Hold Fast

Hold Fast was created in the summer of 2005 (though without name) by members Andy Shannon and Matt Shannon along with a young punk by the name of Cody "Ratpiss" Kolesar. The band tried a few sounds and styles but lacked a drummer and a good bassist. Eventually a drummer came in the form of a girl named Justine, but lack of band chemistry and commitment held the band back yet again. It was soon to pass that the band lost Cody and Justine. In mid to late February 2006, another member joined Matt and Andy Shannon, Nathaniel Arsenault, a brilliant guitar player from Andy's high school. Being still without a drummer, near Saint Patrick's Day 2006, Andy asked his father, Rob Shannon, to sit in as drummer until the band could find a permanent one. It came to pass that Rob Shannon became the fourth member of the band, and late March, Matt had an idea for the band's name... Hold Fast.Hold Fast is an old sailing term used by sea captains and crews alike to instill courage and strength in times of peril. As prarie boys, we know next to nothing of sailing, but we can imagine that those two simple words were important mottos for many crews on the open sea.Hold Fast was at first created as an Irish Folk band. They started out practicing old Johnny Cash tunes to build their chemistry (as nothing is harder than playing in a young band). Those tunes developed their own sound and grew into what they would later find out was a genre called Roots, particularily Alberta Roots. Though they sing about sailing and raging seas often enough, one could still hear the prarie attitude and way of life behind the lyrics. Alberta Roots is a growing genre and Hold Fast is growing into it and with it.At this point the band would like to mention a praise especially to the Falling Pianos. Jeff the Chauffer god is with us all.Hold Fast and "Slainte"