Today on the podcast we are featuring the Toronto power trio ON. Learn more about them and listen to their track “Underdog.”

Show Notes and Full Show Transcript

Hey everyone welcome to the Eat Sleep Breathe Music podcast. I am your host Jeanette Kimszal. For those of you just joining us, this is the podcast where I talk about different musicians and how their music affects me and then play their track for you to listen to.

So you can check it out and form your own opinion as well. And if you are so interested in sharing your thoughts on this track and artist I’ll have details at the end of the show where you can leave your comments.

Hey everyone welcome to the Eat Sleep Breathe Music  podcast. I am your host Jeanette Kimszal. For those of you just joining us, this is the podcast where I talk about different musicians and how their music affects me and then play their track for you to listen to.

So you can check it out and form your own opinion as well. And if you are so interested in sharing your thoughts on this track and artist I’ll have details at the end of the show where you can leave your comments.

Today I am chatting about the Toronto group ON. That is O-N like turn the light switch ON.

They are comprised of what you would call a supergroup of Toronto music scene veterans who formerly were part of these popular 90’s bands Acid Test, Danko Jones and Rocket Science.

ON is made of the core members bassist and vocalist Lucy Di Santo, drummer Dan Cornelius, and guitarist Steve Fall.

The members of ON have been playing together moslty as a side project through the 1990’s and 2000’s in addition to their main projects.

However, recently this particular project ON has taken on a greater meaning to them and has been the main thing they have been focusing on.

The track I’ll be playing later is called “Underdog” and it’s the latest single from the band. It is off their upcoming self-titled album due out September 20th via Indiestructable Records. 

According to the band it is a Song about about hope, love, angst and dreams. 

It’s about the temptation to get back in the ring once more when the world no longer makes any sense and you have nothing to lose. 

And this is a very timely theme especially with everything going on in the world and kind of like trying not to lose that hope.

Another thing that I found was that their Bandcamp page also says that the song was inspired by the Toronto Maple Leafs whom haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967. 

So even just going off the description of the song you see it’s going to have a very positive message and a very hopeful message.

When describing the sound of the band would be deemed as alternative indie rock.

They also display elements of post-punk, grunge, and 90’s college rock.

With their roots in 90’s music it is no wonder this song kind of brings to mind that grungy girl vibe. Which I’m, I am an uber fan of.

And it’s not so much, not as fast as punk but this like very high energy.

I’ve really enjoyed it from the instant it started playing. It opens with the combination of the vocals from Lucy along with these guitars that are like do nu nu nu.

And it’s just like this rock that hits you. It’s like “YEAH” and it’s got these grungy vibes to it and her vocals

She starts with the opening vocals that go:

On your mark cause / Count down started / Get set get right on it / Never mind the doubters / Flip the script over and about it

And I couldn’t understand that next lyric and it goes “You got the flowwww.”

Then the drums hit you and it like du du and it goes to the chorus.

And it’s this whole mixture of music. That’s just so intense it slaps you in the face and it’s really powerful to the listner. 

At least to me and anyone who is into this particular genre would like this song.

Another thing that makes it stand out to me is the distinct vocals from Lucy Di Santo. 

From the onset you are kind of intrigued with her voice. Espcially because you know it opens with her singing with the guitars.

She has this, not really 100% raspy, but it’s this It has raspy grungy, you know signature and very just distinguishing and really infectious vocal styling from her.

The music has also been described as ear-candy melodies but I think that there is something more to it. Because when see definition of ear candy it basically says “music that is pleasing to listen to but lacks depth.”

However, I think there is intensity to this song. It’s definately instenisty the lyrics and intensity in the music itself.

Listening to the track I find there is a lot of changes among the guitar and drum beats. These changes create a complex song. 

I would say it’s very meticulous, kind of intricate, and not, not lacking depth at all. More, you know, very complex.

As I said before I was all in on this song from the beginning. This is really my cup of tea and I tend to gravitate songs like these.

I don’t know I think it’s that 90’s rock/grunge influence that really gets me excited.  I don’t know what it is but there is something about like those pounding guitars and grunge, alternative rock styles.

That, I just…I think it’s that nostalgia factor for me? You know? I grew up in the 90’s and I really like relate to that music and it brings me back to you know when I was in high school or…I don’t know there is just something about this music that just really resonates with me and makes me excited.

I also thought that it kind of brought me back to those sounds of the female fronted bands. 

You know similar to like Republica, Elastica, Veruca Salt or even Luscious Jackson. I think that was also triggred in my mind when I was listening to it.

It just has that good alternative rock/grunge vibe and is super catchy even from just those first couple guitar riffs in the beginning.

In addition to similarities to those bands, ON is also said to appeal to fans of Weezer, The Pixies. Bikini Kill, Queens of the Stone Age, Deftones, L7, Royal Blood, Refused, and Acid Test.

So if you’re into any of those bands ON might be another artist to add to your playlist. 

If you’re into videos and watching music videos. There is a high energy video that accompanies this song. It shows the band rocking out in studio. It was filmed by Lindi Gordon and edited by Michael Gucciardi. I’ll leave a link to it in the show notes if you want to check that out.

Their music has also been catching the ears of blogosphere. They have had features in outlets including Rock You Show, Rock-n-Load Magazine, Sound Read Six, Holy Noise, Regen Mag, and Nyrd Cast.

I will have links to these in the show notes if you want to check them out.

As I said before the album this song will be on is coming out in September. You can pre-order the song on their Bandcamp page and the Indiestructable Records website. 

Their Bandcamp page is WWW dot  O-N-B-A-N-D then the number 1 dot Bandcamp.com.

If you like what you hear and are interested in checking out the band live you can see them starting uh this Friday after the podcast goes live. 

August 12th kicks off an 11-city tour around Canada. This Friday they will be supporting the band Trews at Old Fort Erie in Niagra Falls.

They will then play 10 more shows ending on August 27th at The Richmond Tavern in  London, Ontario.

During this “Underdog’ Tour they will also hit up venues in Kingston, Ottawa, Baldwin, Toronto, Barrie, Paris, Cambridge, and Hamilton. 

I will also leave the list of tour dates in the show notes in case anyone is interested in seeing where they are playing.

Tour Dates

• August 12 – NIAGARA FALLS (supporting The Trews) August 13 – Paris Fairgrounds, BAJC Jeep Festival, PARIS 
• August 14 – NIAGARA FALLS (supporting Said The Whale)
• August 18 – Toucan, KINGSTON
• August 19 – CafeDekcuf, OTTAWA August 20 – Baldwin Festival, BALDWIN
• August 20 – Dakota Tavern, TORONTO
• August 23 – Flying Monkey (acoustic set), BARRIE August 25 – Rhythm and Brews, CAMBRIDGE
• August 26 – Doors Pub: Taco Joint & Metal Bar, HAMILTON
• August 27 – The Richmond Tavern, LONDON

Well I see I am past 8 minutes and I don’t want to take up too much of your time. My last thought is that I hope you enjoy the song as much as I have. 

Now without further ado here is “Underdog” by ON.

We would love to know what you think about ON and their track “Underdog.”

You can tell us in a comment on the podcast webpage. You can also leave an audio comment at the link in the episode summary.

If you’re looking for more information on ON check out their official website www.OnMusic.ca. That is O-N-M-U-S-I-C dot C-A

You can also like and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

You can find them on Facebook at the handle onband.ca. That is O-N-B-A-N-D dot C-A

Their Instagram handle is O dot N dot Music

You can follow them on Twitter at OnBandOffical. That is O-N-B-A-N-D-O-F-F-I-C-A-L

If you’re looking for more new music be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you will get the latest updates on our artist features. 

You can also find more music features on our website at www.EatSleepBreatheMusic.com. That is E-a-t-S-l-e-e-p-B-r-e-a-t-h-e-M-u-s-i-c dot com.

Thanks for listening and see you in the next episode!

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