Ill Minded, or Illscarlett?

I decided that I needed to have a major influential band on my articles, so I will be writing about a band I’ve seen 3 times in concert, and each time blew me away. I was told that I ended up singing word for word their music in my sleep. This band is illScarlett of Canada.

illScarlett consists of Alex Norman (lead singer, rhythm guitar), Johnny Doherty (bass), Will Marr (lead guitar) and Swavek Piorkowski (drums) and is based from Mississauga, Ontario. They’re main musical influences are a pop sound infused with a rock reggae (or some people would consider this ska), creating a mix of songs with different sounds on them. Some may have heavier riffs, others may have more melodic, smooth riffs.

They’re big break to fame was during a Warped Tour concert of 2004, where they pulled a similar plan to the influential rock reggae band Sublime. What they did was they set up their gear outside the line up to get in the Warped Tour, and just played their hearts out, pleasing themselves and the fans. The organizer of the Warped Tour concerts heard of what they were doing, and invited them into the Warped Tour to play for his personal barbeque. The brilliant idea they pulled got them spots in the Warped Tour for the following 2 years as well.

A couple years pass, and they release their EP, “EPdemic” consisting of many hit songs like the radio hits “One-A” and “Heaters”. illScarlett also has many songs that state that they are for the legalization of weed, as well as them being marijuana smokers as well. A couple of their older songs off their demos, as well as a couple of their new songs show hints of this, that include “Mary Jane”, “One-A”, and “Roll It”. Reporters have also noted that the boys have been seen throwing out joints after their concerts, and have thrown joints into the crowds at concerts.

As a year goes by, the full length album “All Day With It” is released, with the major hit “Nothing Special” which was redone off their demos. As the songs keep rolling out, they keep blowing the minds of their fans with the music they create. Much of the fans believe illScarlett to be “selling out” their genre to a much more mainstream sound, but much of the fans also disagree and believe their peaking to their potential throughout each album release. They do keep some songs to the roots of illScarlett like “Who’s Got It?” and “Paradise Burning”.

As the summer of 2009 came to an end, the boys of illScarlett had just finished the recording of the new album “1Up!” bringing a whole new playlist for fans to listen to. The first single ”Take it For Granted” was played on rock radio stations across Canada, getting illScarlett some much needed publicity. Throughout the new album, they collaborated for a song with Kardinal Offishall for the second single, “Milkshakes and Razorblades” where they bring in a rap concept towards the band. Not only this, but they added a touring member who plays the keyboard for their newsongs on the album, and all songs during the tours. His name is Anthony Carone.

The boys keep building up their fan base, as well as their sound to something they feel comfortable to play. I cannot wait until they come out with their new album in due time. In the mean time, I will listen to them and enjoy the music they created to date.