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He's a witty, spitey, pasty white kid from the woods whose style is simply addictive. With his new record, entitled Vampire Hotel, Chris Kirby gets down to bidness playing funky piano, saucy guitar, and singing as if the fate of his own mother hangs on every word.
Vampire Hotel is Kirby's highly-anticipated sophomore recording, and is produced by Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar, Gov't Mule, Taj Mahal). Production of the record was split between Fat Tracks Studios in St. John's, NL, and Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studios in Austin TX. Heavily influenced by New Orleans Rhythm & Blues and Motown Soul, but rooted in the rich Newfoundland tradition of storytelling, Vampire Hotel offers a unique and refreshing brand of music from a truly original artist.
Kirby, a 26-year-old son of Norris Arm, NL, moved to the city of St. John's in 2001 where he began playing in a string of bands on the local club scene. With the release of "Chris Kirby on Rum & Religion" in 2006, Chris finally emerged as a solo artist and a captivating songwriter and performer. Since then, Chris has earned MUSICNL and ECMA nominations in blues categories. He has also appeared on showcase and songwriters circle stages at major national and international events, where he has performed alongside greats such as Ron Hynes, Maureen Ennis, Steve Marriner, Treasa Levasseur, Kyle Riabko and Harry Manx.
Just four weeks after its chart debut, the title track from Rum & Religion hit number 1 on the nationally-syndicated East Coast Countdown. This and other tracks from the album have since been featured on radio shows across the country including Ontario university stations and CBC radio’s Vinyl Cafe. Terry Parson's "Blind Lemon Blues" listed "Chris Kirby on Rum & Religion" as number 7 in the top 20 Canadian blues recordings of 2006.
On tape and on stage, Chris is joined by his A-list rhythm section, known as the Marquee. The Marquee includes bassist Craig Follett and drummer Mark Marshall. Mark is a talented young musician who recently showcased at the Cape Breton International Drum Festival, where he received praise from some of the industry's renowned players. Craig is a past MUSICNL nominee ("side musician of the year"), and regularly performs with many of Newfoundland's finest musicians and groups.
Chris Kirby and the Marquee have performed at many festivals and events across the country and as far south as Memphis, TN. They have also appeared as musical guests for many programs such as CTV's Breakfast Television and CBC Radio's GO! Show. Together, the band has earned a solid reputation as an energetic and inspiring act, delivering a unique and unforgettable show every time.
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