Johnny Kay - vox / keys / guitar James Robertson - lead guitar / vox / keys Markus Saks - drums / percussion Steve Payne - bass
Influences
The Pretenders, The Clash, Supergrass, The Wonder Stuff, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, The Police, Brian Eno, Guns and Roses, Elvis Costello, Supertramp, Marc Bolan, Graham Coxon, Spacehog, XTC, The Boss
Sounds Like
North By Northeast 2008 Blog"emerging indie rock threats" by Sarah Liss June 15, 2008
NXNE Preview: The I Spies"The I Spies deliver powerful guitar-fueled pop songs reminiscent of the early days of new wave (Television, not Culture Club)." by Steve June 13, 2008
The i Spies with my little eye...". . . it's full of energy with just the slightest hint of snottiness thrown in . . ." by Matthew June 5, 2008
Interview and Live Review". . . the attitude and energy of the live show relates a definite presence of various punk and new wave influences. Hints of the Clash were both audible and visible." Interview by Goran June 1, 2008
Midnight Poutine Podcast (episode 77)". . . straight ahead, pedal to the floor rock tunes that just go from start to [finish]!" Podcast by Jeremy May 28 - June 3, 2008
Inside Entertainment Feature "I spy with my little eye: something fun and new in the indie rock scene." by Emer Schlosser May 28, 2008
"The I Spies pack Jam-like breakdowns and Costelloey bridges between tightly-wound guitar riffs that makes In The Night a collection of combustible little ditties." James Hayashi-Tennant May 1, 2008
Weekend Ideas. "I spy with my little eye a hot indie band from Toronto. (I refer to the music and the men). Go dance and celebrate [the] end of school? Beginning of a warm weekend? Your love for Brit Pop that's not from Britain? You choose." Jen McNeely April 16, 2008
Sunday Morning Coffee :: The I Spies. "I was able to throw on this record and not once hit ">>".
April 13, 2008
Hook, hook. Thump thump. "The I Spies feel like Ontario's response to Victoria's Hot Hot Heat, and are even more likely to be the next hot pop quartet north of the American border." by Chris Lewis April 3, 2008
TOP 3 CD'S " . . . the kind of album that's easy to fall in love with." by Mary Dickie April, 2008
CBC Radio 3 "*boing sound effect* . . . I think someone needs to borrow my bong." by Grant Lawrence March 21, 2008
"Dancable, catchy and infectious: The I Spies' album In The Night is a frenzy of "just got to get up and move" post-punk-pop.." by Lisa Gasson Mar 21, 2007
ALBUM REVIEW "What feels like a story sucks you into its world and keeps you until the very last scene." by Pam Nichol Mar 2, 2008
I SPY(IES) MORE CANADIAN GOODNESS "This album will be an indie hit. Catchy, catchy pop goodness; post-punk guitar pop, reminiscent of early 80s British rock." by Joe Terry Feb 24, 2008
"The disc moves at a lightning pace and showcases the band’s highly tuned ability to produce tight post-punk rock . . ." by Erin Taylor Feb 20, 2008
"THE I SPIES OWE SUCCESS TO THE MAN" "Indie band got funding to make top-notch CD" by Ben Rayner Jan 31, 2008
"Who needs the Brit Box when there are plenty of real live bands keeping the spirit of jaunty, aggressive pop with cheery vocal harmonies and sneering frontmen?"
Jan 31, 2008
DISC REVIEW " . . .this solidly rendered offering shows that the I Spies deserve to rise above the vanilla crop." by Jason Keller Jan 31, 2008
HAIKU - QUICK SPINS "Someone remembers
Tommy Tutone, and they were
Paying attention." Jan 24, 2008
ISPIES @ SNEAKY DEE'S "Once this CD hits the masses, I can see The I Spies becoming a great Canadian export that anyone could easily fall in love with." by Pam Nichol Jan 11, 2008
CHART ATTACK FEATURE STORY "Spies Get Smart In The Night." Jan 11, 2008
THE I SPIES. IN THE NIGHT. "Their CD is a collection of tight, well-crafted tunes that owes a fair bit - at least to these ears – to the inspiration provided by British rock of the late 1970s and early '80s." by Tõnu Naelapea Dec 27, 2007
THE I SPIES @ LEE'S PALACE "They simply play really good pop songs that sound slightly reminiscent of all that was good about the era. I'm talking about bands like The Police, The Pretenders and, most of all, Elvis Costello."
Dec 19, 2007
ALBUM REVIEW "If you like your music peppier than a lake of Red Bull and catchier than the plague, set your sights on the I Spies." by Scott A. Gray Nov 2007
POP MOTREAL "I spy with my little eye a Toronto indie pop band playing some of the most unabashedly infectious pop songs at this year's festival." Oct 2007
CD REVIEW: The I Spies – In the Night (Independent) "The I Spies do frenzied, angular post-punk better than just about anyone in the Toronto scene. . ." by Rob Duffy Oct 2007
DISC-OVERY OF THE WEEK "The i Spies make thoroughly solid indie rock" by CHRIS RANDLE Oct 4 2007
OVERALL NIGHT 8.8 (one of the best bets this summer) "Immediately I was slapped with a wonderful wave of grungy dance rock yet it was somehow charming, dirty yet impossibly tight." by Bryan Chateau Aug 16 2007
^^^ Jamie and Johnny have a chat with Korey from Crave TV. Click on the link above to watch the tantalizing interview that covers everything from the bands' roots to moustache growth!
SOUND AND HISTORY
Released independently and distributed nationwide by Fontana North in
March, The I Spies' full-length debut, 'In The Night', could be a
candidate for indie rock top ten lists come December. Also titled 'In
The Night', the first single is already charting at college radio.
Watch your concert listings closely for a show near you.
The I Spies breed an imposing sound. Robertson's layered guitar grit
scuzzes-up Kay's strong pop rants, while Payne's infectious bass
melodies race alongside Saks' machine gun percussion. Organs and
synths pulse in and out. The music is urgent and abrasive; big and
fresh; hook-laden and filler-free. In The Night will almost certainly
blow the Toronto-based Spies' cover.
Your iPod needs this record. Your town needs this band.
The I Spies began in 2003 as four young musicians experimenting with
angular riffs and New Wave hooks, inspired by the likes of The Clash
and The Police and by the attitudes of bands like Television and XTC.
Subsequent years saw the I Spies slowly building an underground
fan-base as a an antisocial and occasional contributor to Toronto's
vibrant rock 'n roll scene. But recently, the I Spies have redoubled
their ambitions. They have become more than the sum of their
influences. Their energetic and fiery pop songs translate flawlessly
into high energy live performance. Armed with a clear agenda and a
stunning record, the Spies are ready to infiltrate.
Just wanted to let you know that we're playing a show on July 4th at the Kathedral at Queen and Bathurst. The show starts at 8:30, we go on at 9 and tickets are $7.00. We also have our bassist, Mario filling in on drums, and Johnny from Revolution Love filling in on bass. We're playing musical band members.
So, come be our friend, have a drink and enjoy some live music.
Español: Carlo, integrante de LaPatentePendiente consiguio el lugar y organizo todo. Un 15vo piso en una de las más importantes calles de la Ciudad De México. Todos los involucrados a la noche, pensaban más en la posibilidad de que serian parte de una orgía masiva donde el noise y las notas lo-fi serian el soundtrack de la noche. (conoce mas y baja el lanzamiento)
English: Carlo from LaPatentePendiente got the place and the gig together. A 15th floor in one of the most important streets in Mexico City. Everybody surrounding the gig were thinking we were going be part of a massive orgy, were the noise and lo-fi keys were going to be the soundtrack of the night. (read more and download)
Hello! I purchased your CD today at Criminal Records and I can't stop listening to it over and over! I looooooove it so much!!! I want to see you guys live so badly... Play in Torontooo...soooon!! <3<3<3<3
hey there friend(s), we have posted new tracks up and if you want to listen to the WHOLE demo then be sure to go here: http://virb. com/thecygnuspsyanide thanks have a great day, -aldo
