Welcome to the SOM online Press Kit

Here you will find all you need to know about the band; their experience, technical specs, touring experience, testemonials and reviews. Feel free at any time to print any of the info for your records!

Bios

With an impressive discography and performance resume, including several industry awards and nominations, it can definitely be said that Halifax-based Sons of Maxwell have come a long way from Northern Ontario. The brothers began singing together while attending university and began a full-time music career soon after graduation. Don and Dave Carroll have done prolific work in a relatively short time and have developed a large, dedicated fan base. S.O.M has released several well-received all-original albums, music videos and have toured extensively, both nationally and abroad. The promotion of their current project "Sunday Morning" is underway. It is the eighth full-length commercial release for S.O.M. Radio response to the lead single “The Best Things,” has been outstanding, and a new single (Uphill Battle) is on its way to the airwaves in January.

The strength of the duo is built upon its diversity. Don and Dave are true entertainers. That fact is what sets them apart and has made them so popular with such a broad spectrum of people. More than once it has been said: “these guys do it all.” Their musical performance is always evocative and their onstage sibling interplay is disarmingly warm, alluring and often downright hilarious! Dave writes songs that bring laughter and tears to the audience. The brothers (along with a talented back-up band) deliver Dave’s powerful and thought-provoking lyrics in an interesting blend of musical styles best described as pop/folk. Ever present are their unique, brilliant vocal styles and harmonies for which they are well known.

From concert halls to corporate shows, Sons of Maxwell are continually a hit with audiences of all ages. This past year S.O.M toured throughout community theatres in Western Canada, performed in the Dominican Republic, and did a promotional tour in Germany. They also gave a raft of performances in music halls and listening rooms. The outstanding audience response and rave reviews (available on request) speak for themselves. The perpetual tour continues...

Wow! Sunday Morning is a terrific record ... great energy, impeccable musicianship, intelligent and tightly crafted lyrics ... this band's headed for The Bigtime!

Tom Wilson, The Rosebud Radio Hour, Saturday afternoons at 5:00 on Calgary's AM 1060 CKMX

Ottawa Life: With a committed following and boundless energy, Sons of Maxwell will continue to achieve star status.

CMT´s Year Top 100, #83: A duo of brothers from the Maritimes is proving to be the pair to watch on the horizon of success in Canada.

Raymond Arsenault, The Journal-Pioneer

Reverb, Best Atlantic Canadian Albums of All Time, #5 of top 20 albums - The Neighbourhood: When you add The Neighbourhood to the other albums the Ds have to their credit, it's clear there's just no stopping the steady success of the brothers Carroll.

As for their original music, brother Dave looks after the writing end of the business and his pen is one of the most creative in the country. Their last disc, The Neighbourhood, is tangible proof Dave can turn a mean phrase when inspired.

Peter Heckbert, Truro Daily News

Dave Carroll, who penned eight of the 10 songs, proves he´s no slouch in the writing department. It´s got everything that I look for in an album great lyrics, wonderfully pleasant voices, excellent harmonies, up-tempo beats, top-notch hooks and incredible instrumentation. And it leaves me wanting to hear a whole lot more.

Raymond Arsenault, The Journal-Pioneer

The Dave Carroll-penned Oceanside Again and The Lighthouse garnered positive radio programmer response, especially at key Ontario and Western Canadian Country and AC stations. Although not your typical commercial top 40 sounding act, Sons of Maxwell have already impressed dozens of music directors with their solid harmony and exceptional songs.

Paul Kennedy, Radio Tracker

Artist Highlights

Nominated for Country Recording, Group Recording and Pop/Rock album of the year at this years Nova Scotia Music Awards for the same album “Sunday Morning”
Based on the success of three Western Canada showcase performances, Sons of Maxwell played nearly 50 soft-seat concerts in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan in 2003/early 2004
Completed a 17-city tour of Germany in November 2003. This was the band’s third tour of Bavaria
One of a select few bands to be invited to perform in China in September 2005 following the 2004 ECMA showcase.
Five-time East Coast Music Award (ECMA) nominees
2002 ECMA winner for Roots Traditional category
2000 Nova Scotia Group of the Year
Invited to Perform on Parliament Hill’s July 1st /Canada Day Celebrations
Three Sons of Maxwell videos have received regular rotation on CMT. The single Oceanside Again was one of the only independent videos of the year to be voted as a fan favourite in the yearly Top 100.
The song "Hold On" was recognized by the Canadian Alzheimer’s Society for its strong message
Several artists have covered S.O.M. originals, both in live shows and on recordings
In Dave’s first co-writing experience in July 2003, which happened to be in Nashville, the song which resulted was short-listed by the Country band Diamond Rio

Dave Carroll - Songwriter Bio

Dave Carroll, the primary writer for Sons of Maxwell, is winning committed fans everywhere their music is heard. His songs are injected with a "coming home" sense of familiarity, yet are refreshingly unique. Dave’s music can be enjoyed in the car on a ride home from work or, as has been the case, can also be studied in poetry classes for the depth in his lyrics. An intelligent lyric, supported by music that is embraced by a wide audience is what sets Dave Carroll´s writing apart.

Most of his compositions have helped fuel Sons of Maxwell´s career touring Canada and Europe, but other artists have taken interest in Dave´s writing as well. Celtic Connection, a Newfoundland band, made Dave´s song "Sixteen for Awhile" a hit in that province, selling more than 25,000 copies. More recently, despite using the song for the newest Sons of Maxwell release, American country superstars Diamond Rio short-listed Dave’s song "I’m Willing" for their current recording. This song was co-written in Nashville with Jon Vezner a successful and prominent Nashville writer.

Recognition for Dave’s talent as a songwriter of the first order is gaining momentum within the industry and music professionals are beginning to see what fans have known for quite some time.

"Dave Carroll is one of the most under rated songwriters in the country".

- Paul Kennedy, CCMA Radio Personality Of The Year

Dave has been invited to participate in many song circles over the years with the following highlights:

2001 Riverfront Jubilee Festival Songwriters´ Circle, New Glasgow, NS

2001 Official Canada Day Celebration Song Circle, Ottawa , ON

2001 East Coast Music Awards and Conference (ECMA), Nancy White´s Jokebox Songwriters´ Concert

NSMW 2000 Songwriters´ Circle featuring Ian Thomas. Dave´s songs were very well received and his first song, Hold On, affected the audience greatly and left not a dry eye in the room. His second song, When the Circus Comes to Town, had the opposite effect producing chuckles and belly laughs throughout the audience.

ECMA 1999 (NFLD) Songwriters´ Circle

Hosted 1999 Stanfest Songwriters´ Circle, Canso, NS

Print the Bios