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The Awkward Stage was a Canadian indie pop band from Vancouver fronted by singer-songwriter Shane Nelken. The band's supporting lineup consisted of Tygh Runyan on lead guitar, Tony Koelwyn on drums and Chris Mitchell on trumpet and keyboards.

History

Nelken, who works as a cremationist, had a longtime side career as a musician, supporting a number of artists including A. C. Newman, New Pornographers and Sparrow. He put together The Awkward Stage (which included drummer Kurt Dahle), and released a debut album, Heaven Is for Easy Girls, on Mint Records in 2006. Nelken performed much of the music himself, with some help from violinist Kim Koch and trumpeter Shaun Brodie. The album charted on Canadian campus radio and CBC Radio 3, which named the band's song "We're Going for a Ride" one of its Top 94 songs of 2006.

With Tygh Runyan, Tony Koelwyn and Chris Mitchell, The Awkward Stage released a second album, Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights, in 2008. The songs were written and arranged by Nelkin.

The band has been inactive since 2009.

Discography

• Heaven Is for Easy Girls (2006), Mint Records
• Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights (2008), Mint Records

References

1. "CMJ New Music Report". CMJ New Music Report. No. 967–990. 2006. p. 80.
2. ^ "The Awkward Stage Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights" Archived 2021-11-30 at the Wayback Machine. AllMusic Review by Mark Deming
3. "Tragically unhip" Archived 2023-08-16 at the Wayback Machine. Georgia Straight, by Jennifer Van Evra on January 3, 2007
4. "Vancouver Buzz: Little Hamm On Big Screen And The Awkward Stage Sign To Mint". Chart Attack - Aug 4, 2006
5. "The Awkward Stage – Heaven Is For Easy Girls". discogs.com. Discogs. October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
6. "The Awkward Stage Heaven is for Easy Girls" Archived 2019-08-14 at the Wayback Machine. Exclaim!, By Chris Whibbs Oct 01, 2006
7. "The Awkward Stage Heaven Is for Easy Girls" Archived 2017-06-20 at the Wayback Machine. Pop Matters, by Michael Keefe 29 November 2006
8. "The Dears Return To The Top Of The Chart". Chart Attack - Oct 24, 2006
9. CBC Radio 3 - Top 94 Tracks of 2006, radio3.cbc.ca, 2006-12-31. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
10. "The Awkward Stage – Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights". discogs.com. Discogs. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
11. "The Awkward Stage Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights" Archived 2019-08-14 at the Wayback Machine. Exclaim!, By Chris Whibbs Jun 10, 2008

External links

• The Awkward Stage official site
• The Awkward Stage profile at Mint Records
• Interview with Shane Nelken, October 8, 2008.

• Musical groups established in 2006
• Musical groups from Vancouver
• Canadian indie pop groups
• Mint Records artists
• 2006 establishments in British Columbia