Mad June CD Launch

On November 21st, 2009, Montreal sweethearts Mad June visited their favorite Montreal venue, Club Lambi, to party with friends, family and fans, in celebration of their debut CD "We're Not Strangers" The 10-song CD is now officially available for sale through the band's website, and iTunes.

Marie-Lyne (guitars), Vanessa (lead vocals, guitars), Pascale (bass) and Lydia (drums) rocked the stage, presenting all 10 songs from the new release, plus an acoustic encore of "24" (formerly entitled "Shadows", for those who have followed the band from their early beginnings). They sheepishly told the crowd they weren't even sure how this version would go over, but it did more than fare well.

Black masks were worn during their live rendition of "The Stranger Ones". With strobing colored lights and a darker stage ambiance, this was both engaging and cute. Stage-fright obviously checked at the door, the girls took turns climbing atop amps, and being 100% rockstar. Vanessa even hopped offstage to run around the audience - if that ain't a true rock n' roll star, I'm not sure what is!

The songs on the new CD have been honed and reconstructed, sometimes resulting in "brand new" songs that sound vaguely familiar. Noteworthy changes have been made to "The Arc" and "Polaroid", in particular. It seems studio time and countless jam sessions have also taught them how to slow things down and not rush through a great song. Sometimes slowing down, lets the listener hear subtleties such as the intricate beats Lydia adds, or the various tones Vanessa can achieve with her vocals.

The production on the CD is slick without being too polished. In fact, it's almost like hearing the band live. The bass sound is captured perfectly and the rhythm and lead guitar don't drown each other out, but rather, work in harmony to add layers to the overall sound. At the CD launch, Marie-Lyne did go a little crazy showing off her chops, but I say, if you have 'em, show 'em off! And this guitarist has skills, so why not! Each band member, in fact, is great at what she does. This is what makes a solid band. Four equal parts working together, to create something that is larger than each part on its own.

Congrats, Mad June, for sharing the fruits of your labour with us, and may your success leak to other parts of the world, pronto!

http://www.madjune.com/

http://myspace.com/madjune

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mad-June/19610750896