Meet The Counselors
Steven Page
Steven performs in many configurations, from solo to full band with horn section, but, since 2016, he has been playing most often with his pals in The Steven Page Trio, Craig Northey of Vancouver legends Odds on guitar, and Kevin Fox on cello. The trio configuration provides the right amount of portability, intimacy and power to fill just about any venue imaginable.
Steven has performed arrangements of some of his best-loved songs from his long career with orchestras including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Symphony New Brunswick and has more symphony shows on the horizon in the next two years.
A passionate mental health advocate, Steven has been in demand as a public speaker since 2011, sharing his own story with audiences across North America.
Over the last thirty-five years, Steven Page has established himself as one of the most recognizable and enduring voices in music. The release of his latest album, Excelsior, shows that he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Since its release, Steven has toured Canada, The US and the UK with The Steven Page Trio, and has performances planned well into 2024.
As a co-founder, vocalist and songwriter for Barenaked Ladies, Steven sang and wrote classics like “Brian Wilson,” “If I Had A Million Dollars,” “What A Good Boy,” “It’s All Been Done” and many more. With the band, he sold over 15 Million albums and scored multiple Junos, Billboard Music Awards, SOCAN awards, Gemini Awards and two Grammy nominations. After leaving the band in 2009, Steven embarked on a solo career that has produced five solo albums, including 2022’s Excelsior, and has seen him tour worldwide, from folk festivals to cabarets and theatres, all the way to packed arenas on his recent string of dates opening for rock legends The Who.
In 2018, Steven was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame with his former bandmates in Barenaked Ladies, at the Juno Awards Ceremonies in Vancouver.
In 2020, when work on the musical he wrote with playwright Daniel MacIvor for Canada’s Stratford Festival, Here’s What It Takes, was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Steven began performing weekly livestream concerts over Zoom, Steven Page Live From Home. These Live From Home shows, sometimes selling 1000 tickets at a time, cultivated a tightly-knit community of music fans from all over the world, and kept them feeling connected when it was most needed. Steven continues to perform Live From Home shows on Saturdays when he’s not on the road, with the 100th episode planned for early in 2023.
The Governor-General’s Performing Arts Awards approached Steven in 2021 about writing a song as a surprise tribute to his friend, Ryan Reynolds, and the result was “Canada Loves You Back,” a song as poignant, humourous and Canadian as the actor it honours.
Steven is a frequent collaborator with Toronto’s Art of Time Ensemble, made up of some of Canada’d best classical, jazz and pop musicians. With them, he released an album of covers, A Singer Must Die, in 2009, and also appears on their Sgt. Pepper and Songs of Leonard Cohen albums.
Along with Chris Murphy (Sloan), Moe Berg (The Pursuit of Happiness), and Craig Northey (Odds), Steven makes up a quarter of The Trans-Canada Highwaymen, four lead singers of classic Canadian bands, whose first album of Canadian covers is set to be released in the fall of 2023.
Trans-Canada Highwaymen
The Trans-Canada Highwaymen (TCH) is a super group (your words - not mine) consisting of Moe Berg (TPOH), Chris Murphy (Sloan), Craig Northey (Odds) and Steven Page (Ex-BNL). Four guys who have known each other for (ahem) decades now all of whom have written songs that have contributed to Canadian culture.
They started playing shows together as TCH in 2017. At the shows, each take turns singing their own hit songs and whoever is not singing lead becomes the backing band for whoever is singing. With all four bringing their A material, it’s a set list full of bangers.
Everyone who has seen the show has been knocked out. Audiences get the opportunity to hear a setlist full of Can-Rock Classics and it also gives Moe, Chris, Craig and Steven a opportunity to hang out together, laugh their heads off and put that energy into the TCH live shows.
In keeping with their credo, “Play the hits!”, TCH have recorded an album of Canadian classics from 1969-1975 called The Trans-Canada Highwaymen Explosive Hits Vol. 1. The songs from that era and the packaging they’ve created are an homage to the K-Tel compilation records of the 1970’s.
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On this album, you’ll hear Steven sing “Undun" (The Guess Who), "Rock Me Gently" (Andy Kim) and "(I Believe) There’s Nothing Stronger Than Our Love” (Paul Anka). You’ll hear Craig sing "Tonite is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love” (April Wine), "Make My Life a Little Bit Brighter” (Chester), "Heartbeat, It’s a Lovebeat” (The DeFranco Family) and "Can’t Catch Me” (BIM). You’ll hear Chris sing "Lovin’ You Ain‘t Easy” (Michel Pagliaro), "Which Way You Goin’ Billy?” (The Poppy Family) and "Carry Me” (The Stampeders). You’ll hear Moe sing "Pretty Lady” (Lighthouse), "Raised on Robbery” (Joni Mitchell) and "You, Me and Mexico” (Edward Bear).
As a bonus TCH added the Steven Page penned, "Theme from Trans-Canada Highwaymen", which offers some context for how TCH came to be. Steven explains:
Craig and I were on the road
Hoping my album would explode
But it didn’t, yet again
Got a call from Jim Millan
With this idea for a band
Like some CanRock Highwaymen
He said he’d try to book a show
For me and Chris and Craig and Moe
We can see what happens then
Just when things were looking bleak
Look out flavour of the week
I’m out playing with my friends
On the Trans-Canada
Trans-Canada Highway, baby
I’m a Trans-Canada
Trans-Canada Highwayman
The TCH live show will include songs from Explosive Hits Vol. 1 but the emphasis of the TCH live show will still be the the songs these guys have written.
Don’t worry, you’ll still hear Moe sing "I’m An Adult Now", "Hard to Laugh" and "She's So Young". You’ll still hear Chris sing “Underwhelmed", "The Other Man" and "The Rest of My Life". You’ll still hear Craig sing "It Falls Apart", "Someone Who's Cool" and "Make You Mad". You’ll still hear Steven sing "The Old Apartment", "Brian Wilson" and “Jane".
And you know what Vol. 1 means …
Kevin fox
Halifax native Kevin Fox is a revered multi-instrumentalist, sought-after orchestral composer/arranger, music director/ coordinator/producer and innovative recording artist.
He has performed with and/or provided arrangements for: Avril Lavigne, Art of Time Ensemble, Bahamas, Celine Dion, Chantal Kreviazuk, Cowboy Junkies, Delores O’Riordan, Greg Keelor, Jane Siberry, Jim Cuddy, Justin Bieber, Katharine McPhee, Lights, Olivia Newton John, Raine Maida, Royal Wood, Sarah Harmer, Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Slean, Serena Ryder, Sloan, Steven Page, Tom Cochrane and Walk off the Earth.
Playing the cello is Kevin’s first language and he expresses it with soulful eloquence on his three solo albums – Come Alive, Songs for Cello & Voice, and Set Right.
www.kevinfox.ca
CRAIG Northey
Craig Northey is a founding member of renowned Canadian rock band "Odds". Formed in1987 they crossed over into radio success, platinum awards and Juno nominations during the mid 1990s and have maintained their vitality to this day. The 2023 release of the Odds “Crash the Time Machine” album included co-production by Steven Page. Craig has been in the “Steven Page Trio” since its inception. He formed “Strippers Union” with Rob Baker of the Tragically Hip in 2005. Their 3rd album “the Undertaking” was released in 2021. Feeling he wasn’t in enough bands he became a member of “the TransCanada Highwaymen” with Page, Chris Murphy (Sloan) and Moe Berg (the Pursuit of Happiness).“Explosive Hits Vol 1” is their debut album. To make matters even more confusing Craig is known, by some people, for his decades of work as a film and TV composer (Kids in the Hall, Corner Gas, Hiccups, Young Drunk Punk,This Blows). As a songwriter or guitarist or vocalist you can find Craig’s name alongside: Rosanne Cash, Warren Zevon, Colin James, Gin Blossoms, Glen Phillips, Tom Wilson, Jesse Valenzuela, Jimmy Rankin, Jeremy Fisher, the Waltons, Matt Andersen, Adam Levy, Damhnait Doyle, Paul Hyde, and Wide Mouth Mason.
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Craig is from Vancouver BC. Favourites - dogs, chick peas, hockey, worn guitars, tortilla chipsThe Trans-Canada Highwaymen are Moe Berg (TPOH), Chris Murphy (SLOAN), Craig Northey (Odds) and Steven Page (Ex-BNL) and they are going on tour to perform their hit songs and share road stories of the mixed bag of excitement, dread, inspiration, emotional torture and unconditional support that is being a band.It was against the beige backdrop of late 80`s and early 90`s that these front men of Canada`s most popular and commercially successful alt/rock, power/pop bands started their careers. Their unique perspectives on being catapulted from the hard working underground indie scene to acclaim during one of Canada`s most exciting and transformative music eras is a story only they can tell. This is a unique opportunity to witness them singing their hit songs together like I`m An Adult Now / Hard to Laugh/She`s So Young (TPOH), Underwhelmed / Coax me/The Other Man (SLOAN), It Falls Apart / Someone Who`s Cool/Make You Mad (Odds) and The Old Apartment / Brian Wilson/Jane (Ex-BNL) The performance gives audiences the opportunity to see four of Canada`s most successful & witty musical front men sharing stories, songs and laughter.Yes, they are going to play on each other`s songs as a band and yes, they will rock.
Chris Murphy
Chris Murphy is in the band Sloan and has been since 1991. Who said has been?! Chris places Sloan as the number 2 Canadian band of all time after Rush. Not too shabby if he does say so himself. Chris also plays in the band TUNS and the Trans-Canada Highwaymen and Anyway Gang and in 2023 he started playing solo shows. Is there anything he can’t do? Exercise springs to mind.
BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT
Since Bobcat Goldthwait’s first appearance on the David Letterman Show at the age of 20, he has gone on to maintain a thriving career as a writer, director, actor, voice actor and stand-up comedian. As a comedian, Bobcat has starred in numerous HBO/Showtime specials, performed in venues all over the world, and even went on tour as an opening act for the Band: Nirvana. Well known for his roles in “Scrooged” with Bill Murray and as Zed in the “Police Academy” franchise, Goldthwait has gone on to become a well-respected Award-Winning Director. His Directorial works include Television (Jimmy Kimmel, Chappell’s Show, Community, Maron, Those Who Can’t), feature films (World’s Greatest Dad starring Robin Williams, Willow Creek starring Bigfoot, God Bless America, Windy City Heat, and Sleeping Dogs Lie) and documentaries (Call Me Lucky and Joy Ride).
In addition to being a 4x Sundance Alumni, Goldthwait’s films have played internationally including Deauville Film Festival and San Sebastian Film Festival. Bobcat has been honored with the German Independent Honorary Award at Oldenburg Film Festival for his collective works. Bobcat has also directed numerous standup comedy specials (Patton Oswalt, Marc Maron, Ron Funches, Iliza Shleshinger, Mo Willems, Gary Gulman, Hari Kondabolu, Eugene Mirman) and is currently working on converting his critically acclaimed documentary “Call Me Lucky” into a narrative film with Judd Apatow. Also in development, is an original Narative called “The Banishers” with QC Entertainment.
MOE BERG
Moe was the singer/guitarist/songwriter of The Pursuit of Happiness. The band has won numerous awards such as two Gold Records and one Platinum release. He has worked with The Cliks, Robin Black, The Populars, The Rude Mechanics and The Ambers. He’s produced the likes of The Left, TPOH, Bad Fun, The Monoxides, The Grace Babies, National Anthem and more. He has currently finished producing The James Clark Institute, a 7 inch record out June 2013. Moe also co-hosted the show, “Master Tracks” with Laurence Currie on AUX TV.
DAve hill
Dave Hill is a comedian, writer, actor, and musician originally from Cleveland but now living in New York City, which is great. He has appeared on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Girls5eva, Joe Pera Talks with You, Inside Amy Schumer, @midnight, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Tick, The Jim Gaffigan Show, and the new U.S. version of Would I Lie To You among other programs. And he plays a Devo-obsessed weed dealer in the new film Drunk Bus starring Ozark’s Charlie Tahan and Will Forte. Dave has also starred in his own TV series, The King of Miami, on the MOJO Network, which was cancelled even though Dave really liked it.
Dave is a regular contributor to public radio’s This American Life and Live from Here with Chris Thile (formerly Prairie Home Companion) and also hosted his own radio show, The Goddamn Dave Hill Show, on WFMU in Jersey City, New Jersey for five years. Dave is also the resident heavy metal expert on Malcolm Gladwell and Rick Rubin’s Broken Record podcast.
Dave performs live comedy in theaters, prisons, and basements all over the world. He appears regularly with fellow comedians such as Janeane Garofalo, Tom Papa, and Gary Gulman and has opened for musical acts including Snoop Dogg, Tenacious D, Broken Social Scene, Down, Autopsy, Quicksand, and Rhett Miller.
Dave also plays guitar and sings in his own rock band, Valley Lodge, whose song “Go” is the theme song for HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver in addition to fronting Painted Doll with death metal legend Chris Reifert (Autopsy, Death). He is also the founding member of Witch Taint, most extremely extreme Norwegian Black Metal band from Gary, Indiana ever probably (go to www.theblackmetaldialogues.com for more info). He also composes music for TV and film.
Dave has written for The New York Times, The Paris Review, Salon, GQ, McSweeney’s, The New York Observer, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, and Guitar World, among other publications, and is author of three books, Parking the Moose (2019 Doubleday Canada/Penguin Random House), Dave Hill Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (2016 Blue Rider Press, and Tasteful Nudes (2012 St. Martin’s Press). His fourth book, The Awesome Game: One Man’s Incredible, Globe-Crushing Hockey Odyssey, will be published by Doubleday Canada and Triumph Books in the fall of 2023. He also smells really great you can ask anyone.