John Allaire
Thank You Waitress!
© 2005 Cryersong Publications (807669102423)
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Alt-country roots rock with folky blues influences.
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John Allaire is certainly no stranger to performing and recording his brand of guitar-driven alt.country/ roots/folk. His on-stage sincerity and humour compliment his lyrical depth and impressive repetoire. His shows are never the same twice.
John has been in a number of bands, including the award-winning "Town Cryers", a band that toured North America and reached the number one spot on numerous radio stations in Canada along the way.
While touring Canada in support of the Town Cryers' 1989 release "Surprise Surprise", the band picked up awards for their supporting video for John's song "Never Bin Hurt B-4". The video won honours as top independent video in Canada in 1989.
In 2003, John released his first solo effort called Crime and Punishment. The album was a 12-song collection and that sold more than 1,000 copies (admirable for an independent release) selling most of them at live performances while on tour.
John's 2005 release "Thank You Waitress" received critical acclaim as a "landmark disc"(see reviews).
His latest CD "Ghosts of the Royal Motel " (2007) is also available here on CD Baby!
John has performed with Alanis Morrisette, Blue Rodeo, Tragically Hip, Donovan Leech, Hoodoo Gurus, BoDeans, Dr. and the Medics, The Church, VSpyVspy, Nada Surf, Econoline Crush, Weddings Parties Anything, Tom Cochrane, Grapes of Wrath, Nils, and many more...
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Alt-country roots rock with folky blues influences
author: Rootstime - Belgium[Translated from Dutch to English] The second album of the Ottawan folk-rocker John Allaire, reminds me of the classic Neil Young albums and Buffalo Tom. Varying from pure country to rockers, from pleasant good feeling folk to the adventures of Wilco. And everything accompanied by just one guitar, horn section or strong distorted guitars. "Thank You Waitress!" has it all. Eclectic is an understatement, indeed. On first encounter the record sounds happier than its predecessor "Crime And Punishment" (2003), but when you listen more closely you’ll discover that John Allaire has enough demons at hand. The cow-punk-country-rock influences remain of course, but Allaire's voice echoes the one of Paul Westerberg. But having said that, this record can’t be labeled... Or perhaps the label of folk/country, but this album has so many styles; jazz in the sax, rock and blues in the harmonica and guitars, country in the slide, etc. After listening to 13 songs our jaws dropped from amazement and respect and we were ready to shout it from the top of every building: this record is so awesome -- beautiful. We knew that John Allaire, who started his musical carrier way back in 1984, is a great talent, but to prove that in such a convincing and and mindblowing way, no…….. we never saw this coming. Then again, he can count on The Campistas, a strongly driven and motivated band with Tony Dunn (keyboards and sax), Glenn Torresan (slideguitar), Jeff Tanguay (bass), Tom Simpson (percussion) and Zeke Smythe (drums). Just listen to opener "Punkrocktown", the titletrack or the more punkish track “Shut Your Mouth". All songs about punk rock tourists, touring musicans (" Halton Country Inn") and deadly jobs. You’ll understand, "Thank You Waitress!" is a more than legit follow up to"Crime And Punishment" and will not leave my cd-player. John Allaire and The Campistas might become very big worldwide.
Infectious North Americana
author: CBC Radio...add one part Strummer, one part Westerberg, sprinkle with rootsy guitars and a Canadian accent, eh ... infectious North Americana.
[Allaire has a ] gift for a sharply turned lyric ...
author: Andrew Carver - Ottawa SunOttawa folk-rocker John Allaire kicks his music up a few notches on his second solo album "Thank You Waitress!". The former Town Cryer's gift for a sharply turned lyric is also in evidence in songs about punk rock tourists, hapless touring musicians and dead-end jobs. It's a stalwart addition to Ottawa's strong roots music scene.