Chris Staig: News

Chris Staig "Mary" (Independent, 2009)


Just Another Singer Songwriter?

Chris Staig is an unfamiliar name to me although he has released two solo records several years ago. For this new record, ‘Mary’, Chris has brought in a band to supplement the sound which does bring some of the songs to life. Chris is stuck between country & pop a sort Ben Kweller with a touch of Ron Sexsmith struggling to be Ryan Adams.

On that basis it has to be all about the songs and strength of the song writing – after several listens several songs began to work their way into the system. These songs show that Chris can write catchy pop such as ‘Remember To Breath’ and I see that Chris’s songs have been covered by the likes of Dan Bryk another Canadian (I can strongly recommend Dan’s record which features Ron Sexsmith).

The record is split into two sides like an LP, with the first side containing the more up tempo songs and the second side sees Chris in a more contemplative mood and on the records best song ‘Make It Through’ Chris manages to clearly demonstrate he has the talent to raise his head above the normal navel gazers.
As a Canadian (like Sexsmith) Chris Staig writes clever pop songs with a tinge of country, best heard on ‘Our Last Chance’, ‘She Haunts These Rooms’, and the superb slide guitar driven ‘Never Lies’. The record contains some core Americana values; strong songs, great voice and solid arrangements. Of course Chris is just another singer-songwriter but there’s enough potential on this record for Chris take his place next to Ron Sexsmith.

Date review added: Thursday, May 28, 2009
Reviewer: andy r

Remember to Breathe and She Haunts These Rooms can heard in the music section of this website. Hope you enjoy!

To Purchase Chris Staig's new CD "Mary" click this link:

Chris Staig's Fourth CD, titled "Mary" will be available for sale Friday November 28th at the Cadillac Lounge.

During this career as musician, which I prefer think of as a calling, not a career, I have played some bizarre gigs. I played a buffalo roast at age 14. I have played bars, theatres, on the street, on the sidewalk and high at the CN Tower. I have played a strip club called "Scanty's". I played an extremely depressing Fall Fair in Mamora, Ontario. I played an outdoor festival in New Orleans where the bagpiper grabbed the wrong tin whistle and we drove through the night back to Memphis...
So when the North by Northeast festival invited me to play at Pearson International Airport, I thought nothing unusual here. In fact, I felt a duty to play my song "Fell Off the Wagon" at the airport.

Here's the footage:







Still, this gig was a bit bizarre.
Do you agree, folks?
See you at NXNE

On Monday April 7th, "Time Won’t Leave You", was CBC Radio 3's "New Music Track of the Day".

http://radio3.cbc.ca/blogs/2008/04/New-Music-Canada-Track-of-the-Day-for-April-07-2008-Chris-Staig-Time-Wont-Leave-You



Thank You ALL AT CBC RADIO 3 !

One of my fave tunes from my last CD, a tune called "Time Won't Leave You", recently advanced to the round before becoming a semi finalist in the 2006 International Songwriting Competition. While I would have liked it to have gone even further, I believe that means my tune got as far as the Leafs did in the 77-78 playoffs. Does it mean the song made it out of the quarter finals? Anyhow, its a good tune, I'm pleased it was recognized.

Check out this year end list at www.absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com, and you will find my latest CD among the fine recordings listed.
You can copy and paste this link if you wish:
http://absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com/2006/12/absolute-powerpop-top-100-of-2006.html

Having just (re)touted Warren Zanes' Memory Girls, it's kind of fitting that I've selected Chris Staig's Davenport as today's featured disc. Staig, from Toronto, has a very similar sound to Zanes, both vocally and stylistically.

Davenport features a winning combination of power pop, roots rock and singer/songwriter pop. There are also hints of Neil Young and John Lennon as well as Grandaddy's Jason Lytle. Things start off in fine fashion with Staig pleading for a "Rock'n'Roll Holiday", as it's "time to blow up my television/can't make shopping my new religion"; in the next track Staig sings of how he "Fell Off The Wagon", an ode to getting plastered. "All I Need Is You" is a catchy rocker in the vein of the Ike Reilly disc I raved about yesterday, and "Another Year" almost heads into the Rockpile territory mined so well by Terry Anderson (he of the Olympic Ass-Kickin' Team).

He has three tracks from Davenport streaming at his myspace page, and others can be sampled at cd baby, which is of course the best place to pick it up.