Business Casual

Download our basement recordings FREE!

2011-08-04T23:44:00.000-05:00

Here at Business Casual, our songs are exactly like our children! We created them, nurtured and developed them, and now they're starting to ask too many questions, so it's time to give them away to strangers!
Business Casual
on Internet Archive

Check out, listen to, and download our basement recordings for FREE on the Internet Archives!

All we ask for in return are your souls... or at least visitation rights on the occasional weekend or holiday. Kids sure grow up fast!

I guess it would also be nice if you came out to a show or something...

And speaking of shows, here are the upcoming gigs!

August 24th: Business Casual at the Academy, featuring Forever Gold!
September 2nd: Business Casual opens up for the fabulous Drum and Bass at the Cavern!
September 8th: Business Casual rocks Shannon's Irish Pub, with special guest, The Eardrums!

See you all soon!

The NEW NEW NEW News! Some of it is even confirmed by trustworthy people!

2011-07-27T22:25:00.000-05:00

3 Gigs in 3 weeks!

August 24th at the Academy, featuring Forever Gold
September 2nd at the Cavern, opening for (TBA).
September 8th at Shannan's Irish Pub, (details to follow)

And we're still working on some more arrangements.

You can't miss us! Really!

We're Back in Business!

2011-07-25T23:20:00.002-05:00

UPDATE: Another Change in Date!

Great news, everyone!

We've got a newly confirmed, booked, and triple confirmed date! Business Casual and Forever Gold will indeed be playing the Academy, Wednesday, August 24th!
Forever Gold @ 9:30
The Academy's DJ in between
Business Casual, to tantalize the senses
And the DJ to close out the night after 12:30.

See you all there!

Cheers,

-Rob
Business Casual

*Business Casual will not (likely) be gift wrapping physical objects.
**Business Casual will not be giving you a ride home. Find a DD or call a cab! Who do we look like, your older brother?***
***Even if Business Casual a member is actually your older brother, the group will still not guarantee you a ride! There's a lot of expensive gear to fit in the car!

New Date Live at the Academy! "Back in Business!"

2011-07-18T19:44:00.003-05:00

***

NEW DATE - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17th!

***

On the heels of an exciting and powerful show at VP Nights, we at the Business Casual are taking to the stage once more! See us LIVE at the Academy (Food, Drinks, Music) on Wednesday, August 17th!

Cover is only $5, but seriously, can you really put a price on a great time?

The Academy offers the best in live music, DJ's, drink specials and great food, and is surely the best place to party in the village any night of the week.

Business Casual offers the best in indie pop-rock, with a psychedelic twist, and is surely the best band to lose your mind along with in the village!

Sounds like a match-up almost too good to be true... but it is! We know we're going to have a blast, and you can join us! Bring a friend!

Cheers,

-Rob
"Business Casual"

Plenty 'o' New!

2011-07-11T12:24:00.002-05:00

Check out the FB page for more new and such!

New songs, new member, new EXCITEMENT!

We're really excited about the new set, and love how much energy it brings to the show! Book us now!

Good times had by all!

2010-07-25T10:22:00.000-05:00

We'd really like to thanks all the great people who attended A&J's house warming party last night! It was a blast, and we were honoured to play for you all!

Stay tuned for more gigs and good times!

... better yet... book us for YOUR party! Email businesscasualband@gmail.com

A Little Video Action

2010-07-14T11:24:00.005-05:00

Hello friends!

This past week, Business Casual has been experimenting with the art of shameless self promotion! We've picked apart a few live rehearsal recordings, found a few tracks that aren't terrible, and then mixed them together with some public domain video to create some slick music videos! They're up on YouTube right now!

The first video is for our new song "Karate Kid" also known is the two part song, "Wax On", and "Wax Off". It's been overlaid with video from British and American Public Service videos, from such diverse subjects as "Underage Drinking" and "How to Cross a Busy Street", with a few Drive-In Movie intermission reels thrown in for good measure!

The second video is for a song of ours that some of you may have heard called "Weather Time". It has been matched with parts of an old Superman episode where a man disguised as Superman is committing crimes all across Metropolis. Unfortunately for him, it's hard to fool Clark Kent!

In even more exciting news, the Business Casual Channel on YouTube is officially the 88th most subscribed to musician channel this week in Canada! Stranger still, it seems the first place channel also only has 1 subscriber! This means that all it will take is one or two of you with YouTube profiles to subscribe to our Channel, and PRESTO, we're on top of the YouTube world... for this week...

In any case, we hope to be seeing more of you soon, with a potential live show coming up very shortly... We'll keep you posted!

Feeling Lucky?

2010-04-03T15:49:00.004-05:00

Hey hey!

We've got everything we need to play a successful house party, and we're booked to play a great one on Friday the 9th! Some of you may know about the 200th* Lucky Friday party happening this month, and Business Casual is excited to be dropping in to add some live music to the fun and games! We've got a bunch of songs you've never heard before, and a whole bunch of ones you have. We'll probably even throw in a few good improvised jams in there for good measure!

(*approx)

Where will YOU be Friday night? Well, if you thought you'd be at the house party dancing to our funky grooves, you've got your work cut out for you!

Firstly, the location is a secret, known only to a select few. And Secondly, if you want to be made aware of the location, you need to contact one of the band members, and plead your case.

Do you want to be part of the madness? Let us know, and we'll let you know!

But wait! There's an even better solution for you and all your friends! Give us a shout, and ask us to play at YOUR house party! Arrangements can be made!

Cheers,

Show, January 29th Ozzy's!

2010-01-20T13:26:00.003-06:00

Business Casual will be playing a show at Ozzy's with Table Twenty One, and New Renaissance!

You should come down for some good times!

Doors are at 9pm, cover is $6, and we'll be hitting the stage at 10pm!

Tell your friends the Moustache will be there!

Cheers

New New New!

2009-11-05T13:39:00.004-06:00

This just in!

Here at Business Casual, we're breaking in a new Drummer. He's got the imagination... he's got the feel... and most importantly, he's got his own drums!

But seriously now, folks, we've got a lot of work to do. We've got 5 or 6 new tunes we've been working on to flush out, and the new guy's got our old stuff to learn too!

If you've got a party or event you'd like us to play, let us know! Deadlines breed motivation!

Cheers,

Some things change, others move, and yet others move away...

2009-08-14T14:36:00.004-05:00

Well, It's been about 2 months since the last Business Casual report, and so suppose it's time to give everyone a shout out and advise you all as to what's going on, and why it's been so long.

One reason you haven't heard from us in a while is simple... things are changing. The sound is evolving, and new tunes are being written, revised, re-written, scrapped, shredded, taped back together, and eventually finalized, only to be changed again the next week. In short, we've been busy creating. And in time, we'll hopefully do some more recording. But don't worry, the tunes you can hear on CBC Radio 3 are simply being refined and perfected. Those of you who have seen us live can expect to hear all those great tunes, along with several new ones we've already added to the "set list".

Another reason that you haven't heard from us in a while is that we've all been moving around a lot. You may have heard mention of the looming reality that we would very soon be losing our Jam Space. This came to pass late July, when Business Casual had it's last official practice in "Ian's Dad's Basement". We had continued practicing there as long as we could, after Ian stopped living there, but eventually it became clear that breaking in through a basement window to jam when no-one was home was far to inconvenient. As such, we showed up with a van one day, loaded up everything that was ours, and hauled it all back to our respective residences.

We've had a jam out at Ian's new temporary residence in Lockport, but sooner than later a new HQ needs to be established. One possibility on the near horizon will be my new place in Charleswood, starting September 1st. Although the basement is not as "finished" as our former hideout, it has plenty of space, and plenty of availability! Certain logistics will need to be solved, including sound dampening and such so as not to disturb the neighbors, but things do look promising. Stay tuned!

To add to the "moving" confusion, I've spent a bit more than a week traveling out to Alberta by VIA Rail train this past month, and Conrad has been out to New Orleans on business related travels, so we've lost a few weeks of rehearsals. Lucky, things look like they'll be back on track really shortly... OR WILL THEY???

The biggest "move" of them all will be our Drummer, Ian, who will be moving to Toronto at the end of August. What does this mean? Well, unfortunately, it means that Business Casual will be drummerless very shortly. We're all terribly sorry to see Ian go, but we must, of course, also congratulate him on his recent birthday, new job, and engagement! Best of luck, Ian!

***UPDATE*** In a strange twist of events, not unlike the fate of all but the current Spinal Tap Drummers, Ian McLeod has spontaneously EXPLODED, casting phosphorescent green slime in all directions, in an incredibly dramatic and exciting rehearsal for a now canceled upcoming show! But don't worry folks, Business Casual will live on, as soon as we can find a drummer brave enough to fill Ian's still smoldering and goop-filled shoes! ***UPDATE CONCLUDED***

Well, that about sums up what's going on with Business Casual these days! Keep following our updates so you know what's going on!

Cheers,

-Rob

PS. If you're a drummer, and you want to get involved, give us a shout at businesscasualband@gmail.com !!!

Rock the what now?

2009-06-18T23:12:00.002-05:00

Well, apparently we're not the public darlings we'd never thought we were... or at least, not for Power 97's demographic.

Then again, what IS their demographic anyway? Of the 76 bands listed on Rockin' the 204, we currently rank ... a rather dismal 75th. But don't let that make you believe that hurt our chances!!!

I'd like to personally thank everyone who logged on to support the band. Over all, out of 76 bands, the highest rating was a 6.6, and the lowest, a 1.6. So hey, we were only 4.9 points off the leader! Not bad, eh?

Well, for every person who logged on to vote for their friends band and give them a 10, it seems 40 people logged on for other bands and gave EVERYONE else a 1. But hey, that's the nature of a "popularity contest" style event. But it seems Power 97 went to great lengths to ensure that this wasn't a popularity contest at all! "How," you ask? Well...

The first, second, and third picks were, Dreadnaut, Davinport, and John Blackwood
& The Housewives. The fourth pick was announced today, but has not be updated on the website just yet... we'll probably see it tomorrow. (Who knows, could be us, eh? lol)

Now, all along it was made clear to all entrants that the votes that each band received would be considered, but the final decision belonged to the Power 97 Jury... Well, that's EXACTLY what happened. (Good on em!)

At the times the bands were announced, Dreadnaught ranked 30th overall. Davinport was 67th, and John Blackwood rated 50th.

Now, please, don't get me wrong folks. I've taken the time to listen to the music submitted by each of these bands, and honestly, they sound pretty damn good. I don't want to put anyone down, and I think these bands are all well deserving of promotion on Power 97. They seem to fit the demographic that I always suspected was 97's target audience.

That said, I think it's possible that the type of listener that logs on to Power 97 online to vote for bands is not the same kind of person who actually listens to the radio station. Granted, 30th, 67th, and 50th does seem like a bit of a stretch...

But who knows, maybe the fourth band was 75th... Business Casual!

We need YOU to help us Rock the 204!

2009-06-09T22:05:00.009-05:00

This year, Power 97 is once again hosting the Rockin' the 204 contest. This is a chance for all the Business Casual fans out there to unite and help us out!

Many bands made the cut, and now it's up to YOU to stop in, and rate the bands you like on a scale from 1 to 10. Each band has uploaded 3 songs which you can listen to, and get a feel for the bands sound. In case you haven't already, VOTE BUSINESS CASUAL HERE!

PLEASE stop in and help us win they'll be announcing the first of the top 4 bands on June 15th at the 6 o'Clock Rock Report, and one more each day on the 16th, 17th, and 18th at the same time.

The votes are taken into consideration, so please, help show the Power 97 Jury that Business Casual deserves to win!

Speaking of winning, here's what's up for grabs:

The top four bands in the 204 will receive:
gift certificate from Quest Musique

airplay all summer on Power 97

performance at the Forks Canada Day celebration July 1 at Scotia Bank Stage (remaining three bands)

other great gigs to be announced

a weeks worth of promotion for a gig of the bands choosing

All of this means a lot to any band that's trying to make a name for themselves in Winnipeg, or anywhere for that matter. And there are a lot of great sounding bands in the running this year! Hopefully some of you think Business Casual is one of the best!

We all know that Business Casual has the coolest fans!

New Music!

2009-06-05T15:07:00.004-05:00

The boys at Business Casual have been hard at work creating as much new music as they can!

In keeping with their current tradition of not playing covers, the boys have gathered together 13 or so original songs (I know! Triskaidekaphobia!) that they feel are "gig worthy"... whatever that means. All that being said, it seemed as good a time as any to try and record (or re-record) a few of the tunes we like to play, in slightly higher quality audio of some sort. The result is, of course, three new tracks being uploaded to the CBC Radio 3 profile! (Playable from right here, on Blogger/Facebook!)

"Let Me Down" has received a face-lift, and has been re-recorded and re-uploaded.
A staple in their set, "Happy" has finally been recorded in such a way as to include the Keys!
Most ambitiously, the group has set out a mammoth, if not rough, recording of "Lion Tamer".

Please feel free to give these tunes a listen!

But wait! There's more! Plans are in the works to record as many of our new and even more ambitious new songs! Also, we'll be using our newly recorded material to shop out a gig or two!

Stay tuned!!!

Updating the Sound ... Finding the Groove

2009-04-10T20:39:00.002-05:00

So, it's been a little while since our last post, so I thought I'd give you all a bit of an update. Two important things have happened over the last little while.

Firstly, we're looking for a new rehearsal space. The new space will hopefully allow us to continue our semiweekly evening rehearsal jams, while potentially offering us the luxury of more flexible rehearsal times. If we're really lucky, a new space would also afford us the luxury of a dedicated P.A. and recording system. If anyone has information regarding such a space, PLEASE let us know as soon as possible!

Secondly (and possibly the reason why we need a new jam space so badly), we have been working on several new songs. We're really excited about the progress we're making with them. They certainly have a more progressive feel to them, drifting away from the pop sound of some of our earlier songs. All this being said, we're constantly evolving the sound in order to maintain some sort of unity and oneness in our sound. Are we Pop Rock? Are we Prog Rock? Is it some kind of long-form psychedelic jam? We're having a lot of trouble deciding! (And frankly, we're having a lot of fun NOT deciding!) Besides, look at the line-up of bands on the right, and tell me there isn't a bit of everything in there? Pop, Psychedellic, Progressive, Rock, Funk, Blues, Space, Electronic, Dance? (I wish it were Christmas '67! Bad weather be damned, I would have been there!)

Anyway, we're hoping to line up another gig over the next little while to try out the new material and see how it flies.

Stay Tuned!

In other news, I've put together a slide show featuring pictures taken at the Cavern Club on February 22nd, 2009. Thanks very much to Ian's friend for taking these! You rock!

Check out the pictures of Business Casual at the Cavern!

Rob's Updating his Rig!

2009-03-20T01:19:00.005-05:00

For those of you who might be interested, I've just upgraded the pickups on my SG. To read more, visit my blog at RobCML.blogspot.com.

Stay tuned! Word on the street is that Tony may be updating a few FX Pedals in the near future... who knows?!?

If time permits, I might get around to detailing my current setup, from guitar, to FX, to Garnet Amps.

Cheers

Who says you need a Chorus?

2009-03-19T15:57:00.004-05:00

So there we were, on a Thursday night, jamming out a tune that we'd come to enjoy. It had a poppy, upbeat feel to it, and it seemed like we all automatically knew what to play over which parts.

... then came some lyrics Tony had been beating around that seemed to work really well over the verse sections of the song.

So what was left to do?

Well, some would say, "Now, you should write the lyrics for the chorus!".

To this we say, SCREW YOU! We don't need no stinkin' Chorus! We'll just contrast the guitar parts, get really excited, jump around a bit, and if I'm feeling a bit conformist, I might just turn on my "Chorus" pedal!

You may not be singing along to this tune, but damn it, you'll be moving with it!

Stay tuned!

New Pictures comming Soon!

2009-03-13T15:20:00.003-05:00

One of Ian's friends took some GREAT pictures of the Business Casual performance at the Cavern last month!

As soon as we can remember where we put the CD with all the pictures on it, then we'll be sure to upload the ones that don't make us look too fat or photogenically challenged!

In the mean time, here's the only pic we have!

Cheeers!

Successful First Gig!

2009-02-23T02:02:00.002-06:00

Business Casual performed their first Gig at the Cavern in Winnipeg.

Over all, things went well. We had a good sized crowd, especially for a Sunday, and we got a good feel for how each song was being recieved.

Good things should come from this! More new songs, some new ideas, and more fun.

A heartfelt thanks to all who came out last night and checked us out!

Stay tuned for the next gig!

The "Origin" of Business Casual

2009-02-03T03:04:00.003-06:00

And now, a semi-embellished tale pertaining to the early beginnings of "Business Casual" as would have been told by Jonathan Swift, if given the chance...

Ian Gulliver's father had a small estate in Charleswood: he was the third of five sons. As such he was sent to St. Paul's in Tuxedo at fifteen years old, where he resided four years, and applied himself close to his studies; but the charge of maintaining him, although he had a very scanty allowance, being too great for a narrow fortune, he was bound apprentice to Mr. Tony Bates, an eminent surgeon in Winnipeg, with whom he continued four years. Ian then set out in learning the drums, and other parts of musical mathematics, useful to those who intend to be in a band, as he always believed it would be, some time or other, his fortune to do. When he left Mr. Bates, he went down to his father: where, by the assistance of him and Robert Lilliput, and some other relations, he got forty dollars, and a promise of thirty dollars a year to maintain him at the University of Manitoba: there he studied computer science two years and seven months, knowing it would be useful creating band related myspace pages.

Soon after his return from the UofM, he was recommended by his good master, Mr. Bates, to be drummer to "Long Legged Fly", with Conrad Pannel as bassist; with whom he continued three years and a half, making a voyage or two into the Cavern, and some other parts of The Toad. When he came back he resolved to settle in Osborne Village; to which Mr. Bates, his master, encouraged him, and by Mr. Bates he was recommended to several bands. He took part of a small house in the Old St. Vital; and being advised to alter his condition, he married Mrs. Andrea Burton, second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier, in Selkirk, with whom he received four hundred pounds for a portion.

But his good master Bates dying in two years after, and him having few friends, his band began to fail; for his conscience would not suffer him to imitate the bad practice of too many among his brethren. Having therefore consulted with his wife, and some of his acquaintance, he determined to form "Business Casual" ... but he never did.

Instead a few days later Ian McLeod, Robert Laferriere, Tony Trujillo, and Conrad Keys, formed the actual band "Business Casual."

---------

It's amazing what you can get away with saying if you employ the correct context. For more toilet humor and disguised foul language, please read Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships, (aka. Guliver's Travels), by Jonathan Swift.

Business Casual

2009-01-27T13:39:00.001-06:00

Alright, here we go!

We're Business Casual, and you've found either our MySpace account or our Band Profile on Facebook. Regardless how you found us, welcome!

This is a new project for Ian, Tony, Conrad and Rob, so listen in, as things will probably be changing and evolving over time. We've thrown together some recordings we made in our jam space, just to give you an idea what we sound like, and what direction the music is going. Keep your eye out for new tunes, new pictures, and maybe even a video or two in the future!

Want to ask us a question? Send us a message here, or at businesscasualband@gmail.com

Cheers!

Business Casual

Download our basement recordings FREE!

All we ask for in return are your souls... or at least visitation rights on the occasional weekend or holiday. Kids sure grow up fast!

See you all soon!

The NEW NEW NEW News! Some of it is even confirmed by trustworthy people!

We're Back in Business!

*New Date* Live at the Academy! "Back in Business!"

Plenty 'o' New!

Good times had by all!

A Little Video Action

Feeling Lucky?

Show, January 29th Ozzy's!

New New New!

Some things change, others move, and yet others move away...

Rock the what now?

We need YOU to help us Rock the 204!

New Music!

Updating the Sound ... Finding the Groove

Rob's Updating his Rig!

Who says you need a Chorus?

New Pictures comming Soon!

Successful First Gig!

The "Origin" of Business Casual

Business Casual

New Date Live at the Academy! "Back in Business!"