!earshot Top 200 of 2021

Feeling the buzz with Oliver Black

I don�t know about you, but I just want to be rocked. I want the good old fashion in your face I�m a rock star even if you don�t know it yet kind of rock. I need to see a live show that will make my nipples hard and leave me asking for more. It�s the kind of confidence and energy that is felt when you see Oliver Black.

Oliver BlackKicking ass live is what Oliver Black is all about, and doing it well is why they�ve created a buzz for themselves in the Niagra and Toronto area. �Rock and roll is about the live experience.� I was told by lead vocalist Serena Pruyn. Of course I agreed with her so we continued to speak candidly along with the group�s bass player Greg Zack about how things have led up to their recent success.

Oliver Black began by playing covers in 2002 until it felt right for them to begin writing their own music. Once they found themselves, it began to happen from there. �We�ve had to work really hard, and we�ve got some great people and management that are excited and happy to work with us which are making a big difference. It�s really been great.�

Hard work is getting results as the band is regularly playing to capacity crowds. In the meantime, their unofficial single �where I am� is getting airplay on a few campus and community radio stations as well as on an Indie Hour at a Toronto commercial station. The band has also gained different sponsorships from MGD and Mr. Jack Daniels for separate showcases held in Toronto recently and earlier this past summer, they were chosen as endorsees for Levy�s Leather. This provides the band with leather gig bags. Where do they go from here?

Well, rumour has it that Daniel Langois approached them at one of their showcases in Toronto wanting to record one of his songs with them. So I asked Serena and Greg about Oliver Black�s plans for touring and recording. �At present we�re keeping our options open.� They will continue to rock the Niagra region as well as the rest of Ontario as their fan base continues to grow. As far as recording goes, they plan to hit the studio around Christmas time while negotations with interested labels continue. �We want to capture the live sound in the studio.� Since the focus of this band is the live experience I asked them about a live recording and was told about plans to launch an Oliver Black Live website in the near future. �We�ve got this great guy Jeff Parker who comes to all of our shows to video tape them, I swear he doesn�t sleep!� The intent is to use his footage for the site. So my advice to you rock fans, is to add Oliverblackmusic.com to your favourites and embrace the coming of their worldwide take over.