THE WET SECRETS with Kendall Patrick and Ah, Venice

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016
7:30 PM to 11:59 PM

Edmonton's THE WET SECRETS play their first headlining show in Nanaimo to promote their new just-released EP "I CAN LIVE FOREVER" - with guests Kendall Patrick and the Headless Bettys (Nanaimo) and Ah, Venice (Nanaimo)

Tickets $8 adv / $12 door. Tickets online at Ticketweb.ca and at the Cambie, Fascinating Rhythm, and Arbutus Music. Tickets: (Ticketweb link) http://goo.gl/YxOudq

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THE WET SECRETS INFO: Here come The Wet Secrets, a furry-hatted frantic pop six-piece from Edmonton, known for their bass and horn heavy dance rock and their unmistakable, impeccable tailoring. The Wet Secrets turn dysfunction into inspiration with swampy basslines, primal drumming, towering, dancing horn section, keys, saxophone and congas. It looks like Pop Art, it sounds like party rock. “I Can Swing A Hammer” is a brand new song, released Jan 8th, 2016 on Six Shooter Records through all digital and streaming platforms. The song is a taste of things to come from the band’s next album, The Tyranny of Objects, expected in Spring 2016. In less than four minutes you too will feel that you can swing a hammer with the best of them.
Website: http://www.thewetsecrets.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewetsecrets

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KENDALL PATRICK AND THE HEADLESS BETTYS INFO: Kendall Patrick believes that art should serve a purpose greater than the ego and influence of the artist who creates it. The Nanaimo/Ladysmith-based singer/songwriter utilizes her abundant musical gifts to inspire and enlighten all those who hear her songs. Like the poet and troubadour of days gone by, Kendall Patrick is firm in the conviction that her melodic musings should challenge preconceived notions and conventional thinking. Patrick is an artist whose passion and purpose guide her every career move. “I believe that, for me, the gift of songwriting comes with a social responsibility. Music can have a big impact on people. Because I choose my influences carefully, I have been guided to strength, validation, empowerment, and hope. I find a lot of mainstream pop music parallels political tragedy, where leaders with great power use their words to undermine and control the population, playing on fear and insecurity.” says the 26-year-old native of Ladysmith, B.C. “For example, I don't think Miley Cyrus has cruel intentions but is ignorant to the negative impact her recent performance has had on young, developing girls. That is an example of thousands that could be given for the ways of modern pop entertainment, and it fuels me to keep a close eye on what messages I send to a world I really care about through my songs. I, myself, have been heavily and negatively influenced by some of the Top 40 music that serenaded my teen years, and I can attest that it is, in truth, no light matter." With her new band, Kendall Patrick and The Headless Bettys, featuring Lena Birtwistle (keys/vocals), Caleb Burness/ Brendan Holm on drums, bassist Brent Chauvin, Patrick is creating music that not only has a profound and powerful message but songs that are conveyed in a manner that is both accessible and memorable.

Topically, Patrick’s songs deal with issues that are often personal – sometimes painfully so – as well as broader issues that are socially significant and relevant, and are done in a way that challenges the listener to think and rethink their ingrained ideas and beliefs. “A lot of my writing is inspired by the chaos in my head. I struggled with addiction in the past. I have been sober for six years but the way that an addict’s brain works is very inspiring to me. There’s a real internal war being waged – a war of emotions and extreme behaviour and pain. But I look at it through the filter of being a more spiritual human being now, as I try to live by a system of spiritual principles,” she said. “Every day I get the opportunity to live differently, to make different choices, create my own heaven. I get to take responsibility and stay open to the concept of continual growth and development, not only as an artist, but as a human being.” Her blend of entrancing and enticing melodies and poignant, hard-hitting lyrics is not a surprise when you considered the varied nature of Patrick’s early artistic influences. She sheepishly admits that she may lose a little ‘street cred’ when it comes to the act that first inspired her to be a songwriter. “When I was in Grade 4, I will never forget the morning I was watching MuchMusic before school and I saw MMMBop by Hanson come on TV. I swear to God the chemistry in my body changed from that moment on for the rest of my life. It was an incredibly pleasurable experience. My serotonin levels were going through the roof.” Like many socially conscious, aspiring female artists, the powerful energy and searingly compelling writing of musician Ani DiFranco hit Patrick with thunderous resonance in her late teens. “That pretty much opened all the doors for my lyrics. The things that I came to care about and my values as a human being were shaped by her music and her words. And even her style appealed to me. She writes with the perfect combination of being poetic and literal and her rhythmic and dynamic use of guitar and lyrics have shaped my tastes in songwriting,” said Patrick.

More recently, she admits to being a little obsessed with the work of California folk singer Brett Dennen. “Brett really packs the greatest punch these days. He has weighed in on my life the most heavily over the past two years. His lyrics launched me out of a stagnant, unhealthy complacency into a freedom revolution of self-love and love for others. His information-filled, compassionate perspective on the difficulties of life made me fall in love with him, and his songs for peace, harmony and love challenged me to live every day like it was my last. Brett Dennen doesn’t look or sound like anyone else. Watching his live performances is a testament to his ‘be-true-to-yourself’ lifestyle. He pretty much IS my higher power.” With DiFranco and Denned as her guides, Patrick’s creative energies have been used to expose the follies and fallacies of modern cultural norms, specifically the pressures of rigid conformity that bombard young people – especially girls and young women. “I challenged myself to see the world a bit differently. I just realized that I was like a robot; following convention. Once I realized that I wasn’t choosing to be like this, I got very angry and went in the extreme opposite direction. I changed the way I dressed, the way I behaved, the way I thought. And I was compelled to share this revelation through my music and also through speaking directly to young people.” The result was first the Girl Rant, and later Operation Empowerment. Girl Rant was a piece of beat poetry set to music and examined how the media and pop culture affect the lives of girls.

Operation Empowerment brought these issues into greater focus and propelled Patrick into the realm of public speaking. “And that subject is still a source of inspiration for me, because things haven’t changed in the world. The media is still incredibly oversexualized. And there’s a lot of pressure on girls and guys on how they should behave, how they should think and how to do this and that. I don’t like that because it strips people of even their awareness that they have a choice of how they want to be perceived,” she said. “With Operation Empowerment I would go to school assemblies and using spoken word and music to talk about my experiences growing up and how I fell into the conventions society had dictated for me. And I talk about how I got out of that and how I realized I have so much more of a choice than I thought I did. Information is power and I was just imparting information from my unique point of view and my own life experiences. And that’s what I try to do in my music as well.” Patrick has released three albums under her own name, but the music she is now creating with The Headless Betty’s is somewhat of a departure from what was heard on House of Ink, See It Coming and The Other Side. “The overall sound of the new material differs from my other albums because we are using specific and consistent voices and instruments. The music is very relatable to audiences during the live experience.

It has a more enlightening, refreshing and even fun sound to it.” says Patrick. She also has plans to tour and spread her inspirational, hopeful message of self-empowerment as broadly as she can, starting with her home province of British Columbia. There is little doubt that with such a compelling story, and such a profoundly moving message, that Patrick will continue to impact lives in a powerful way for many years to come, through her voice, her words and her example. Videos: “Cannonball” - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCSpcj2a8MlpL5dTjsmCbHQ

“Big Stars” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8z3riAQyMc

Website: http://www.kendallpatrick.com/videos/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kendallpatrickmusic/

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AH, VENICE INFO: Ah, Venice is a purposeful and emotional folk band consisting of Nanaimo's Chris Thompson, Natalie Sponaugle, and Mercedes Courtoreille. The band has existed in one form or another for eight years. Always led by Chris, the band's arrangment has seen experiments ranging from full horn sections, to three bass guitars, to violins and clarinets; however all of it's iterations have been linked by the strive for intelligent and emotionally authentic songs. All three members have jazz and vocal training and so have found a natural balance and musical language. Ah, Venice recently released the album "Go To Hell, Chris Thompson", a deeply personal look at every angle of a failing relationship.

Chris spent two years recording and perfecting the album, which features band members Natalie and Mercedes, as well as a who's-who of Nanaimo talent. Chris is also a member of Nanaimo electronic band

TOP MEN. Website: http://www.ah-venice.com/#album Bandcamp: https://ahvenice.bandcamp.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AhVenice Ah Venice Web Site: http://www.ah-venice.com/#album Bandcamp: https://ahvenice.bandcamp.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AhVenice