Artist of the Day | DOWNTOWN EXIT
ARTIST OF THE DAY
05.07.2021
DOWNTOWN EXIT
LOCATION
Calgary, AB, Canada
GENRE
Rock and Roll
CURRENT MEMBERS
Glenn Dixon
Michael Dangelmaier
Darren Stinson
Jim Sarantis
Richard Maruk
With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt?
We played our last gig Feb 29 2020 (it was a leap year) at Mikey's on 12th in Calgary. Great gig! Two weeks later we were completely shut down though we had the bed tracks for some recording and, as well, there was a book in the works! Our lead guitarist, Glenn DIxon, is quite a well known writer and his fourth book, coincidentally, is about a band.
How has that affected your plans for the coming year? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?
Downtown Exit is actually both a real band and the fictitious band from the novel Bootleg Stardust by Glenn Dixon (Simon & Schuster, April 2021). This was the plan all along - to record the songs of the fictional band from 1974. Each of the 16 chapter titles is actually a song and in the book you'll see the band recording at Abbey Road and then touring across Europe.
What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home? How are you supporting your mental health through all of this?
In order to sound authentic (to 1974) we actually recorded the bed tracks on the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile recording studio (now housed at the National Music Centre in Calgary) and because the setting was so amazing, we filmed all the sessions. What's more, just before the pandemic shut everything down, we really did take five of the best songs to Abbey Road in London for mastering and we filmed that too. So, despite the fact that we could not play live, we had songs to mix, videos to edit and of course, the author, Glenn Dixon, had to finish the novel that encompasses the whole thing.
How are dealing with the Covid third wave?
The novel came out in April at the beginning of the third wave but there was lots to do in promoting it on social media. We hired Eric Alper - the renowned music publicist (who sent this info your way in the first place) so there was still lots to put together. Two of the band members, Dixon and keyboardist Michael Dangelmaier, formed a little bubble and we were able to write some new material but we are really looking forward to having the whole band together - soon.
Favourite Starlite Room Moment?
My girlfriend still talks about the "bands as bands" at Halloween. This was a while back but, basically, local bands would dress up as famous bands (eg. the Ramones or maybe Kiss) and actually play the tunes of those bands. Tons of fun!
Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?
As a band member, I can't wait to play live again and for everyone out there I know we're all looking forward to getting out again. I'm quite sure it won't be too much longer and in the meantime you can listen to Downtown Exit on Spotify or any of your favorite streaming services (and, for that matter, you can see us recording on the Rolling Stones mobile and at Abbey Road on our youtube channel).
If you would like to be our next ARTIST OF THE DAY please email us at:
JEN@CONCERTWORKS.CA
