Same Latitude As Rome continues to "Stay The Course" with a stellar review coming in from Lonestar Time in Italy!
"I recently made a beautiful discovery of a Canadian band with one of the most imaginative and original names and a delicious mix of country and folk. Same Latitude As Rome have been 'on track' for a dozen years and have six records thanks to the perseverance and talent of leader Peter Boyer (guitar and harmonica), supported by JK Gulley in banjos, mandolin and electric guitars and acoustic, from Matt Lima and Tomas Bouda that alternate on bass, from Gary Kreller on accordion, from Mark Mariash on drums and percussion, to Dale Rivard on dobro. The album is well produced by JK Gulley.
This is an extremely inspired and dynamic band that with this new album "Stay The Course" puts into music all their expressive strength with a repertoire inspired by Canadian stories like the excellent "Lost Patrol" and "Perth's Mammoth Cheese" combining irony and drama. Peter Boyer's ability to describe personal experiences as in "Ol 'Beater Trucks", sparkling and balanced between folk sounds and country attitudes, in "Blue Shelby Mustang", ennobled by the presence of the bodhran and the voice of Sean McCann formerly of Great Big Sea, to "Old Guys With Guitars" a delicious country waltz and "Quarter Horse Pro", all fine examples of writing linked to the most genuine country music.
This Ontario band definitely deserves to be known more widely for their sincere and authentic approach, naturally linked to the sounds of tradition. With "Stay The Course" Same Latitude As Rome succeeds in their intent. Recommended."
Remo Ricaldone - Lonestar Time - Italy
Read more HERE - Lonestar Time is a non-profit organization/webzine with the mission to spread Texas Music in Italy through the organization of concerts by American artists (especially Texans) and events of various kinds. The genres we promote are Texas Music, Alternative Country, Red Dirt, HonkyTonk, Americana, Roots, Texas Country and in general all the good music that comes from Lonestar State.
Same Latitude As Rome - Southwestern Ontario Folk Group
Genre: Folk | Canadiana | Folklore
CHARTING
Folk DJ #23 Top Albums #33 Top Artist
RMR - #35 Top 50 Contemporary #36 Top 50 Canada
Airplay Direct - #16 Top 50 Americana
Songs that tell true stories fascinate Same Latitude As Rome group songwriter Peter Boyer, as they are the essence of the great oral tradition of folk music. For Peter, Canada’s stories are hidden gems, too often eclipsed by American narratives, and waiting to be told in song.
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One Sheet - Click HERE
Dropbox - Industry Confidential click HERE
Available to reporters at Airplay Direct, Roots Music Report | Folk DJ-L | Euro Americana| NACC | !earshot and available to all DJs by request as well as by Dropbox. Contact Michelle for interviews, reviews, photos and Dropbox links - michelle@trespassmusic.org
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"Stay The Course" Released March 1, 2019
"Stay the Course" is the self-prescription and follow up to Same Latitude As Rome’s 2015 release “Early Days” which charted at #34 nationally that year, and appeared on several Folk DJ Best of 2015 lists. Canadian history never sounded so good!
After two releases of history albums, “1812”, and “Early Days”, SLAR songwriter Peter Boyer had other non-history songs that were begging to be recorded. In the end, it was the narrative quality of the songs that determined whether they made it on to the CD - two history songs, the mainstay of Same Latitude As Rome, and six others that tell great stories.
The two history songs Lost Patrol (#3-3:38), and Perth’s Mammoth Cheese (#6-3:10), are tragic and humorous tales respectively. Peter likes to say that as a songwriter, you can’t make up stories like these. Each story is very famous and well known in the Yukon and in Perth, Ontario where they originate. They deserve to be told to the rest of Canada and the world!
The title track Stay the Course (#1-3:33) is a song of hope, perseverance, and tenacity that represents the band’s own recipe for success – don’t give up! With the added voice of Canadian icon Sean McCann of Great Big Sea as a special guest of the band, Stay the Course is a message for us all as we struggle with life’s challenges. Using inspiring and uplifting images, the listener is given many reasons to "Stay the Course" and never give up, “until you fulfill your destiny” and “be all that you can be.”
Anyone who has heard Sean McCann perform anywhere across North America in the past few years will know his heartfelt story of meeting a woman searching for four leaf clovers along an ocean path at a Newfoundland folk festival. At a low point in his life, the meeting was an epiphany for Sean, to overcome his demons, and never give up, just like when you search for four-leaf clovers. Lucky clovers are there, you just need to take the time to find them. That woman was Anne Lise Boyer, Peter Boyer's wife, and it led to a friendship and eventually to Peter’s song, "Stay the Course" – written for Sean. When Sean heard it, he suggested that they sing it together with the ace Same Latitude As Rome band providing the instrumental backing. We know you will agree that their collaboration is magical!
Ol Beater Trucks - (#4-3:53) tells a quintessential small town and rural Canadian story about driving a vehicle that is classic, soulful and paid for! Haha, Blue Shelby Mustang (#2-3:29) is a Windsor, Ontario story about a young guy who builds a fast cool car from a wreck and goes on to rule the street and the track with it. Old Guys With Guitars (#5-3:38) paints the picture of any open mike that you’ve ever been too, in a self-deprecating way that only comes when you are no longer a voice of the younger generation. Add in Bad Habits (#8-3:52) – about the challenge of overcoming one’s demons, whatever they may be, and Quarter Horse Pro (#7-3:20) – a tribute to the men and women who make a very good living training horses in the 21st century! How cool is that?
Add to this song stew the talents of some of Southern Ontario’s finest musicians, and production from JK Gulley at the tiny boutique Blue Gull Studio in Kitchener, ON and you get an exciting new release worthy of airplay and mainstream enjoyment.
Recommended top 4 songs for immediate airplay:
1. Stay the Course 2. Blue Shelby Mustang 3. Lost Patrol 4. ‘Ol Beater Trucks
"Masterful storytelling singer-songwriter Peter Boyer is back with “Stay The Course” - eight songs about mammoth cheeses, horses, old trucks, and old guitar players – and remaining positive in the face of adversity, and a great cameo from Great Big Sea’s Sean McCann. It’s a joy from beginning to end." Jan Hall - Folk Roots Radio with Jan Hall
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About Same Latitude As Rome
Same Latitude As Rome came to life in Essex County in early 2007, as a band concept to support the award-winning songwriting craft of Peter Boyer. Named after the location of the most southerly point in Canada, inside Point Pelee National Park, Same Latitude As Rome performed throughout Essex County at bars, festivals, charitable events, and Windsor Folk open mikes, and later throughout southern Ontario as audiences grew. The members were drawn from friends and family, and later included professional players drawn from rock, jazz, and symphonic backgrounds.
Fast forward to today, many songwriting awards, and six CDs later, Same Latitude As Rome is staying the course!
Songs that tell true stories fascinate group songwriter Peter Boyer, as they are the essence of the great oral tradition of folk music. For Peter, Canada’s stories are hidden gems, too often eclipsed by American narratives, and waiting to be told in song. “I am a songwriter, not an historian,” says Boyer, “but sometimes when I research a subject, I can almost channel the energy from the central characters, such as during the writing of the song “Lost Patrol” on our new CD. It’s a spooky feeling! If a song can ignite further interest in, or better awareness of Canadian culture and history, I feel that I have done my job as a songwriter.”
Same Latitude As Rome charted at #34 nationally in 2015 with their last release “Early Days”, and appeared on several Folk DJ Best of 2015 lists, including Album of the Year on Blues and Roots Radio. After a three year hiatus, they’re back!
The musicians playing on "Stay the Course" album are among the best in Canada, regularly tour with bigger national artists as back up musicians, and are performers in their own right. They include producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter JK Gulley, Matt Lima/Tomas Bouda - acoustic bass, Gary Kreller - accordion, Mark Mariash – percussion, and Dale Rivard – dobro. Peter Boyer plays acoustic guitar and harmonica with extra special guest Sean McCann co-singing with Peter and playing bodhran on the title song, "Stay The Course." Harmonica virtuoso Roly Platt sat in with a bluesy harmonica part on Blue Shelby Mustang.
ACCOLADES
Peter Boyer of Same Latitude As Rome joined Jan Hall in the Folk Roots Radio studio for an exclusive interview (Jan.22, 2019) about the new single and the upcoming release of the new album. LISTEN HERE
Penguin Eggs ~ "This disc should continue to get them both attention and airplay. Some of the best tracks are the title track, Lost Patrol, and Bad Habits. At eight tracks in length, the disc also doesn’t wear out its welcome but leaves you wanting more. Another solid score by this tight unit."
Rock My World Canada - Feature
Peter Boyer has opened for/performed with/collaborated with many national artists over his music career including: Colleen Peterson, Bruce Cockburn, Dan Aykroyd, Tom Paxton, Sneezy Waters, Ricky Skaggs and Sean McCann.
Same Latitude As Rome has released 6 CDs since being formed in 2007: Northern Saloons and Community Halls – 2007; Which Side of the Line Are You On? – 2008; The Faerie Queen and Other Stories – 2009; 1812 – 2012; Early Days – 2015; and, Stay the Course – 2019
2007 Great Lakes Songwriting Contest – Honourable Mention – “Easy Street” - Northern Saloons and Community Halls
2008 Ontario Independent Music Award Nomination – Best Folk Album - Which Side of the Line Are You On?
2009 UK Songwriting Contest– Semi Finalist – “The Faerie Queen” – The Faerie Queen and Other Stories
2010 Great Lakes Songwriting Contest – Honourable Mention – “Song for Louis Riel” – single release, later released on Early Days
2011 Great Lakes Songwriting Contest – Semi Finalist – “Nous Sommes Canadiens” – 1812
2013 UK Songwriting Contest – Semi Finalist – “The Ghost of Bullock’s Tavern” – Early Days
2013 UK Songwriting Contest – Semi Finalist – “Union Man” – Early Days
2014 Folk Music Ontario Songs from the Heart, Political Category Winner – “Song for Louis Riel” – Early Days
Early Days was SLAR’s first CD to chart nationally at #34 in 2015. It appeared on several folk DJ’s best of 2015 lists and was named the Album of the Year by Blues and Roots Radio.
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