The Saskatoon-based band Eldebrock has earned recognition for its website, an important tool in promoting music.
The Interactive Media Council recently awarded Eldebrock the 2010 IMA Best in Class Award for website design in the 'Music' category.
"Well, this award is great just simply for exposure," said band member Richard LaLonde. "People are likely to check it out just because they heard that the design is awesome."
LaLonde, who grew up at Wynyard, said drawing people to the website is important.
"As an independent artist, we need to accumulate all the publicity we can!" he said. "It was designed by Anjara Design, based out of the UK. Andy (webmaster) worked closely with Del (band-member Del Bannerman) to develop a website that not only looked cool but was also functional.
"People can check it out at eldebrock.net."
As a band Eldebrock came together from all over, but with ties which bind the unit together.
"Eldebrock was originally formed by me and my cousin Del, who is from Delmas, SK and plays guitar in the band," said LaLonde. "We got in touch with the lead vocalist Jay Wegenast, who is originally from BC. Eventually he brought in his childhood friend Barrett (Moore), who Jay grew up with and plays lead guitar in the band. Shawn Bannerman is from Alberta and is also Del's cousin, so as you can see we are a fairly tight-knit group from all over Western Canada."
The band has a definite edge to its music, said LaLonde.
"Our musical type would be considered post-grunge or hard-rock with a hint of 80s influence," he said. "We draw a lot on bands like Alice in Chains, Black Label Society, and Guns N' Roses."
LaLonde said the music comes from a single writer, but with the band having input into the music.
"Jay (Wegenast), the lead singer, writes basically all the lyrics," said LaLonde. "I think that it is easier that way because he's the one that has to sing them!
"As far as music, everyone writes their own riffs and licks, so it is certainly a group collaboration in that sense."
The music for the soon to be released CD is rather recent for the band.
"Some of the material is older; things that Jay wrote a while ago and others were written over the last year and a half," said LaLonde.
"Our first single 'Release me' was actually written in the studio at the last minute because our producer wasn't too keen on another song we had."
LaLonde said the resulting CD is one Eldebrock is very satisfied with.
"Very mush so," he said. "We have been given the opportunity to work with some big names on this album. Ryan Anderson has worked with Nickelback and Theory of a Deadman. Michael Wagener mixed the album and this guy is legend. He's worked with Ozzy, Skidrow, Motely Crue, Poison, Metallica; the list goes on. Being able to see how these guys work and having them put their touches on the album have been an insane experience.
"We currently have a single out called 'Release Me'. It has been getting a decent amount of airtime in Western Canada and has recently broken into the top-50 in airplay for active rock stations in Canada, so hopefully this success will continue."
LaLonde said the album will be widely available once released Sept. 14.
"It will be available in over 700 online stores, including I-tunes," he said. "There is also a store on our website that people can purchase a hard-copy of the album.
"It may even find its way into the local music stores."
