Echo Nebraska,
Andy Schichter of Vancouver’s Americana-acoustic style Echo Nebraska says his background in music definitely comes from a production standpoint.
“My family moved from Montreal to Waterloo when I was 10,” says Schichter who actually went to KCI and played a few shows around town including Maxwell’s post high school.
“We’d go back to visit relatives quite often, especially those first few years. So I would just sit in the back of the van with some albums and became fascinated with production. I would listen to different albums by the same artists, and was curious as to how albums can sonically sound so different from each other. Was it the room? The gear? The producer? The microphones?”
“I didn’t necessarily listen to the most adventurous music as a kid, mostly mainstream rock,” he notes. “When I was 14, I think, I heard Silverchair’s “Diorama” and that changed my life. That led me on to “Pet Sounds” by The Beach Boys, and then I delved into the Beatles catalogue,” recalls Schichter who began playing guitar at age 13, adding he has been playing keyboards with the band for the past five years.
Schichter, who became an audio engineer, was working in the U.S., but eventually moved to Vancouver because he loved the idea of living by the ocean and mountains, and felt that the West Coast was far more suited to his personality.
“The music scene is great. I think like
anywhere, it takes a bit to crack it but everyone is generally supportive of each other,” adds Schichter who now knows a lot of musicians in the East Coast music scene.
“I met (Echo Nebraska founding members) Devan Christodoulou (and our previous bassist (the late) Gunn, (Park) within a week of moving to Vancouver,” says Schichter.
“I was assisting (producer Colin Stewart — The New Pornographers, Dan Mangan) on a record by their previous band, who were more alternative rock. Once in a while Devan (who loved Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and The Beatles) would pick up an acoustic guitar, and would sing these folksier, poppy songs. I invited him over to record a demo. My intention was never to form a band. I was new to the city, trying to get my feet wet in the music scene, so I would just link up with as many talented people as I could. My goal was to produce a solo record for him. The very first time we got together, we recorded a demo of “I’ll Get it Right,” which is on our EP, so that song has special meaning. After almost two years of just having fun work-shopping songs, we said ‘OK, let’s get a band together!’”
Echo Nebraska current lineup includes Devan Christodoulou, vocals, guitar; Mike Lauder (Weathered Home) drums; Dan Ponich, bass; and Carley Frey (The Coal Porters) on violin and vocals.
Schichter met Frey through Craigslist. “We were in need of a new violinist, so I started sending out feelers to friends and put out an ad. She had just moved back to Vancouver, and was looking for project. We had one jam, and asked her to join immediately. We really lucked out.” says Schichter adding he met Lauder and Ponich as recording clients from their previous bands.
When late longtime bassist Gunn Park became ill and was unable to tour, Ponich stepped in. Schichter and Ponich have since opened Park Sound Studio in North Vancouver in memory of their late friend.
The 2014 music video “Hey Alison” from debut EP “Send the Ships” was directed by (Andy’s brother) actor/director/producer Matt Schichter (2014 music documentary short “Lennon or McCartney”).
“Hey Alison” was actually just the music video. But my brother put it up on IMDB (a.k.a. International Movie Data Base). I thought it would be fun to put together a movie poster for it,” says Schichter adding the song is about depression and love. In the colourful, quirky, inventive video, Alison paints her bad feelings away.
“We’ve done events for “My Artists Corner”— a program within the Canadian Mental Health Association that use art therapy as a means of helping folks with mental health issues. It’s been very touching to see the impact that this song has had on people,” he notes.
Echo Nebraska with its solid alt-roots sound set to Christodoulou’s stirring lead vocals would suit a playlist with R.E.M, The National, Pearl Jam, The Beatles, and Half Moon Run.
“Ships” song “Nice Philosophy” has pedal strings and banjo courtesy of Johnny Sponarski (Aaron Pritchett, The Wild North, Portage and Main) and Steven Charles (Viper Central). Ballad “Pilgrim” has an inventive layered acoustic/electric strings sound. “I’ll Get It Right” has a timeless happy-go-lucky sing-along vibe while “Out of Time” is reminiscent of Beatles classic “Fixing a Hole” from “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
The band is now working on their debut album, which will also be produced by Colin Stewart. Schichter and Ponich are headed to Stewart’s scenic Victoria, B.C., studio The Hive to assist with engineering on the record.
Echo Nebraska (who recently played Ottawa’s famed Rainbow Bistro with Waterloo’s Amberwood) is embarking on their first Eastern tour.
They are also thrilled to be a part of (Toronto’s upcoming 10-day industry conference/mega live music festival) Canadian Music Week.
Schichter, who comes home once a year for vacation, says he’s eager to play in front of family and old friends.
“That’s the best part of touring. I think most of us would say that. Canada’s so small, so that in every other show it seems, someone has a family or friend who makes it to the gig.”