The Hidden Cameras
are a Canadian indie pop band. Fronted by singer-songwriter Joel Gibb, the band consists of a varying roster of musicians who play what Gibb once described as "gay church folk music". [1] Their live performances have been elaborate, high-energy shows, featuring go-go dancers in balaclavas, a choir, and a string section.
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HIDDEN CAMERAS TICKETS
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History
2001–2002: Ecce Homo
The band's first album,
Ecce Homo
, was released independently in 2001 on EvilEvil. It was after this first release that Gibb assembled a band and they began to perform in venues varying from art galleries to churches to porn theatres to parks. Since these early days The Hidden Cameras have played host to a number of notable musicians, including
Reg Vermue,
Owen Pallett,
Laura Barrett, Megali Meagher (of The Phonemes), Mike Olsen (of the
Arcade Fire) and
Maggie MacDonald.
2003: The Smell of Our Own
Their 2003 album,
The Smell of Our Own
was released through the popular
Rough Trade imprint in the
UK, and on the
independent label EvilEvil in Canada.
2004–2005: Mississauga Goddam
and The Arms of His 'Ill
In 2004, they released their third album,
Mississauga Goddam
, on Rough Trade and also on EvilEvil in Canada. Their EP,
The Arms of His 'Ill
, was released by
California label
Absolutely Kosher Records in the same year, and features jacket art specially created by
Paul P. and
G.B. Jones. In November 2005, the band collaborated with
Toronto Dance Theatre on the show "In the Boneyard" at the Harbour Front Centre, Toronto, Ontario. Dancers joined the band throughout the show, playing instruments, and the band performed on-stage in costume. Three of the songs from "Mississauga Goddam", namely "We Oh We", "I Believe in the Good of Life" (a rerecorded version of the same song from the first album), and "Builds the Bone", are featured in the Canadian motion picture, "Whole New Thing".
2006: Awoo
Awoo
, their 2006 recording was released on Rough Trade in Europe, EvilEvil in Canada and, in the U.S., on the
Arts & Crafts label. The Hidden Cameras are featured on the soundtrack of the
John Cameron Mitchell film
Shortbus
, which premiered in 2006. Also that year, they performed in a
Take-Away Show
video session shot by
Vincent Moon.
2009: Origin:Orphan
Their fifth album,
Origin:Orphan
, was mastered in May 2009.
[2] The music video for "In the NA", a song from this album, was screened at the 19th Annual
Inside Out Film and Video Festival.
[3] The album will be released on 22 September 2009.
[4].
Discography
The band's material has been released on a variety of labels, including
Rough Trade in the
United Kingdom,
Arts & Crafts in the U.S., and EvilEvil in Canada.
Albums
- Ecce Homo
, 2001
- The Smell of Our Own
, 2003
- The Hidden Cameras Play the CBC Sessions
, 2003
- Mississauga Goddam
, 2004
- The Arms of His 'Ill'
, 2004
- Awoo
, 2006
- Origin:Orphan
, 2009
Singles
- "Ban Marriage" (2003)
- "A Miracle" (2003)
- "I Believe in the Good of Life" (2004)
- "Learning the Lie" (double single release)(2005)
- "Death of a Tune" (2006)
- "Awoo" (2006)
- "In the NA" (2009)
Soundtracks
- Sommersturm
, directed by Marco Kreutzpaintner, 2004
- Shortbus
, directed by John Cameron Mitchell, 2006
- Whole New Thing
, directed by Amnon Buchbinder and co-written by Daniel MacIvor, 2006
- Small Town Gay Bar
, directed by Malcolm Ingram, 2006
- The Lollipop Generation
, directed by G.B. Jones, 2008
References
- Chin, Rob (April 29, 2003). "Preaching from the choir: It's gay, and it's gospel (sort of) – Toronto's eclectic Hidden Cameras", ''The Advocate'' (888): 65.
- The Hidden Cameras official website, News, http://www.thehiddencameras.com/html/news.html
- Inside Out program, http://www.insideout.ca/19Annual/program_details.cfm?program_id=27
- Arts&Craft News, http://www.arts-crafts.ca/?q=detail&id=559200