Video of the Week - Down With Webster "Whoa Is Me"

 

Down With Webster is my first pick for Video of the Week. I guess I'm on a personal mission to help spread DWW's music in the U.S. I first heard their song "Rich Girl$" on local radio station Alice 107.7 when they were gearing up for the Christmas themed concert Not So Silent Night 3 in December 2009. The show had a hodgepodge of talented acts, including DWW, Hot Chelle Rae, the defunct Push Play, former American Idol contestant Jason Castro and Uncle Kracker. 

I was initially impressed by DWW for their stage presence and the lyrical flow of their rappers, Cam and Bucky. The show was really small - maybe 500 or so people there when they were performing - but with Cam and Bucky leading the way and the incredible hooks by lead guitarist/vocalist Pat Gillett, it wasn't long before everyone was winning with Down With Webster. I got home and immediately downloaded their Universal Motown debut CD Time To Win, Vol. I, and over the past few months have managed to successfully find all the indie tracks the band recorded prior to this album. I've kept up with DWW via Twitter mostly, where all the members of the band are very good at interacting with their fans. Because DWW is from Canada, live TV performances can sometimes be hard to see. However the band performed their second single "Your Man" at Canadian based Much Music Video Awards, which were simulcasted live on Fuse TV. They performed right after an opening act from the host Miley Cyrus, and they were nominated for Pop Video of the Year and UR Fave Artist.

According to the band's website, DWW officially formed for a junior high talent show. "Every show is a party and we dare the audience to have more fun than us. Usually it’s a tie." Down With Webster is Bucky on vocals, Pat on vocals and guitars, Tyler on bass and keys, Marty on drums, Cam on vocals, Kap as Hype Man, and Diggy the DJ. The band describes themselves as a"7-member, genre-bending, musical juggernaut draws on disparate influences to create a wholly original musical feast". They have become local legends, selling 1000+ tickets as headliners in their hometown of Toronto as an indie band before ever releasing a single or video. DWW have played with everyone from The Roots to a month-long run on Warped Tour and slot on Virgin Festival in 2009. They will be opening up for 3Oh!3 this fall (see here for dates). I already have my tickets for their Memphis date! I'm beyond excited to see this show. I'm hoping to get some great shots from the concert. 

The band writes, produces and performs all of their music, garnering attention from industry veterans as varied as Timbaland and KISS front man Gene Simmons, both of whom wanted to sign the band to their respective labels. Timbaland said, "Down With Webster is an amazing, creative and innovative band that will come out in 2010. They're the illest group I've ever seen live in person." 
DWW won the Rogers Mobile/Universal Music best unsigned artist in Canada contest in 2008. The band is in the studio recording Time To Win, vol. II.