We've been covering so many huge shows in large venues last Saturday night I decided to take things down a notch and take in the cd release by, Brockville based folk-punk band, Project Mantra. As much fun as it is covering and promoting the big names it's equally important to showcase some local music for a change.
The five member, Project Mantra is led by our good friend, and now contributor, Leigh Bursey also includes Justin Steacy, Alex Hodges, Audrey Cahoon and Matt Vanderbarren have been working on their debut album for quite some time, tweaking and perfecting until they were certain it was just right. The 8 song Fusion Manifesto came to be on Saturday night at the Union Jack in Brockville.
Along with their own songs, keyboard player Audrey Cahoon also performed a haunting rendition of the classic Cranberries tune "Zombie", would be cool to see her perfect that performance and some day cut her version on a future cd.
Project Mantra isn't a band that can be labeled one specific genre, the music they make crosses so many different boundaries it's likely one of the most unique groups you'll ever get the chance to see perform. To even compare them to any one act would do the quintet a great injustice. Leigh, himself, is such a versatile musician taking on the role rocker, punk or poet as needed throughout the band's set this band has an incredible amount of potential.
It's clear that the album's depth and emotional tone was very much influenced by Leigh himself who admittedly has had his struggles over the past few years. Not allowing his challenges to get him down Leigh turned to music and charity and the combination of the two led to the creation of this album. It's very clear that the 8 tracks that made it onto this album have deep personal significance to Leigh and that comes across in the bands' performance as well.
Leading up to the official release of Fusion Manifesto a few other local bands took to the stage, including Colby Latocha of The Rifle and The Writer, Francis Eugene, and new alternative band Our Forgotten Memories.
We were happy to be there to support this great local band and wish them all the best with their new album, if Project Mantra ever comes to a venue near you, go out and check them out.
You can find more information on the band via their social media
Field Service Tech by day, Live Music Nut by night! My family and I call the Thousand Islands region of Ontario home. I'm a blogger, social media geek, tech, and live music fanatic. I founded Sound Check Entertainment in 2010 to help promote festivals and emerging artists from across Canada and the world! I now act as festivals liaison, manage media relations and, of course, cover events in the National Capital region. I'm also a diehard Habs fan but Sens fans fear not; as long as they aren't playing against my Habs I cheer just as loud for the Sens.
