Squid Evolves into Drumtastic Revue

May 17th, 2007

By Stephen Cooke
Nightclub Notebook
The Chronicle Herald

REMEMBER THOSE OLD bank ads set to that Todd Rundgren song that went, "I don’t wanna work, I just wanna bang on de drum all day"? Halifax ensemble Squid has managed to combine working and banging (percussively, that is) for nearly seven years now, performing as buskers, in theatres, or as part of the larger rhythmic revue DRUM!

Born out of the Dartmouth Pipes and Drums Band, the quartet quickly moved away from strict tempo into a blend of Latin, African and rock and roll styles, adding dancers and other instruments in its ultimate production Squid: The Evolution, which hits the boards at Neptune’s Studio Theatre this week, continuing until May 27.

Squid: The Evolution takes full advantage of the theatre environment in terms of lighting and staging, and it builds on the rhythm with the addition of Chapman stick and a human beatbox.