Biography
It takes dedication and hard work to reach the kind of success that Opus Road has been able to attain in such a short time span. From their college start to the recent release of their self-titled debut EP, these gritty rockers are quickly becoming a dominant force throughout Toronto's music scene.
The Opus Road EP -- released in September 2009 and produced by Eric Paul, drummer of Canadian rock giants Thornley and Big Sugar -- is a 5 track testament to where you can get with hard work, a little luck and a lot of raw talent. It was the band's heavy schedule of shows in Toronto and Southern Ontario that helped catch Paul's attention. A friendship was soon forged and the result is an undeniably great offering from a new band we certainly haven't heard the last of.
Since then, the band has rocked some of Canada's best venues and festivals, including The Ricoh Coliseum, The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Niagara's Grape & Wine Festival, North By Northeast and Canadian Music Week, and more recently, the first ever Queen West Musicfest at Trinity Bellwoods park. Opus Road has also caught the attention of many professional athletes who have asked the band to perform at private parties for sports teams such as the Toronto Marlies and the Detroit Red Wings.
Opus Road started as a modest three-piece acoustic act playing around their hometown of St. Catharines, Ontario while Rob, Jeff and J.P. were still in school. They quickly realized they were destined for something much bigger than playing around town to pay their way through college, so the boys packed their bags and headed to the big city. Shortly after moving to Toronto they met drummer Ryan and veteran bassist Jay (Rise Electric/Lukas Rossi, Jaw) and the band solidified into its final form: Rob Brown (vocals), Jeff Mahoney (rhythm guitar/backing vocals), J.P. Nadeau (lead guitar), Ryan English (drums), & Jay Cianfrini (bass).
In the short time they have been together, Opus Road has managed to achieve what few local bands are able to: They have earned a steady following through their consistently flawless live show and have caught the attention of some of Canada's major music industry players. With their honest blend of solid, spirited rock n’ roll, die-hard work ethic, and ability to effortlessly ignite a large crowd, Opus Road is proving they are a band poised to make some serious waves in the industry.
Opus Road Live at Breakfast Television, Toronto 2009
Opus Road Members & Instruments
Jeff Mahoney - Rhythm Guitar/ Vocals
Rob Brown - Lead Vocals
J.P Nadeau - Lead Guitar
Ryan English - Percussion/ Vocals
J - Bass Guitar/ Vocals
Buzz
"Energetic, edgy, rootsy...Opus Road is rough 'n' ready with strong songwriting and musicianship to match."
- Blair Packham, Host ‘Rock Talk’ CFRB Toronto
“I've worked booking bands for CITY TV & Breakfast TV for the last 12 years and spent another 12 before that working at Q107, 99.9 and CFRB. It would be impossible to remember all of the bands I've worked with; I choose just to remember the really bad ones & the really good ones. OPUS ROAD falls into the latter group. They have a tight, professional and original sound. We received a lot positive feedback when they played our show. I'm looking forward to hearing what they do in the future, and they are welcome back to our show anytime.” - Brad Matson, Segment/Music Producer, City TV/Breakfast Television Toronto
"St. Catharine’s-bred, Toronto-based alternative rock band Opus Road is about to take off. They know this; their album cover is a sketch of a jet pilot. In 2009, traditional rock music has been given over to either sweaty, misogynistic louts (hint: they win big at the Junos) or detached, collegiate types. Opus recalls a time when rock, particularly in Canada, didn’t have to be stupid to get heard, but could reach a broad audience anyway. The Tragically Hip and Matthew Good come to mind, both clear influences...It’s a real pleasure to see artists on the verge of a breakthrough, and Opus Road definitely fits that description."
- Jesse Skinner, Music Editor, TORO Magazine
Press
Roots Canada
Canadian Music Profile: Opus Road
Article By: Jay Skull
Following up on last week’s post about North By Northeast Music Festival (June 17-21), I thought I would take a look at one band that got their first chance to play the festival last year and are headed back this year for round two.
Opus Road is a band that got its start in St. Catharines, ON while the first three members (Jeff Mahoney, Rob Brown and J.P. Nadeau) played shows at local bars to pay for school.
A couple of years ago the three moved to Toronto to see if they could make their sound work on a bigger stage in the city. Since then they have added a couple more members (Ryan English and Jay Cianfrini) to create the cool rock sound that audiences everywhere are hearing today. Since then, they have played hundreds of shows in the city at a remarkable amount of venues. They have also had the opportunity to play festivals around the country including NXNE (last year), Canadian Music Week (the last two years), and they have played huge shows at both Ricoh Coliseum and the Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Party in 2008.
With rockin’ songs like “Motel Freedom” and “50 Feet High” these guys have managed to create an awesome sound that is all their own. Fans love them because of the stage presence that they have. They always look like they are having the time of their lives and their songs are so easy to sing along with. These guys clearly love what they do and are going to keep doing it as long as they can.
When I spoke to Mahoney he told me that not only are they playing festivals this summer, but they are also heading out to Hamilton to play “The Ride to Conquer Cancer” and the Easter Seal's 24 Hour Relay in Toronto.
To keep up to date with what these guys are up to and to check out some of their music head to the website at www.opusroad.com, become a fan on Facebook or check out their MySpace. Expect big things from Opus as they continue their rise to the top of the Canadian music scene.
The Brock Press
OPUS ROAD is on the Path to Success
Article by Marc MacDonald
A question often posed to bands and their members usually revolves around where and how they got started; for Opus Road it started right here at Brock University. [Read More]
Pulse Magazine
905 Invades the 416 @ NXNE
Ask any independent band what their primary concerns are in the early stages of their career and they’ll all tell you the same thing: they’re perpetually trying to remain on stages as much as possible, they want to get their name out anywhere they’re able, and they want to make business contacts to facilitate the possibility of making a career of their band. Those same musicians will also tell you that it’s incredibly hard to make any or all of those strides and it’s true; if you’re not a household name and tend to play the same bars on a weekly basis, you run the risk of being taken for granted because fans assume that you’re always going to be there so missing one show isn’t a big deal.
If the primary objective for a given band isn’t simply to get out and have fun and have a few laughs – if they want to make music their life’s work – they need a leg up or a helping hand. For the uninitiated, it’s difficult to know where to begin but, happily, there are ways to find out. Each year at the dawn of summer, the North By Northeast Music Conference and Festival descends upon the city of Toronto and, for the four days, there are few bars that aren’t overtaken by multi–band showcases and, at this point, the shows feature a global scope of talent. Bands from Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, the U.S. and more have flocked to the conference this year in an attempt to establish a foothold in the Canadian music market place and, with the increased number of venues participating, more domestic bands have found their way into venues as well. Not all of the domestic bands are so far flung either; this year a select few from the Niagara Region are making the trek up to make their voices heard.
Making contacts in the business, trying to win new fans and trying to establish their names on the tour circuit are the driving forces for many of the bands that will be attending the conference this year, and, for some, the strides they’ve taken and the inroads they’ve made into the Toronto scene have been their greatest asset. Such is the case with Opus Road, according to the band’s singer and guitarist Jeff Mahoney. When the conference put the question of who they should invite to play, those rooms at which they’ve appeared before all said Opus Road. “We’ve got a pretty good record with a lot of the owners of the bars we’ve played at and I guess when they were asked by the conference, they recommended us,” beams the singer. “I think we got lucky because we’ve applied before and gone through the whole process, but it never came through. We got recommended though, and here we are. We can’t wait – it’s going to be awesome.
“We’re trying to make contacts but each member of our band has different strengths and different business roles sort of worked themselves nicely into that,” continues the singer. “I do a lot of publicity and people–meeting stuff. Last week they sent us an email to RSVP and gave us the option of getting paid for the show or we could get a festival pass and get into some of the interviews of more experienced artists or people in the industry so we took the conference pass because it’s an opportunity that only comes once a year. We’re really looking forward to seeing what North By Northeast has to offer; I’m not sure what it’ll be, but we’ll be there to find out.”
In the cases of some bands, the members have already visited the conference – just not together with in the band they’re currently playing with. Such is the circumstance with drummer Patrick Sirianni. Sirianni first appeared at North By Northeast with his former band, Policies And Procedures, three years ago and got a taste of what the proceedings could hold. Now an old hand at the rigmarole, the drummer is still excited at the prospect of going back with Casey Baker and the Buffalo Sinners. With such a decorated history, the obvious question could be, why do the conference now? The band’s name and those of its members have already been made, why go back and run the risk of being lost in the shuffle of hundreds of bands? Sirianni isn’t worried in the slightest at that prospect. He sees the value of returning to the conference very clearly and recognizes that resting on laurels isn‘t an option; there‘s always more work that could be done. “I think we just need to keep as much momentum as possible going,” explains the drummer of the impetus for Casey Baker and the Buffalo Sinners to return to North By Northeast. “We’ve already got one release on Dine Alone, but it’s only a four–song EP and we’re about to head back into the studio to record a full–length. We ’re about to start, but we wanted to get out a bit and make sure that we stay on people’s minds.
Indie InTune Magazine
Opus Road Band Review
Article by Melody Geear, April 2008
From acoustic guitars and live recordings to beat boxing, Opus Road is a Canadian band that brings the term “acoustic” to a whole other level. They focus their efforts on the strength that can come from being truly acoustic. Each song has been stripped down to the bare essentials, allowing the beauty of structure, rhythm and vocals to be displayed to their full potential. So much of the current music scene is overdubbed, generic porridge that sounds better post-studio rather than any live performance. Opus Road rejects the need for complete perfection — it’s the subtle nuances of live acoustic performances that makes their music fresh and leaves their audience wanting more.
Like many acoustic performers before them, Opus Road relies on lyric and vocal strengths. However, their rhythm section adds the perfect structural support and makes each song unique in their own way. “The Solution” is a track that is reminiscent of Jack Johnson’s musical signature. Jeff Mahoney and Rob Brown on guitars add a light and airy feel to the track. They blend perfectly with the melody and play off the vocals like a sweet spring breeze off tall blades of grass. “Talk to Oz” uses haunting lyrics and emotive vocals about loss as the key to this piece. The vocal harmonies add to the beauty of the track while the lyrics sweep in into the audience’s ears to create an effective .
One of the most unique tracks on the Cellar Door Sessions album is “Understand”. When one thinks of beat boxing, it’s usually accompanied by synths and pop vocals — however, in this case it lays a foundation for contemporary rock vocals and soft guitars. It’s a harmonizing sound that fits perfectly with the direction of the track and still allows the genuine quality of the song to ring true. This creative idea adds to the complexity that is Opus Road.
Unlike many rock bands on the mainstream variety, Opus Road stays true to their soul. Their smooth and rhythmic quality shows the best of what Canada has to offer. This band won’t have a hard time breaking through to U.S. radio, as long as they continue to listen to their hearts and give their audience the best of what they have to offer.
IndieCan
Canadian Music Showcase, a fusion of art and industry
Article by Mark R. Keeler, Ph,D.
Celebrating the collaboration of Canadian independent music, the first Canadian Music Showcase stands as a shining example of entertainment events and a spotlight on the music Canada brings to the world stage.
Originating with a project at Landmark Education, a global education organization that focuses on enabling participants to maximize their abilities and growth, Ryan Lister brought to life one of the most innovative showcases of Canadian music talent. This event brought to the stage a splendid mixture of acoustic and rock from some of the hottest names on the indie scene.
With rising stars like Opus Road, the mesmerizing vocals of Megan Bonnell and the uniquely eastern flavour of Ketch Harbour Wolves combined with newcomer Matt La Fontaine, the show fused the best of established and upcoming talent that offered a rich and vibrant cross-section of entertainment. Ryan Lister, an upward mobile Toronto actress, launched the first Canadian Music Showcase to give artists the opportunity to promote their talent and allow them to form relationships with entertainment labels and media.
Held at the Gladstone Hotel on October 30, 2007, Ryan, partnering with internationally recognized actor Dmitry Chepovetsky, offered a great evening open to industry insiders from Canada, United States and the United Kingdom. Not content with music alone, the Canadian Music Showcase also highlighted the stunning works of artist Arpad Szoke and photographer Cailin Jones to give the event a superbly Canadian touch.
Industry insider, Raquel de los Reyes, of Kings Entertainment Canada, was present at the event and noted “this event, and showcases like it, do wonders for artists in particular and the industry in general. I am looking forward to more great works from Ryan.”
Overall, Canadian Music Showcase scored a flawless victory and delivered an event of remarkable caliber. Combining the collaboration of sensational Canadian talent and the warm and intimate ambiance of the Gladstone Hotel made for a perfect event.
Good time for the planner
The Toronto Star
By Shauna Rempel
"It's 11 on a Friday night and the party at Grace O'Malley's is in full swing. Paper hat-clad revellers celebrate a 20th birthday in a corner, and on the dance floor girls shimmy to a deejay while St. Catharines college band Opus Road warms up onstage..."
