Hard-rocker Harvey being mourned
Cancer claims 26-year-old musician
One of the city’s premier metal musicians is being mourned with a tribute concert on Saturday night.
Colton Harvey was the lead singer of the band Seraphic Nihilist, a popular attraction all over B.C. He had fought off one bout of cancer, but after getting the all-clear after chemotherapy treatments earlier in 2017, the disease suddenly returned with a vengeance he and his medical team could not overcome. He passed away on Jan. 15 at the age of 26.
A five-band metal showcase will happen at the Prince George Legion on Saturday in Harvey’s honour. It will be a fundraiser for his wife Shantel and his surviving family.
“We want to give back to a family that gave us such a beautiful human being,” said bandmate Kayle Menhinich. “We want to send him off in the way our community does – with celebration. I’m so proud of the mark he left on this community, and I’m so thankful to this community for all the donations and volunteering that came together to make this show absolutely free, so every penny can go straight back to his wife and family.”
The night will be headlined by Seraphic Nihilist with help from associated band Kleaver, Azrael (travelling from Burns Lake), Dumpster Baby and Deveined, the latter two bands reforming for this excep- tional night of music.
“He was a great human. His contributions to the local metal scene will live on,” said Brad Foster of Deveined. He is also the main organizer of the Metallion Festival where Seraphic Nihilist was a welcome act.
“This year’s festival stage will be named the Colton Harvey Stage,” Foster announced. “Colton played all four previous years of Metallion and there will be a void where he once stood.”
Menhinich was the original lead singer for Seraphic Nihilist but when he heard Harvey’s vocals he stepped aside and insisted that the newcomer take the mic. It was his for the past six years.
Now the band has some uncomfortable choices to consider, but quitting isn’t one of them.
“Right now we can’t stomach the thought of another singer standing at the microphone,” Menhinich said. “We would hate someone who was standing in that spot just on principle, and that’s just not fair to someone in that position. So I will take over vocals again for the shows we had booked, and as a band we will figure it all out later for the long term. Colton had a talk with me about what should happen to the band and he just patted me on the arm and said ‘you’ll figure it out, I’m happy with you guys keeping on going.’ He wouldn’t let us take the easy way out. We couldn’t turn our backs on that.”
The concert is free but by donation for those who feel so inclined, and there will be fundraising options inside the concert.
A five-band metal showcase will happen at the Prince George Legion on Saturday in Harvey’s honour.