Following last week's announcement by Good Riddance, punk rock suffers another blow with the break-up of Edmonton's Choke. After 13 years together, the technically gifted post-hardcore punks have decided to say goodbye after hitting the road for one last hurrah across Canada.
Their tour begins in Winnipeg on May 2, taking them east and then back west where they will end on a hometown high-note in Edmonton. Support will come from label-mates Ghosts of Modern Man for central and eastern dates and Daggermouth for the west.
Forming in 1994, Choke released two albums in 1995 and 1996 before signing to Smallman in 1997 thanks to a demo that had been lodged under a seat in their car for some time. From there they went on to record three albums for the label including the most recent Slow Fade OR: How I Learned To Question Infinity in 2005.
In a statement from Smallman, Chokes drummer Stefan Levasseur explained the band's decision to split:
"After a handful of videos, six full-length albums, and countless tours, stories, and new friends we have decided to officially announce the end of the band.
"The Choke experience has been incredibly fulfilling. Not only have we managed to skip out on working real jobs and growing up for a decade longer than what is socially acceptable but, in being given the opportunity to live out our dreams, we have experienced and enjoyed life to its fullest. Through our travels, we have explored the continent on an intimate level and have subsequently met a wealth of people of whom many are now close friends. We thank those of you who have shared unforgettable moments with us for the friendship and inspiration.
"In the end, it seems that, as is too often the case, life is getting in the way of living. It would be impossible for us to dedicate the time necessary to write another album we could be more proud of than Slow Fade: or How I Learned to Question Infinity and we feel that touring one last time across Canada and celebrating the last thirteen years with all of you is more befitting the end of this stage of our lives.
Chokes Final Tour
May 2 - Winnipeg, MB @ The Collective *
May 4 - Thunder Bay, ON @ Kilroy's *
May 5 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON @ Glow *
May 6 - Barrie, ON @ The Foundation *
May 7 - Hamilton, ON @ Underground *
May 8 - London, ON @ Call The Office *
May 10 - Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club
May 11 - Quebec City, QC @ L'Anti Hall *
May 12 - Halifax, NS @ The Attic *
May 13 - Halifax, NS @ The Pavilion *
May 14 - Moncton, NB @ The Paramount *
May 15 - Trois-Rivieres, QC @ Maquisart *
May 16 - Ottawa, ON @ Maverick's *
May 17 - Montreal, QC @ TBA *
June 1 - Victoria, BC @ Lucky's #
June 2 - Vancouver, BC @ The Waldorf #
June 3 - Whistler, BC @ Garfinkel's #
June 7 - Regina, SK @ The Exchange *
June 8 - Calgary, AB @ Broken City *
June 9 - Edmonton, AB @ Starlite *
* - W/ Ghosts of Modern Man
# - W/ Daggermouth
Their tour begins in Winnipeg on May 2, taking them east and then back west where they will end on a hometown high-note in Edmonton. Support will come from label-mates Ghosts of Modern Man for central and eastern dates and Daggermouth for the west.
Forming in 1994, Choke released two albums in 1995 and 1996 before signing to Smallman in 1997 thanks to a demo that had been lodged under a seat in their car for some time. From there they went on to record three albums for the label including the most recent Slow Fade OR: How I Learned To Question Infinity in 2005.
In a statement from Smallman, Chokes drummer Stefan Levasseur explained the band's decision to split:
"After a handful of videos, six full-length albums, and countless tours, stories, and new friends we have decided to officially announce the end of the band.
"The Choke experience has been incredibly fulfilling. Not only have we managed to skip out on working real jobs and growing up for a decade longer than what is socially acceptable but, in being given the opportunity to live out our dreams, we have experienced and enjoyed life to its fullest. Through our travels, we have explored the continent on an intimate level and have subsequently met a wealth of people of whom many are now close friends. We thank those of you who have shared unforgettable moments with us for the friendship and inspiration.
"In the end, it seems that, as is too often the case, life is getting in the way of living. It would be impossible for us to dedicate the time necessary to write another album we could be more proud of than Slow Fade: or How I Learned to Question Infinity and we feel that touring one last time across Canada and celebrating the last thirteen years with all of you is more befitting the end of this stage of our lives.
Chokes Final Tour
May 2 - Winnipeg, MB @ The Collective *
May 4 - Thunder Bay, ON @ Kilroy's *
May 5 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON @ Glow *
May 6 - Barrie, ON @ The Foundation *
May 7 - Hamilton, ON @ Underground *
May 8 - London, ON @ Call The Office *
May 10 - Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club
May 11 - Quebec City, QC @ L'Anti Hall *
May 12 - Halifax, NS @ The Attic *
May 13 - Halifax, NS @ The Pavilion *
May 14 - Moncton, NB @ The Paramount *
May 15 - Trois-Rivieres, QC @ Maquisart *
May 16 - Ottawa, ON @ Maverick's *
May 17 - Montreal, QC @ TBA *
June 1 - Victoria, BC @ Lucky's #
June 2 - Vancouver, BC @ The Waldorf #
June 3 - Whistler, BC @ Garfinkel's #
June 7 - Regina, SK @ The Exchange *
June 8 - Calgary, AB @ Broken City *
June 9 - Edmonton, AB @ Starlite *
* - W/ Ghosts of Modern Man
# - W/ Daggermouth
