Sixes & Sevens

Sixes & Sevens started with a vision of playing challenging heavy music with a strong emphasis on songwriting, melodies and memorable hooks. With a firm foundation in Progressive Rock and Metal, the quartet blend aggression , multi dimensional textures and virtuoso musicianship to create a unique blend of style that becomes the Sixes & Sevens sound. Guitarist Mike McAvan, a GIT (Musician’s Institute) graduate, made his early mark with his former band Waiting For Lucy. After a several year run with Waiting for Lucy, Mike left the fold to tour as a clinician for Digitech processors, Marshall Amps, Parker and Washburn guitars and Seymour Duncan pick-ups. Mike McAvan, a guitar slinger by nature, went through a succession of bands before setting out to record a solo cd of guitar instrumentals. At this time, there was a changing in the guard in Mike McAvan’s arsenal of gear…he was approached to be an endorsee for Ernie Ball/Musicman guitars and strings, as well as, an endorsee for Koch amplifiers, Lace pick-ups and Evidence Audio cable. Upon the urging of friends and peers in the industry, Mike McAvan began to put together a vocal oriented project and opted to put the instrumental CD on hold. First to be recruited was Micheil Gray on bass guitar, who formerly played guitar for the band Utopia Complex. The two “Mikes” forged an amazing guitar and bass slinging partnership and laid the foundation for Sixes & Sevens’ sound. The duo began and ended their search with former Hemi 69 drummer, Ken Cormier. The trio were well on their way to creating a truly special blend of styles and textures mixing humour, aggression and smart songwriting. The final piece of the puzzle was needed…enter Deena Baker. Deena got her start as a teen accompanying Robbie Lane’s band. After some experimenting as a solo artist doing jazz and blues standards, Deena Baker found herself fronting the Alt-Rock band Driven Yesterday. After some time with Driven Yesterday, Deena found herself looking for new challenges and oportunities and set forth to find a new project with a fresh new direction. At this time, Mike McAvan had grown weary of the search for a vocalist for the band and had almost given up on the idea until he received an e-mail from Deena. The pair hit it off immediately and formed the melodic nucleus of the Sixes & Sevens sound. They began writing music and lyrics immediately and to their surprise, with their combined resources and talents, found that the process was literally effortless and sparked a new found drive and enthusiasm in the band. After a string of shows and months of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, Deena Baker and the rest of Sixes & Sevens decided to part ways and "fraktelize". Deena conitnues to work with Sixes & Sevens guitarist Mike McAvan on an alternative rock project dubbed "Razorflower". In the month that followed, Sixes & Sevens wasted no time in begining the painstaking task of finding a new vocalist. Demoes poured in and the usual antics of "wannabe's" dreaming illusions of grandieur began. Enter vocalist Colin Picken. Colin and Mike are co-conspirators in a cover band based out of the Durham area. After a few discussions and a killer audition, Colin was offered the spot as vocalist for Sixes & Sevens. With a serious dose of new found aggression, virtuoso musicianship, strong songwriting and crisp, professional image, the fiercely independent quartet forge a new standard that sets them apart from the hordes of Canadian bands with dynamic, fresh and virtuoso spin on their Progressive heavy music.