The Awkward Stage was a Canadian indie pop band from Vancouver fronted by singer-songwriter Shane Nelken.[1] The band's supporting lineup consisted of Tygh Runyan on lead guitar, Tony Koelwyn on drums and Chris Mitchell on trumpet and keyboards.
The Awkward Stage | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Genres | Indie pop |
| Years active | 2006-2009 |
| Labels | Mint Records |
| Members | Shane Nelken Tygh Runyan Tony Koelwyn Chris Mitchell |
| Website | theawkwardstage |
History edit
Nelken, who works as a cremationist, had a longtime side career as a musician, supporting a number of artists including A. C. Newman, New Pornographers and Sparrow.[2][3] He put together The Awkward Stage (which included drummer Kurt Dahle),[4] and released a debut album, Heaven Is for Easy Girls, on Mint Records in 2006.[5][6] Nelken performed much of the music himself, with some help from violinist Kim Koch and trumpeter Shaun Brodie.[7] The album charted on Canadian campus radio[8] and CBC Radio 3, which named the band's song "We're Going for a Ride" one of its Top 94 songs of 2006.[9]
With Tygh Runyan, Tony Koelwyn and Chris Mitchell, The Awkward Stage released a second album, Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights, in 2008.[10][11] The songs were written and arranged by Nelkin.[2]
The band has been inactive since 2009.
Discography edit
- Heaven Is for Easy Girls (2006), Mint Records
- Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights (2008), Mint Records
References edit
- ^ CMJ New Music Report. Vol. Issues 967-990. CMJ Network. 2006. p. 80.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help) - ^ a b "The Awkward Stage Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights" Archived 2021-11-30 at the Wayback Machine. AllMusic Review by Mark Deming
- ^ "Tragically unhip" Archived 2023-08-16 at the Wayback Machine. Georgia Straight, by Jennifer Van Evra on January 3, 2007
- ^ "Vancouver Buzz: Little Hamm On Big Screen And The Awkward Stage Sign To Mint". Chart Attack - Aug 4, 2006[dead link]
- ^ "The Awkward Stage – Heaven Is For Easy Girls". discogs.com. Discogs. October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "The Awkward Stage Heaven is for Easy Girls" Archived 2019-08-14 at the Wayback Machine. Exclaim!, By Chris Whibbs Oct 01, 2006
- ^ "The Awkward Stage Heaven Is for Easy Girls" Archived 2017-06-20 at the Wayback Machine. Pop Matters, by Michael Keefe 29 November 2006
- ^ "The Dears Return To The Top Of The Chart". Chart Attack - Oct 24, 2006[dead link]
- ^ CBC Radio 3 - Top 94 Tracks of 2006, radio3.cbc.ca, 2006-12-31. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
- ^ "The Awkward Stage – Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights". discogs.com. Discogs. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "The Awkward Stage Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights" Archived 2019-08-14 at the Wayback Machine. Exclaim!, By Chris Whibbs Jun 10, 2008
External links edit
- The Awkward Stage official site
- The Awkward Stage profile at Mint Records
- Interview with Shane Nelken, October 8, 2008.