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Tuck

Last Updated: 11/15/2009

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Status: Single
City: Vancouver
State: British Columbia
Country: CA
Signup Date: 5/28/2006

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Thursday, June 04, 2009

Ronatron live performance review- May 2009. By Emily Groundwater

Sharing members with Parlour Steps, the West Coast Symphony and the Phoenix Chamber Choir, Tuck consists of frontman Amos Ashurst (guitars, vocals), Jaime Ashurst (vocals), Jessica Werb (cello), Kim Stewart (bass, vocals), and Rob Linton (drums). Two of Tuck’s members have spent time in the past writing and playing music with Sarah Neufeld of Arcade Fire, and this impressive musical background shows. With an eccentric and progressive folk rock sound, Tuck’s first full-length album “Lullabies and other lies” is a solid effort, drawing strength from Ashurst’s distinctive vocals (incredibly similar to that of Michael Stipe), Werb’s mood-setting cello, the group’s warm vocal harmonies and the occasional dab of clarinet. Produced by Juno award-winning producer Steve Dawson, the album was released in November of 2008 on Copperspine Records, and on May 21st the group took the stage at the media club to celebrate.

Opening the set with the song “Sunlight,” which does not appear on their debut album, it becomes quickly evident that the small, but friendly and enthusiastic crowd is in for a great show. Taking swigs of a beer that he has placed in a nifty cup-holder attached to his microphone stand, Ashurst immediately proves that he has a voice, and the songwriting capabilities worth remembering. While his voice draws striking comparison to that of REM frontman Michael Stipe, Ashurst is not without originality, finding warm, incredibly moving moments while also injecting a sense of urgency and almost anger into his song at times. Moving on into the evening, the group found a strongpoint with the first track off their album, “Watering Line.” With a cello part that compliments the upbeat ballad perfectly, and moments of clarinet that seem to flutter effortlessly above the enchanting tune, creating a very atmospheric and almost nostalgic feel that leaves you with butterflies in your stomach, it was catchy and moving, and noticeably captured the attention of the audience. One of the last songs of the evening, titled “Until its over” (fondly nicknamed ‘clappy’ by the group) provided for a great end to Tuck’s set. Containing great elements of percussion similar to that often showcased by groups such as The Most Serene Republic, the whole group claps throughout while Ashurst and the other vocalists lay down chilling, melancholic harmonies. Unfortunately Ashurst notified the crowd that it isn’t his favourite, and it would be the last time the group would be performing the song, and he instructs us to “buy the CD if you want to hear it again,” which is a real shame for such a great piece. Overall, Tuck’s performance was a solid and consistent effort, showcasing the great song writing talent of a group of seasoned musicians. It is a real treat when one experiences a new, original sound and Tuck delivered admirably.

2:12 AM

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Thursday, March 05, 2009

Rootstime review....in Dutch

TUCK
LULLABIES AND OTHER LIES
 
"Met Jaime Ashurst (zang), Jessica Werb (cello) en Kim Stewart
(basgitaar) maken drie dames de meerderheid uit in het kwintet "Tuck".
Zanger Amos Ashurst - broer van Jaime – en drummer Rob Linton
completeren deze formatie die zich gespecialiseerd heeft in het
brengen van hedendaagse liedjes waarin diverse invloeden als folk,
jazz, blues, klassieke muziek en pop in elkaar verweven terug te horen
zijn. Op hun full-cd "Lullabies And Other Lies" dat geproduceerd werd
door Steve Dawson en waarmee Tuck debuteert brengen ze negen moderne
songs waarin naast de obligate gitaar, bas en drums ook enkele
klassieke instrumenten als cello, klarinet en piano mee het geluid
bepalen. Deze groep werd in 2005 opgericht en lanceerde een eerste
ep-tje in 2007 met "Seven Songs". In een aantal songs hoor je soms
driestemmig gezang en een kakafonie aan instrumentatie zoals ook
groepen als 'Arcade Fire' en 'Decemberists' vaak plegen te brengen.
Misschien is deze laatste vergelijking niet helemaal toevallig te
noemen, aangezien Amos Ashurst en Rob Linton enkele jaren samen
musiceerden met Sarah Neufeld, één van de stichtende leden van 'Arcade
Fire" Die herkenbare sound kan je waarnemen in liedjes als "So
Lovely", "Falling Out Of Windows", "Until It's Over" en "Faceless" die
overladen zijn met grote hoeveelheden swing en noise. Maar zoals
ondertussen misschien wel geweten bij onze lezers zijn wij vooralsnog
grote fans van rustigere songs waarin meestal mooier gezongen wordt en
waarbij er meestal zinvollere teksten gedeclameerd worden. Net daarom
vallen wij bij het beluisteren van "Lullabies And Other Lies" nogal
gemakkelijk voor nummers als de titeltrack, het ontroerende "Tailspin"
en onze favoriete song "Everything" waarin het knappe vocale werk van
zanger Amos Ashurst voor de nodige emotionele ogenblikken zorgt. Tusk
debuteert niet echt wereldschokkend maar zeker wel verdienstelijk en
zal ten gepaste tijde met een goede tweede cd moeten bevestigen.
(valsam)"
 
ROOTSTIME
c/o Wanted Productions
Freddy Celis
Gen. de Wittestraat 11
3545 Halen
Belgium
 
www.rootstime.be
www.myspace.com/rootstime

12:27 AM

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Thursday, March 05, 2009

"Lullabies and Other Lies" chosen for semi-finals in ISC

While in the infatuation stage of my relationship with our album, "Lulllabies and Other Lies," I entered the title track in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition. Several months later (after the infatuation had worn very thin) I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my entry had made it to the semi-finals. Thus, we were chosen from a pool of almost 16,000; which I figure is respectable.

If anyone cares to look, the song's author is Amos Ashurst, and the title is "Lullabies and Other Lies" at (http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/Semi-Finalists_2008.htm)

12:10 AM

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Sunday, January 25, 2009

The Skinny Magazine review

By Nathan Pike

Sometimes I feel so horoured to be given the task of listening to new music, and in turn, lending a few words of praise where they are due. With this first full length by Vancouver's Tuck, titled Lullabies and Other Lies, I heap kudos by the truckload.

It's rare that an album pulls me in at first blush, but Tuck has a special quality to it that warms me to the cockles and charms me to no end. With its rich beauty and solid backing of seasoned musicians, featuring members of the Parlour Steps, The Phoenix Chamber Choir and The West Coast Symphony. Tuck brings forth a collection of songs culled from the progressive classicfolk-rock songbook.

The album opens on a strong note with the instantly catchy "Watering Line". It is a bouncy little number showcasing sweet vocal harmonies, warm organ backing, full bodied strings and a little clarinet for good measure, all tied together with Amos Ashurst's unique sand-dosed manuka honey vocals. It's a steady incline from here as the album gently winds through phases of rock, blues and a quaint, almost campy vibe in its folk element. This is a great debut and a welcome addition to any music collection.