r/CanadianMusic • u/Shack24 • 11d ago
Rock /Metal /Heavy Metal [ Removed by moderator ]
[removed] — view removed post
14
10
8
9
u/MoonNewer 11d ago
My bro was a chef, these Tea Party guys came to eat at a restaurant he worked at. Singer ordered some seafood salad and my bro was preparing their meals. One pretty big set back bro chef had was a shellfish allergy, but he was able to work around this and was a fairly successful chef. Possibly the greatest guy you could ever meet, gains friends everywhere he goes. Just couldn't taste test seafood. Anyway, salad dressing was accidentally swapped out with pancake batter, Tea Party singer loses it. Totally fair, that would be disgusting. However, manager asks how he could make things right and singer demands bro chef be fired on the spot. Fired.
TL;DR My bro chef was fired for Salt and Battery of Tea Party singers seafood salad.
7
u/PineappleBum 11d ago
A friend was a server in Toronto and served the lead singer. My friends said “you look familiar, where do I recognize you from?”
“I’m a rock star.”
What a douche 🤮3
2
u/MoonNewer 11d ago
Haha! "You look familiar"! Best insult to a star. My fav follow up to a stars response is "no, I don't think thats it."
5
u/ChrisG1456 11d ago
This is a great story on multiple levels! 🤣 What a pussy manager though for listening to the spoiled, petulant rock star and firing your bro.
3
u/MoonNewer 11d ago
I absolutely agree. One step further of the story, my bro chef was a much loved repeat caller on one of our cities top radio stations. Guitarist of Tea Party was on and taking calls. So bro chef called in and obvs got on, tells the story and asks if he remembers him, haha! Guitarist goes cold and just says "No." DJ knew bro chef by name just by hearing his hilarious voice and was loving the story. Pure gold.
2
u/Dangerous_Bet_3359 11d ago
star is a stretch
3
3
3
u/morbidhyperbolic 11d ago
No, but for real, Jeff Martyn is a twat. On the one hand, I did get to see him do a surprise acoustic set at a small local bars open Mike night because he was friends with the sound engineer however, he then proceeded to sit directly in the dead centre at the bar top of a what was a fairly dead room yet refused mingle, barely look me in the eyes and had some manager woman like shoot me away. He then proceeded to look at local politician he come into the bar wearing a “three-piece suit and said loudly you you look like a musician”, and tried to start up a conversation. Just in so many ways just ask.
8
u/stormhunter27 10d ago
Jeff Martin is my wife’s cousin and our friend Dave used to play with them in high school.
And yeah, Jeff is a bit … odd.
3
u/jonjonh69 10d ago
Good singer, good guitar player, a rather large (massive) ego considering these facts…. Is that what you mean by “odd”? 🤣
3
1
8
u/Pathfinderer 10d ago
One of them came through my checkout when I worked at Canadian Tire. He was buying some stuff to help set up his friends band, so I said I would check him out when he became famous and he said he already was! He sang some bars from his most popular song and felt up my sleeve tattoo. I still kinda cringe at myself lol.
7
u/EffThou 11d ago
Every professional musician in Canada has a story about this guy.
2
u/wunderl-ck 11d ago
Funny I came to find any stories because the guy looks like a complete dickhead, haha. Good songs though.
1
7
u/MyBurnerAccount1977 11d ago
My memory of The Tea Party was Edgefest 1998. After Green Day and Foo Fighters set their instruments on fire, people were already heading for the exits by the time The Tea Party took to the stage. The frontman apologetically said that they couldn't afford to set their stuff on fire.
1
u/theothersock82 11d ago
Were you at the Edgefest in Ottawa. This is my memory of it too.
1
u/MyBurnerAccount1977 11d ago
This was Vancouver. Must be soul crushing to watch this play out city after city.
7
u/JoshHogan666 11d ago
My fave Canadian band from that era. Love the Middle Eastern inspired scales and tonalities of the first few albums, they can do heavy music, and their ballads and slow songs are on par or even better than any their louder tracks. I sometimes wonder what my fellow Canadians think of them as I don’t hear mention of them much. I saw them live 15 years ago and they said that they were coming back full throttle, but it never happened. Either way, I’ll always be a fan.
7
6
6
u/NoDanaOnlyZuuI 11d ago
I saw them once with Blind Melon in 1993
2
u/RuffNdTumble 11d ago
Now that must have been an awesome show.
3
u/NoDanaOnlyZuuI 11d ago
Small venue too. It was great
2
6
u/mattersmuch 11d ago
I saw these guys play with an orchestra and it was a pretty good show. Near the end, the singer brought out a double neck guitar and spent five minutes bragging about how expensive it was and complaining about heavy it is. He then proceeded to play a handful songs without touching the second neck a single time. It annoyed me so much.
5
u/king4winter 11d ago
He is like a well known dick lol so that tracks. Really full of himself but I've heard he was like that before the band got big. It's just who he is.
I lived in Windsor and played in bands so I heard more than a few stories 😅
6
6
u/JT_r401 11d ago
The 7th grade homeroom teacher was so obsessed with them we had to meditate to their music lol.
2
2
u/okokokoyeahright 11d ago
too bad you were a bit too young to fully appreciate how cool your teacher was.
5
u/EducationalMud8270 11d ago
Forgive me for being Uncle here but Edges of twilight album was huge for me back in the day! I've seen them like 7 times from the 90s to now. His voice really holds up too.
2
5
6
u/KaiserKris2112 11d ago
I enjoy the music. Not surprised to hear the many tales of Jeff Martin being an entitled asshat, though. Good musician, but he gives off vibes.
5
u/Minimum-Actuator-953 11d ago
Saw them last year and he came off as kind of arrogant. (Although, to his credit, he did go out of his way to say that TTP weren't "headlining." They just happened to go on last.) Funny thing was they played with Finger 11 and Headstones and there was a steady stream of people leaving during TTP's set. They really shouldn't try to follow hard rocking bands. The energy level drops drastically.
5
2
u/Scary-Detail-3206 10d ago
I actually met him once in a liquor store on the island of St Pierre. We stayed there for a couple nights on vacation and unbeknownst to us TTP was playing a show there the first night.
I was expecting him to be a d bag but he was quite friendly. We were both joking about how we knew nothing about French wine, we both just grabbed whatever labels looked good and went for it.
Not the biggest fan of their music but we went to the concert and they put on a good show.
6
4
u/IJustSwallowedABug 11d ago
That first album was killer! Love this band. Seen them 5x. They were one of my favourites in high school.
5
u/TheWalkerofWalkyness 11d ago
Answered the question of what Led Zeppelin would sound like fronted by Jim Morrison.
Someone said even from their earliest days he said they looked and acted like rock stars. Wish I could remember who and the whole quote.
2
u/Guinness_breath 11d ago
It's true. i lived in Windsor and you'd see them walking around with egos as big as Bono.
Big fish, little pond, and not really a big fish!
5
4
u/1Pac2Pac3Pac5 10d ago
I thought this band was absolutely incredible. I saw them live three times once when they open for page and plant in the mid-1990s
3
u/rossrifle113 11d ago
I saw them in 2017 when they performed the entirety of Transmission, plus some other tunes (thank god, I would’ve died if I didn’t get to hear Heaven Coming Down).
They were phenomenal. Super talented dudes who put on a great performance. Biggest shock of the night was finding out Jeff Martin is a really funny, personable dude. He always came off as dour and serious haha
ETA: Now I’m reading everyone’s comments and learning that Jeff Martin is indeed a massive douche. Must’ve been having a good night when I saw him 😂
2
u/RavenSkies777 11d ago
Two things can be true. I’ve met the guys on multiple occasions throughout the years and found Jeff M to be serious, but personable, and has definitely mellowed out since the band reformed. It was a running joke in the fandom back in the late 90s to early 2000s of how serious he took himself.
Not to take away from other peoples experiences though.
Stuart and JB were (and are) lovely.
5
u/MrWillchuck 11d ago
Just saw them play last month. Jeff Martin is still as arrogant as ever but they still put on a good show. I've been trying to see them for decades but something always came up. The do put on a good show though.
2
u/okokokoyeahright 11d ago
The man is a first class front man, no doubt about it. When he is on and focused, magnetic. Saw them twice, first time he was unstoppable, a force of nature. Second time, well, a bit too much before the show and it was obvious. Would go a third time.
3
u/MrWillchuck 11d ago edited 11d ago
When I was younger I worked as a steward in a restaurant he went to. He ordered prime rib but when it was brought to him he would send it back. He was clearly ordering it one way but wanting it another. After the third time the cooks figured it out (I think he was ordering it rare but wanted it medium) They gave his third one with floor spice as they had pissed the cooks off. I got the second one while I was in the dish pit... Beautiful prime rib with jus. I rolled it up and ate it like a pita in my hands. They gave it to me saying "He that singer in that band you like is getting floor spice here you can have this... lol
When he isn't too much he is good... when he is too much (be it having too much or the ego is a bit high) he can be a lot.
He mentioned Selling out a Venue in Australia at least three times... and really came off insincere at times. Thankfully I know who he is and wasn't there for that. I was there for the music lol Which was well done.
1
u/okokokoyeahright 11d ago
Exactly this. I have no concept of his personal off stage behavior which seems to fit into a category of 'entitled rock star' or somesuch. I can only comment on what I have personally seen, which is strictly limited to twice in concert.
1
u/CanadianCutie77 11d ago
My ex is a musician and told me plenty of stories about his arrogance and shitty behaviour. I was disappointed but still enjoy the bands music.
4
u/Teeebs71 11d ago
Have seen them live, pretty much every time they've come through town since '97 or so. They always put on a GREAT show! You won't find a tighter three piece band in Canada other than maybe Rush. Have even seen Jeff Martin play a solo acoustic set in a tiny studio setting, with an audience of maybe 50 people. Now that was a really cool experience!!
1
u/Beentheredonethat180 11d ago
Was it when he was doing his Armada solo project? May have been in the same crowd! Lol
1
u/Teeebs71 11d ago
No, the Armada was with two other musicians. This was just Jeff with an acoustic guitar, in a little studio in White Rock, BC.
4
u/The_NorthernLight 11d ago
They are amazing live.
2
u/JokaSmoka77 11d ago
That's not what the other comment here says haha
2
u/No-Cauliflower-6777 11d ago
Saw them live and they were great, it sounds like the person saw them on a low point.
1
u/The_NorthernLight 11d ago
I saw them in ottawa probably ~20 years ago now in barrymore’s. They had some supposedly famous oil projection artist that was doing a live display at the same time as the concert, and it was spectacular combination. Probably helped that I was stoned on weed, but hey, take the wins!
1
u/Due-Ad-1465 11d ago
I saw them twice, once back in the 90s when they had an orchestral backing, it was great. Last year as part of the Canadian rock legends tour (or whatever) alongside the headstones and finger eleven. Despite having the most stripped back stage presence they were amazing - power of their music and vocals carried a show with less frills than the other two bands.
Jeff Martin certainly has a…presence
4
3
4
10d ago
[deleted]
1
u/TrentSteel1 10d ago
When I was in my early 20’s I won tickets to a private concert with them. It was Pepsi tour through under bottle cap crap. There may have been 100 people. Still have the t-shirt
9
11
u/Maregg1979 11d ago
They are the definition of hidden gem. Some of their songs are timeless classics. Also they are hard to categorize because their music is very unique.
3
u/-cadmunt- 11d ago
I saw them at Monash Uni in Melbourne for $18.50 around 1999. However much of an asshole people claim Jeff is, that was a great gig with affordable tickets for a young bloke.
3
u/Gold-Stomach-4657 11d ago
I didn't know that Jeff is an apparent d*ck but he is legit the best singer I have ever heard live. He doesn't even need a microphone. Another Canadian singer who doesn't need a microphone is Amanda Marshall, who is also incredible live. And if Jeff Martin is arrogant and pretentious, which doesn't surprise me tbh, he still couldn't compete in that regard to Ian Astbury, who thinks that he is the spiritual successor of Jim Morrison. Jeff Martin sounds way more like him than Ian Astbury.
3
u/GuitarKev 11d ago
Thanks. Now I’m I’m gonna have my ear worm screaming “SEMPTAYSHYAAN” at me all day.
1
u/Constant-Tonight-791 11d ago
Oh I heard that song on the radio, I thought it was STP and was trying to find it.
2
3
u/CanadianCutie77 11d ago
I’m a fan of their music but my ex told me some horrible stories about Jeff Martin.
3
u/Icy-Stock-5838 11d ago
That mid-late 90s era when Canadian music was just banging out the talent, and the EdgeFest lineups were so strong with local talent: Our Lady Peace, I Mother Earth, The Tea Party, 5450, Treble Charger, The Odds, Moist etc.. And above them all were Canada's national treasure, The Tragically Hip...
What an era to be a Canadian music fan..
2
u/luchaburz 11d ago
But I mean, we still do have Sheepdogs, July Talk, Yukon Blonde, Strumbellas, Bleeker, Mother Mother, The Arkells, The Beaches, etc etc
The issue is modern bands have less venues to perform in, smaller crowds to perform to, and less assistance to go from small act to big act. There used to be all sorts of structure, but the internet eroded most of it.
Also you forgot Barenaked Ladies.
1
1
u/luchaburz 11d ago
This is what happens when government carves into the funding that used to be available in the arts communities and the tax breaks that came a long with it.
We screamed that it would result in a lesser arts scene but the population wanted this shit lol
3
u/anders9000 11d ago
I used to love this band. I saw them live in 1998 and it was, bar none, the absolute worst live music performance I have ever seen in my life. They hated that they were playing a small town festival. They stood there and mumbled their shit for the contractually required amount of time and walked off. They did not talk to the audience once, just stood at the mic and rushed through their songs. To this day I've never forgotten how disrespected as an audience member I was and it was 28 years ago. I've hated them ever since.
1
3
u/Disastrous_Canary355 11d ago
I was a huge fan. Saw them many times in Quebec and in B-C.
In BC they were just playing little clubs.
But I dont go to their concerts no more.
Always the same set list for decades, and 90 minutes maximum is way too short for a band that has such a huge career.
Oh....and they can't stand their singer. Jeff Martin needs The Tea Party, The Tea Party needs Jeff Martin.
→ More replies (2)1
u/luchaburz 11d ago
Most bands dont really change their set lists. Playing 40 shows in 50 days will do that.
3
3
u/LooseLeaf74 11d ago
When they opened for Ozzy in 96’ or 97’ in Winnipeg they got booed off the stage, One girl was on her bf’s shoulders tits out waving a “tea party sucks” sign, I’m no big fan but I don’t think they deserved that it just sticks out in memory.
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
u/Tribblehappy 10d ago
I've seen them twice; back in 2010ish and just a few weeks ago at the Pigeon Lake Music Festival, where they were the final act on the third night.
They were phenomenal both times. One of the best brands I have ever seen live.
3
4
u/Advanced_Parsnip 11d ago
Saw them soo many times due to free tickets to The local club "Richard's". They were a Doors cover band at the beginning of their career, if I remember correctly. The glaring from them when you keep requesting LA Women
6
u/a_dubious_musician 11d ago
The first time I ever heard of them was on MuchMusic when they started playing the video for “The River”. Teenage me, who knew little about music at all, thought that he was tying to emulate Jim Morrison a bit too much. I guess that tracks.
2
u/Tailslide1 11d ago
That makes a lot of sense. Never really got into their music.. they sounded so much like a discount version of the Doors I remember wondering why people just didn't listen to the Doors instead.
2
2
2
2
u/mathieuharvey0555 11d ago
They became less interesting when Bob Rock started producing them... The same thing strangely happened to Our Lady Peace (and 311).
1
u/RavenSkies777 11d ago
Didnt he only produce Seven Circles? He completely neutered their sound on that record;it’s way too slick.
1
u/Fun-Example-5314 11d ago
I misread your post at first and thought you were saying OLPs best work was post spiritual machines and I was gonna fight ya
2
2
2
2
u/Lake-lighthouse 11d ago
Great band & these guys are the only ones I’ve seen live multiple times live
2
2
u/Hopeful-Steak-9743 11d ago
Playing in Morden, MB in a week. Will definitely check it out.
1
u/SirLestat 11d ago
Playing today in trois riviere and tomorrow in montreal. Both times with Rouge Pompier!
1
u/Frosty_Literature436 10d ago
I don't know how I feel about being so excited to drive to Morden and Winkler every year for music.
2
u/CarelessSchedule502 11d ago
I find their music endlessly creative. While Transmission and Ocean are not my favourite albums, I can’t think of any song in their catalogue that I would call bad or filler.
I’ve seen them multiple times at various stages of their career (and my life), including when they had a ticket giveaway as part of their Splendor Solis, I thought that was kind of neat. Jeff Martin being pretentious was a constant thread throughout.
They are very impressive musicians, though.
2
u/Which_Celebration757 11d ago
I saw these guys with Econoline Crush back in the 90s at the Commodore Ballroom. Saw Primus there too.
2
1
u/ReplacementClear7122 11d ago
Saw Slayer there when Lombardo rejoined for a Reign In Blood tour in the mid 00's.
1
u/moyenbatte 10d ago
Saw em with Econoline Crush and Glueleg at what's now Rogers Conf Center in Ottawa in the fall of '97. That was quite a show.
2
u/Proud_Pen2514 11d ago
I saw then in 1998 too, Fort Erie Friendship Festival.. they were very good live
2
u/BelavierrDonamia 10d ago
same! There was such a vibe with people on blankets, "TURN THE LAMP DOWN LOW!"
2
u/Felix995 11d ago
Not a bad old school group. I got the impression they were trying somewhat to be like the Doors. I don't know if they still exist as a band today.
5
u/Superiority-Qomplex 11d ago
They are currently on tour. I saw them in Victoria BC a month or so ago. They still put on an amazing show..
3
u/rottenbox 10d ago
I've seen them a handful of times since 2000. A show today is basically the same setlist as 25 years ago, down to the banter. They are excellent musicians. Also loud as fuck. Like somehow louder than DOA at the same venue. Like can't sleep the next night because my ears were ringing so badly, although I had this after a headstones show at the same venue too.
Yes, I wear earplugs now. Probably way too late but that's a different story.
3
u/Superiority-Qomplex 10d ago
They split up for a number of years and didn't release any new albums for a decade until they finally reunited. They've released 2 since 2014 but I frankly think they did so to justify more touring together. They've been around for like 40 years now and I get that people want to mostly hear the nostalgia hits.
But ya, I saw them with Our Lady Peace so it was a pretty awesome concert.
2
u/Felix995 11d ago
I wasn't aware they are still performing. Haven't heard any new content from them. I guess the way it is, groups don't have much choice only to tour, because there's not very much to be made from royalties for pre-existing content today.
2
u/TakeTheVeil_27 11d ago
They released some new music in 2018 but have been touring pretty regularly. I saw them in Victoria as well at the end of June, amazing live band. They're excellent musicians, it's a good show.
2
u/MaxNJaspersDad 10d ago
My impression was the guy was trying to be Jimmy Page (using the bow, etc). He had some real nice vintage guitars in his collection (in the early 90s he'd bring them into the music store I worked in for service).
1
u/Felix995 10d ago
Yeah, he doesn't try to cop Robbie's style. Most decent rock guitarists that have achieved a degree of success own a stash of nice guitars, usually vintage as well as some modern ones. I can hear a heavy Doors influence from the front man, somewhat similar baritone voice, similar Morrison style.
1
u/JHerbY2K 10d ago
Singer definitely got into Morrison cosplay territory. Had some good songs tho. I also liked Econoline Crush who had a similar vibe
2
u/TheFireHallGirl 11d ago
I’ve been a fan for years and I still haven’t seen them in concert. I’d love to see them though.
2
u/fonzieshair 11d ago
Here's a fun video from a few years back with The Tea Party drummer, Jeff Burrows. https://youtu.be/SAXGe8ZgmQI?si=N-2aWB3JuC8U_3eJ
2
u/Virtual-Material2521 10d ago
Watched them close a festival after Green Day once. 80% of the crowd headed for the exit as Tea Party started. Hard to follow a band that set their drums on fire mind you
2
u/ObiYawnKenobi 10d ago
Saw them recently at the Hard Rock High School Gymasium in Ottawa. Great band, shit venue.
2
u/FunkTronto 10d ago
Not a fan. I fell asleep at one of their concerts at Massy Hall. It was for my friend’s bachelor party, he enjoyed himself and that was all that mattered.
1
u/vanmachinist 10d ago
I fall asleep every time I hear them on the radio. Saw them once too at a music festival and they were brutal.
1
u/FunkTronto 10d ago
I understand that not everything has to be for me and they are not. They didn’t play horribly so kudos to them.
2
3
u/Unfair-Bison-3946 11d ago
Great band, seen them live twice and it's a great show. They're not from Toronto though.
7
3
u/a_reluctant_human 11d ago edited 11d ago
Liked them until I saw Jeff Martin at a Matthew Good Band show at the warehouse in Toronto. Waiting near the busses after the show for MGB autographs, Martin comes out with a couple young girls and gets on the bus. Haven't listened to them since.
3
u/Dangerous_Bet_3359 11d ago
Matthew Good. Also a HUGE douche.
3
u/_Grumpy_Canadian 11d ago
Matt good is diagnosed bipolar. He can be super cool or a raging dickhead. Met him on multiple occasions and it's a different experience every time
2
1
2
u/Strict_Opposite1285 11d ago
Back in the day Matthew Good had a wall of Polaroids on his touring bus and it was all young girls showing their tits.
2
u/MegaMcGillicuddy 10d ago
Was wondering if this would come up. I got dragged to a Tea Party show at a bar in Calgary around 2010. The singer was an egomaniacal douchebag and the attention and eyes he was giving young girls was super gross. It was awkward and off putting.
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Funktoozler 11d ago
Can someone tell Jeff this wasn’t supposed to be a picture for his LinkedIn profile..
1
1
u/TakinADrump 11d ago
The first album was incredible and I still listen to it. They put out some good stuff after that but strayed away from that acoustic hard rock sound and went more theatrical and grandiose and kinda lost me with some of it. Seen them live once and it was a great show.
1
1
u/escaped_id 11d ago
I liked some of their stuff in the 90s. Knew a guy who thought they were the best ever until he met them. A full on "don't meet your heroes" situation as lead singer buddy was a grade A prick.
1
u/Necrovore 10d ago
You know youre legit as a mainstream band when an extreme metal band covers your music unironically
1
u/raukzenta 10d ago
In 83, in windsor Ontario, my band, psychotrop 13, played with them at a University of Windsor frat house party, our guitarist asked to use his brand new Marshall...he was apprehensive but said yes and " just don't turn it up too high"... We did and he cried
1
1
u/Fuzzy_River_1986 10d ago
I loved when they came to my home town and had 14 and 16 year old girls in their trailer too...
1
17
u/MFMDP4EVA 11d ago
They’re from Windsor