The Awkward Stage

The Awkward Stage
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresIndie pop
Years active2006-2009
LabelsMint Records
MembersShane Nelken
Tygh Runyan
Tony Koelwyn
Chris Mitchell
Websitetheawkwardstage.ca (defunct)

The Awkward Stage was a Canadian indie pop band from Vancouver fronted by singer-songwriter Shane Nelken.[1] The band's supporting lineup consisted of Tygh Runyan on lead guitar, Tony Koelwyn on drums and Chris Mitchell on trumpet and keyboards.

History

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Nelken, who works as a cremationist, had a longtime side career as a musician, supporting a number of artists including A. C. Newman, New Pornographers and Sparrow.[2][3] He put together The Awkward Stage (which included drummer Kurt Dahle),[4] and released a debut album, Heaven Is for Easy Girls, on Mint Records in 2006.[5][6] Nelken performed much of the music himself, with some help from violinist Kim Koch and trumpeter Shaun Brodie.[7] The album charted on Canadian campus radio[8] and CBC Radio 3, which named the band's song "We're Going for a Ride" one of its Top 94 songs of 2006.[9]

With Tygh Runyan, Tony Koelwyn and Chris Mitchell, The Awkward Stage released a second album, Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights, in 2008.[10][11] The songs were written and arranged by Nelkin.[2]

The band has been inactive since 2009.

Discography

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References

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  1. ^ "CMJ New Music Report". CMJ New Music Report. No. 967–990. 2006. p. 80.
  2. ^ a b "The Awkward Stage Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights" Archived 2021-11-30 at the Wayback Machine. AllMusic Review by Mark Deming
  3. ^ "Tragically unhip" Archived 2023-08-16 at the Wayback Machine. Georgia Straight, by Jennifer Van Evra on January 3, 2007
  4. ^ "Vancouver Buzz: Little Hamm On Big Screen And The Awkward Stage Sign To Mint". Chart Attack - Aug 4, 2006[dead link]
  5. ^ "The Awkward Stage – Heaven Is For Easy Girls". discogs.com. Discogs. October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  6. ^ "The Awkward Stage Heaven is for Easy Girls" Archived 2019-08-14 at the Wayback Machine. Exclaim!, By Chris Whibbs Oct 01, 2006
  7. ^ "The Awkward Stage Heaven Is for Easy Girls" Archived 2017-06-20 at the Wayback Machine. Pop Matters, by Michael Keefe 29 November 2006
  8. ^ "The Dears Return To The Top Of The Chart". Chart Attack - Oct 24, 2006[dead link]
  9. ^ CBC Radio 3 - Top 94 Tracks of 2006, radio3.cbc.ca, 2006-12-31. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
  10. ^ "The Awkward Stage – Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights". discogs.com. Discogs. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  11. ^ "The Awkward Stage Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights" Archived 2019-08-14 at the Wayback Machine. Exclaim!, By Chris Whibbs Jun 10, 2008
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