Comeback Kid Make Noise

09/30/08 3:55pm

by Keith Carman (CHARTattack)

Winnipeg's Comeback Kid have raced up the hardcore ladder to become one of the scene's strongest international players since they formed in 2002. They're certainly on the vanguard for aggressive music, since they've toured in no less than 30 countries and their fourth effort, last year's Broadcasting..., garnered universal praise.

But with popularity comes great responsibility. CBK fans have been pining for new material, prompting the band to release their first official DVD, Through The Noise, on Oct. 14. It includes an hour-long documentary titled Our Distance that focuses on everything from their early days to their most recent European tour. It's coupled with the bonus Live In Leipzig DVD that was shot in November and an accompanying audio CD. The set promises to be a comprehensive look at the intense life that the quartet leads.

"We haven't put out a record in almost two years now, and we've wanted to do this for a long time," says guitarist/vocalist Andrew Neufeld. "We had the time to do it properly, so we went for it.

"We've been a band for eight years and had a lot of changes throughout that. We've been able to travel around the world, and it's a pretty cool time. A lot has happened and we wanted to show people who are interested in the band what it's like being on the road, especially when playing different countries."

While Through The Noise was originally intended only as a record of the band's aforementioned European tour, Neufeld admits that things grew somewhat out of hand as filming progressed. But when the band (Neufeld, guitarists Jeremy Hiebert and Casey Hjelmberg, drummer Kyle Profeta and bassist Matt Keil) realized the DVD was the means to which they could relate the entire CBK story as opposed to a fraction of it, Through The Noise quickly snowballed into the all-out documentary.

"We wanted to show a glimpse of everything: touring and recording, as well as a history of the band," Neufeld explains. "I see a lot of DVDs with bands getting wasted and throwing up. That's cool and I enjoy it, but we wanted something where people could learn. Even if you don't like us, you'll learn something."

Nonetheless, because of the intense work vested into Through The Noise, Neufeld cautions that it will be some time before CBK get around to writing, let alone recording, a new album. He hopes Through The Noise should tide enthusiasts over for a bit longer due to its in-depth nature. Besides, he still has to finish recording a new effort with his other act, Sights & Sounds.

"We just really wanted to do this, and the opportunity came up," Neufeld says. "It didn't have anything to do with having or not having an album ready, even though we haven't started a new record yet.

"We're at the point now where we're not trying to keep up with the industry putting out records. We're established enough now that we can be a bit lenient. We want to be proud of what we release, not feel like we rushed it. We'll get to it... once the Sights & Sounds album is done."

Here are Comeback Kid's Canadian tour dates with Misery Signals, Bane, Shai Hulud, Outbreak and Grave Maker:

Oct. 8 Vancouver, BC @ Plaza Club
Oct. 9 Kelowna, BC @ Habitat
Oct. 10 Lethbridge, AB @ Bears Gym
Oct. 11 Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room
Oct. 12 Calgary, AB @ Warehouse
Oct. 13 Regina, SK @ The Exchange
Oct. 14 Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick Centre (The Marlborough Hotel)
Oct. 16 Barrie, ON @ Random Ranch
Oct. 17 Ottawa, ON @ Babylon
Oct. 18 Quebec City, QC @ L'Anti
Oct. 19 Moncton, NB @ The Manhattan Club
Oct. 20 Halifax, NS @ The Pavilion
Oct. 21 Fredericton, NB @ Musiplex
Oct. 22 Drummondville, QC @ Cabaret Spectacle Box Office
Oct. 23 Montreal, QC @ Le National
Oct. 24 Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
Oct. 25 London, ON @ The Salt Lounge
Oct. 26 Guelph, ON @ Vinyl
Oct. 27 Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah