Not-So-Local Spotlight - Canvas
by Cassie King
"Remember the name - Canvas. They are headed your way planet earth."
This is a quote posted on an Austin music website.
But, who is Canvas and why remember them?
Most bands come and go. After years of work, many bands either fizzle out of existence or catch a big break and sign with a large record company. The band Canvas has done neither. They keep playing for the love of music.
Joseph King started the band Canvas while attending Stanford University in 1995. With a Theology degree from Stanford under his belt and numerous songs and poems in his notebooks, King decided to uproot the band and move to Austin in 1999.
This is where King made the choice to dedicate his life to his music.
"It's in the stars," King said. "I'm in it [music] for life."
After rebuilding and reinventing the band for five years, Canvas is now made up of four members: King on vocals, Julian Mandrake on guitar, Scott Thomas on drums and Brad Byrum on bass and vocals. King is the only original member.
Over the years Canvas has played throughout Texas, attracting a variety of fans and creating a large eclectic following.
Canvas has built a huge fan base in West Texas and it all started through the Los Carnales Motorcycle Club (LCMC). The LCMC has been around since the 1970s and its members are all active or retired law enforcement officers.
"They're just a bunch of scary looking dudes with leather jackets and Harleys," King laughed, "but they treat us like family."
Kevin Porter, a DJ for KQRX in Odessa and Midland, has seen Canvas 29 times. Porter said that Canvas must give credit to the LCMC, but Porter tends to work his magic on the radio as well.
"I talk a lot about them on the radio station," said Porter. "I play them outside the play list, which I am not supposed to do, but I do anyway."
Though it may seem like bikers are what make up the faces in the crowd at Canvas concerts, don't be fooled. The fan base is truly diverse.
Jean Gill, a junior at the University of Texas, Austin, has been seeing Canvas play since high school.
"I not only love the rare music, I love the rare crowd," Gill said. "I can look around at any show and see fraternity and sorority kids, guys with Mohawks and eye-liner, and even grandparents."
Most fans say they like Canvas because of their unique sound and originality. Though they are labeled as a rock band, their music is far from stereotypical rock music. Poetic lyrics, mystical rhythms and musical passion have embedded Canvas into many people's ears.
Sebastian Danino, a junior at SMU, saw Canvas for the first time three years ago in Dallas and fell in love with the sound.
"It's so different from anything main stream," said Danino. "The lyrics give you goose bumps."
Tara Gladstone, a sophomore at SMU, couldn't get over how impressed she was after seeing Canvas for the first time last year.
"The authenticity of the melodies and the impact of the lyrics is inexplicable," Gladstone said.
If the sound of Canvas is so captivating, then why haven't they gotten the same amount of attention as other uprising bands?
Lead guitarist, Mandrake, said that Canvas has always written music that feels good, rather than writing music for the masses.
"It's not like we sit around and say, 'Hey lets write stuff for the radio,'" Mandrake explained, "We've never done that."
The lyrics and music of Canvas, written by King, all come from real life experiences. The following lyrics are from the song, "Priscilla is Sleeping." King wrote this song about his little sister and the turmoil that she has faced from family tragedies.
She sleeps inside a paper cup
With all the days she's given up
Her memories painted white
Beneath the cold fluorescent light
She is sleeping
"We don't write novelty songs," King said. "They're real."
Chad Pavlovich, tour manager for Canvas, has been working for the band for five years. Pavlovich said that one thing that is so incredible about the band is that they all work together and create everything on their own.
"There is no one behind the scenes pulling strings," Pavlovich said. "Each member is knowledgeable in different areas so they have what it takes to get it done."
Thomas helps with the recording process, Mandrake is a seasoned musicians with many contacts, Byrum is skilled in computer graphics and helped create the Canvas website, and King has people skills and spends a lot of time booking shows for Canvas. King believes this broad range of aptitudes is the perfect mix.
"Everyone is so talented, but we have very different personalities," King said. "We have such respect for each other and it shows."
The members of Canvas have not only formed musical partnerships, they have formed sincere friendships. Three out of the four members of Canvas spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas together in 2004. Mandrake drove to San Antonio to attend King's grandfather's funeral in May. The bonds of Canvas members go far beyond the studio and stage, and like King said, it is seen in their music.
"The music that we've written explains how we have evolved as a group and as individuals," Mandrake said.
In the past year, fans and members believe that Canvas has progressed significantly. In the spring, Canvas will release their third full album titled "Painting the Roses".
Charles Ferraro will be promoting the new album for Canvas. Ferraro has been working on the commercial side of the Austin music business for ten years. Ferraro said that the new album will attract a broader spectrum of people, moving Canvas forward commercially as well as artistically. Something, however, that enthralls Ferraro is the passion of Canvas and the hard work of King.
"He [King] hustles 24/7," Ferraro said. "This is why he will eventually achieve his greater goals."
For King this album is the zenith of his career. But for now, all he and the members of Canvas can do is wait and see what happens.
"We love what we do," said King, "Whatever the end is…who knows."
