Ambush (band)
Ambush | |
---|---|
Origin | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | Country |
Years active | 1993 | –present
Labels | Chancellor Music, Longshot Records, 306 Records |
Members | Mark McDonell Kris Lafontaine Danny Derue |
Past members | Jef Leeson Glenn Desjardines Skip Layton Jim Wright Riq Turner Tommy VanCoughnett Dan Killen |
Website | getambushed |
Ambush is a Canadian country music group, formed in 1993, and based in Ottawa.
Biography
[edit]The original line-up (from 1993 to 1999) consisted of Skip Layton (drums), Jef Leeson (bass guitar and lead vocals) and Mark McDonell (guitar and vocals).[1] They met while working as the back-up band for Ottawa singer Dennis Whitty,[2] and derived the name Ambush from the name of Whitty's backing band, 'Bushwacker'.
This line-up recorded three albums of cover songs: On Stage in 1993,[3] Hard to Say No in 1994,[4] and Kickin' Up a Fuss in 1995.[5] All were produced by Leeson and released on his independent label Chancellor Music.[6]
Through 1996, they recorded their first CD of original music in Nashville, with producer-writer Cyril Rawson.[7] The CD, Ambush,[8] yielded modest regional hits with "Since She Got Back From Texas"[9] and "Girls Like That".[10]
In 1997, a 3-track CD featuring the songs "Let's Go Crazy Girl",[11] "Since She Got Back From Texas" and "Don't Let It Hit You on the Way Out"[12] (all originally from their 1996 debut CD) was released, which included new vocals and remixes by Chad Irschick at Inception Sound Studios in Toronto.[13]
Leeson left the band in November 1999 to pursue a solo career.[14] He was replaced by Glenn Desjardine who, in November 2001, was replaced by Riq Turner. Riq departed in 2014, and was replaced by Kris Lafontaine. Skip Layton departed in October 2005; he was replaced by Jim Wright. Wright left the band in October 2011; he was replaced by Tom VanCoughnett. VanCoughnett departed in 2015; Dan Killen joined the band as a touring/session member until 2016, when he was replaced by Danny Derue. In 2002, Ambush signed with Longshot Records.
In 2006 Ambush won the CMT reality series Plucked.[15] They shot videos for their songs "This Could Be The Night" and "In This Room" during the series.[16][17]
In 2006, the band released a studio album entitled I Wanna Go Home With You.[18] This album included singles such as "This Could Be The Night", "Too Hot For Words"[19] and "Anything To Rock You".[20]
At the 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA Awards), the band was nominated as Group of the Year.[21] They received the same nomination in 2008.[22] At the latter ceremony, the "In This Room" video was nominated as Video of the Year.[23]
Ambush has released seven live albums, most recently in 2016, with Ambush Live Off the Floor.[24] They last toured in 2019, traveling to the UK to play the Tokyo World Festival[25] and the Wireless Festival.[26] As of 2021, the band remains active.
Discography
[edit]This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2024) |
Albums
- On Stage (1993), Chancellor
- Hard to Say No (1994), Chancellor
- Kickin' Up a Fuss (1995), Chancellor
- Ambush (1996), Chancellor
- Live (2002), Independent
- Ambush Live II (2003), Longshot Records
- I Wanna Go Home with You (2006), Independent
- Ambush Live: Three (2007), Longshot Records
- Live 4 (2008), Longshot Records
- Ambush (2009), 306 Records
- Ambush Classics (2009), Longshot Records
- Ambush Live in Cuba (2013), Longshot Records
- Ambush For Kidz! (2014), Longshot Records
- Ambush Christmas (2016), Longshot Records
- Ambush Live Off the Floor (2016), Longshot Records
EPs
- Let's Go Crazy (1997), Chancellor
Singles
Year | Single | Album |
---|---|---|
1995 | "Since She Got Back from Texas" | Ambush (1995) |
1996 | "Girls Like That" | |
2000 | "Don't Give Up" | — |
2003 | "Till You" | I Wanna Go Home with You |
2005 | "Party Like a Rock Star" | |
"This Could Be the Night" | ||
2006 | "I Wanna Go Home with You" | |
"Anything to Rock You" | ||
2007 | "In This Room" | Ambush (2009) |
2008 | "Wasn't That a Party" | |
"Drive" | ||
2009 | "She Doesn't Come Close" | |
"Small Town" | ||
2010 | "Take My Picture" | |
"My Little Girl" | ||
2013 | "Daddy Come Home" | — |
2014 | "Summertime Crazy" | |
2015 | "Little Big Man" |
Music videos
[edit]Year | Video |
---|---|
2006 | "This Could Be the Night" |
2007 | "In This Room" |
2009 | "She Doesn't Come Close" |
2017 | "Top of the World"[27] |
Achievements
[edit]- Champions of the CMT reality series Plucked (2006)[citation needed]
Awards and nominations
[edit]Year | Association | Category | Result[citation needed] |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Canadian Country Music Association | Independent Group or Duo of the Year[citation needed] | Nominated |
2007 | Group or Duo of the Year | Nominated | |
Independent Group or Duo of the Year | Nominated | ||
2008 | Group or Duo of the Year | Nominated | |
CMT Video of the Year – "In This Room" | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ "Ambush discography". RateYourMusic.com.
- ^ "Dennis Whitty". ottawacountrymusichof.org. Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush - On Stage". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Ambush - Hard to Say No". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Ambush - Kickin' Up A Fuss!". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Chancellor Music official website". Chanmus.jefleeson.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ "Cyril Rawson". ptbopathwayoffame.ca. Peterborough Pathway of Fame. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush - Ambush". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Ambush". music.youtube.com. YouTube Music. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush". music.youtube.com. YouTube Music. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush". music.youtube.com. YouTube Music. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush". music.youtube.com. YouTube Music. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Chad Irschick". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Jef Leeson". Jefleeson.com.
- ^ "Ambush Picked as Top Country Band". Toronto Star, PressReader. Retrieved 19 November 2021 – via PressReader.
- ^ "This Could Be The Night (Ambush)". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush Unplugged at the Lone Star". CFRC 101.9fm. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush – I Wanna Go Home With You". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush - Too Hot For Words". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Ambush-Anything to Rock You". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Canadian Country Music Awards Nominees Released". nationtalk.ca. NationTalk. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush". members.ccma.org. Canadian Country Music Awards. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambush Nominations". members.ccma.org. Canadian Country Music Association. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Ambus - Live Off the Floor". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Tokyo World Festival". concertarchives.org. Concert Archives. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Wireless Festival 2019". concertarchives.org. Concert Archives. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Top Of The World - Ambush". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 30 January 2022.