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Draft:Customer Service (band)

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Customer Service
Background information
OriginHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genres
Years active2021 - present
LabelsRoyal Mountain Records
Members
  • Matt Cheverie
  • Max Hayden
  • Nick Adams
  • Owen Harris

Listed as one of Exclaim! magazine's eight emerging Canadian artists you need to hear in March 2024,[1] Customer Service is an indie, emo, rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, formed in 2021. "Comprised of Matt Cheverie (they/them) on rhythm guitar and vocals, Owen Harris (he/him) on drums, Max Hayden (he/him) on lead guitar and backing vocals, and Nick Adams (he/him) on bass guitar, the band is known for its relentless touring and heartfelt lyrics which have garnered them a sizable following across the country."[2]

Customer Service's debut EP, "Live More Forever," was released in February 2024. They signed with Royal Mountain Records in January 2025. Their sophomore EP, to you, after 2000 years, is slated for release on February 14, 2025, through Royal Mountain Records.[3]

"The lead single from the upcoming EP, "and it feels," showcases their evolving sound and pays homage to Halifax's musical heritage."[4]

History

[edit]

Owen Harris and Max Hayden, who were childhood friends and neighbours, started playing music together in Harris' parents' basement during the long high-school closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The duo formed a short-lived band called "Rüg" with friend Liam MacNeil on bass.[6]

In 2021, Harris and Hayden started a new band called "Customer Service." They recruited Harris' first cousin, Nick Adams, to play bass and found singer/guitarist Matt Cheverie through a Facebook Marketplace ad that Cheverie's brother forwarded to him[6]. Talking about how he joined the band, Cheverie said to Darcy Walsh of East Coast DNA, "I was a guitarist, not a singer, but they made me sing."[5] “When I went into the audition they showed me lyrics and asked me to sing,” said Cheverie. “The lyrics were just scrawled all over the page, and Max told me he didn’t know what the chords were, or the melody I was supposed to sing.”[7] Hayden reflected on the chance meeting, saying, "It's weird to know that you found one of your closest friends on Facebook Marketplace."[5]

Customer Service's first show was a house-show on Jennings Street in Halifax. In an interview with FoldableQs' Spencer Allen, Harris says, "House shows are magic. Everyone there is a friend or a friend of a friend, so everyone there wants you to do well. And it's only great energy."[6] Since then, the band has become renowned in Halifax for their packed free shows at "Nick's House," where live recordings, by Allen, feature crushing groups of youth jumping, dancing, and singing along with the band.[8][9][10]

In 2022, Customer Service's first bar show, at Gus' Pub, downtown Halifax, was sold out.[6] "The next goal is to have a Marquee show," says Harris in an interview with Foldable Qs after the show. Only two years later, Customer Service opened to a packed hall at The Marquee (capacity 700)[11] for headliners The Dirty Nil on their Eastern Whirl Tour, with Diner Drugs and Electric Spoonful.[12]

Summer 2023, Customer Service went on a 16-dated tour of lower Canada, called the "Canadian Summer Rock N' Rawr Tour." Playing venues such as Horseshoe Tavern, Casa del Popolo, Traxide, and The Cap.

Regardless of not having music released within 3 years of the band forming, they amassed a local following that sold out their shows at Halifax venues such as Gus' Pub, The Seahorse, The Marquee, and at frequent house-shows.[5] Harris said in 2022, "When we put something out we want to have a bit more of a following, so that first song gets a bit of a boost".[6]

That time came on January 19, 2024, with the release of their first single "Grad Day."[7] The song was produced and engineered by Owen Williams, recorded by Dylan Mombourquette and Owen Williams, and mixed and mastered by Brett Romnes.

Live More Forever Album Cover

In fall 2023, the "Grad Day" video was shot and directed by Brendan Lyle, known professionally as Moosecanfly,[13] "I think they really have something special. They’ve had crazy shows [...] when they had no music out on streaming.”[7] An unofficial Grad Day live recording (audio and video), was shot by Spencer Allen months earlier in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, at a rustic off-grid camp owned by Adams' grandparents.[14]

Their highly anticipated debut EP, "Live More Forever," was released on February 24, 2024, following their success on six Atlantic tours. The EP is a 10” white vinyl, limited edition, with each EP numbered out of 200. The EP release show was at the Seahorse on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Opening acts were The Sundae Girl Band, Llyod's Money, and Pavel Stroke.[15]

In March 2024, Customer Service organized a benefit concert titled the "NoCase Showcase" at the Seahorse Tavern, with all ticket proceeds supporting Mobile Outreach Street Health, a local non-profit aiding unhoused Haligonians.[16]

In November 2024, Customer Service performed at Nova Scotia Music Week (NSMW) in Wolfville/Esoqwatik[17] where they were nominated for a Nova Scotia Music & Industry Award in the category of Rock Recording of the Year.[18]

Customer Service had the opportunity to open for Hollerado during their reunion performance in Ottawa, Ontario. The concert took place on November 21, 2024, at the Algonquin Commons Theatre.[19] This event marked Hollerado's return to the stage after a five-year hiatus, and Customer Service's participation highlighted their growing presence in the Canadian music scene.[19]

In January 2025, Customer Service announced their signing with Royal Mountain Records, a prominent Canadian independent label known for artists like Mac DeMarco. [20] This partnership was highlighted by the forthcoming release of their sophomore EP, to you, after 2000 years, scheduled for February 14, 2025.

Musical Style

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Customer Service is a prominent band in the East Coast emotional rock scene. "They blend elements of emo and punk rock in their music. Their sound is characterized by energetic instrumentation and emotionally charged lyrics, reminiscent of early 2000s pop-punk bands."[21] The band draws inspiration from Halifax's 1990s music scene, often referred to as the "Seattle of Canada," and aims to capture the essence of that era in their work.[22]

Of their music, Adams, says of Harris and Hayden "these guys are kind of feral and wild," and of himself and Cheverie, "we're kind of reserved and technical," the two duos balancing each other. "I want us to be tight as a band, but the mess is a big part of our sound. A little bit of chaos," Cheverie adds.[14]

Members

[edit]
  • Matt Cheverie - lead vocal, guitar (2022 - present)
  • Max Hayden - lead guitar, backing vocals (2021 - present)
  • Nick Adams - bass (2022 - present)
  • Owen Harris - drums (2021 - present)

Past Members

[edit]
  • Liam McNeil- bass and vocals (2021 - 2022)

Honours and Awards

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  • 2024: Nova Scotia Music Awards: Nominated for Rock Recording of the Year[23]
  • 2023: The Coast's Best Of Halifax 2023:[24] Silver for Best Band,[25]
  • 2023: The Coast's Best Of Halifax 2023 Bronze for Best New Artist/Band[26]
  • 2023: The Coast's Best Of Halifax 2023 Bronze for the Best Rock Artist/Band[27]

Discography

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EPs

[edit]
  • "Live More Forever" (February 24, 2024) Produced and Engineered by Owen Williams. Recorded by Dylan Mombourquette and Owen Williams. Mixed and Mastered by Brett Romnes. Independent release. Recorded in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • "to you, after 2000 years" (February 2025). Mixed and mastered by Billy Mannino (Oso Oso, Macseal). 7" vinyl. Limited to 300 copies..

Singles

[edit]
  • "Grad Day" (February 2024)
  • "Working Hard or Riley Workman?" (February 2024)
  • "and it feels" (January 2025)

Official Music Videos

[edit]
Title Credits Year
Grad Day Directed and Edited by Moosecanfly 2024
Working Hard or Riley Workman?

Directed and Edited by Spencer Allen

2024
Dennis Written and Directed by Moosecanfly and Matt Cheverie

Starring Connor Booth Cinematography by Moosecanfly Edited by Moosecanfly

2024
and it feels Directed and edited by Moosecanfly 2025

Articles

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[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "8 Emerging Canadian Artists You Need to Hear in March 2024 │ Exclaim!". 8 Emerging Canadian Artists You Need to Hear in March 2024 │ Exclaim!. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  2. ^ "Customer Service | Royal Mountain Records". My Site 2.
  3. ^ "Customer Service Announce 'to you, after 2000 years' EP │ Exclaim!". Customer Service Announce 'to you, after 2000 years' EP │ Exclaim!. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  4. ^ Bauman, Martin. "Customer Service channel Sloan in newest music video". The Coast Halifax.
  5. ^ a b c d Walsh, Darcy (May 2023). "East Coast DNA: Apartment Talk with Customer Service". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  6. ^ a b c d e CUSTOMER SERVICE BAND (EPISODE 1), 31 July 2022, retrieved 2024-03-01
  7. ^ a b c MacNeill, Kaitlyn (January 24, 2024). "Customer Service drops debut song – The Signal". signalhfx.ca. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  8. ^ Customer Serivce - Dennis Rodman Live, 18 June 2023, retrieved 2024-03-01
  9. ^ (Live) Customer Service - Working Hard or Riley Workman, 4 June 2023, retrieved 2024-03-01
  10. ^ Customer Service - I Vaped Again Last Night (and I'd kill to be in love) [Live at Nick's House], 28 May 2023, retrieved 2024-03-01
  11. ^ "Exclaim! | Canada's Authority on Music, Film and Entertainment". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  12. ^ "Customer Service post on Instagram". www.instagram.com. October 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  13. ^ Bauman, Martin. "Customer Service's new video for "Grad Day" is a punk rock triumph". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  14. ^ a b "NOT JUST A PHASE". Spotify. February 14, 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  15. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  16. ^ Bauman, Martin. "Halifax punk rockers Customer Service spearhead relief concert for unhoused Haligonians". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  17. ^ "Nova Scotia Music Week". Nova Scotia Music Week | Town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  18. ^ "Music Nova Scotia Announces 2024 Music & Industry Award Nominees [VOTING NOW CLOSED]". Nova Scotia Music Week. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  19. ^ a b Plunkett, Emily (2024-11-26). "Hollerado in Ottawa, ON - Show Review | Canadian Beats". Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  20. ^ "Artists | Royal Mountain Records". My Site 2. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  21. ^ Bauman, Martin. "Customer Service's new video for "Grad Day" is a punk rock triumph". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  22. ^ Piercey, Olivia (2024-03-01). "Meet Customer Service". Dalhousie Gazette. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  23. ^ "Music Nova Scotia Announces 2024 Music & Industry Award Nominees [VOTING NOW CLOSED]". Nova Scotia Music Week. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  24. ^ Shaw, Kyle (December 2023). "Best of Halifax 2023 Readers' Choice Awards winners". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  25. ^ "Halifax's Best Band 2023". The Coast Halifax. December 2023. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  26. ^ "Best New Artist / Band 2023". The Coast Halifax. December 2023. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  27. ^ "Best Rock Artist / Band 2023". The Coast Halifax. December 2023. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
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