Stabilo goes its own way
Band makes effortless transition from indie to big label
IN CONCERT
STABILO
Where: Telus Ski and Snowboard Festival, Whistler
When: Part of the free concert series today from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Also: Stabilo plays tomorrow night at 9 at the Red Room. Tickets: $17.50 at Ticketmaster, Zulu
Stabilo exists in a world of its own.
Not apart from the world everybody else lives in but, seemingly, in a world of its own within the world we know. Does this make sense?
Stabilo appears to do what it wants regardless of the situation. As Stabilo Boss, the group didn't seem to be part of any local scene, community or clique. It hasn't a voguish sound. It went from an independent band to a major-label signing, to Virgin, with practically no fanfare. It conducted itself as though still an indie. It toured and became just Stabilo. It made the new Happiness & Disaster in a similarly unassuming way.
Again, you get the feeling that Stabilo will carry on going its own way regardless of trends.
About 10 years ago, Jesse Dryfhout met Christopher John. Both were songwriters with different backgrounds in bands. Needing a rhythm section, the two eventually were joined by Nathan Wylie and Karl Williaume to become Stabilo Boss. John wrote the band's indie hit "Everybody" (re-recorded for the new album), while Dryfhout has the current single, "Flawed Design." A band with two songwriters and singers is supposed to clash but Stabilo is like Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy in that they make room for one another and the styles actually are complimentary, if different.
The new album is a growth chart. Last year, Dryfhout married and moved to Toronto. The other three stayed in Vancouver.
"I've tried to convince the other guys to come here, but they won't," says Dryfhout, noting that being in the backyard of the Canadian recording industry has its advantages.
"Yeah, totally. Vancouver seems way smaller."
If the album is a growth chart, it shows that the band has made the transition from indie to a major label effortlessly.
"I think you have more help," Dryfhout says. His shrug is almost audible. "There really isn't that much difference. It's the same plan."
And maturity as writers.
"It's what it came down to as far as this record is concerned. It becomes obvious what songs will be on the album. If the song is strong enough, we'll record it. We'll talk about it."
And its upbeat message,.
"We're all really focused on being positive."
And the new emphasis on piano. Originally, a guitar band, the first thing you hear on first track, "Don't Look In Their Eyes," is piano.
"Yeah, there's a lot more keyboards on this record," Dryfhout says. "We always are trying to do something different."
Happiness & Disaster was recorded in L.A. to get away from the distractions of home. With producer Brad Wood, whose resume includes Sunny Day Real Estate, Liz Phair, Tortoise and early Smashing Pumpkins, Stabilo stepped up. The sound is attractive.
"It was very important for us," the singer-writer says. "Whether we need him, I don't know. But it was good to have someone who oversaw the direction."
tharrison@png.canwest.com