Sonic Deli Records’ Jim Armstrong & Brown Bag Lunch (2005)


Jim Armstrong is the core and catalyst of The Sonic Deli Inc / Sonic Deli Records, a new Toronto-based indie label. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Armstrong began his musical adventures as a touring drummer at age 10. Over the next three decades, his work included various performances, recordings and writing gigs, ranging from personal rock ballads to instrumental film scores. Throughout his life, Armstrong developed as an artist in spite of an increasingly severe case of epilepsy, but in late 2003, the condition threatened to end his prolific career: Serious brain surgery was required to stabilize Armstrong’s health, even though it might jeopardize his musical and functional abilities.

In advance of the surgery, Armstrong, his long-time business partner and co-writer Andrea Poulis, and a handful of frequent musical collaborators cranked out an impressive volume of original songs, preparing a musical legacy, just in case…

Fortunately, the procedure was a success and Armstrong’s epilepsy was brought under control, leaving a new catalogue of music awaiting an audience. And so, Brown Bag Lunch was born, as a vehicle for this great original music and Armstrong’s revitalized abilities. Most of the 18 songs on the CD are penned or co-authored by Armstrong, and performed with an array of impressive Canadian talent.

Brown Bag Lunch includes Shelley Jacobson, a CMT/NSAI award-winning singer-songwriter (recently been signed to a Nashville publishing company), Jennifer Claveau of Toronto band Likewater (prominent in the Toronto roots scene) and country/pop newcomer David Janes. From southern Ontario, Josh Hutchinson of The Entropy, Toronto’s indie darling Amer Diab, Toronto and Nashville singer/songwriter Violet Ray and powerhouse vocalists, Debbie Shessel and Jennifer Bettencourt.

All of the above, plus infectious, hook-y tracks from Armstrong himself were produced and recorded entirely by Armstrong. On top of the Armstrong creations, numbers by Juno winner, Lazo and local fixtures, Crazy Babies also appear on Brown Bag Lunch, which was launched at Toronto’s legendary Healey’s Night Club in April 2005.

At present, Armstrong remains busy preparing a solo CD due later this year, and promoting Brown Bag Lunch with live performances. These shows are backed (and fronted) by the talented Sonic Deli Band featuring Armstrong, bassist Wes Miller, guitar virtuoso Val Oddo, drummer Alvin Lapp, vocalist/rhythm guitarist Rob Maurin and vocalist Debbie Shessel, all of whom contribute original material to the live shows.

Select media and testimonials:


EYE Magazine: “If straight ahead, Q107-style radio rock bore more critical currency than lo-fi indie pop, Sonic Deli's unbroken social scene, documented on this label compilation, would be the one we're hearing about.” Howard Druckman

Andy Frank, CIUT 89.5 FM: “"Freed of some of the shackles of epilepsy, this gifted song-writer and multi-instrumentalist with shades of Waits and Bachman, played his first live gig (post-op) at Healey's… Jim is a genuine hero, an inspiration to all who are faithful to their art."

Mark Papousek, Y101 Today's Best Country: "After having had the chance to listen to the Brown Bag Lunch CD a few times, I am impressed with the songs and the artists. I am sure that we will be hearing some of them on the airwaves very soon."

Myrocia Watamaniuk, Television host for Rogers Daytime Toronto: “When Jim sings, you know he’s singing from his heart.”

The Spill Magazine: “The Sonic Deli is not a band. No, they are rather a unique collective of Toronto musicians, banded together in pursuit of better living through art … and while there are obvious differences stylistically between the artists, a common thread holds them all together…” Cameron Gordon

Jon Long (of the national Long & McQuade Musical Instruments Stores, executive producer of Brown Bag Lunch): "Jim is an incredibly talented musician. His music needed to heard, I had to help him and his friends."


You may also find more about Jim Armstrong, along with audio samples @
www.sonicdelirecords.com
www.sonicbids.com/JimArmstrongSonicDeliBand & www.myspace.com/jimarmstrongsonicdeliband

and for more info on BROWN BAG LUNCH, the 18 tracks and 11 award-winning artists, writers and guest musicians please see:
www.sonicdelirecords.com
www.cdbaby.com/SonicDeli
www.sonicbids.com/SonicDeliRecordsBBL

Where To Buy:

CD BABY www.cdbaby.com/SonicDeli

APPLE iTUNES http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=66734377

Contact Info:

The Sonic Deli Inc / Sonic Deli Records
http://www.sonicdelirecords.com/

1566 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M6P 1A4

(416) 535-5896

sonicdeli@sympatico.ca / andrea.sonicdeli@sympatico.ca