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pressQUOTABLE QUOTES"What sets Toby apart from other performers mining a similar vein is her infectious energy, a kind of worldly appreciation of life that makes even her most melancholy songs thrum with a kind of joyousness. It's a key reason why her live performances are so acclaimed, and it's translated well here. Toby has crafted a well-rounded release that encapsulates her sound while still being acoustically diverse. Opening track Again is rife with country twang, and closing number Good Old Days is a weird. off-kilter polka, somewhat reminiscent of an upbeat Tom Waits tune. In between, the album runs the gamut of moods and emotions, and although Toby is renowned as a singer/songwriter, the standout track is actually a cover: the stripped back, elegiac paean to lost love, Rather Go Blind. All up Sleeptalk is a fitting framework for Toby's powerful vocals and emotionally raw song writing, and will find it ticks all the right boxes. (X-press Magazine January 2011)
Toby took to the stage complimented by a steady stream of musicians who flitted on and off the stage throughout the set, filling every nook and cranny of the venue with her engaging, enjoyable tunes and serving as a delicious instrumental counterpoint against the talented songstress¡¦ powerful choral whisperings.
XPRESS MAGAZINE -JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD - Friday, September 10, 2010
"It's a gifted singer-songwriter who is daring enough to remain this raw. It's the same reason why Toby's audience has found such a home in her music" THE WEST (Sept 3 2010)
"At long last, the much-anticipated arrival of TOBY and Band brought an air of expectation to the room. No disappointments here as she went straight for the jugular and never once let go throughout her powerhouse performance. Her confidence in her own skin these days is so evident as she takes full control of the stage and orchestrates her fellow musicians with barely discernible signals. Toby¡¦s voice was in fine form, taking us high and low through some of the well-worn favourites ( ¡§Gossip and Lies¡¨, Breathe¡¨, ¡§Blue¡¨, ¡§Run¡¨) and in to uncharted territory with new material from the forthcoming album, due out in late 2010. Her band was suitably tight and she shared a special bond with the bass guitarist, who was given unusual prominence on a few occasions. The master blaster, Jean Guy Lemire, brought his unique talent to the fore on some unbelievable harmonica solos, which had the crowd whooping and cheering along. No wonder the crowd demanded an encore because no-one wanted to go home. And just as the evening had started, yet another surprise with Toby coming back alone to sing her version of ¡§Me And Bobby McGee¡¨, initially sans microphone to a hushed room before belting out the finale. Smiles all round from artists and punters alike. This had been one for the memory banks, that¡¦s for sure. Derek Cromb (April 2010)
"Local singer, songwriter and guitarist Toby prides herself on giving a killer live performance but to date, she had yet to capture that rollicking passion, exuberance and sheer joy on album. Like her last album, this one does stand on its own, particularly songs such as Karma, All I Need and Tu Es Belle. What's most obvious is how comfortable Toby seems laying open her emotions. It's brave and sexy as she mines a mix of folk, pop, roots and reggae." Saturday The West Magazine (Sept 2008) Love Underground Review
"Toby has undoubtedly one of Perth's most powerful voices... Toby whos voice seems to know no bounds fronts the one part orchestra, one part bonfire jam, one part circus with eaze...Just how does Toby arrive at such a swirl of delectable musical chaos on stage?" Megan Smith (Out in Perth, June 2008)
(Perth Woman, June 2008)
“Her voice radiates majesty, confidence and professionalism” (Broome Advertiser, May 2008)
“Toby’s blistering voice is a staple of her live act - it captivates you and bolts you upright wherever you are in earshot” (Drum Media, May 2008)
“Her confidence has grown and her determination has flourished, her ego has been kept in check” (Xpress Magazine may 2008)
“It was a love at first sound
when the audience was introduced to Toby Beard during her second of
two high-energy performances during The Big Time Out. ( Cumberland ,
BC , Canada )… While none of my favourite performers were the headliners
during The Big Time Out, don't be surprised that you might hear from
the likes of Toby or Mother Mother making it in the competitive musical
industry in the future. (Jules S. Xavier Assistant Editor , Aug 2007)
De schatkamer van
Toby Beard December 2007 written by Mischa Nieuwboer
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "This album has a good spread of different styles and sounds, starting off with reggae rhythm on track one Hammock, a bouncy jazzy beat on Dream of Me, and then there is Blue, which is my pick off the album, a clever mix of Spanish salsa and Zorba the Greek. I wasnt sure whether to stick a rose in my mouth or smash a few plates. Entertainment is not just about quality, it is also about variety and Toby is without a doubt a very versatile artist. If you get a chane to see this talented lady, do it. " (Scomag, Midwest Times, August 2007)
........"Toby Beard is a superb singer/ songwriter and guitarist who not only plays and sings well, but has a fine flair for drawing in an audience and keeping them entertained and delighted with her songs and inviting spirit.......She's a gas!" Victor DeLorenzo (VIOLENT FEMMES) ALBUM REVIEW
The band's fourth and latest release Renaissance is a genuine, accessible and striking album which sees sassy young songstress, Beard at her best. Beard's honest, storytelling lyrics; matched with her raw, unpretentious vocals create a compelling collection of feel-good tunes delivered to listeners straight from the heart. Indeed, for me personally, Beard's strongest point is her innovative lyrics that steer clear from trite word rhyming and clichéd analogies, and conversely paint vivid pictures of travel experiences, everyday observations and of course, love. Stand out tracks include the jazz-oriented Gossip and Lies, the sweet reggae tune Hammock, Goodbye Baby and of course my two favourites: Blue and Safe. Both of these latter tracks involve a poignant violin accompaniment with sultry, soothing vocals that will warm your spirit on chilly winter nights. Kelly Griffin : PBS 106.7 FM "Toby's music is beautiful! Her voice is sweet and sexy at the same time and her compositions sway in such enjoyable way. She is a treasure of Australia! It will be my pleasure to feature Toby's music in my shows. I'm sure my listeners will enjoy it as much as I do." Przemek Draheim www.blues.pl/draheim (Poland Radio)
ALBUM REVIEW
"Toby have constructed
a mish-mash of everything from Caribbean sway, to third world samba.
. .however subtly. Lyrically Toby Beard is at her best on Renaissance,
often backing up these strange musical tangents with contradictory (or
at least unlikely) poetry. In so far as telling a tale, Beard is certainly
a bit of a gun. Reflecting on some of her travelling experience, and
the colourful places snd people she observed, Beard put pen to paper
in a respectful and most descriptive manner. Without using overly words/rhymes,
though nicely avoiding being unnecessarily abstract, Beard paints vivid
pictures that show strong signs of a storyteller heart. Warmly produced,
and varied enough for even the shortest of attention spans, Renaissance
is great studio record from a band best known for their live shows". ALBUM REVIEWLocal songstress Toby Beard has certainly covered a lot of new ground with Renaissance, her first full length studio release. Unlike her debut release, the live album Indi Live On The West Coast, which covered mostly blues and country tunes, here Beard has explored into the world of Latin, reggae and European roots, still with the feel of the known Toby and Code Red sound. Using that same tight band with this release, Beard has also found herself with a great line of musicians to help put together this release, including Nicky Bomba (who also helped produce the album) Mo Wilson and Dave Mann. Renaissance delivers some finely polished tunes that have been heard on Beard’s last tour, like ‘Hammock’, ‘Flow’ and ‘Breathe’, three of a handful of standout tracks here. An almost Arabian influence comes across on ‘Blue’ with a fiery vocal delivery by Beard, accompanied with one of the more enjoyable violin pieces. Mixed with sassy trumpet and raging harmonic, this is a track that is far from what Beard has previously delivered. At times, you could almost mistake it for a cabaret ala Moulin Rouge number, which fits nicely amongst the musical ideas on this release. Throw in a bit of jazz (‘Gossip and Lies’) and some strong lyricism focus (‘Goodbye Baby’), along with Beard’s notable vocal work, Renaissance is an interesting release which covers so me well discovered new territory
for Beard, but still touches on all the little things that many have
grown to admire from this young songwriter.” ALBUM REVIEW“Although she's only
in her mid 20s, Toby Beard sounds like a roots veteran, her slightly
husky but powerful voice delivering feelgood, swingout sounds with real
depths of emotion. Renaissance is a joyous ride through blues and roots,
with a dash of latin and reggae. With soaring strings and great beats,
it’s original material is bound to make you want to kick off your
heels and dance.” ALBUM LAUNCH REVIEW"It is a near sold out gig at the Fly By Night Club (a difficult thing to do since it is a fairly roomy venue) and Toby is up on stage with an even larger fourteen piece band than usual, belting out some pretty brassy vocals and strumming a mean guitar. Having met her weeks earlier, I am not the least bit surprised with the strength and passion of both her vocals and personality that she omits on stage, as these are the qualities that warm her to people and her audience. The crowd have certainly warmed to her and are dancing and gently cajoling each other to a blend of rock, reggae, latin country, jazz and blues inspired tunes. There is a familiarity in the audience with the songs, which suggests she has quite a following and adds to the vibe of the show. It is amazing how well the night pans out considering Toby has organised everything down to the very last details and albums sell like hot cakes at the door on the way out. There is something very personable about her lyrics and the music, which draws people on to the dance floor with so much energy and spirit. The Toby of today has grown from the Toby of yesteryear, hence the self-explanatory title of the new album and the band's name change to just 'Toby'. Yet it is the global fusion of musical genres that make this album so exciting and innovative to listen to. There is a French style influence in some of the songs, but still with an underlying folk theme. The end product is much more full sounding, with an emphasis on the string section and the brass. W e will undoubtedly be invited
to participate in Toby's life and her music for a long time to come." ALBUM LAUNCH REVIEW"A great band can really lift an artist's live show to a new level – normally the addition of a few extra musicians helps to fill out songs and add rhythm and texture. So what happens when you take one of West Aussie's blossoming songwriters and add an extra thirteen musicians? You get Toby's CD launch at the Fly By Night. The third LP for the Perth local (and her first studio release as a stand alone artist) Renaissance was produced by Nicky Bomba who flew over from Melbourne to Fremantle especially for the task. Obviously a young lady who doesn't believe in doing things by halves, Toby's launch with its hoard of onstage guests and big punter turnout was no less impressive. . . Moving through the motions, Toby appeared outwardly excited yet remained focused to produce one of the better performances of her career. Backed by the Code Red regulars along with a transient mixture of the extended backing team, the sounds were impressive. With selections of tracks from both the new and old plastic, the songs (which seemed generally based around relationship themes) built the dancing numbers with a steady intensity. . . The backing band slowly built
over the course of the evening (including both Maera and Mo Wilson)
– the Code Red in name gone, but the band still flying their red colours
strong. An impressive end to the second Toby set with all 13 members
of the accompaniment on stage brought the night to a stand still, but
no doubt she will look back at this climax as the clear beginning of
the next stage of her career."
“Toby Beard seldom breaks gaze
as she talks, and just a flicker of light behind her eyes is her true
nature. At several points, while she regales, there is a hesitation
so brief you could almost miss it, as she herself reads your own expression.
You didn't realize you were smirking, but she spotted it, and she is
curious as to me. It’d because you’re listening to her very
deeply. Not the words coming out of her mouth, but the subtitles her
eyes give away. Everything about the woman – her passions, her
fears, her sexuality- is right there in her stare, if you look for it.
It’s an invitation to explore her mind, or her soul if you prefer
that term, not at all unlike the invitation that her seemingly personal
lyrics offer. Not to be confused with ‘politics’,
this critique of the human condition is both personal and broad.”
3 BEARS TAVERN, DUNSBOROUGH
"Toby and Code Red brought to the stage a plausible show tonight, which only got better as the night grew old. With her harmonica player Jean-Guy Lemire doing a fantastic job making up for the absence of the violin pieces, this guy was very impressive tonight, frequently going off into tangents and enabling the energized feel to some of their songs, he is certainly an asset to this girl and her band. If you've never seen or heard of this band, then front woman Beard will certainly charm you. Feeding off to her audience an admirable stage presence, here is a girl that will bounce about on stage with her guitar, smile constantly and never be without a piece of joy. Her charisma and general enjoyment is addictive, and only adds to the appeal of her live show. This evening saw her vocals in top form, this girl has a fantastic strength in her vocal tone, and tonight she let them rip on a few occasions, leaving quite an impression on more than a few punters. Having only heard this band
live through their debut album, and by only ever hearing about their
live shows through word of mouth, this reviewer was very impressed with
how this band carried themselves out this evening. Their blend of modern
country, blues and roots had their original material bearing a lot of
appeal. Seeing as this is a genre that can be hard to get into or some
people, the band catered for that by ensuring that they let a rock element
grace their set through a few jams, and with that stated stage energy
it made the very visual aspect rather inviting."
"The
Toby and Code Red sound is certainly a treat to one's ears. Once the
crew get together on stage you're drawn in by a sweet ballad or a
healthy mix of folksy, funky grooves and exhilarating solos."
“The group fronted by
music sensation Toby Beard, were amazing as they filled the pub with
plenty of energy and good vibes. The crowd definitely appreciated the
sound, similar to the music of John Butler, The Waifs and Xavier Rudd.
Toby and Code Red’s use of instruments added to their electric
live sound. Sarah Pierce did the home crowd proud with her efforts on
the cello, adding to a spine tingling set that can only be truly appreciated
when heard live. Beard is amazing. She has an energy on stage that captures
the crowd, and with Cody Robson, Elliot Bruse and Jean-Guy Lemire adding
to the line up, the audience was treated to a memorable performance.
Next time you see this band listed they are a must see. Beard is a brilliant
songwriter, soulful musician and has a lot of spunk and it is a joyful
experience to watch her on stage.”
"Toby and Code Red. Woah!
The lead singer of this band - Toby, well, she went off. Firey and energetic
with a very powerful voice, almost aggressive in fact, and she
could hold a note! I wanted to yell out, "you go girl!" Oh, and the
woman on the violin was awesome, she jammed hard. Harmonica was also
played during some songs and also the flute, never have I seen a flautist
in a band before. A very unique performance. A lot of the lyrics struck
a chord in my love life too!"
“She could be considered the youngest veteran woman musician this side of the Nullabor. Still only in her 25th year Toby has done more travelling as a singer/songwriter than many of us would do in a lifetime.” “On the live CD there is a
variety of styles and moods all connected by Toby' passionate words.
Delivering these observations is a deep, yearning voice.”
"Whilst hardly a new release by any means, the fact that local outfit Toby and Code Red's first album is so enjoyable is the reason in which it doesn't deserve to be overlooked for a mention due to the laziness of a reviewer. Having gigged thouroughly around the state and with over 300 shows to their credit, a special show was recorded at the Indi Bar by top WA producer James Hewgill, who has captured the essence of Toby Beard and her band's passionate and energetic stage show. This 18 track live album blends in all sorts of folky sounds with melodious harmonica, spine tingling violins (especially the electric) and even a healthy dose of flute, all melding in among an irresistible groove (Can't Afford Me, Temple, Country Song) and mellowed down by the acoustic blues/roots (Safe, Mirage, Welcome Home). Beard is
a charismatic front woman; a fine songwriter and honest lyricist who
shines through this album for her zest and uniqueness; while violinists
Lucy Fisher and Jessica Walker deserve high praises for their work
here. Each bring emotion, energy and excitement to every song they
grace, there is never a dull moment when these two amazingly talented
girls are around.
In a recent
review on The Waifs January show at Freo Arts Centre - reviewer Lee
Glynn wrote...
"If
there was an award for the most emotionally driven band, Toby and
Code-Red would have taken it out without question. With an acoustic
sound not too different from the Waifs, Toby and Code-Red blew the
crowd away with their huge stage show that raised the bar in folk
music. With their huge sound coming from violins, flutes, harmonicas,
guitars and even a beer keg, it was a given that this band was gaining
new fans fast as their immense live show involved the crowd in such
a way that it seemed they weren't going to be allowed to leave the
stage."
"When
people ask me, 'Who's worth looking at around town right now' I always
answer with Toby Beard. I have seen Toby and Code-Red perform a whole
handful of times at some of the best venues in Perth and her performance
never wanes. Toby has a huge following of adoring fans who, like me,
are devastated by the sheer magnificence of her controlled vocals,
passionate rhythm section and youthful enthusiasm. I was concerned
that the excitement of a live Toby show wouldn't come through on the
EP, but I was wrong to worry. Red House is an outstanding release.
The title track is by far the jewel of all jewels with ravishing lyrics,
ravenous rhythms and that wholesome Code-Red acccompliment. There
are only five tracks on this release, but it doesn't make it any less
fulfilling. Each track is unique in its composition, each as touching
as the previous. Toby Beard...what a songwriter. If only half the
cds that came into my hands had 1/100th of the energy, the talent
or the passion of Miss Toby Beard, my job would be a lot easier."
"Toby,
a Carus like musician from Fremantle opened the night, much to the
delight of her crowd. Her vocal stylings were funkily folky with a
really gentle sound."
"I
have always been most impressed with Toby and Code Red, they are professional,
diligent and most importantly their music is viable and appreciated
by all as witnessed by the fine response they always receive from
appreciated crowds."
"Toby
plays a wonderful mix between pop and folk. Lovely feminine groove.
Cruises with fantastic songs, great singing."
"Toby is an exceptionally
talented musician who is able to draw the audience with her charisma
and her interaction"
"Toby and Code Red are destined
to become of of Australia's foremost energetic and proffessional bands."
"Perfect music for
the venue, creating an awesome atmosphere. We always want them back!!
We love Toby and Code Red". |
PRESS PHOTOS
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