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Tyler Armes formed a band as part of a Grade seven school project. Most such projects are simply the pride of parents encouraging their children to explore the arts but that band, Down With Webster, had something special even for a bunch of 12–year–old kids. With Armes on bass, guitarist/singer Pat Gillett, rappers Bucky and Cam Hunter, drummer Andrew Martino and Diggy the DJ, Down With Webster were immediately attracting fans from their live performances and the songs seemed to strike the right chord. When high school was finished, the band became a serious concern and their fanbase grew exponentially. Their post–secondary education was going to be in rock and roll and their collective homes in Toronto were left behind for a blur of stages across the country. By the time the members became old enough to be in the club scene, their reputation spawned attention from the likes of Gene Simmons and Timbaland, who both wanted to sign them to their respective labels but DWW opted to maintain more control of what their music was going to be about and forged their own path and to great success.
Their 2009 Universal/Motown debut CDEP, Time To Win Vol. I helped make Down With Webster MuchMusic staples, Juno nominees and awards show
scene–stealers – it’s kind of surprising that their debut full length recording, Time To Win Vol. II was only released in October of 2011.
“We’ve put out records in the past but in terms of a packaged CD, we signed in 2009 and put out a seven–song EP kind of in a hurry to just get some music out there and we ended up touring for a lot longer than we expected,” offers Armes. “It was like an 18–month baby that had to be born.
“I think this record even reflects a different band than we were in 2009,” adds Armes. “You do a lot of growing up between the ages of 18 and 24, particularly artistically and in the way you write songs. I think our demographic will naturally change because there is a big step in the maturity of the record. Not that it isn’t as fun anymore or the show isn’t as crazy but I think the material is more honest and reflective of these guys in our mid–twenties.”
You can tell DWW still takes influence from Armes CD collection in the late ‘90s favouring the Bloodhound Gang, the Offspring, and Fun Lovin’ Criminals.
“Those are good comparisons,” replies Armes, “but I’d probably throw in the Beastie Boys, the Roots and Rage Against the Machine to balance it off a little.”
Down With Webster offers party music and their live show underscores that fact. So much so, the band has been touring near non–stop for the better part of three years on the reputation for their live show. But while they’re all about bringing the party, DWW is serious about creating solid music and keeping the band in shape so that they can still keep bringing the party.
“We’ve done a really great job building a fan base in Canada but we have so much work to do in terms of playing the rest of the world. When we’re home for a little too long, I think everyone goes a little stir crazy. And if you want to be a band these days, you have to get your ass on the road. This band needs to be touring to build a fan base. The people that get us come see us live.”
The group of 12–year–old boys have achieved a lot of dreams but there are still many goals to be achieved. That childhood inspiration and excitement seems to take over when DWW take to the stage and perhaps with all of their success, it might be good to reconnect with the icon that offered that inspiration.
“Not that it makes sense either way – but we are definitely for Emmanuel Lewis,” laughs Armes on the actor that starred in the ‘80s sitcom “Webster.” “I wish I had a better story for the band name but when you’re 12–years–old, not everything you think of is genius and we liked the way it sounded. He was cool, why not be down with him?
“We have not met him yet but we have made a friend who says they’re good friends with him so hopefully at one point we’ll have a chance to meet him and let him know he was in our thoughts when we named the band,” he adds. “Mind you, I’m not sure if he’s going to care at all because he’s got a list of accolades that would out do being named in a band. But I’d like to meet him and maybe get a picture with him.
It’d make a really good Christmas card.”
V
DOWN WITH WEBSTER
w/USS, OCD (Mooch & Twist)
Tuesday, February 7, 7pm.
@ Barracuda Pretty.
30 Ontario St., St. Catharines
facebook.com/downwithwebster
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