Bombargo
Bombargo | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Genres | Indie pop |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Independent |
| Members |
|
| Website | Official site |
Bombargo is a pop band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan that was formed in 2013 by Nathan Thoen and Spencer Chilliak.
History[edit]
Thoen and Chilliak were inspired to start a band after attending the Sasquatch Music Festival.[1] Their shared passion and love of music was obvious to them and launched an instant friendship which sparked the genesis of the group. It was in 2017, on Anthony’s birthday while in Bali, Indonesia, that Nathan finally convinced Anthony to join after his own band Black Vienna, had ended. Anthony then quit his job in San Francisco and moved back to Saskatoon to be part of the band. The remainder of the 7-piece group consists of brothers Matt Folkerson (keys) and Sammy Folkersen (bass), Connor Newton (saxophone), and Niall Cubbon (drums).[2]
Releases[edit]
Back on Main and We Are Bombargo (2015-2017)[edit]
In 2015 the duo released their debut EP titled Back on Main which would go on to be included in "The Top 10 Best Saskatchewan Albums of 2015.[3] Bombargo donated all proceeds to the Red Cross to help those impacted and displaced by the forest fires that devastated northern Saskatchewan that year.[4] The second track, "Let It Grow" has amassed over 3 million streams.
The band released their first full length album titled We are Bombargo in May 2017. The album single Pour Me Another gained play on mainstream radio. The songs music video, filmed by Anthony Thoen illustrates a cautionary tale about the risks of alcohol. The video stars Thoen’s uncle Scott, a Sam Elliott doppelgänger who was 32 years sober at the time of the shoot.[5]
The track "Heros Never Die" from the album was inspired by Michelle Curtis, who died trying to save several children from a riptide at Broad Cove beach in Cape Breton in 2015. Thoen was visiting the area in the days following the tragedy, and could not think about Michelle's act of bravery without being overcome with emotion. "It's one of the saddest stories I have ever heard in my life," said Bombargo's Nathan Thoen.[6]
Mr. No Good and Oxygen (2017-2019)[edit]
In December 2017, Bombargo released their single titled "Mr. No Good" which Taylor Swift added to her Spotify Playlist "Songs Taylor Loves" in February 2018. Bombargo was the only unsigned Canadian artist on the 43 track playlist which featured established international artists including Kendrick Lamar, Camila Cabella and Ed Sheeran.[7]
In August 2018, Bombargo released their single "Oxygen" which went on to peak at No. 41 on the Billboard Canada Hot AC Chart.[8] Following the tracks radio success, Bombargo made their US touring debut in September 2019 as party of their 33-date "North American Dream Tour."[1]
Nebula (2020-present)[edit]
During winter in early 2020, Bombargo went to a cabin in Northern Saskatchewan for two weeks. They set up a studio to record their next album consisting of ten songs. To help with the release of the album, Bombargo set up a Kickstarter fundraising drive with a goal of $12,000. With the support of 186 backers, they raised $22,931. The Kickstarter campaign was also to help cover the cost of production, CDs, vinyl, and promotion of the album. The album went on to be titled Nebula with a scheduled release date of 27 May 2022. On 28 January 2022, they released the first single "Too Close for Comfort."[9] They followed that up with the release of their second single "Somedays" on 25 February 2022.[10]
Personal life[edit]
Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Nathan and Anthony Thoen were raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Growing up the brothers took guitar lessons from Byron Matice [11] and enjoyed snowboarding at Little Red. The two attended high school at Carlton Comprehensive High School.
After graduation they both eventually moved to Saskatoon to attend University at the U of S. In 2011 Nathan built and captained a team to Edmonton to compete in the first Canadian National Championship of Yukigassen.[12] With nearly a thousand competitors[12] Nathan's team was crowned the first Team Canada in Yukigassen history.
Nathan and Anthony met with the Optimist Club in Saskatoon to discuss their idea of a tubing and ski hill in Saskatoon. After speaking to the city hall on behalf of the snowboarding community Nathan and Anthony became Optimist Hill supporters and brand ambassadors for the project. The brothers helped fundraise, plan, design, and promote the local project.[13]
In 2015 Nathan and his best friend Ian went on a camper van trip in their 1984 Toyota Camper van down the entire west coast capturing peoples dreams called "The Dream Journey"[14]
On January 31, 2016 Nathan and Yukigassen Team Canada organized the world's largest snowball fight in Victoria Park in Saskatoon and received the Guinness world record.[15] The record is featured in the 2019 hard copy Guinness world record book.
In 2016 Nathan was asked to give a speech to the graduating class of 2016 at Carlton Comprehensive High School [16]
In 2020 Spencer Chilliak and Anthony Thoen were featured in Bill & Ted Face the Music.[17]
On March 22, 2021, Tiara Jackle accused brothers Nathan and Anthony Thoen of engaging in demeaning behaviour[18][19] during the production of a promotional video for Team Canada for the 2016 Yukigassen World Championships that was unrelated to the band.[20][21][22] the brothers denied these allegations and opened a lawsuit, citing defamation.[23]
In March, Tiara Jackle retracted her statement about models being underage.[24]
Band members[edit]
- Nathan Thoen – Lead vocals
- Spencer Chilliak – Lead guitar, backing vocals
- Anthony Thoen – Guitar
- Matthew Folkersen – Keyboard, backing vocals
- Sammy Lee Folkersen – Bass guitar, backing vocals
- "Rootin' Tootin'" Connor Newton – Saxophone
- Niall Cubbon – Drums
Discography[edit]
| Bombargo discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 2 |
| Music videos | 7 |
| EPs | 1 |
| Singles | 9 |
Albums[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| We Are Bombargo |
|
| Nebula |
Extended plays[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Back on Main |
|
Singles[edit]
| Title | Year | Chart Position | Album | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Hot AC | |||||||||||||||
| "Little Bit More" | 2016 | — | Non-album single | ||||||||||||
| "Pour Me Another" | 2017 | — | We Are Bombargo | ||||||||||||
| "Mr. No Good" | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||||||
| "Waiting on You | 2018 | — | |||||||||||||
| "Share the light" | — | ||||||||||||||
| "All the Same" | — | ||||||||||||||
| "Oxygen" | 41 | ||||||||||||||
| "Already There" | 2019 | — | |||||||||||||
| "Delivery Guy" | 2020 | — | |||||||||||||
| "Too Close For Comfort" | 2022 | — | Nebula | ||||||||||||
| "Somedays" | — | ||||||||||||||
| "Can't Stop" | — | ||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||||||||||||
Music videos[edit]
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Precious Time (Lately)" | — |
| 2016 | "Let it Grow" | Back on Main |
| "Little Bit More" | — | |
| 2017 | "Pour Me Another" | |
| 2018 | "Oxygen" (featuring Bryce + Hailey) | |
| 2019 | "Already There" | |
| 2020 | "Delivery Guy" | |
| 2022 | "Too Close for Comfort" | Nebula |
| "Somedays" |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Bombargo's U.S. Debut Show: Rocking Good Set Bombards the Hotel Cafe". Billboard. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ Liles, Andrew (30 January 2021). "Bombargo: From Humble Beginnings to the Goodtime Guarantee". North Sask Music Zine. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "The Best Saskatchewan Albums of 2015! | The Latest | SaskMusic". Sask Music. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ "'Bombargo' ready to rock Showroom stage". Today In BC. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ McKay, Stephanie (4 May 2017). "We Are Bombargo: Positivity fuels Saskatoon band". The StarPhoenix. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ Kerslake, Danny (21 August 2017). "Sask. band Bombargo captures N.S. ocean tragedy in song". CBC News. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ Syeda, Maha (9 February 2018). "Bombargo is the Only Canadian Indie Band on Taylor Swift's Spotify Playlist". Fashion. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Oxygen Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Bombargo - Too Close for Comfort [Official Music Video]". YouTube. Bombargo. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Bombargo - Somedays [Official Music Video]". YouTube. Bombargo. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Gustafson, Ian. "Local guitar instructor retiring after 44 years". paNOW. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Yukigassen: The 'snow battle' comes to Edmonton". The Globe and Mail. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "Optimist Hill campaign trying to raise $300K | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "The Dream Journey: Two guys and a camper van". The Sheaf - The University of Saskatchewan Newspaper Since 1912. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "Saskatoon officially sets snowball fight record - Saskatoon | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ Nathan's speech Grad 2016, retrieved 19 September 2023
- ^ "Saskatoon band Bombargo get most excellent surprise with cameo in 'Bill and Ted Face the Music' | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ Djuric, Mary (24 March 2021). "Saskatoon woman alleges 'demeaning' and 'predatory' behaviour during video shoot in 2016". CBC News. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ "Saskatoon woman alleges 'demeaning' and 'predatory' behaviour during video shoot in 2016". Yahoo News. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ Young, Matt (25 March 2001). "Members of Saskatoon band Bombargo respond to allegations of inappropriate conduct". CTV Saskatoon. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ McMillan, Anna; Giles, David (24 March 2021). "Members of Saskatoon band Bombargo apologize following misconduct allegations". Global News. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ James, Thia (25 March 2021). "Saskatoon woman alleges inappropriate conduct during 2016 video shoot". The StarPhoenix. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ James, Thia (6 July 2021). "Lawsuit filed against Saskatoon woman who alleged inappropriate conduct during 2016 video shoot". The StarPhoenix. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ CTV New Saskatoon (1 March 2022). "Saskatoon woman who alleged harassment occurred during video shoot now says no minor was involved". CTV News. Retrieved 3 March 2022 – via CTV Saskatoon.