risk financially and personally by going down to the States to make it – but it couldn’t have worked out better. It was the time of our lives.”
Attracting attention is the fact that the record was made with legendary producer/engineer Steve Albini, a key figure in alternative rock who has worked with artists such as Nirvana, The Pixies and P.J. Harvey. How did this link come about, we asked.
“We put together a dream list of people we’d love to work with, and I mentioned Steve Albini,” says Hoben. “I called down to his studio in Chicago, and we found out that even with all our expenses and flights, it was just twice as much as making the record in Vancouver. And what a treat to work with him. He’s a low-key fun guy, with a bit of an attitude. We played a lot of poker!”
While observing, “there’s a real cachet to the Albini name,” Hoben stresses that “we just liked the way his records sounded. We were at a point in our lives and writing where we were getting really fuzzy and heavier, not so folkie anymore. Even a little grunge-y and definitely rock ’n’ roll-y. Who could do it in just 12 days, put in the long hours and suit our sound? We couldn’t think of any better engineer to do this with.”The sessions at Electrical Audio went very smoothly. “We did minimal takes,” says Hoben. “We’d jam out a while, then just go for it. A lot of one-take vocals. We got in the zone. It was such a treat to be there, in this wonderful city too. It felt like everything was falling into place.”
Albini is known for his passion for analogue recording onto tape. Nothing digital or Pro Tooled about this record, another point in its favour.
“Steve has a giant mixing board from England, and he’d have all these wires around. It was like watching that old footage of Ma Bell telephones and the operator, plugging one thing into another. I just couldn’t wrap my brain around this stuff!” says Hoben. “I think the product you get from recording on analogue like that is just more honest. We’re a live band. When we play live, we have a bunch of beers and we’re sweating and screaming and rockin’ out and having a helluva time up there. Recording on Pro Tools just doesn’t suit us. We wanted to get across the kind of drunken gospel feel we have going at our live shows.”
The band’s creative process finds Hoben acting as the primary lyricist. “I live with Everet, so we’re always jamming, screwing around with lyrics. We’ll get together with Kalvin, write something, take it to our jam space and jam it out with everybody. Start working on harmonies and everything else.”
In their career as The Smokes, MINTO was termed a folk-rock band, but that’s less audible on this album. To these ears, comparison points include the likes of The Gun Club, Dream Syndicate and The Constantines, while Hoben’s own preferred phrase is “arena folk.”
“We take all these aspects of rock ’n’ roll, but the songwriting is all stories, all based on the folk tradition. That’s where we came from, from starting to play together in [film] school. That’s where our hearts are with the songwriting. It’s a rock ’n’ roll album, but it’s coming from a bunch of people with folk in their hearts!”

Lay It On Me is now out. Go to www.myspace.com/mintominto.MINTO play Rancho Relaxo on Oct. 27.

The many faces of Minto [- Hide]
Uptown Magazine
The many faces of Minto
Vancouver folk-rock band talks name changes and unlikely influences
Jared Story

The many faces of MintoOn its MySpace page, Vancouver's Minto lists Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and The Grateful Dead as influences - not incredibly surprising for a fuzzy, folky rock 'n' roll band. However, one name on the list stands out: Manowar.

"That's Evret's influence," says guitarist Kalvin Olafson who, along with guitarist Evret Tucker, is joined in Minto by vocalist Ryan Hoben, bassist Suzy Easton and drummer Jimi Cuell. "He likes the long-haired metal."

Listening to Minto, it's safe to say Tucker is the only Manowarrior in the band. The five-piece started about five years ago as an alt-country act called The Smokes. The band released one album, 2006's Fields and Factory Floors, under that moniker before delving into more rocking territory and changing its handle to Minto Chipman. The new name was a reference to two small towns in New Brunswick, Hoben's home province. But the band ended up dropping the 'Chipman.'

Why? Because Steve Albini said so.

In February, Minto travelled to Chicago to record its second full-length, Lay it on Me, with the former Big Black singer/guitarist and producer behind Nirvana's In Utero.

"We lived in his house for a little over two weeks," Olafson says. "It felt a little weird when we first got there, we're like 'Oh, I think that's him,' but then halfway through the first day he had this puffer gun and he just started shooting us with it. He's like, 'Chill out and make some rock 'n' roll.'"

Minto did chill out and will be taking its latest creation across Canada. The Oct. 10 show at the Pyramid Cabaret will mark Minto's first in Winnipeg, a fact Olafson is particularly excited about as he's originally from not-so-far-away Morden.

"This will be the first time my parents have seen my band," Olafson says. "I've lived in Vancouver for about eight years and they've never seen my band. I'll give them ear plugs and hopefully they'll enjoy."

Just don't expect any Manowar. Perhaps Night Ranger, though. In a story on Minto, Van City weekly The Georgia Straight recently disclosed that Tucker thinks the band should cover the cheesy classic Sister Christian.

"He still wants to do that shit," Olafson says. "He's still practicing. He'll force us to do it, eventually. I'm growing my hair long though."

That's half the battle in achieving hair-rock supremacy.

"Exactly. 'We're halfway there,'" Olafson sings.

MINTO
Oct. 10, Pyramid Cabaret

Minto's "Lay it on Me" [- Hide]
Here
Despite boasting a native New Brunswicker in their lineup, Vancouver band Minto is about to make their maiden trip into the province for a couple of shows on their current national tour.

Ryan Hoben, vocalist of the Neil Young inspired group, originally hails from Fredericton and is looking forward to finally getting his band "home."

"I spent about 18 years in Fredericton before moving to Calgary to pursue acting courses," Hoben says via cell phone.

Hoben would leaving Calgary in favour of Vancouver in the pursuit of additional acting opportunities and while in acting school, he met a couple of people who would eventually join him in Minto.

The band is currently on the road in support of their second record, the multi-dimensional Lay It On Me.

To help make their visions of their new record a reality, the band trekked from Vancouver to Chicago where they had the opportunity to work with legendary indie producer Steve Albini.

"We had assembled a dream list of producers that we wanted to work with and he was at the top of the list," Hoben enthuses. "We really looked up to him for his work with The Pixies and the Magnolia Electric Co., and then through a mix of phone calls, e-mail, good luck and good timing, we made it happen."

The band spent just under two weeks in the Windy City, recording at Electrical Audio (Albini's studio) during the evening and spending their days eating a lot of pizza, taking in some live music and happily getting lost walking around the city.

"We actually booked the studio time before we even had the money to pay for it. We were that excited about the prospect of going to Chicago to work with him. We worked our asses off as a band to make sure that everything came together."

Upon hearing a collection of the tracks from Lay It On Me, observant listeners will notice a distinct lack of one particular style of music dominating the record.

Like their hero Neil Young, the band can change gears from rootsy-country inspired songs into grungy foot-stomping tracks at the drop of a dime.

"We like to be able to keep our musical styles open. Musically, we can be very mixed up," Hoben happily confesses. "We don't go into writing songs with any pre-conceived notions of what the song should sound like. We let the song dictate where it ultimately leads us."

Of the 20 dates the band is currently scheduled to play across Canada, no one in the band is more excited at the prospect of playing in New Brunswick than Hoben himself.

"We are very excited to finally come out east. Then again, everything east of Alberta will be new to us as a band.

"Leading up to the tour, we were meeting and planning and making sure everything is falling into place and there is a real undercurrent of excitement in all of us about this tour."

But the real reason behind the band finally coming to New Brunswick for shows is revealed as our interview winds to a close.

"My parents would kill me if we didn't get to New Brunswick to play shows," Hoben laughs.

Catch Minto (presumably with vocalist Ryan Hoben's parents in attendance) at the Paramount Lounge in Moncton on Thursday October 22 and at the Kinsmen Centre in Fredericton on Friday October 23.

[[6] Minto Lay it on Me Minto Music Meet Minto. Formerly called The Smokes, Minto are a Vancouver five-piece who got their name from a mining town in New Brunswick. It’s a fitting moniker as they’re a hard- working band whose brand of rock has a distinct blue collar Canadian feel to it. Think of it as the aural equivalent of Tim Horton’s coffee. Lay
it on Me was recorded and mixed by Steve Albini who’s famous for being at the helm for Nirvana, The Pixies, Low and, most importantly, Bush X. Their trek to his studio in Chicago proved to be worth way more than the cost of plane tickets and lodging as this is a damn fine rock record. When it’s loud it rocks. When it’s quiet it’s soothing. The guitarmanship is ridiculously catchy and lead singer Ryan Hoben, easily Vancouver’s most huggable frontman, comes across as your friend, your coworker and your preacher. Better listen to the man and accept Minto into your heart. -Michael Mann

“Five years ago we started out as a band that wasn!t very good, but now finally after 5 years I think we!re a pretty good band” said rhythm guitar player Kalvin Olafson from in
front of Vancouver!s Media Club venue. Tonight Rhode Island!s Deertick are playing to a full house, a band that Minto had the opportunity to see while in Chicago recording with the legendary Steve Albini. Ironically, Andrew Tobiassen!s sweet lead guitar stylings from Deertick are definitely comparable to that of Evret Tucker!s, who is the lead guitarist for local favourite!s Minto.
Minto is a Vancouver folk rock outfit that plays solid Indie rock anthems that will keep the girls and boys singing along all night. After years of being called The Smokes they
have undergone a couple of name changes before finally settling on the name Minto. With the name changes also comes a rock and roll sound that is as pretty and melodic
as it is party til you puke. “Everyone is always asking about the name change, and I think it!s because there was
so much talk about it on Perez Hilton” jokes lead vocalist Ryan Hoben, who is known as Wally to his closest friends. “No way, I think what you meant to say was TMZ” quips
drummer Jimi Cuell , a welcome new addition to the band. “Did you know that the guy from TMZ is the same guy from People!s Court?” “I told you that!” yells Hoben between sips of white wine, a favourite beverage of the
sweet voiced front man. “Harvey Levin! He!s a full on licensed Jewish attorney!” The two finally agree that it was infact Hoben who discovered this first and continue with
the discussion about online celebrity gossip. “He!s pretty sweet at the end of People!s Court but he sucks on TMZ, well actually he pretty much sucks. He!s always drinking out of his Starbucks cup with a straw and leaning on stuff. I mean the guy is a billionaire, the least he could do is stand up
straight!” states Hoben as his band mates laugh and nod in agreement. The decision to change the name came about just before Minto headed to Chicago in February to record with legendary producer Steve Albini. Several other bands in the United States were already using the name, providing an opportunity for a change. “Not to mention a rapper from Vancouver called Smokez put his flyer in my mailslot and
he looked pretty tough, we decided to play it safe” said Hoben from behind thick rimmed glasses reminiscent of Wheels from Degrassi. The first name decided upon was Minto Chipman, named after two towns in New
Brunswick where Hoben grew up. “Minto and Chipman are two towns that used to always fight each other like the Montagues and the Capulets.” Growing up in Fredricton
Hoben listened to bands like Thrush Hermit and the Inbreds, and these influences definitely shine through in the music of Minto.
They are slated for a cross country tour in October of this year, which will find them playing places like Fredericton and Halifax. “We will probably run into someone while
playing in Halifax who will be from Minto. They!ll probably yell at us and then try to fight us.” laughs Hoben.
“Yeah, it would be like calling ourselves Surrey Coquitlam!” adds Cuell. So, after much deliberation the band decided on just Minto and headed off to Chicago to record with Albini. Olafson, Hoben, and Cuell all speak very highly of the man behind the dials on their new record Lay It On Me. “The guy is really amazing” says Olafson. “He does everything by hand, no computers, no protools, it was pretty awesome to work
with the guy.” The finished product is a beautifuly crafted beauty rock record with alot of folk sensibilities and sweet guitar noodling. Minto is a five piece band who play music for the party starters and the broken hearted. Their live shows are always exciting and a must for all guitar romantics. The new record Lay It On Me will be released on July 9th at the
Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver.
Minto!s Tonight I Lay My Head is a real tearjerker. Here are the top 5 songs about heartbreak according to Minto.
1.boys of summer-don henley
2.will you miss me when i burn-bonnie prince billy
3.as bad as it seems-hayden
4.great gig in the sky-pink floyd
5.captain badass-songs ohia

 

"Lay It On Me" MINTO By RJ Joseph Chicago is a very inspirational city. It inspires visitors to eat more red meat, watch more sports, and listen to more blues.  And in the case of Vancouver arena folk-rock aficionados Minto, it can even inspire a change of name. Formerly known as The Smokes, Minto adopted the new moniker while staying in the Windy City to record their latest release, Lay It On Me, with famed engineer Steve Albini.  The band renamed itself in honour of Minto, New Brunswick, a small town which, according to their press release, plays host to dirty bars and shotgun weddings.  If thats the case, this is one damn appropriate name a Lay It On Me could serve equally well as the soundtrack for either venue. Band members Ryan Hoben, Kalvin Olafson, Evret Tucker, Jimi Cuell and Suzy Easton Manage to  smoothly pick up right where the bands previous release, the much acclaimed Field and Factory Floors, left off.  Featuring 11 tracks stuffed full of dark harmonies, hard hitting hooks, and deep gritty groove, Lay it on me manages to pay homage to the power folk of the past, while strong arrangements and even stronger lyrics ensure there is no mistaking this recording as mere soulful imitation.  No, with Lay It On Me, Minto do that which has been expected of every artist down through the ages: make it new. The Opening track, 'New Bones' wails with CCR-like passion while still managing to take it to a place that harkens more similarities to 90's indie genius than the bayou; the haunting 'Tonight I Lay My Head' feels like it would be right at home in a CSYN album (as a Neil Young song, not any of that other filler); and the brawler 'In The Water' just screams "Crazy Horse for the new millennium" A great album, yes, but what else would you expect from Steve Albini.  And it would appear that after two consecutive homeruns that statement may apply to Minto as well.

 

 

Lay it On Me
Self-distributed

Waa-BOOM! With an album title ripped from frontman Ryan Hoben’s muscleman tattoos, indiefolkrocksters Minto punch it open with sludgy dirge, “New Bones” – formerly a chooglin’ alt-country number in Minto’s prior lifetime as The Smokes, but now a bruisy beacon of changing times: Kalvin Olafson tossing his acoustic for big-watt ampage, Hoben’s voice three-fold improved. The loss of bassist/back-up vocalist Graham Myrfield didn’t drop the band a beat, as lead guitarist Evret Tucker swaggers into Minto’s trademark wall of vox harmonies. Suzy Easton’s bottom-thump bass is simple but suitably grungy, and gone-but-back drummer/cover artist Jimi Cuell’s tight, tight chops are smacking away with bigger, greasier balls. THE BIG STORY is that Steve “recorded The Pixies” Albini cut this thing in Chicago, and, naturally, Lay It On Me’s live-off-the-floor grit sonically stomps Fields and Factory Floors, the band’s amateur but compositionally shit-hot debut. Here, treats are numerous: the roaring tinkle-tinkle-BANG into “Fisherman’s Wife”, the slinky mellow dope-smoke of “Tiny Terrors”, the winking chorus of “Train Bridge Blues” (“OOOO0000oooo, the lawyers will get me off”), the lingering, gentle, porch-front finish of “Home Away” – an about-face from FAFF’s bring-the-house-down finale “Microphone”, re-recorded with Albini (and posted on MySpace), but not included here. “City Folks Dream” is a studio winner, a soul-tuggin’ head-noddin’ groove, guitars a-trillin’, delicate vocals a-weavin’… okay, the big rave-up is too much, but fuck it. Smokin’!

Minto will be playing The Biltmore Cabaret on July 9 at 9:00 p.m. for their CD release party.

With the upcoming release of their debut album, Lay It On Me, Minto have solidified their official status as a new band, rising from the ashes of the Smokes (as they were formerly known) and moving up in the rock world. After traveling to Chicago to record with audio engineer — and grunge legend — Steve Albini at his studio, Electrical Audio, the band is finally ready to present their latest work to the world at The Biltmore on July 9.

Minto’s history is somewhat complicated but their end product is one worth listening to, both live and recorded. The three founding members, Kalvin Olafson, Evret Tucker, and Ryan Hoben began jamming together in 2002, eventually forming the Smokes, along with bassist Graham Myrfield and drummer Jimi Cuell, recording an album in 2006 called Fields and Factory Floors. Over the years the lineup has changed some — the positions of bass guitarist and drummer have experienced some rotation — but with the talented Suzy Easton on bass and the welcome return of Jimi Cuell on drums, the band is sounding more polished and cohesive than ever.

The name Minto continues to raise questions and the band debated over the name change for some time before landing on their final decision. Prompted by the fact that there are so many other bands out there named the Smokes, they were drawn to the name of the first track on Fields and Factory Floors, “Minto Chipman” and finally landed on the abbreviation, Minto, as it was easier to pronounce and to remember. Six months later, the name has already begun to stick and can even be heard bouncing around in the chatter of local bands and their avid followers.

There is often disparity between a band’s live performance and their recorded works — some actually excel on stage, while others require a talented sound engineer to make their music palatable. I love going to see this band live; the atmosphere at their shows positively drips with palpable enthusiasm as both band members and fans come together to ensure a good time is had by all. Whether they’re buying each other beers or tossing panties onto the stage, the audience and the band seem to exist in a perfect symbiosis, always welcoming to both newcomer and seasoned expert alike.

I was intensely curious as to whether or not this passion would translate into the recording studio and then be conveyed by the CD as it played on my car stereo for the first time. My fears were at once quelled as the first track came on and I was brought back to the last time I’d seen them play at Pub 340, opening with the energy-filled “New Bones” — likely not by coincidence, this song is a powerful opener for both live performance and recorded album, setting the stage for their self-proclaimed “fuzzed out arena folk rock.”

While Minto has moved away from their alt-country beginnings and continues to move down a path towards more of a rock and roll future, they bring along with them toe-tapping rhythms, impassioned lyrics, and sexy guitar riffs that are entirely their own. Their live performances continue to improve with each show and their debut album is a testament to the fact that they are destined to grow and refine their sound and their musical abilities for years to come.

From Ashes

Minto will be playing The Biltmore Cabaret on July 9 at 9:00 p.m. for their CD release party.

With the upcoming release of their debut album, Lay It On Me, Minto have solidified their official status as a new band, rising from the ashes of the Smokes (as they were formerly known) and moving up in the rock world. After traveling to Chicago to record with audio engineer — and grunge legend — Steve Albini at his studio, Electrical Audio, the band is finally ready to present their latest work to the world at The Biltmore on July 9.

Minto’s history is somewhat complicated but their end product is one worth listening to, both live and recorded. The three founding members, Kalvin Olafson, Evret Tucker, and Ryan Hoben began jamming together in 2002, eventually forming the Smokes, along with bassist Graham Myrfield and drummer Jimi Cuell, recording an album in 2006 called Fields and Factory Floors. Over the years the lineup has changed some — the positions of bass guitarist and drummer have experienced some rotation — but with the talented Suzy Easton on bass and the welcome return of Jimi Cuell on drums, the band is sounding more polished and cohesive than ever.

The name Minto continues to raise questions and the band debated over the name change for some time before landing on their final decision. Prompted by the fact that there are so many other bands out there named the Smokes, they were drawn to the name of the first track on Fields and Factory Floors, “Minto Chipman” and finally landed on the abbreviation, Minto, as it was easier to pronounce and to remember. Six months later, the name has already begun to stick and can even be heard bouncing around in the chatter of local bands and their avid followers.

There is often disparity between a band’s live performance and their recorded works — some actually excel on stage, while others require a talented sound engineer to make their music palatable. I love going to see this band live; the atmosphere at their shows positively drips with palpable enthusiasm as both band members and fans come together to ensure a good time is had by all. Whether they’re buying each other beers or tossing panties onto the stage, the audience and the band seem to exist in a perfect symbiosis, always welcoming to both newcomer and seasoned expert alike.

I was intensely curious as to whether or not this passion would translate into the recording studio and then be conveyed by the CD as it played on my car stereo for the first time. My fears were at once quelled as the first track came on and I was brought back to the last time I’d seen them play at Pub 340, opening with the energy-filled “New Bones” — likely not by coincidence, this song is a powerful opener for both live performance and recorded album, setting the stage for their self-proclaimed “fuzzed out arena folk rock.”

While Minto has moved away from their alt-country beginnings and continues to move down a path towards more of a rock and roll future, they bring along with them toe-tapping rhythms, impassioned lyrics, and sexy guitar riffs that are entirely their own. Their live performances continue to improve with each show and their debut album is a testament to the fact that they are destined to grow and refine their sound and their musical abilities for years to come.

Minto Climbs Olympus by Matt Hagarty

It's any young band's dream to record an album with such a marquee name as Steve Albini's. Recording with the famed sound engineer/pundit responsible for output from Nirvana, Superchunk, The Stooges, and Cheap Trick (to name a few) means instant exposure, good advice from a legend, and a damn good story to tell. Vancouver's Minto (formerly known as The Smokes) recently realized such a dream. The local fuzz rockers pulled the necessary strings, raised the necessary funds, and booked the necessary flights to the studio down in Chicago and, once there, vocalist and frontman Ryan Hoben couldn't sing a god damned note.

"This was big time. We were down there for eight days and [my voice] was still gone. I was freaking out. When we had to lay the tracks I was sweating it so hard...I was losing it. I started thinking, 'okay, I could fly back in three months or when I can afford it again, book another couple days at the studio and give it another shot." explains Hoben. But the rock gods must have been smiling down on Minto. "All at once it just kinda came back, I had a bottle of scotch and some Marly menthols and after that I think I sang seven or eight songs in one sitting and it turned out fantastic. Which I just couldn't believe. Thank god."

The album that Ryan and his fellow Mintonians Suzy Easton, Evret Tucker, Kalvin Olafson, and Jimi Ceull laid down with Albini at the controls, is titled "Lay It On Me" and is due out in July. Working with Albini, according to Hoben, came easily.

"He was talking about Hunter S Thompson and Courtney Love and the Pixies and all this shit: the guy has got a million stories. And here we are, just a young, small band. When he first walked in we didn't even know if we should bother him or leave him alone. The next day we started joking around like crazy. We got along famously."

The comfortable atmosphere must have paid off. The tracks that the band have pre-released on their Myspace show a group of ambitious rock n' roll believers coming into their own and embracing their talents and influences. Minto has moved effortlessly from their original alt-countryish sound to a much more powerful and heavy rock sound, evidenced in tracks such as "Tonight I Lay My Head", a sweeping, epic arena rocker with all the best kind of Neil Young influences. It's like a loud and proud, tear-in-the-eye, drunken singalong. They even embraced a more spiritual side on the new tracks, an element the group didn't notice until a fan asked if they were a Christian band (they aren't).

"I kinda bullshited him but then the next day I woke up and listened to our stuff and realized that there's a lot of religious imagery, which is pretty strange," Hoben explains through laughter, "we're like some kinda 70's fuzzed out drunken gospel band."

Drunkeness and youthful rebellion are staples in any rock circuit, and Ryan and Minto know this well. But the band try to strike a balance between that aspect of the lifestyle and the pursuit of honest rock n' roll perfection. It's reflected in the recent name change to Minto, which is in reference to a small town in New Brunswick, near where Hoben is originally from. "It's this debauched little town. It's got a lot of problems, lots of fighting and hard drinking and drugs. But the thing is: it's still a beautiful little place, so it has this interesting double aspect to it. A nice little rural community with these intense social problems as well. That duality exists in every band, I think."

The rock n' roll dream is a worthy one to this self described "arena folk" band:
"We just want to work our shitty jobs, tour a bunch, come back and work our shitty jobs, go tour some more. It's the dream, man. It's kind of a weird, shitty dream compared to what other people may be dreaming, but it works for us."

MINTO followed Adelaide in their first official show after returning from recording with Steve Albini in Chicago. Of all the evening’s offerings, MINTO were the most mature bands, they even had t-shirts!
Merch aside, their focus could be seen and heard on stage with tight vocal harmonies, righteous rock and strong stage presence -- front man Wally verging on theatricality. A big voice and bigger personality, he was the only capital “F” front man we saw that evening and towards the end of their set, he picked up the tambourine with such a zesty, stylized approach he half danced with it.
Minto’s pop-rock frenzy is fresh, keep an eye out for their upcoming new album.