Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer

Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer are a Vancouver based blues duo,[1] consisting of Shawn Hall and Matthew Rogers.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer
Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer in Vancouver, 2014.
Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer in Vancouver, 2014.
Background information
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresBlues, rock
Instrument(s)Harmonica, electric guitar, foot percussion
Years active2006 (2006)–present
LabelsTonic Records
MembersShawn Hall
Matthew Rogers
Websitewww.harpoonistaxemurderer.com

History

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Shawn Hall and Matthew Rogers met at a jingle recording session in 2006.[5][9] Hall worked for Citytv and Rogers was/is a film composer.[6] They discovered they had a mutual affinity for a multitude of musical genres, but mainly folk and blues. The band began as a folk duo and their sound continued to evolve into a bigger, more electric sound.[8]

They have had their songs featured on television shows such as CSI, NCIS New Orleans, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, and the TV movie Lizzie Borden Took an Ax.[10]

Live Performances

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Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer are known for their energetic live shows and commanding stage presence and are popular on the festival circuit.[8] They have played SXSW 2013,[11] the 2013 Winnipeg Folk Festival,[12] the 2013 Ottawa Blues Fest,[13] the Atlin Arts & Music Festival, the Calgary Folk Music Festival,[14] the Vancouver Folk Music Festival,[15] the Festival d'été de Québec, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival,[16] the Queenscliff Music Festival[17] and the Montreal Jazz Fest.[18] They have shared the stage with Dr. Dog, St. Paul & The Broken Bones,[19] Clap Your Hands Say Yeah,[20] Taj Mahal, XIXA, Tinariwen, Booker T Jones, David Wilcox, Mother Mother, The Sheepdogs[21] and Serena Ryder.

Awards

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Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer received a Sirius XM Indie award in 2013 for Blues Artist of the Year.[22] Their third album, Checkered Past (released on October 27, 2011)[23] was nominated at the Maple Blues Awards for 'Album of the Year' in 2013.[24] Shawn Hall was also nominated for a Maple Blues Award for Harmonica Player of the Year[25] In 2014,they were nominated for a Juno for their album A Real Fine Mess.[26] In 2017, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer won BreakOut Artist of the Year at the West Coast Music Awards[27] and were nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Recording/Producer of the Year & Harmonica Player of the Year for the 2018 Maple Blues Awards.[28]

Discography

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Albums

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  • The Blues Can Kill (Independent) 2007
  • The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer (Independent) June 25, 2008
  • Checkered Past (Independent) Jan 24, 2012[29][30]
  • A Real Fine Mess (Tonic Records) June 17, 2014 [31]
  • Apocalipstick (Tonic Records) March 24, 2017 [32]
  • Post Apocalipstick (Tonic Records) April 30, 2021[33]

References

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  1. ^ "A New Brand of Blues with The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer - Vancouver WeeklyA New Brand of Blues with The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer". Vancouver Weekly. 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  2. ^ Schneider, Jason (2012-12-13). "Folk and Country 2012: Blues Explosion". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  3. ^ "Five can't-miss events in Metro Vancouver this weekend - British Columbia - CBC News". Cbc.ca. 2014-02-28. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  4. ^ Brodeur, Jessica (2013-04-10). "Review: Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer at The Biltmore Cabaret | The Province". Blogs.theprovince.com. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  5. ^ a b "HARPOONIST & THE AXE MURDERER | BeatRoute Magazine". Beatroute.ca. 2013-07-16. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  6. ^ a b "The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer make killer blues music | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  7. ^ "The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer take the traditional route on Checkered Past | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly". Straight.com. 2012-07-25. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  8. ^ a b c "Homegrown blues: Chatting with The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer | CTV Vancouver News". Bc.ctvnews.ca. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  9. ^ Kendle, John (2013-10-22). "Folk Festival faves return; PTE has a winner in its first show of the season - Canstar". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  10. ^ "The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer Sync Placements". tunefind.com. TuneFind. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  11. ^ "SXSW 2013 Announces Second Round..." mxdwn.com. MXDWM.com. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Past Performers". winnipegfolkfestival.ca. Winnipeg Folk Festival. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  13. ^ "RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest Ottawa 2013". concertarchives.org. Concert Archives. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Marianne (20,000 Acres of Moonlight) — The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer: Folk in the Field". youtube.com. Calgary Folk Fest, YouTube. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  15. ^ "The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer (British Columbia)". thefestival.bc.ca. Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  16. ^ "THE HARPOONIST & THE AXE MURDERER ANNOUNCE SUMMER TOUR DATES". spillmagazine.com. The Spill Magazine. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  17. ^ "...at Queensliff". setlist.fm. SetList. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  18. ^ "The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer Montreal Jazz Festival". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  19. ^ Hayhurst, John. "St. Paul & The Broken Bones + The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer @ The Irish Centre, Leeds – 31st January 2017". gigjunkies.com. Gig Junkies. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  20. ^ "The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer Share..." killbeatmusic.com. Killbeat Music. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  21. ^ "TD Kitchener Blues Festival Kick-Off Concert..." ticketscene.ca. Ticketscene. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Nominees/Winners | INDIES". Indies.ca. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  23. ^ "Checkered Past: The Harpoonist and The Axe Murder - Album Review - Vancouver WeeklyCheckered Past: The Harpoonist and The Axe Murder – Album Review". Vancouver Weekly. 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  24. ^ "CBC Music - Free Streaming Radio, Videos, Songs, Concerts & Playlists". March 29, 2014. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014.
  25. ^ Mike Devlin (2015-03-03). "Shawn Hall and Matthew Rogers are a perfect musical fit". Timescolonist.com. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  26. ^ "Nominees | The JUNO Awards". Junoawards.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  27. ^ "Music Awards". Breakoutwest.ca. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  28. ^ "Maple Blues Awards". Mapleblues.ca. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  29. ^ "The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer: Checkered Past Review". bluesrockreview.com. Blues Rock Review. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  30. ^ "Checkered Past - The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer - New Release review". bmansbluesreport.com. BMan's Blues Report. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  31. ^ Adams, Gregory (2014-05-08). "The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer Prep 'A Real Fine Mess'". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  32. ^ "Apocalipstick, by The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer". Harpoonistaxemurderer.bandcamp.com. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  33. ^ "The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer share new LP..." volatileweekly.com. Volatile Weekly. Retrieved 7 November 2021.