Monster Truck

In 2009 the hard rock group Monster Truck assembled in Hamilton, Ontario, fusing strutting '70s-style arena rock with a grunge-era edge. Guitarist Jeremy Widerman and drummer Steve Kiely, both formerly of the Reason, joined keyboard man Brandon Bliss, an alumnus of Saint Alvia, and completed the lineup with singer and bassist Jon Harvey. Intent on delivering the direct hard rock sound of their youth, the quartet issued a four-song EP in 2010 that was sold exclusively from merchandise tables at their concerts. Rising interest prompted a contract with Canadian indie label Dine Alone Records, which put out their second EP, the six-track The Brown EP, in 2011. Canadian rock radio embraced two cuts from that record, “Righteous Smoke” and “Seven Seas Blues.” In 2012 the band reissued several tracks on vinyl as the 12" LP The Don't Fuck with the Truck Collection, while also co-headlining a sold-out Canadian tour with the Sheepdogs and opening select dates for Deep Purple.

Widerman, Bliss, and Kiely soon departed their earlier bands to commit full-time to Monster Truck, and Dine Alone secured a distribution arrangement with Universal. The group’s first long-player, Furiosity, appeared in 2013 and reached number 13 on the Canadian album charts. Recognition followed with a Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of 2013. Subsequent road work spanned Canada, the United States, and Europe, including a performance at the U.K.’s Download Festival and a series of shows supporting Alice in Chains. Studio sessions for the next album began in 2015, leading to the early 2016 release of Sittin' Heavy.