With a fan base that mixed disenfranchised youth looking for a band to believe in and adults that wanted some excitement in a Toronto band with a knack for mixing metal riffs with punk rock attitude and tremendous, melodic moments, BT was off and running.īefore they knew it, they had sold over 200,000 albums in Canada, put forth four successful singles, headlined their own Canadian tour, and won two Juno Awards in 2005 for Group of the Year and Album of the Year. The band signed to Warner Music Canada in 2003, released their self-titled debut disc, and made a video for their lead single “Try Honesty.” Before they knew it, MuchMusic was all over them, radio play was plentiful, and lineups for usually modestly attended gigs started to grow considerably. We’d be lucky to have 40 people at our show,” recalls Kowalewicz from a sidewalk behind the Horseshoe.įor about a decade this sort of scenario was nothing new to BT. “We’d always play in the city, and pwole would come and check us out. Around him, the rest of the band-Ian D’Sa (guitar), Jon Gallant (bass), and Aaron Solowoniuk (drums)-are doing their best to ensure that each track will be performed later that night with the perfection and intensity they’ve been known to deliver – because for BT, small clus in T.O. It’s just a few hours before their evening performance, and the quartet appears ready to go.īouncing around on stage with an effeminately coloured, yet sturdy mic stand, singer Ben Kowalewicz’s energy resembles that of an unneutered cat that’s been stuck in a cage way too long. This afternoon, they’re previewing new tracks for fans, contest winners, and music industry types. Inside the legendary Horseshoe Tavern, beyond a small black curtain that’s been hung to hide the band’s sound check from accidental onlookers, the stage shakes with the sounds of new songs-and a new era-for arguably one of Canada’s most popular acts, Billy Talent. Canada’s punk favourites open up about their success, their secrets, and the game called ScramblesĪ sunny, beautiful April afternoon in downtown Toronto is the perfect backdrop for a long-awaited homecoming.
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