The top 5 selling albums on the CRIA (Canadian Recording Industry
Association) chart currently include Jack Johnson, Alan Jackson,
Michael Jackson, and Simple Plan. Just a few weeks back, the number
one spot was held by Ontario’s Protest the Hero. Anybody who has
been immersed in their full and commanding sound understands the
oddity of this. That being said, it is high time a hard-rocking, hard-
drinking band like PTH gets the recognition they deserve.
I arrived at the Silverstein-headlined show not knowing what to
expect from the opening acts. Knowing about the interview in advance,
I read their bios, listened to the MySpace tracks and did the standard
research, but nothing could have prepared me for what came next.
They hit the stage with a full-force assault of intensity and talent.
Guitar licks and basslines like nothing else out of the so-called
“metalcore” scene. Rody Walker, PTH’s lead vocalist, reminded me of
a forgotten drug-child of Phil Anselmo and Mike Patton, but with the
voice of Rob Halford. He paced the stage in exhaustion, wearing a plain
white t-shirt and gym shorts, only five minutes into the set citing that
he just started feeling the effects of a hangover (mind you it was 8:00
pm). He proceeded to talk trash about everything “scene.” “I was
walking around earlier, and saw these two beautiful women engaged in
a kiss. I walked closer and realized that one of them was a dude. What
kind of shit is that? Do they share pants?” Rody taunted from the
stage, “Remember how we used to make fun of the Flock of Seagulls
haircut? Well, some of the haircuts here are worse!” Needless to say,
I was tremendously eager to get to talk to this crew.
Just before Silverstein took the stage, I headed out to the band’s van
(I was able to locate it simply by the Ontario plates). Rody Walker
(lead vocals) and Arif Mirabdolbaghi (bass/backing vocals) graciously
invited me on board, swiping the leftover chicken strips and dozens of
empty Budweiser bottles off the front bench to offer me a seat. I
politely declined the chicken leftovers and switched on the recorder. I
asked how they were doing, to which they replied that they were
Association) chart currently include Jack Johnson, Alan Jackson,
Michael Jackson, and Simple Plan. Just a few weeks back, the number
one spot was held by Ontario’s Protest the Hero. Anybody who has
been immersed in their full and commanding sound understands the
oddity of this. That being said, it is high time a hard-rocking, hard-
drinking band like PTH gets the recognition they deserve.
I arrived at the Silverstein-headlined show not knowing what to
expect from the opening acts. Knowing about the interview in advance,
I read their bios, listened to the MySpace tracks and did the standard
research, but nothing could have prepared me for what came next.
They hit the stage with a full-force assault of intensity and talent.
Guitar licks and basslines like nothing else out of the so-called
“metalcore” scene. Rody Walker, PTH’s lead vocalist, reminded me of
a forgotten drug-child of Phil Anselmo and Mike Patton, but with the
voice of Rob Halford. He paced the stage in exhaustion, wearing a plain
white t-shirt and gym shorts, only five minutes into the set citing that
he just started feeling the effects of a hangover (mind you it was 8:00
pm). He proceeded to talk trash about everything “scene.” “I was
walking around earlier, and saw these two beautiful women engaged in
a kiss. I walked closer and realized that one of them was a dude. What
kind of shit is that? Do they share pants?” Rody taunted from the
stage, “Remember how we used to make fun of the Flock of Seagulls
haircut? Well, some of the haircuts here are worse!” Needless to say,
I was tremendously eager to get to talk to this crew.
Just before Silverstein took the stage, I headed out to the band’s van
(I was able to locate it simply by the Ontario plates). Rody Walker
(lead vocals) and Arif Mirabdolbaghi (bass/backing vocals) graciously
invited me on board, swiping the leftover chicken strips and dozens of
empty Budweiser bottles off the front bench to offer me a seat. I
politely declined the chicken leftovers and switched on the recorder. I
asked how they were doing, to which they replied that they were
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