Pictured from left: Anthony da Costa, John Showman, Roman Tomé, Ben Whiteley (Photo Provided)

By Samantha Watson
Marketing, Ignition Music Garage

New Country Rehab cuts through the clutter of watered-down musical imitations with a modern, high-voltage, alt-country sound. Combining sharp innovation and a deep respect and knowledge of timeless musical themes and motifs, New Country Rehab’s powerful music is full of love, loss, longing and joy. They are ”more Arcade Fire than Lady Antebellum…like Canada’s answer to the Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons” Nigel Williamson, UNCUT ( January 2012)

Spearheaded by lead singer and fiddle player John Showman joined by Anthony da Costa on guitar, Ben Whiteley on double bass and Roman Tomé on drums and backing vocals, the Toronto based collective is ”poised to be the next big thing in Canadian music” Tom Power, CBC Radio. Growing audiences in Canada, the U.S. And Europe are responding to New Country Rehab’s infectious love and enthusiasm for the music they are playing. The band make it, ”super accessible, not only to fans of roots/folk/country, but even to the broader, less country inclined audience.” (Josef Jensen, Indie Artist Podcast)

This artistic vision and original writing has earned the respect of many critics, ”a debut that demonstrates class” (Rootstime.be) and welcome receptions of audiences, ”…even with the deep pool of technical talent here, the focus is on maintaining a mood over all else”(torontoist.com). Maverick magazine’s Russell Hill describes the band’s sound as ”Successfully merging the old and new in a rambunctious way”and describes the band as having”their feet planted firmly on the ground, this Canadian band has the right intentions and there is to be no stopping them.” (March 2012)

Their 2011 debut, self-titled album was received with glowing and international praise by reviewers. The group blends lyrical sensibility and musical focus to produce exceptional original songs. From the first track, “Angel of Death,” ”…fiddle and [vocal] harmonies take us back to the past, but modern guitars and pedals still explode into huge choruses that jump-start the songs and help the band standout” (Bryan Acker, Herohill.com).

The haunting mood of “Cameo,” a contemplative tale of escape and redemption, provides a beautiful contrast to the gritty tale of a gambler’s endgame, “The Last Hand,” a rollicking interplay of fiddle and guitar riffs underpinned by driving bass and percussion that builds relentlessly to the violent climax and denouement of the story. Not afraid to show it’s influences, New Country Rehab takes the Hank Williams, Sr. classic “Ramblin’ Man,” chews it up and spits it out as an eerie, dub-drenched trip through a mournful latin groove. The group reinvents Bruce Springsteen’s seminal “State Trooper” with police sirens and jarring, distorted hooks to imbue it with ”…a menace even the original struggles to match” (Andy Fyfe, Q Magazine January 2012). Recorded by Roots and Indie-rock producer, Chris Stringer (Obijou and Timber -Timbre) New Country Rehab highlights the group’s original compositions and deep musical palette.

Paul Erdman (Photo Provided)

Paul Erdman is a seasoned guitar player with his roots in the farmlands of southern Indiana. The country sounds of Indiana blend well with his early blues influences and he has stretched his repertoire as a songwriter as well.

He has spent most of his life honing his craft including a few tours playing in a cruise ship lounge. One of his more interesting venues is the two seasons spent as a lead guitar and vocal artist at Cedar Point.

Dating back to his beginnings with Kris Brownlee and the Grooveside, Paul has played with up-and-comer Levi Riggs of Windridge Records and The Jay Wiley band of Pittsburgh, he also did a stint with The Hawkeyes. He has performed worldwide and stateside; all over the Midwest, New York City, Nashville, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, and Chicago.

New Country Rehab and Paul Erdman will be at the Ignition Music Garage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12. Reserved seating is $20; general admission is $15. Visit ignitionmusic.net.