Why are Canadian 3 piece bands so good?

[millsbass5]

Damn. I ran across some Triumph clips on You Tube earlier. And, I'm ashamed to say that they've actually slipped from my mind for a few years. And now? My ears are threatening to kick my brains ass for forgetting about 'em. What a great, great 3-piece band.
Some people may give me hell for what I'm about to say here,but....... These guys are really similar to RUSH in a whole lot of ways. Sure, Mike Levine sported a double-necked Ric on occasion, and played keys, too. Also, they had not one, BUT TWO(!!!) killer vocalists in Gil Moore and Ric Emmett, with both of 'em having that "Holy Grail-like" quality that's a must for hard-rock. Which is both of 'em being blessed with vocal ranges so high, that they could probably shatter glass (Remember the old Memorex commercials? "Is it live, or is it Memorex?")lol) And, most obviously, they're a 3-piece.
They seem to have some progressive-rock qualities, but nowhere to the extent of RUSH. IMHO, I think they were the...... I think RUSH would've sounded spooky similar to each other if RUSH would've taken a more an uhh, "radio-friendly/top 40 approach" to writing music. With the exception of Neil Peart's lyrical approach, of course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ8si...eature=related

Above is one of their more popular songs. It definitely showcases their musicianship and, of course those KILLER-ASS vocals!!

[Richland123]

Let me add a few more 3 piece Canadian bands

Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush were a 3 piece for their first 7 albums. They crossed blues rock with progressive rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56eGD_NC0eg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbuNk...eature=related

The Stampeders were also a 3 piece. Their biggest U.S. hit was Sweet City Woman but they had lots of great tunes that were hits in Canada.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92nhnfZ8HYQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpDXOhEY5j0

FM was, and still is, a 3 piece progressive Canadian band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7HbHMOMD6o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlivjwGAqTQ

While Pat Travers is Canadian, the other band members on the first 3 albums were British bassist extraordinaire Peter Mars Cowling and British drummers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_2Yxke1wGY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRNHiWJDUTk

[Richland123]

A couple more Canadian 3 piece bands

The Tea Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFzQX2i6mwo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfaATa-qmG4

The Guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IIQedInutQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7kKS8yE4Ac

[Richland123]

I will add another Canadian 3 piece band to the mix.

The Jeff Healey Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQwqSrPdwjQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x_VDoQXw6w

[blindrabbit]

Canadians are just awesome, period. I'm sure we could have good threads about the amazing talent of Canadian 4 piece bands, 5 piece bands, etc etc etc.

Go Canada!

[BFunk]

I heard that the Canadian government requires that some percentage of music played on Canandian radio must be Canadian originated content. This creates the market for Canadian talent. Can anyone confirm this?

[DiabolusInMusic]

Yeah Bfunk, it is called CANCON 30% of music has to be by Canadians.

Fun fact: Did you know Hearts old records qualify as CANCON because their guitarist was a draft dodger and became a Canuck.

I will agree that Triumph sounds like old Rush, back before when they were a rock band, nothing about Triumph is remotely progressive, they would be closer associated with hair metal. I knew that link would be lay it on the line...

Frank and MH rush though, they are some kick butt Canuck prog. For those who think Stampeders only did sweet city woman, check out Wild Eyes. Buddy and I were listening to some old records and this song came on from one of the compilations, we were floored that this was the same band.

[KCLRbass]

The Astro Droids!!

Continuing the tradition.

[jaywa]

Triumph... oh yeah.

I played the grooves off the Allied Forces album back in my high school days. Got to the point I could play every song on that record note perfect on my bass.

One track of theirs that I really like from later was called "Headed for Nowhere" and there's a guest appearance by Steve Morse. He and Emmitt do some tradeoffs in that song that are just wicked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITvkrxGvxlY

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by BFunk

I heard that the Canadian government requires that some percentage of music played on Canandian radio must be Canadian originated content. This creates the market for Canadian talent. Can anyone confirm this?

I'd be ok with that for the most part!

Go Geddy!

[Roscoe East]

I would contend that it's not that Canadian 3 piece bands are so good per se...

...it's that there aren't any good Canadian bands with more than 3 pieces!

:duck:

[banikek]

Don't forget about Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet! My favorite Canadian 3-pcs.

[2behead]

Because it's cold, and their women are ugly

[MonetBass]

Triumph was a staple of my high school radio days, and I dug them. I have a couple of their albums on CD still. Love it!

[handofseven]

Originally Posted by 2behead

their women are ugly

You've obviously never been to Montreal.

[2behead]

There are hot ladies everywhere. I saw some lookers when I was up there last time. I just couldn't resist.

[rollin$tone]

PRACTICE! There's not much to do when it's COLD outside! Except for the 'hotties!'

[TNCreature]

Originally Posted by 2behead

There are hot ladies everywhere. I saw some lookers when I was up there last time. I just couldn't resist.

You just couldn't resist what?

[TNCreature]

The first time I saw a picture of Triumph I was shocked at the alternate universe Rush that I was looking at!
White blousey silk shirts
Handlebar mustache
Double necks
Rickenbacker bass
Bass player doubling on keys w Taurus pedals
Singer with a really high voice
Don't remember if there was an es335 or not.
I thought that Rush would have to sue them for copping their look so completely.
Favorite song: The Blinding Light Show.
Couldn't stand the drummer's songs/vocals.
Tried to listen to them recently and could only hack a few songs.

[portlandguy]

Yeah, plenty of practice time when it is cold - plenty of beer too