Biography The Worst Pop Band Ever

With influences ranging from Wayne Shorter to Deerhoof to J Dilla, The Worst Pop Band Ever is a Toronto based group that tries to combine a love of improvisational jazz music and “Pop” music. Individually, the WPBE has worked with the who's who of Canadian and international musicians, from Feist to the Shuffle Demons, but together, whether it be blending acoustic bass with turntables or analog synths with the saxophone, the WPBE sets out to twist and bend both originals and covers, straddling genres and butting heads with expectation. Often compared to Medeski Martin Wood or the Bad Plus, the boys like to think of themselves as the ugly love child of Radiohead and Miles Davis.

Since forming in 2005, they have shared stages/ toured with the likes of the Bad Plus, Happy Apple, Jeff Parker, Rich Brown, Rich Underhill and Elizabeth Shepherd.

They have played festivals and clubs throughout North America including the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival, NXNE, the Wreckhouse Jazz Festival (St. John’s, NL), the Ottawa Jazz Festival on Canada Day, IAJE, as well as filling notable venues/clubs like the Rex (Toronto), Schuba's (Chicago), Le Garage (Winnipeg), Yardbird Suite (Edmonton), Bassment (Saskatoon) and the Beat Niq (Calgary), the NAC (Ottawa), and The Cellar (Vancouver).

The band just finished their third album, a live EP recorded on tour in Vancouver, "Sometimes Things Go Wrong (and other songs we shouldn't play)". Their last album,"Dost Thou Believeth in Science" (2009), like their first album, “Thanks for Coming Out”(2006), received critical acclaim from traditional and online media such as the Toronto Star, Wholenote Magazine, CBC, Jazz FM 91.1, Something Else! (jazz.com), FFWD, and All About Jazz.Com (including being the featured download of the day). The album has received national and international radio rotation, reaching # 1 on the CIUT Charts in Toronto, #28 on the overall Canadian College Radio Charts (Earshot) .

Their music has also been used for film and videos for the United Nations, Teletoon, CBC and the National Film Board - including the NFB's video tribute to dancer, Peggy Baker at the Governor General Awards.

The Band is:

Drew Birston – bass (Amanda Martinez, Sarah Slean, Sultans of String, Chantal Kreviazuk)

Chris Gale – saxes (Shuffle Demons, Brandi Disterheft. Blue Rodeo, Michael Kaeshammer)

Tim Shia – drums (Rich Underhill, Quique Escamilla, Julie Michels, Milosh)

Leo37 – turntables (Abyss, Magnolius, Tanika Charles, Sunclef)

Dafydd Hughes - keys and electronics (Feist, Esthero, Julie Crochetiere, Jacksoul)

Adrean Farrugia - Keys (Matt Dusk, Kelly Jefferson Quintet, Brad Goode. Ricochet)

Discography

1) Thanks for Coming Out - 2006

featuring

- Giant Things by the Side of the Road

- Army of me (Bjork)

2)PPF House Bassment Suite (Sampler) - 2007

featuring

- Chroe or Gloe

- Those Crazy Hens

3) Dost Thou Believeth in Science - 2009

featuring

-Elizabeth Shepherd, Rhonda Stakich and Rob Ritchie

4) PPF Neighbourhood - Benefit for Haiti

- featuring Elizabeth Shepherd, Amanda Martinez, Brian MacMillan, Vangel and Milosh

5) Sometimes Things Go Wrong (and other songs we shouldn't play) - 2012

- recorded live at the Cellar in Vancouver, in 2011.

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