hometown:
Victoria
Vocals, Banjo, Fiddle, Trumpet, Harmonica: Fat Jesus (Adam Zonnis)
Vocals, Guitar, Trombone, Didgeridoo: The Good Doctor (Steve Craik)
Lead Guitar, Mandolin, Lap Steel: Texas T-Bag (Tony Garossino)
Bass: The Dutch Crunch (Evert Pater)
Vocals, Drums: Little Buddy (Brendan Pye)
website:
http://www.hotonk.com/
Bandcamp:
http://www.ballgagnchaingang.bandcamp.com/
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/bgncg
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ball-Gag-n-Chain-Gang/10119387505
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/ballgagnchaingang
Bio
Ball Gag N’ Chain Gang is a band that grew out of a 2006 Fringe Fest play entitled “Bullfrog Lullaby”, a dark comedy about a dominatrix moving to a small town in Northern Ontario. They were originally a 3-piece unit with guitar, banjo and junk drum kit, and after the play wrapped they were asked to do a show as just the band. This was just the spark needed to add 2 more members and see the birth of the current “Ball Gag N’ Chain Gang”. By the time their self-titled debut was released they moved to being completely electric and traded in their suitcase for a bass drum.
When the band first formed into a 5-piece it was made up of Steve Craik, Adam Zonnis, Tony Garossino, Mick Gorman and a Spinal Tap cast of drummers. Eventually Mick left the band, Evert Pater hopped on bass, and they finally found they drummer they dreamed of with Brendan Pye. With this line up they have rocked happily ever after.
Over the last 4 years they have toured extensively through Western Canada, playing approximately 200 shows in bars, festivals and living rooms from Dawson City to Saskatoon. Their festival experience includes Rifflandia 2010, The Edge of the World Music Festival in Haida Gwaii, and South Country Fair in Fort McLeod, Alberta.
Ball Gag N’ Chain Gang’s music is a kind of twangy party rock that they call Ho-Tonk. Their live shows are known for the unexpected, with a balance of serious and funny, dark and upbeat, and up 12 different instruments being thrown into the mix, from your basic drums, guitar, and bass, to horns, fiddle, banjo, didgeridoo and Tuvan Throat singing.
Ball Gag has released 2 full-length albums and 1 EP. Their most recent release “Bang!”, recorded at 1 Ton Studios, can found at Lyle’s place, Ditch records or online at iTunes or Bandcamp.
Also be sure to check out their claymation music video on YouTube entitled “Everything is Better With Bacon.”
Discography
Self-titled – October 2008
Everything is Better with Bacon – April 2010
Bang! – October 2011
Latest news
Ball Gag N’ Chain Gang will be performing at the Robson Valley Music Festival (August 17-19, Dunster, BC) and Vancouver Island ArtistFest (August 24-25, Mesachie Lake, BC). Vancouver Island ArtistFest, just an hour away, will feature many Victoria bands, including Vince Vaccaro, Mindil Beach Markets, and Kemal Evans, amongst others.
MP3s
