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Cars & Guitars apt name for musical duo by Dennis Smith Special to the Beaver Artscene 15 | Wednesday, December 11, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" The musical duo Cars & Guitars has a handle that almost suits them to a T-Bird. "We were going to call ourselves all different names, then a friend asked, `What do you guys like to do?'" said Mike Brandolino. "And it was drive around and make music." "We sing our hearts out in the car," added Karah McGillivray. The musical duo has been rolling for about one and a half years, making two YouTube videos, with more in the works. "We put a lot of effort into making the recordings very good and linking up with people," said Brandolino. Their YouTube songs Baby Blue and Sweet Helen are bright pop tunes with strong vocals. Brandolino sings lead and plays guitar, while McGillivray plays drums. There's also a lot of work singing harmonies. "I usually do the harmony," she said. "Mike has the more dominant voice, so musically it makes more sense." They met in Grade 11 guitar class at T.A. Blakelock High School, where McGillivray was playing drums and Brandolino was on bass. "In Grade 12, we were in guitar class again and we said `Let's make a band and start writing songs together,'" said Brandolino. "Who wouldn't want to hang out with a girl who drums?" Blakelock music teacher Brian Vincent was a strong influence particularly for McGillivray's post-secondary education choice. "I wanted to go into other areas," she recalled. "He sat me down and said, `No, you were made to make music.'" They praised Tom Dykes (who organized student columns for Metroland Media Group) for funding their first recording. They participated in a celebration for Dykes and played in numerous coffee houses at Blakelock. They've also played the Moonshine Café in Oakville, but finding venues is tough at their age. Brandolino is turning 18 soon while McGillivray is 19 in January. "It's hard, we're under age for going in bars," said Brandolino. "We like to go to the Town Square (in downtown Oakville) and busk." They also performed at the annual appreciation concert held by Hills Production Company in Burlington. Getting together nowadays is challenging for the musical duo. Brandolino goes to the Metal Works Institute in Mississauga, studying audio engineering and entertainment industry business. Meanwhile, McGillivray is at York University in north Toronto, in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music) program. "When it comes to rehearsing, we do a lot independently," said Brandolino. He'll start some music and send it to her, the duo frequently text each other and they meet on weekends. Blakelock guitar classmate Haley McMillan T.A. Blakelock High School grads Mike Brandolino, on guitar, and Karah McGillivray, on drums, form the musical duo Cars & Guitars. | submitted photo has sung with them and the trio say they'd like to assemble a band sometime. While in Blakelock music class, they wrote a song for the percussion ensemble. The group performed it with garbage cans, PCV pipes, wood and hammers -- winning the Chamber Music Festival at the University of Toronto. "We were the only group doing everything out of the ordinary," recalled Brandolino. The duo has also created songs blending pop with folk, alternative rock, country and other sounds. "We have 10 originals that are fully arranged for a band or for recording," said McGillivray. "We're in the process of recording three songs. They're pop alternative, country and a ballad." Between them, their wide list of musical influences includes Zac Brown Band, Jack Johnson, AC/DC, Sam Roberts Band, The Arkells, Michael Bublé and Gene Krupa, among others. "My older brother Aaron was a huge influence in my starting to play guitar. But he's a lot better at it than me," said Bandolino. "My dad was always listening to all the Motown music, that's how I got into loving music." For more details, visit www.youtube.com/ carsandguitarsmusic. Celebrate the holiday season with the Oakville Youth arts council meeting tonight Symphony Orchestra and Children's Choir The Oakville Symphony Orchestra will be hosting its 11th annual Family Christmas Concert Sunday (Dec. 15). Held at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy St., the one-hour concert will feature music from the holiday season, carol sing-alongs, and a performance by the Oakville Children's Choir. Concerts will take place at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets cost $26 for adults, $21 for seniors and $13 for students and children, and can be purchased by calling the Oakville Centre Box Office at 905-8152021 or online at www.oakvillecentre.ca. The Oakville Youth Arts Council (OYAC) is holding an information meeting tonight (Wednesday, Dec. 11). Held at the Black Box Theatre at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge Rd., the meeting will include information on OYAC, its events, how to get involved and how the council affects the community. The event will take place from 7-9 p.m. For more, visit www.facebook.com/ OakvilleYouthArtsCouncil. Opening this Saturday, December 14th between 10am & 5pm Stop by for Coffee & Cake! Floral Design Home Decor Unique Gifts FREE PARKING DA AN DUR NN ST LL . ST TR AF AL GA R EE NG FR KI R PA RC The Secret Garden ... not your ordinary flower shop. Love Inspire Blossom RD . K LA 126 Trafalgar Road, Downtown Oakville Lower Level 905.842.2525 C ES H HO RE U H RD ST . .E .