"Carmen Townsend and the Shakey Deals hit the stage at 1 a.m. I saw her recently at Tribeca, and was blown away by her soaring Jeff Buckley-like vocals and 70s rock-inspired songs (Led Zeppelin). Her apparently ambidextrous drummer is one of the best I've seen."
Craig Pinhey, www.herenb.com
"Carmen Townsend is Cape Breton’s contribution to the Halifax rock scene: she is a wonderful mix of Janice Joplin fused with Stevie Nicks. Her powerful, voluptuous voice propels her band, the Shakey Deals, to newly refurbished retro rock heights.The sexy seriousness of her bellowing voice is offset with a little girl happiness, similar to Feist. The band has yet to earn an ECMA nomination, but Townsend sets the momentum for the band’s sonic rollercoaster, which will more than entertain the ECMA crowd.Over the years, the band has shared stages with Matt Mays, Slowcoaster, Jimmy Swift, and Joel Plaskett."
–Magen Powell, Dalhousie Gazette
"Townsend was a wonder to behold, shaking a billowing mane of chestnut hair while letting her voice soar above her songs with a rhythm all its own... She possesses an eerie beauty...inventing her own brand of soul, with Joplinesque power and a fun-loving desire to rock out"
Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS (Feb. 2005)
Stephen Cooke
"ECMA 2006: highlights from the party of the year: any show by Carmen Townsend..."
The Guardian, Charlottetown, PEI (Feb. 2006)
Todd MacLean
"With the lineup that followed, which included...blossomingly legendary guitarist and singer Carmen Townsend (who is also the woman that everyone is talking about throughout the shows of this ECMAs)...the fantastic music didn't stop all night long."
The Guardian, Charlottetown, PEI (Feb. 2006)
Todd MacLean
"Energetic and earnest all at the same time, Townsend's voice has to be heard."
The Daily News, Truro, NS (Feb. 2006)
Sean Kelly
~Regional winner (PEI & NS) for the 2006 Canadian Songwriting Competition.
The instant this Songbird takes the stage….all eyes and ears are hooked. An unrivaled artist after 12 years of rock bands, Carmen has evolved into one of the most promising rock singer /songwriters this country has produced. With a cutting edge sound, distinctive vocal talent, mesmerizing stage presence and unique guitar style, it quite obvious that it is her birth right to rock. Thomas Allen and Shane O’handley provide a stellar rhythm section as her band “The Shakey Dealsâ€.Cape Breton’s own Guitar Wielding Phoenix has had a whirlwind of a year. In January, Townsend’s song "Sweet Little Bird†represented the region (NS and PEI) in the National Songwriting Competition. Carmen and her band “The Shakey Deals†burned up Charlottetown for the 2006 ECMAs rocking 10 gigs in 3 days including two Showcase Stages. The Shakey Deals then found themselves in a Cadillac heading to Toronto to meet up with Carmen to play a last minute Rock Showcase for Canadian Music Week. The livewire rocker and her boys then performed a Junofest Showcase, and returned to Toronto for the North By North East Festival. On top of playing over 70 shows so far this year, Carmen and the Shakey Deals lived in “The Big Blue Bus†with 16 of their musical homies from the Infamous House of Rock for the Invincible Summer Tour. They then brought a field full of Happy Campers to their feet, leaving them buzzing in sheer delight with their soulful, sexy, Zeppelinesque rock and roll at this years Evolve Festival. Last but not least the trio blew the roof off of Johnny D's in Boston for the Nemo Festival this past September. They have shared the stage with Buck 65, Matt Mays and El Torpedo, Joel Plaskett and the Emergency, Blue Rodeo, Slowcoaster, Rock Ranger, The Jimmy Swift Band and The Trews. Carmen was also granted a "Rock and Roll" dream 3 times over when she performed lead vocals with Canadian Art Rock Legends The Rheostatics. The troopers will then succumb to the winter wonderland of Cape Breton, rest their wings, set up a nest and finish up the highly anticipated debut album. Compared to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Jeff Buckley and Bjork, you can not afford to miss a live performance from one of Canada's best kept secrets....
The Shakey Deals....Joining Carmen on stage and in the studio are the Shakey Deals. The boys, Thomas Allen (drums) and Shane O’Handley (bass guitar), have been filling out the sound (and filling up the van) since September 2004. Playing in various bands for the last 8 years, this tight rhythm section has been adding to Carmen’s distinctive sound and wowing crowds wherever they appear. Ex-members of 3 Piece Suit (a hard rocking surf trio), these two young men have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a number of musicians here in the Maritimes, including Colleen Power, ECMA nominee Andrea Curry, and east coast blues hero Terry Edmunds. Working together with Carmen, Thomas and Shane have been logging miles and inspiring smiles across the coast.
This profile was edited with myspace-pimpin.com Editor
