By Brent MacDonald

Happy, happy, joy, joy The Joys are more than happy to be touring NB While they might look punk, they're anything but. If you've got a car grab some friends, some snacks and head to one of The Joys shows. When a band tours 200 days a year and their live show gets the kind of reputation that London, Ontario based band The Joys have, industry suits start to pay attention. After ten thousand CD's sold, a clothing sponsorship under their belt and a song licensed for an upcoming Heather Graham movie, The Joys bring their high energy pop rock show to New Brunswick. Don't assume their style of dress denotes the kind of music The Joys play. They are a walking contradiction of sorts and draw comparisons to No Doubt, before Gwen Stefani decided she was hot and started making terrible music. There was nothing punk about No Doubt, much like there is nothing punk about The Joys. Whether or not you care about that is a different story, but Sarah Smith (vocals/guitar) thinks the band has paid their dues and she welcomes free clothing and a song on a Heather Graham movie. Who is to argue with the S&L Feldman represented band, given such a relentless touring schedule? "I used to be one of those people who used to call others sell outs," Smith says. "But, we've worked really hard. Being a lead singer, a lot of people in the industry try to tell me to be a certain way. I'm not going to sell out in that way, but free clothes? For sure. Bring it on." It's already been brought'n (for everybody with the ability to avoid Hollywood, that would be a pop culture reference). GSUS supplies the band with clothing, Sabian with cymbals and Godin Guitars with guitars. Make what you want of one other sponsor, Fabutan Sun Tan Studios. Accolades were starting to pile up when The Joys won Pop/Rock Artist of the Year at the 2004 and 2005 London Music Awards, along with a nomination for Entertainer of the Year at the 2004 COCA Awards. COCA is a group made up of music buyers, who book and buy music for major colleges and universities all over Canada. Smith says the road is fun at times, but has drawbacks. "This can be a tough life," she says. "Relationships are really hard, we can't take vacations, we have no personal life." The benefits are plentiful though, she says. The band recorded their single, Do I, with producer Matt Dematteo, who has had some mainstream success producing bands like Big Wreck, Edwin and The Watchmen. The band has two albums completed, Demolition Sessions (2005) and one under their old moniker, Popjoy, called Anyone Who Cares . Fans have cared and Smith hopes the band will continue to grow musically and commercially. "Hopefully after the song in the movie, we'll do a video and get a national record deal," she says. Right now, The Joys play 50 per cent originals, 50 per cent covers, but are moving away from covers. Smith still says it's fun to play a medley of covers from different musical genres. And if fun is what you're looking for, the well practiced, fun loving, good looking touring band The Joys will deliver. Some travel may be required though. They play in Bathurst, Caraquet, Shippagan, Burnt Church, Dalhousie, Tabusintac, St. Quentin, and Bathurst in July and August. Visit http://www.thejoys.ca/ for show locations. Here NB |