KEN mode Bio:
Long winded history:
Formed in 1999 by Royal Conservatory of
Music trained musicians Jesse
Matthewson, Shane Matthewson, CA,
and long-time friend Darryl Laxdal (bass),
the group released several demos from
1999 to 2003, leading to the release of
their debut full length Mongrel on Escape
Artist Records
Several tours followed with the likes
of Relapse Records' The End ,Sulaco and
American Heritage in addition to regional
dates with Mastodon, Burnt By The Sun,
Anodyne, Pelican, Harkonen, Breather
Resist, The Dream is
Dead, Psyopus, Daughters, and Buried
Inside across the Midwestern and East
Coast United States, and throughout
Canada. In 2004 Laxdal left the
band, only to rejoin in 2005 to finish the
band's follow-up record Reprisal,
released in 2006 on CD by Escape Artist
Records, and on double-LP by No List
Records. After the recording
of Reprisal Laxdal and the band parted
ways again.Picking up bass duties after
Laxdal's departure was Drew Johnston
(guitarist in Electro Quarterstaff) who also played with Jesse, Shane and Darryl in Hide Your Daughters.
In October 2006 the band took part in the "Exclaim! Magazine Aggressive Tendencies Tour"
with Pelican and Daughters across Canada. Bass duties were handled by
former Kittens and Projektor member Jahmeel Russell who also played with Jesse, Shane and Drew
in Hide Your Daughters.
KEN mode went on to work with Jahmeel for the band's third full-length, Mennonite, which was
released in July 2008 on CD by Jesse Matthewson's own label, Arctodus Records, and on 3x7" vinyl by No
List Records.
Prior to releasing Mennonite, Chad Tremblay joined the band as their fourth bassist in two years. The
band embarked on a European tour with Welsh rockers Taint. Chad would go on to direct the band's
debut music video for the song "Extending Common Courtesy Throughout The Evening" from their
Mennonite album.
In 2010 the band announced that Profound Lore Records will release its fourth full length album,
titled Venerable, to be recorded August 2010 with Kurt Ballou of Converge. They also announced several
North American tours with Gaza, Engineer, Rosetta, Buried Inside, Wolvhammer, Clinging To The Trees
Of A Forest Fire, and others. Venerable was released March 15, 2011 surrounded by an 8 week North
American tour, joining forces with the likes of Black Breath, Fuck the Facts and Khann. An unrelenting
tour schedule followed for the bulk of 2011 and 2012: June 2011 in the US with Deafheaven; June 19,
2011 the band played the Hellfest (French music festival) Open Air festival in Clisson France; July/August
2011 in the Midwestern US and Eastern Canada with the Great Sabatini; Sept/Oct 2011 in the US
with the Atlas Moth; an extensive European run with Kylesa and Circle Takes The Square in Jan/Feb
2012; and a full North American tour sponsored by Scion with Revocation and A Life Once Lost in
Oct/Nov 2012.
On March 31, 2012 Venerable won the inaugural Heavy Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year Juno
Award in Canada. Venerable was also nominated for Rock Album of the Year by the Western Canadian
Music Awards.
In addition to the non-stop touring cycle for ‘Venerable’, KEN mode went through three bassists (Chad
Tremblay, Therese Lanz, Jahmeel Russell) before finally enlisting former Khann guitarist and songwriter
Andrew LaCour, who would both tour with the band from July 2011 onward and contribute to the
writing of their 5th album, ‘Entrench’.
November 2012 saw the band sign a worldwide deal with Season of Mist Records to release its fifth
album, who they’d spent Sept and October recording and mixing with Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis,
Minus the Bear, Botch, etc). In February 2013 the band would ink a deal with New Damage/Dine Alone
for the Canadian release of the album, just prior to hitting the road with Today is the Day in support of
their 20th anniversary.
Shorter, point form marketing point:

KEN mode is a JUNO award winning independent metal/hardcore band from Winnipeg,
MB.

The band was formed in 1999 by Royal Conservatory of Music trained musicians Jesse
Matthewson and Shane Matthewson, CA, and has been actively touring Canada, the
United States and Europe since 2002 with such acts as Kylesa, Pelican, Daughters, and
the End, including an unrelenting schedule since March 2011.

Won the inaugural JUNO in 2012 for best Heavy Metal/Hard album of the year for
‘Venerable’ as nominated by the The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
(CARAS)

KEN mode has released four internationally distributed full length albums: Mongrel
(2003), Reprisal (2006), Mennonite (2008), and Venerable (2011). Spring 2013 will see
the release of its fifth full length album, the Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis, Botch)
produced Entrench via Season of Mist Records.

March 15, 2011 saw the release of the band’s fourth full length, Venerable, via Canadian
indie label Profound Lore Records. The album was recorded and mixed in Salem, MA
with Kurt Ballou (Converge, Cave In, Torche), mastered by Alan Douches (Comeback
Kid, the Dillinger Escape Plan, High on Fire) and had visual layouts created by Josh
Graham (Soundgarden, Neurosis ). The album release marked a significant push in
publicity, marketing and touring throughout North America and Europe during the
album’s cycle in which the band toured for seven months throughout 9 Canadian
provinces and 40 states in the United States and 18 countries.

Made several year-end critics lists including #1 metal album at Exclaim! Magazine,
honorable mentions at Pitchfork Media , half year top 25 honours at Stereogum, and
temp bassist Therese Lanz did a feature for Revolver Magazine’s ‘Hottest chicks in hard
rock’

Was part of SXSW 2011 and 2012, and was heralded as one of the one of Stereogum’s
“32 bands to see” and received rave reviews from many press sources including
Pitchfork Media, Brooklyn Vegan, Crustcake, Hellbound, and Stereogum.

Earshot top 20 in ‘Loud’ category for Canadian campus and community radio March,
April, May, June & July 2011 with #3 spot for year-end chart, #1 spot for April & May,
while peaking at #19 on the CMJ Loud Rock category in the US after 8 weeks on the
chart, and track “Obeying the Iron Will” peaked at #3 on Mediaguide Metal Specialty
songs.

Was part of Hellfest Open Air in Clisson France in June (90,000 + in attendance)
performing alongside bands like Ozzy Osborne, Judas Priest, Meshuggah, Morbid Angel,
the Melvins, Converge, Electric Wizard, Black Dahlia Murder, Red Fang, Comeback Kid,
etc.

Recently received sponsorship from Orange Amplification, Vater Percussion, Levy’s
Leathers Guitar straps and gig bags, Paiste Cymbals, and Bare Knuckle Pickups.

Band: Jesse Matthewson jessematthewson@gmail.com

Management: Josh Eldridge josh@conspiracypr.com

US, Australia, South America Booking: Erik Jarvis Erik@tonedeaftouring.com

Canadian Booking: Adam Sylvester adamsylvester@theagencygroup.com

European Booking: Nanouk de Meijere nanouk@avocado-booking.com