Billy Talent Continue Giving

Billy Talent's F.U.M.S. charity shows have been a staple of the Toronto concert scene over the past two winters, but the band have changed things this year by skipping the sweaty mosh pits for a more sophisticated event.

Cut To The Drummer is an art show that features 50 paintings of 50 drummers by artists from around the world. Billy Talent drummer Aaron Solowoniuk started the Multiple Sclerosis Society Of Canada Scholarship Fund, which will receive the money raised from the sale of the art, but admits he had little to do with putting Cut To The Drummer together. He says the credit should go to artist Sandra Dionisi.

"She is this really amazing artist, and she had always had this idea about doing this show about drummers, and she wanted to donate the money to some sort of charity, so it all seemed right.

"We had a meeting and talked, and now it's turned into this amazing event at Steam Whistle [Roundhouse Gallery] where we are going to have a great gala event where we are going to have an exhibition and then an event after."

Whether they're playing fundraisers for the victims of last February's Queen Street fire in Toronto or releasing charity singles with Anti-Flag, Billy Talent (completed by singer Ben Kowalewicz, bassist Jonathan Gallant and guitarist Ian D'Sa) have a habit of doing good deeds. Solowoniuk says that mentality has been with them since their early days.

"Some of our first shows were charity shows in high school. There was a thing called Jingle Bell Rock. It was just a Christmas concert where people had to leave a food donation at the door. We did it all on our own and boxed up the cans and dropped off the food donation.

"We were just little kids doing that back then. Now that we have more opportunity, we are all trying to get involved with anything we can."

Billy Talent are working on their next album, tentatively and unimaginatively titled Billy Talent III. Solowoniuk won't give away too many details about how it's going, but says they're on schedule for a late spring release and that fans can expect high-quality rock.

"Everything is sounding amazing," he says. "I am blown away by the process. I am so happy with my drums. I am so happy with everything. We are having fun and challenging ourselves doing what we do. You can expect just a great Billy Talent record.

"It's just rock 'n' roll. I think it's more of a throwback to the '90s with Nirvana and Soundgarden. It's just rock 'n' roll. That is what we are all influenced by."

If you're waiting to see Billy Talent live, they'll begin what Solowoniuk thinks will be two years of solid touring at Australia's Soundwave Festival in February.

Cut To The Drummer will be presented at Toronto's Steam Whistle Roundhouse Gallery from Feb. 5 to 28. An opening night reception hosted by Solowoniuk and Goldfinger skin-beater Darrin Pfeiffer will feature a VIP preview of the portraits from 7 to 9 p.m., where attendees will get a first crack at purchasing the works at a silent auction.

Attending the early-bird reception and silent auction will set you back $150, while $30 will get you in after 9 p.m. Tickets are available through ticketweb.ca.