Rods drummer Carl Canedy brings metal solo project to Finnegan’s in Scranton on Jan. 27
From a press release:
In 2019, Carbondale-based drummer Carl Canedy, best known as a founding member of classic heavy metal band The Rods, played his first show with a new band formed around his solo project, simply called Canedy.
Following their live debut in New York, they released an album together in 2020 called “Warrior” via Sleaszy Rider Records, capturing “a decidedly vintage metal sound with a modern approach.”
Now, nearly two years later, the band Canedy will finally perform for hometown fans at Finnegan’s Irish Rock Club (514 Ash St., Scranton) on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. with fellow heavy metal band Corners of Sanctuary from Philadelphia. The cover charge is $5 in advance.
Canedy is comprised of members of former Scranton hard rock band Totally Lost Cause – lead vocalist Mike Santarsiero (who currently sings for The Rods), guitarist and synth player Charles Russello (also known for the Russello Project), and bassist, cellist, and vocalist Tony Garuba, who also plays in the Jeffrey James Band with Canedy.
“I had been looking for musicians who lived close to me and who were interested in writing original material,” Canedy said.
“After my first Canedy album, I wanted my next project to be a true band effort. Tony asked me if I would do a TV show with him and his former band TLC. I did the TV show with them, and we all worked so well together we decided to write and record an album. I couldn’t have asked to work with more talented guys. Tony, Mike, and Charlie are all great songwriters and musicians.”
“The beginnings of this project was a drummer bailout on a TV appearance,” Garuba added.
“I had been playing with Carl in a party/wedding band and he graciously bailed us out; hearing Carl’s take on what we were doing planted the seed of things to come. With Carl in the fold, it freed us up to let our imaginations run wild – Mike’s vocals have never been better, and Charlie’s guitar playing transforms the ordinary into extraordinary. What’s exciting is this project was very organic – whoever’s the main songwriter, the rest of the band chips in.”
Canedy’s name is long-familiar to metalheads worldwide as the drummer of The Rods, who were signed to Arista Records and released classic albums like “The Rods,” “Wild Dogs,” “In the Raw,” and “Let Them Eat Metal” while touring with the likes of Metallica, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, and Motorhead in the 1980s. The band parted ways in 1986 and didn’t reunite until 2008, releasing a comeback record, “Vengeance,” in 2011 and a follow-up, “Brotherhood of Metal,” in 2019. Santarsiero has since taken over vocal duties on their next album, “Shockwave,” which may come out this year.
Canedy was also a brief early drummer of Manowar, but he is better known as a producer of seminal albums by Anthrax (“Fistful of Metal,” “Armed and Dangerous,” and “Spreading the Disease”), Overkill (“Feel the Fire”), Exciter (“Violence & Force”), Possessed (“Beyond the Gates”), and Blue Cheer (“The Beast Is Back”), which helped him earn a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Steamtown Music Awards in Scranton.
In 2020, Canedy put both his production and artistic talents to good use on “Warrior.” The album was mixed by Chris Collier, who previously mixed albums for Korn, Prong, and Last in Line.
“I am really proud of this album and the fact that we can do these songs justice live,” Canedy said.
“I’m looking forward to people hearing the album and catching a live performance. I’m thrilled to be part of a band that is as strong live as it is in the studio!”
See NEPA Scene’s full review and photos of the band’s first concert at the 2019 Blues on the Bridge in Binghamton, New York here.
