Two If By Sky

With the double album The Year Of The Two, A Fish Called
Piranha has created a concept album that transcends both time
and geography. Meticulously produced by Kwong and several
producers including Daniel Elmes (Dan Mangan, Sweatshop
Union), Sam Ryan & Dave Badiuk (Krome, Miss Mercury), Mike
Plotnikoff (KISS, The Cranberries) and John Shepp (Matthew
Good Band, GOB), The Year Of The Two emerges as an
extremely potent concoction of Kurt Cobain-esque poetry, 90's
grunge, hip-hop and ethereal cinematic pieces. The concept
album is about a computer named Bill Gates who later finds out
he is the Antichrist. He 'mates' with Charlotte's Website to spawn
super-computers and two 'megabots' named Betty and Carrie.
The theme of 'TWO' permeates throughout the entire album to
symbolize their contrast.

The double album oscillates between aggressive density and
heavenly spaciousness. The first CD, Act 1: Hard Into Hell (And
Back) – War, introduces the characters of the album reminiscent
of The Wall by Pink Floyd, The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust by
David Bowie, or Tommy by The Who. AFCP mixes in music's
more aggressive sounds of hard rock, grunge and hip-hop to
accentuate the mood of war and hell. Bill Gates, the opening
track, beckons the listener into this space continued by the punk
grunge of 2 and Graveyard Sale. The first CD winds down to
push and pull the listener through an array of emotions for the
second part of the album.

In contrast, the second CD, Act 2: Softly Into Heaven (Eternity) –
Peace, continues with major keys and sad ballads to uplift the
listener in a heavenly direction. Indie-rock and folk elements are
the essence of this second act. The atmospheric warmth and
lushness of Sunday Driver and Carrie envelop us in
heavenly comfort, while the poetic lines of Mercury (a tribute to
the late Terry Fox) and Sunday Best paint the emotions of
longing and yearning from the death of a loved one.

QUOTES...

“...this Vancouver band is getting attention on MuchMusic and Sirius radio and it's not hard to see why. The sound is all about big guitars and drums with the kind of breathy and melodic vocals that anyone who grew up in the grunge era will find welcoming. The opening instrumental "1988" total kicks butt and the guest spot by monster sushi chef Tojo is dang funny. Main man Kwong has his tongue firmly in his cheek here and his amp turned up to stun.” (THE PROVINCE)

"...as might be expected of a band named after a piranha, this is voracious, insatiable rock. In less than 15 minutes, A Fish Called Piranha plays with a biting edge, a little drama and hint of a sense of humour in the last song... It's sharp and , as it's supposed to do, leaves the listener wanting more.” (TOM HARRISON)

“... rarely has an artist in recent memory put out a 2nd release that eclipsed its predecessor. As for every rule, it is made to be broken and it is Vancouver-based A Fish Called Piranha breaking all the rules here.” (jamescrisp.blogspot.com)

“... swimming with the fishes in Vancouver, Poco's A Fish Called Piranha, are on the cusp of bigger & better things!” (The NOW)

“... with a hard-edged sound & soulful lyrics. Although one might think I am describing Rush, 'AFCP' has a young, fresh sound that Rush looks for in their aging years.” (THE PEAK)

“... look at a Canadian artist who's name will no doubt be on the top hit list soon.” (DC News)

THE ARTIST
After years in the indie 'underground' & a few solo releases (including the Skyjuice EP hitting #1 on HMV's Alternative Indie Charts), Kwong teamed up with co-producer Sam Ryan (Krome, Destino) to record the long-awaited, “The Year Of The Fish”. And it was magical. As Kwong explains, “I've worked with a lot of producers in the past including Mike Plotnikoff (KISS, Cranberries), John Shepp (Matthew Good Band, GOB), and John MacLean (Limblifter) but there was a major vibe steaming from the sessions with Sam. The first day we met at a MusicBC Schmooze night, it was kismet. He called me up after & we were then in the studio together for almost 2 years! Also, I decided to record my personal favorite songs (not management's) that I had written over the years that were never recorded. So, it's sort of like a greatest hits package. I always wondered why I had never recorded Rome or Two if By Sky which the fans at our shows always went nuts over! I think I had pressure from management at the time to record pop, instead of the music which I love. After laying down the screams in Rome, I remembered Sam turning around immediately with inspiration & madness in his eyes! And he said that there was something special with this and that we should keep going in this direction. We also got my good friend, celebrity chef Tojo Hidekazu to do a funny cameo, Eric Davis (The Left) to do background vocals on Payday, and the incredible Shawn Meehan (Krome) to add some guitar textures. So, the whole recording process was insanely awesome!” The current single, “Rome”, broke the Top 100 in the active rock & alternative charts in the Fall of 2010.

Whether performing solo acoustically or as a band, A Fish Called Piranha has taken this concept album to a new level; a high watermark in what has already been a great career, marked by recognition from the CBC, Muchmusic, Sirius satellite & CTV. The time is now for A Fish Called Piranha!

“Rome” adds on radio/TV:
-Sirius satellite (Iceberg 85)
-102.1 The Edge Toronto
-94.1 The Rock Chatham
-K106 Sarnia
-FM96 London
-CHRW London
-91X Belleville
-989 The Drive
-K-Rock Kingston
-Live885 Ottawa
-CFOX Vancouver
-CITR UBC
-CFBX Kelowna
-CHLY Malaspina
-MUCHLOUD
-Exploremusic
-CBC
-CTV
etc...

#1 HMV (Indie), #15 CHLY, #22 CFBX, #96 Active rock and #86 Alternative charts, etc...

GUESTS ARTISTS include...
Shawn Meehan (Krome), Pat Steward (Bryan Adams, ODDS), Vince Jones (Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette), Russ Klyne (K-OS, Salvador Dream), Toby Peter (Salvador Dream), Eric Davis (The Left), Tojo & Hiro (Tojo's Sushi, Vancouver), Forrest Rosenthal, Brian Moon, Shawn Brown, Danny Young.