The Vendettas
Jamie O'Meara
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The Vendettas (L-R) : Diego, Adam and Paul
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Back with a vengeance
Good things come to those who wait, goes the expression. Well, whoever said that obviously never played in a band, where Writing + Recording x Waiting = Nothing². Unless, apparently, you play in Montreal's The Vendettas.And while 25-year-old Vendettas founder and frontman/guitarist Paul Cargnello hasn't exactly been sitting around waiting for the cows, any cow, to come home - he's been vigorously pursuing a solo career that has launched two albums thus far - it is nevertheless surprising even to him that nearly four years after The Vendettas called it a day, someone wants to put out a new Vendettas album.
"I met this guy through the Quebec City FTAA protests and we've become good friends," explains Cargnello. "He had started up a label called Skeleton Records and he'd been bugging the crap out of me to release one more Vendettas album. He was a fan and I think he just wanted to hear some more of those songs recorded."
Self-proclaimed "rock reggae revolutionaries," The Vendettas borrowed as much from bands like The Clash as they did island rhythms, with unabashed blues and rockabilly overtones as well. And while they only released one full-length album, It's Happening To You, and a pair of EPs, they nonetheless cultivated a loyal and enduring fan base.
"Now, because of my solo career, there's been renewed interest in The Vendettas," posits Cargnello, "so I figure recording the new album is a better thing than throwing [new fans] in the direction of the old stuff."
The new, 12-track
CD, Say No To (The Vendettas), was recorded in five days with original bassist Adam Kardos and guest studio drummer Dave Hamelin from The Stills. Morover, Stills vocalist Tim Fletcher lends his vocals on the impressive Cutting Fat, with additional special appearances by Mikey Dangerous, Kali, and Royal Doyle (Tim Doyle of Planet Smashers renown, who also recorded Say No To). Original drummer Diego DiGregorio will tour live.As Cargnello notes, the album ranges from "total psychobilly to total dub reggae" and they "pulled it off in such a way that it's completely sincere."
"I'm actually surprised by the feedback that we're getting," says Cargnello. "I almost expected this to be a very underground side project. But we ended up with great musicians and a great recording and the feedback has been unbelievable, overwhelming. I'm actually shocked - it's like I put that band to rest way too early in its career. So we're just picking up from where we stopped."
The launches will be the only place to get Say No To (The Vendettas), before general distribution starts in January.
The Vendettas at the U.F.P. benefit with Kumpania, Syncop, Thomas Jenson and Urbain Desbois at the Medley, Dec. 1; and at the album launch with Kali at Casa del Popolo, Dec. 4
I have a sister that dated a guy in a rock band and I know from him how hard and frustrating it is to get yourself known. The places you can do your gigs easily don't pay much and don't get you very far it is like a local thing. To go a little bigger with gigs you have to be known or you have to have the right contacts. You spend years working hard on your music always waiting for your big break. There are alot of groups out there , some better than others but you still have to have contacts and be lucky to play at the right place at the right time and to have fans .
I would like to listen to there new album Kali at Casa del Popolo. They sound like a good group that has worked hard and are trying to get the work out there. If they are really good well then I will have to stand in line for the CD coming in January.
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Maria Cecillia Silva
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