The 3rd Seven Nines & Tens record is finished being written.  Now we just have to flesh it out at practice.  We chose a title for it too but you’ll have to wait to see what it is.  Speaking of Album #3, the cover is being designed by the legendary Conrad Keely from Texan art-rock legends And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead. Conrad’s music is exceptional and the same goes for his art.  Check it out below:

Needless to say, I’m expecting the cover of our 3rd album to out of this universe.  Speaking of Conrad / Trail of dead, we were discussing treatment for the cover whereupon I sent him a copy of our forthcoming single “Sunshine.”  He said, “hey, do you still want me to lay something down for you?”  (We had discussed him playing the guitar on a song on the album)  It turns out that he is going to be playing keys on “Sunshine.”  I sent him the song earlier this week so it won’t be long until we have something incredibly beautiful.  Until then  – Cotton

Our show with Royal Thunder, Pinkish Black, and Owlface was killer.  Alex played his ass off and was a beast behind the kit.  I think the 3 of us were pretty buzzed on the 2 new songs we played “Sunshine” and “Panned Flashes.”

Our next show is supporting Chicago titans The Atlas Moth, Friday, June 1st @ The Astoria.  We may play another new song or two from our upcoming 3rd record.

I received this beautiful Kevin Hufnagel cassette in the mail today from our new label Coup Sur Coup records.  Max from CSC is a gem of a guy and aside from really being jazzed on our music, he’s also producing a killer looking package.  Being labelmates with Kevin (also known for his work with Dysrhythmia and Gorguts) is pretty great if you consider he’s regarded as one of the best modern guitarists.  Our career spanning boxset “Satisfy the Faction 2008 – 2018” will be released in fall 2018.  I may even include some of the songs we did pre Habitat 67 which were never formally released.

Here are some shots of us recording our new single “Sunshine” at Raincity Recorders.  That room is a beauty.  Get your first glimpse of our new drummer Alex below.  Also pictured is our producer Matt Roach.  Pics by Shane Lange Factotum photography.  We are putting out a cassette boxset on Montreal based Coup Sur Coup records.  All of our recordings from 2011 onwards will be on it.  It’s tentatively titled “Satisfy The Faction.”  We are playing with American contenders Royal Thunder and Pinkish Black @ the Astoria Wednesday, March 29.

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Max and I had a blast performing on New Year’s Eve at the Rickshaw Theatre.   It was fun to light it up with members of Bison, Black Mountain, Pride Tiger, Needles Pins, and Blackout Lights.  Not to mention our collaboration with the awesome members of The Waning Light.  We had our work cut out for us learning 11 Tragically Hip songs.  The songs we chose were:

1.  At Transformation
2. It’s a Good Life if you don’t Weaken
3. Sharks
4. The Last Recluse
5. Cordelia
6. Little Bones
7. New Orleans is Sinking
8. Nautical Disaster
9. Grace Too
10. Gift Shop
11. Bobcaygeon

Here is a pic that was taken of “The Hugh MacLennan’s” by our pal Shane Lange.  You can see Shane’s work at Factotum Photography here.

Now that we are nearly 3 weeks into the New Year it’s time to get back to all business pertaining to Seven Nines & Tens.  Our first show with our new drummer Alex will be supporting awesome American bands Royal Thunder and Pinkish Black, Wednesday, March 28th @ the Astoria.  You can check out the facebook event page here.

Rumor has it that we may be recording a new song soon.  It’s just a rumour for now.  There is no truth to this rumour at all.  None whatsoever.

Max and I will be performing alongside our friends Sage and Mac from the Waning Light on New Year’s Eve.  All performers for the event will be covering songs by the Tragically Hip.  I (Dave) am co-hosting the event and members of Black Mountain, Bison, Needles/Pins, and Pride Tiger will be headlining the event.  All ticket sales will be donated to the Gordon Downie / Chanie Wenjack fund.  We have carefully picked out a killer setlist of old and new Tragically Hip songs to play.  Behold:

I’d like to extend a gigantic thank you to Innovative Music and Arts World for including “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Slums” among their top 30 records from 2017.  You can read their words about the list below:

Sorry if your album/single didn’t make my top 30 AOTY/Singles list (I still love your music). It was a tough decision, but these albums/singles definitely deserved it (in no particular order):

1. Sannhet – “So Numb”
2. Spotlights – “Seismic”
3. The Contortionist – “Clairvoyant” 
4. dälek – “Endangered Philosophies”
5. Sadistik – “Altars”
6. Astralia – “Solstice”
7. arms and sleepers – “Life Is Everywhere”
8. Kristoff Krane – “Kairos, Pt. 1”
9. Mogwai – “Every Country’s Sun”
10. Samoans – “Laika”
11. Quicksand – “Interiors”
12. Aesop Rock – “Bushwick (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)”
13. Nikko Knight – “Darkness (Single)”
14. Chelsea Wolfe – “Hiss Spun”
15. To Destroy A City – “Go Mirage”
16. Nine Inch Nails – “Add Violence”
17. soup – “Remedies”
18. Behind the Shadow Drops – “H a r m o n i c”
19. THiS – “Hoc Est”
20. Onry Ozzborn – “c v p ii d” & “Black Phillip”
21. Sleep Maps – “No More Good Dreams”
22. Seven Nines and Tens – “Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Slums”
23. Living Phantoms – “Memory Palace”
24. And So I Watch You From Afar – “The Endless Shimmering”
25. Citizen – “As You Please”
26. Thavius Beck – “Technol O.G.”
27. HUNDREDTH – “RARE”
28. Conscious Mindz – “Unplug”
29. Ghostpoet – “Dark Days + Canapes”
30. Gonjasufi – “Mandela Effect”

In closing, cheers to the radio program Rocket From Russia for including us on their most recent episode along with many of our friends and peers based in our home, Vancouver.  The program made a deep dive and played our track “Voir Dire” from our first record “Habit 67”  read all about that below as well:

Episode #250, Lots of Local Music

Hello Hello Hello!

Few months ago I started a Spotify playlist called “Vancouver Punk”. This playlist of local music isn’t limited to punk rock, but limited to what is available in Spotify’s library. The goal of this playlist is to celebrate awesome local music scene we have in Vancouver and to help people discover those great local bands. I already have 150+ bands on the list right now and it keeps growing. Throughout making this playlist I discovered some new bands myself and in the first block of this episode I played those bands – Indications, NO LIARS, The I In Team, ViewMaster, Loans and Seven Nines and Tens.

Hi team,

We have been jamming with drummer Alexander James Glassford who is a local session veteran and jazz school, graduate.  He brings a level of sophistication and skill to the band that we aren’t accustomed to.  We are definitely collectively buzzing from the music we are creating.  Speaking of, album 3 is nearly finished being written.  The working song titles are as follows:

1. Immaterial
2. Extraordinary Popular Delusions
3. War Memorial Award Tour
4. Panned Flashes
5. Sunshine

We can’t wait for you to hear what we’ve been working on.  – Dave

Hi folks,

Max and I are still alive and kicking.  I’ve been working on our 3rd record daily and it’s shaping up nicely.  I keep saying its a mix of the progressive approach on Habitat 67 and the more shoegaze post-rock material on Constants & Axioms and Set the Controls for the Heart of the Slums.  I’m not joking either when I say there are some big ol’ denim vest motorcycle riffs in the mix as well.  I’ve always had a huge soft spot for big dumb riffs like “The Bomber” by The James Gang or “North Dakota” or “Violent Dreams” by Thrush Hermit.  If I’m able to get my act together and put the work in, there should be a noted increase in vocals on album 3 as well.  Cross your fingers.

In the meantime here is a nice review from a while ago that somehow just got published a week or so ago.  The reviewer has inadvertently laid a challenge down to us, as they feel we have yet to best our live sound on record.  I agree and consider this inadvertent challenge accepted!  – Cotton

“It strikes that balance between sophistication and accessible simplicity. In a word, they are wholly uplifting to listen to.”

Heathen Harvest Set the Controls Review

This was the 2nd time I jammed with one of my favorite bands ever.  This time Hamilton shoegaze/space rock legends Sianspheric and Vancouver grunge/indie band Did you Die joined in to add to the wall of sound.

Some enterprising internet folk created a master list of all the metal bands in our home city, check it:

It is with regret that I have to announce that our guitarist Riley McGuire and drummer Drew Christie have chosen to leave Seven Nines & Tens.  They both play in mathy/emo band Guilt Trap, so if you’re into that style – you’ll love em.  We played too many amazing shows with them to count.  Alcest, Spotlights, Astronoid, Bosse De Nage, Minus the Bear, Sumac, Baptists, North, So Hideous, Solstafir, and Ancient VVisdom are just a sample of the acts we shared the stage with during their tenure in the band.

Max and I (Dave) are presently searching for a new drummer.  Right now I’m browsing new Seven Nines & Tens music on my laptop and it’s safe to say writing for Album 3 has been well underway for over a year now.  Those of you who saw us play over the last few months may recall a new song we’ve been playing.  It’s working title is “Immaterial.”  Now that the dust has settled a bit with the two guys leaving (it happened about a month ago)  I go back and listen to the countless demos and chop sessions we worked on for this new song and I feel pride for the steps we made to hone in on what our vision of a great song.  I can’t wait to record it properly and share it with you all.  I think it features the prog rock leanings of our first couple of releases with further explorations of heavy, wall of sound post rock.

Thanks for following us for all these years, it’s a typical platitude, but we really are just getting started.  Much Love, Dave / Seven Nines & Tens