It’s been a landmark year for Toronto rockers Wildlife with the band seeing their first top 10 rock radio hit with Lightning Tent, a win at the 2014 SiriusXM Indie Awards for Rock Artist/Group or Duo Of The Year, as well as nominations for Live Artist/Group or Duo Of The Year and Alternative Artist/Group or Duo Of The Year.
They perform Nov. 22nd at the Memorial Centre with Juno Award-winner Lights.
The group also saw the release of the new documentary Born To Ruin which follows the band as they recorded their sophomore album …On The Heart.
…On The Heart was released last year and was produced by Peter Katis (The National, Sigur Ros, Interpol) and Gus Van Go (The Stills, Hollerado).
It examines everything the heart does for us – the highs and lows, how it helps us and hurts us, heals us, holds us up and pushes us forward.
From the opening plaintive tones of If It Breaks to the bold, anthemic Born to Ruin, there is really little that’s held back – emotionally or sound-wise. Wildlife literally takes each song and tackles it for all it’s worth – take the expressive, rhythmic Bad Dream, for example; or the comparatively simply structured Don’t Fear.
Bonnie clips along at a fierce pace which contrasts starkly with the ethereal, imaginative Pulse to the progressive and building tones of Lightning Tent. The superbly-crafted Two Hearts Race rounds out the project on a fitting, accessible note.
A fixture in the Toronto music scene, Wildlife is known for their bombastic sound and high-energy shows. Band members Dean Povinsky, Graham Plant and Dwayne Christie are originally from Oshawa, Ontario.
Wildlife began as an entity in 2005, when singer/guitarist Povinsky and guitarist Darryl Smith left Queen’s University in Kingston and moved to Glasgow to form and play in a band. The group, also comprising Scottish drummer Peter Kelly and Canadian Billy Holmes, spent time traveling, writing songs, recording and playing small venues around Glasgow.
The dark days, rain and homesickness led the members to abandon the project and return to Canada.
Povinsky moved to Toronto with the intention of continuing Wildlife with childhood friend Graham Plant on guitar, drummer Dwayne Christie and Julia Mensink playing synthesizer. The group was rounded out when bassist Derek Bosomworth was procured.
The group independently released a self-titled EP in November of 2008. Copies were sold at shows and on tours of Ontario and eastern Canada. Next up, they released Strike Hard, Young Diamond in November of 2010 on the Toronto-based independent label Easy Tiger – Weber
