Calgary based classically trained, electro -pop duo Sidney York are all about pushing the envelope for ‘band geeks’
The band consists of opera singer/ French Horn player Brandi Sidoryk and bassoonist Krista Wodelet.
“We’re the core of the band. We’re an electro pop band. We’re a wh
irlwind of instruments on stage,” said Brandi Sidoryk from Portland.
They will visit the Slice, Jan. 25, in the middle of a three month tour including mostly American concert dates which will bring them to Austin, Texas’ renown South by Southwest Music Festival.
“ We both have masters degrees in music. We’re band geeks. These are the same instruments we’ve played since Grade 6, but we wanted to show high school band instruments can be so much more than you expect them to be,” she continued.
“We both play synths and Krista plays her bassoon like an electric guitar- through a whole bunch of guitar effects,” she described.
“We’re seeing a lot of places for the first time,” Sidoryk said.
“ It’s not what we expected. People are really excited to see us. They have been super terrific. We didn’t expect that response,’” she enthused.
‘It’s nice to be appreciated south of the border,” she said adding they did a handful of very successful shows in American cities including Cleveland and Chicago. So word spread from those shows and from having their song ‘Dick and Jane’ from their first album ‘Apocalyptic Radio Cynic’ used in a commercial for Daley’s Cocktails.
“They make margaritas and we love margaritas,” she enthused.
They officially release their latest album <3s (Hearts) today, Jan. 14.
“There is more co-writing between myself on this record and Krista since she joined the band. The first record, I wrote all of the songs,” she said.
“This is a break-up record. Both of us were going through break ups at the same time. So it was interesting to see how much our lives mirrored each other,” she said.
But they are doing it two songs at a time. This month they release the songs “ Heart” and “ElectroLove” Next month it will be “Love ” and “I Could Swim ”
But the full length CD is available at their shows.
“They can subscribe to the album. So when we release the songs, they get a digital download. And we mail them a seven inch single on vinyl of the songs. With Canada Post cutting back on services,we though this would be fun, to mail people something that isn’t a bill,” she said.
The duo are touring with a band including drummer Niko Friesen, bassist Shaun Huberts and guitarist Noah Walker.
There is a $10 cover for the show which begins at 9 p.m.
