The story of Weekend Riot Club is one of pure passion. This passion manifested in song before surging into reality.
When Melissa Marchese (Lead vocals) was introduced to Mike Chetcuti (Guitar & Vocals) the attraction between the two was instantaneous, sparking an intense working relationship that sent Mike into a frenzy of songwriting. These first songs were written as secret love letters from Mike to Melissa but weeks passed without Melissa clueing in. In a moment of clarity, she realized the full meaning behind the songs she had been singing. With their personal lives crumbling around them, the two were forced to separate. It seemed as though the story of Weekend Riot Club was over before it even began.
The cosmos thought better, however, bringing the two back together to explore the undeniable magnetic energy between them.
Weekend Riot Club was born in 2010 when Melissa and Mike were introduced to Paul Fontes (Drums) by a mutual friend. With barely enough material to play a set, the band spent the next year forging their live show on stages shared with Bif Naked, The Spin Doctors, Melissa Auf Der Maur, and Glen Matlock. Word of the Weekend Riot Club’s electric live show began to rip through Ontario’s music scene. In 2012 the band won Best Alternative Rock at the Toronto Independent Music Awards, and were nominated for Best New Act at the Hamilton Music Awards. The band’s live reputation was built strong, but fans had little to take home with them after the show was over.
Enter producer/engineer Nick Blagona (Deep Purple, Alexisonfire, The Sheepdogs). Weekend Riot Club met Nick completely by accident while mixing their first EP, Rubber Bullets. The immediate chemistry between the band and Nick led all involved to agree the time was right to record a full length album, and Weekend Riot Club went for the jugular. They were certain they wanted to be a band that gave people an opportunity to feel something. The band sought to empower their listeners, having them look inward rather than at political figures or corporations for solutions to the personal and societal disasters surrounding them. It was with this reckless ambition that Weekend Riot Club entered the studio to record their first full length album.
The result is Weekend Riot Club’s debut, Psychotropia: A collection of songs written about addiction, suffering, political turmoil, and one’s flirtation with insanity, all seen through a lens of love and hope. These songs beg to be played loud. The thunderous work of drummer Paul Fontes rains down from the heavens, while Marchese and Chetcuti seem to be moulded out of the same being. In a world where attempts at buying chemistry are commonplace, the authenticity of Weekend Riot Club shines through. Look for the Psychotropia in late spring 2013.
Band Members
Melissa Marchese
Mike Chetcuti
Paul Fontes
