"CADRE" the band

The question has been asked before: exactly what does Cadre’s “uprooted roots” tag refer to? Does it mean a fresh take on classic grooves? Is it a sound that’s both smartly original and subtly traditional? Does it blend polished musicianship with a rough-around-the-edges approach to firing up a crowd?

If you query anyone who has ever caught a high-energy performance by this Toronto-based band, the answer will likely be an enthusiastic “yes!” to all of the above. 

That’s because Cadre constantly defies expectations while simultaneously raising them with each performance. Actor/lead singer/songwriter Bill Colgate’s take on a blues-based field work song, for example, makes a left turn at the Mississippi Delta to explore the depths of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Drummer/vocalist brilliantfish’s (aka Rob Greenway) “Uh-Huh” shores up its swampy beat with uptown guitar harmonies. And producer/guitarist Cam MacInnes, armed with a veritable music-shop’s worth of stringed instruments, effortlessly switches from biting guitar solos to delicate musical shadings on the electric mandolin.

Between them, the five musicians who make up Cadre can tote up years of live performing and studio work, with over 20 solo recordings by individual band members. But Cadre lives up to its name by forming a seamless unit that builds on each performer’s musical strengths and -- yes -- eccentricities.

Can carefully crafted songs, instrumental virtuosity, erudite humour and a rock ‘n roll attitude all live together in harmony? The answer can be found onstage with Cadre.