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Black Powder Toys

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Released: May 1, 2011
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General Info

  • Genre: Alternative / Indie / Rock

    Location Vancouver, Ca

    Profile Views: 647092

    Last Login: 8/6/2012

    Member Since 7/30/2006

    Website www.blackpowdertoys.com

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    Black Powder Toys (also known as BPT) is a 5-piece modern rock band that formed in Vancouver, BC, Canada in 2006. Their independent debut album, Made in China, was recently released in May 2011. The Early Years Charismatic front man Clayton Blancard and keyboardist Pete Ryznar teamed up over a decade ago in an old, run-down warehouse on the North Shore waterfront. Their early projects, Roscoe P Coltrane and Idle Urge, solidified a musical partnership that sparked the interest of North Shore producer Paul Baker, of Bakerstreet Studios. Paul, known for his work with Chris Isaak, Paul Hyde (The Payolas), and Chilliwack, took the pair under his wing to record their first demo. Within months, It's You was being played on rock station Wolf FM 106.9 in Nanaimo. A steady stream of Island and Vancouver shows followed, with radio interviews on the Wolf, appearances on Urban Rush, and consecutive spotlight shows at Vancouver's New Music West. Plagued by multiple band-member changes, the pair continued to forge ahead. Armed with a growing catalogue of original songs, they set out to recruit new members who shared a similar passion for the music. After their introduction to guitarist Tom Lawreszuk (Fear Zero, Seven Second Chase, Winston) they knew they had their guy. Tom took the songs to the next level with his inspiring hooks and melodic style. Drummer Matt Pavan paired with bass player Don Binns (Sons of Freedom, Econoline Crush) formed an unstoppable rhythm section that completed the band. Black Powder Toys was born. The Album Upon hearing the 5-piece perform live, Paul invited the boys back to the studio to record their debut album. The rhythm tracks were complete when the band received a call from Paul shortly after Christmas 2008 – he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Devastated by the news, the band continued to play, performing six 2010 Winter Olympics shows, including the Plaza of Nations and the Olympic Torch Relay. Paul's health took precedence – the band put the CD on hold to allow Paul to focus on his battle with cancer. In Sept 2010, Paul passed away. A benefit concert followed with Black Powder Toys playing alongside Colin James, the Odds, Chilliwack, Shari Ulrich, and Paul Hyde. Black Powder Toys' debut album, Made in China, was completed by Paul's successor, producer Dave Meszaros, in April 2011. It is a tribute to producer extraordinaire Paul Baker and all those we have lost to cancer. Featured guest vocalists include Paul Hyde, Megan Metcalfe, and Dave Steele (Motley Crue, the Cult). The CD continues to win the band new fans with its edgy melodies, catchy choruses and lyrics that speak to the struggles and obstacles that characterize their day-to-day lives. . Black Powder Toys are currently sourcing out studios for a follow-up CD. The group has a surplus of new songs ready for preproduction. Expect a new album out in early 2012. The word is out. BPT is ready to rock the worlds music scene. So get off the couch and check out one of their smoldering live sets at a music venue near you!
  • Members

    vocals - Clayton Blancard keyboards - Pete Ryznar drums & percussion - Matt Pavan guitar - Tom Lawreszuk bass - Tom Gourlie
  • Influences

  • Sounds Like

    3 doors down, goo goo dolls, default, crash test dummies

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Member Since:

July 30, 2006

Members:

Clayton Blancard – BPT’s enigmatic front man, Blancard boasts a potent pitch and a set of knees regarded as almost perfect. The great-great grandson of Pepe Blancard, the infamous New York tailor who, attempting to cut costs, inadvertently invented shorts. Unable to secure a patent, Pepe withdrew from society. It was during this the recluse invented the cue card. When he died, his epitaph was discovered scrawled across a cue card taped to his bedpost: “Cue cards: for shortening material”. While proud of his cue-card heritage, Blancard eschews them during live performances, insisting on memorizing his material. “Most of the songs are short,” he says.

Pete Ryznar – Found in a Polish sausage field during the spring harvest, this finger-lickin’ keyboardist was saved when the farmers realized sausages don’t grow in fields. After milking Ryznar, the farmers quickly set about to grow the rest of the band. Mixing secret blends of proteins with the fertile soil, the seeds of rock seemed firmly planted. Five years later, in what Perestroika Magazine referred to as “a triumph for all of Poland”, the farmers successfully harvested Kenny G. Ryznar and recently sold his life-rights to Paramount Pictures for an undisclosed sum. His book Pole Planting will be published next fall.

Matt Pavan - while a baby, assembled his first drum kit with toothpicks, peeled skin and a tube of denture glue. At 12 months, he starred as the Broadway lead in the critically-acclaimed “Little Drummer Boy”. But fate took center stage when Pavan was injured during a freak drum-soloing accident at a Cultus Lake concert. Forced into waiter work at a Chinese restaurant, he was eventually fired for constantly ripping his shirt off and tossing chopsticks into the crowd. After countless hours of therapy and against all odds, Pavan returned to the drums. He remains one of North America’s premier advocates for soloing safety.

Tom Lawreszuk – Tom’s lavish licks could often be heard vibrating right down Kingsway in East Vancouver. The guitarist was born on a bayou and in his spare time enjoys plummeting over Niagara Falls in a barrel marked “Dangerous Goods”. Raised by nuns, Lawreszuk’s frenetic fingers were often touted as “divine” and “inspirational”. By all accounts, they enjoyed his guitar work also. His work on Into the Nunnery: Unplugged was nominated for a Grammy.

Tom Gourlie – Gourlie’s a man that knows what he wants, and knows how to get it. Asked to help carry Pavan’s drums into a recent gig, Gourlie said: “I will not carry your drum kit, Matt. When I got thrown into this band I had a clear understanding with you guys: no drum kits. I'll carry your books, I'll carry a torch, I'll carry a tune, I'll carry on, carry over, carry forward, cash and carry, c arry me back to Old Virginia, I'll even 'hari-kari' if you show me how, but I will not carry a drum kit.”

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