Spotlight: The Spill Canvas
Just ask Nick Thomas, the singer, songwriter and driving force behind The Spill Canvas. Born in Sioux Falls, SD, Thomas has been turning his experiences into songs for as long as he can remember. Dreams, first loves, the universal highs and lows of being a kid - he has always recorded all the stories of his youth. With the release of ONE FELL SWOOP, the sophomore effort from The Spill Canvas, Nick’s South Dakota stories are joined by tales from the road, growing up, heartbreak and making those dreams into reality.

Listening to ONE FELL SWOOP is like reading someone else’s diary – each song is an entry brimming with impulsive emotion. From the impassioned pleas of “Valiant” to the up-all-night-alone musings of “The Dutch Courage” The Spill Canvas have created a record that is arresting and unique but also immediately familiar.

ONE FELL SWOOP is both a natural progression and a long time coming. Nick released his first CD when he was 15 and played relentlessly in various incarnations around South Dakota before starting to perform as The Spill Canvas. A demo sent in by Nick’s father caught the attention of One Eleven Records founder Brad Fischetti, who signed Thomas purely through the strength of the tape. The largely acoustic SUNSETS AND CAR CRASHES was released in 2004 and promptly became an underground success, selling over 10k copies and earning high praise from kids and critics alike. Constant touring, including a string of dates with Straylight Run, perfected his highly emotional live performance and evolved The Spill Canvas into a full band.

Joined by guitarist Dan Ludeman, bassist Scott McGuire and drummer Joe Beck, Nick headed back into the studio with producer Ed Rose (Motion City Soundtrack, Get Up Kids). Together they created lush, orchestral arrangements and driving melodies that added even more intensity to Nick’s emphatic lyrics. Rockers like the brutally candid “Break A Leg” are delivered with a guitar-fueled bite and the incredibly catchy “Staplegunned” is an anthem in the making. Emerging from the studio and ready to hit the road, The Spill Canvas bring with them an album that is cathartic, heartfelt without being cheesy and as sincere as they come.

Hello world.
 

Latest Tour Dates w/Copeland, Daphne Loves Derby, and Melee (2005)

11/04 – Tampa, FL @ the Masquerade
11/05 – Atlanta, GA @ the Masquerade
11/06 – Orlando, FL @ the Social
11/07 – Orlando, FL @ the Social
11/09 – Baltimore MD @ Sonar
11/11 – Atlanta GA @ Vinyl at Earthlink Live
11/12 – Birmingham AL @ The Nick
11/13 – Nashville TN @ The Exit/In
11/15 – Lexington KY @ The Dame
11/17 – Toledo OH @ Headliners
11/18 – Columbus OH @ The Basement
11/19 – Grand Rapids MI @ The Intersection
11/20 – Indianapolis IN @ The Emerson Theater
11/22 – Milwaukee WI @ The Rave/Eagles Club
11/23 – Minneapolis MN @ The Quest Ascot Room

 


 
 *All songs on Artist Site.
Tracks from "The Spill Canvas"
The Spill Canvas
The Spill Canvas
This month, Josh got to interview Walter Craven, singer/guitarist for the band 6gig, who has been getting alot of reaction from fans here at BandNation.com.
Did you always sing in your other bands?
I've never sang in a band before. I used to sing backup vocals and harmonies, but this is the first band I've ever sang in.
Why the name 6gig?
No story to it really, I do a lot of graphic design and I heard the phrase 6gig a lot in reference to computers. It just popped in my head one day and I thought "That sounds cool".

How do you normally write songs?

It's different all the time. The way we're writing now is that we'll just go in and someone might come in with a idea that's more complete. A verse section and a chorus, maybe a middle section and then we all just jam it and see how it feels, see what needs to be tweeked. Other times someone comes in with just one groove, one idea, and we just sort of throw it out, play it, record it. We record all our ideas on a 16 track and then I go and do vocals on it after it's already laid down.