the exchanges

"(the exchanges are) the hardest rocking band in the city."

-Noah Mintz (Mastering Engineer Feist, Broken Social Scene, Hayden)

"(the exchanges) would probably make the hardest-core Republican score pity junk for Keith Richards."

- Chris Rolfe (Eye Magazine Toronto)



the exchanges are a three piece rock outfit hailing from Toronto, Canada formed in the spring of 2004.Consisting of Andrew DeVillers (vocals, guitar), Rob Balon (drums), and Jeff Dowdall (bass) The combo have quickly been gaining a reputation for their authentic and gutsy approach.

The music of the exchanges brings the spirit of visceral rock like The Clash, Springsteen, and Nirvana into a modern translation. Lyrically, DeVillers draws from a landscape of urban poverty, injustice, hope, doubt, disillusionment, tradition and make believe. Exploring depths often ignored in current rock music, is the thunderous rhythm section of Dowdall and Balon. Combined, this dynamic makes for an intense pulse plagued with emotion.

Perenial NXNE favorites, this hungry rock act have cut their teeth on a touring circuit throughout Ontario and Quebec, performing with such luminaries as; Priestess, The Bellrays, The Mark Inside, C'mon, Elevator, Heartless Bastards, Kill the Lights, The Besnard Lakes, Cuff the Duke, The Republic Of Safety and the Marble Index to name a few. The trio also made a suprise guest appearance during last year's NXNE to join the likes of Hayden, Julie Fader (sarah harmer) and Brendan Canning (broken social scene) in helping Noah Mintz (hHead) pull off the return of his Noah's ARk Weld project.

After touring throughout 2005 in support of their debut E.P. (self-titled, two piece of Balon and DeVillers, released March 2005 on the bands own imprint sans records) the focus returned to completing the construction of drummer Rob Balon's brain-child, Highland Park Studios.

Over the winter and into the spring '06 the trio finished up production on their first full-length album 'How Far Down'. The album was released to the anticipation of a capacity crowd at Toronto's historic El Mocambo October 13th 2006. Those in attendance were treated to the kind of electrifying stage show the trio has become known for. A tour of Ontario and Quebec followed and was met with great response. The album will soon be available through 250 online retailers, as an international licensing deal has been inked with the L.A. based Cobraside distribution.