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Io was officially formed in September of 1996, and the band played their first live show in January 1997. The band is named after one of Jupiter's moons Io, a strange, volcanic place.
The story of their music goes back to January of 1995, when Matt Jobin and Tina Noyes first began to play and write songs together. The two of them spent a great deal of time in musical isolation, getting together to write music and integrate their styles while looking for more musicians to complete their group. Finally, the two met former drummer Todd Hunter and formed the three piece io. They began to write songs that are by turns wistful, bitter, joyous, angry, fearful, and hopeful.
The three began playing live shows, at first shy, but then gaining confidence from the response of the audiences. Soon, they evolved their own style of stage presence; Vulnerable yet unafraid.
After playing live for 8 months, the band decided to record a CD. Renting a digital 8 track and DAT machine, Tina, Matt, and Todd did it themselves. They set the equipment up in a bedroom and proceeded to spend the next 2 weeks recording and mixing night and day. The result of their effort is the 6 song Harmony ep. The CD has received several reviews, and is on rotation at college and underground radio stations throughout Ontario and in the United States.
Greg Bailey joined Io in the summer of 1998 as the new drummer. His powerful and creative style further enhanced the band's live shows. Currently, Io is
generating support in their local town, Guelph, as well as surrounding communities, by playing regular shows to enthusiastic audiences. Constantly writing new songs, the band is looking forward to the prospect of releasing a full-length album in 1999. |
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Io at Lees's Palace November 18, 1998
As many of you know, Rawkinray has coughed up several lungs and still no one wants to give him any
antibiotics. No one even with VD would split with their stash of pennicillin, DAMN!
But, this past evening was better than echinachea! I finally had the opportunity to check out Guelph's: Io!
This would be music for airline passengers not wanting to be disturbed! A symphony for airplanes, or any vehicle capable of reaching the clouds in a very expedient way.
Io remind me of what "The Spirit of Radio" could have been like if it were still alive in the 90's. CFNY as it stands now, "kills music dead" (Saw that on a t-shirt recently) and well.....many of you remember the horrid transition of 102.1 many years ago. Io could have, and probably would have been on there then, but doubtedly now. With more gigs, and tons of practice what craft they have already mastered, will become tighter, brighter and more brilliant than Ganymede.
I went from feeling lethargic to provocative mood inspired and feeling physically (YES) physically better from sitting there absorbing the music. The band impressed the audience, and hoots coming from an audience swelling in the back, indicated many votes of approval.
I look forward to seeing them perform again in the near future. Matt?! I hope you fix the neck of that beautiful guitar. Tina?! We're still wondering if that was a bass guitar or an Uzi strapped around your shoulders?
Overall, nice way to fill a Tuesday evening. If Io are performing again, take my word for it, the band's brilliance and sound will take you somewhere.....and maybe for some of us, it's a place long forgotten, but with the correct conjunction of time, place and Io on stage, something visceral will inexplicably take place.
-Rawkin' Ray CKLN-FM DJ
Harmony EP Review
Every once in awhile, a new modern-rock release hits my desk and leads me to ask, once again, one same old question, "Why isn't this on the radio instead of the same old crap?" Hailing form Canada, Io unofficially started in 1995 when vocalist/guitarist Matt Jobin and now bassist Tina Noyes met. In 1997 they played their first gig as Io with drummer Todd Hunter.
With lyrics sometimes more majestic than a Rilke or Buber writing, and an overall sound not possibly
comparable off the top of my head, Io present mysteriously ambient songs like "The Closet" and "It Breathes The Dust", and sweet little modern-rockers (almost punkish, but not loud enough) with "Thinner" and "Cygnus x-1." And fans of Cure or the Fixx should find "Spirits" much to their liking.
One of the best features of the disc is their blend of acoustic songs and heavily distorted tunes. But all six tracks maintain a surprisingly fluid and mild sound. I'm out of comments for Io, as this is a tough act to describe, and probably, to follow.
- Wessman Royer (OUAS music e-zine #65)
Harmony EP Review
Guelph's Io could easily be mistaken for a band from, well, somewhere else. Maybe England. For fans of British pop/indie/post-punk music, this is enough reason to buy their debut album, released on February 11th.
Their 6 song CD is a melange of catchy guitar riffs, deep bass lines, and a string of delightful harmonies. Guitar/vocals Matt Jobin's soft, boyish voice is most predominant on the album, often joined in by bassist Tina Noyes' backup vocals.
The band's influences are implied on the album, including the likes of the Stone Roses, Echo and the Bunnymen, New Order, and a little bit of Joy Division.
The album starts with the track "The Closet", in which Jobin sings and pleads "no more, no more". The next track is "It Breathes the Dust" which begins instrumentally, and continues in a very folkish way, a very good song. "Thinner" is next, which has a very strong musical element to it, and is definitely one of th heavier songs on the album... executed very well. The fourth track on the album, "Cygnus X-1", is definitely the most British-influenced song on the album, indicated by various elements such as the hollow bass line, the psychedelic guitar riff, and the various sound effects used in the song. The fifth song, "Spirits", is, lyrically, perhaps the strongest and most powerful song on the album, as Jobin sings with a fiercer voice than on other tracks on the album. The sixth and last song on the album, "Harmony" has some striking production effects which are particularly good at the beginning of the song, and eventually fade into a very gothish drawl accompanied by Jobin's voice.
Over all, the album is a good debut, with several very strong tracks. And at ten bucks, it's a good buy, while you support a new and emerging local band. The CD is available at music stores throughout Guelph and downtown Toronto and on-line at io.findhere.com
-Saba Haider (The Ontarion Feb 24, 1998) |
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Location:
Guelph ON, Canada
io Website
io_music@hotmail.com
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