NOW Cape Breton singer-songwriter, keyboardist and guitarist Greg Verner has just released his second full length CD 'Here's A New Invention' after two years of writing, rehearsing and recording. In February of 2008, the popular Cape Breton based band Spyder decided to call it a day after performing for more years then most remember, eight of which Greg Verner was a member. The band schedule was quite intensive and although Greg was writing throughout this period it was difficult to find the time to seriously rehearse and record the material. A month after the band stopped playing Greg enlisted his bandmates and began a creative and exciting process of practicing and arranging the twelve songs that would make up his new CD. The music was recorded at the award winning Lakewind Studios in Cape Breton with engineering provided by Sheppy and production by Greg Verner. The music is expansive, touching on many genres and moods. The cuts on his second album are a declaration of his dedication to writing songs which, engage the listener's imagination and appeal to their individuality. Each song speaks of the artist's joy in creating a very unique musical experience. The lyrics are as vital as the music; thought-provoking, surreal, whimsical and always positive. HISTORY "No tradition in my heart, never, from the very start," that is how Greg Verner describes the style of music that was presented to him as a child growing up in Cape Breton. His parent's eclectic collection of recordings from popular to jazz to classical, tweaked his curiosity to experiment in creating his own music. Greg's innate creative flare led to some "innovative" home recordings as a teenager. Though formally trained in piano and music theory, Greg spent much of his teen years in his little basement studio discovering a style, experimenting and refining his own song-writing techniques to decide what works and doesn't work. "Overdubbing instruments from one cassette tape recorder to another resulted in some very entertaining original songs which began to border on white noise as the overdubs became too numerous. I still listen to these songs from time to time and re-live the innocence of the whole learning process." This enthusiasm to create his own music has continued to inspire him in his musical career. Experience in playing in a wide variety of bands for twenty-five years or more has provided Greg the opportunity to acquire the confidence needed to know what really makes a band work. Greg has formed and played with such local bands as The Amoebas, Pegasus, Ian Aker and Player, Xtatik Clang, The Elements, Rockamatic and most recently Spyder, one of the longest running popular bands in Cape Breton. Greg has also 'filled in' from time to time with other local bands such as The Blues Merchants and The Black Kats and was invited to play with Sam Moon for a series of shows for the 2000 Millenium celebrations in Sydney and Halifax. Among his musical peers and colleagues he has earned a very solid, professional reputation and name. SUMMARY The innovative style found in Greg's early recordings has carried through to his present day musical repertoires. His first CD, 'Strange Curves And Angles', released in 2001 was an amalgamation of many styles of his song-writing with many musical friends participating. The new sophomore CD, 'Here's A New Invention' showcases a band he has played with for several years and has the feel of a very tight unit playing together. Always experimenting with traditional and non-traditional sound and instrumentation, his music stands out as completely personal. A short song description: 1. Skimmer: A rocky tune reminiscent of Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Kings Of Leon and Audioslave which addresses the frustrations of trying to keep up with modern technology. 2. Heartache In The Arctic: A tune with an Eagles influence with a catchy melody and lyrics that compare a doomed love with surviving a cold Arctic expedition. 3. Film Noir Girl: An upbeat Steely Dan influenced song with the premise describing a hapless, insecure simpleton who can't believe his good luck in hooking up with a vivacious beauty who he learns too late is a ruthless 'cat-burglar'. She allows him to woo her only because she knows that he will be of use in her criminal shenanigans. Our hero Film Noir Girl shows her impatience while her 'beau' mops up the blood. He realizes that he's got himself involved in more than he bargained for but fears because of his infatuation he will remain with the Film Noir Girl no matter the cost. It presents itself as a humorous but tragic love story. The music video to this song was filmed at the Savoy Theatre and is on Greg's website (http://www.gregverner.com), facebook and U-tube. 4. Shovelling Smoke: A pulse-pounding tune with an anti-smoking message as seen through the eyes of an unhappy club goer at a time when smoking in public places was the norm. Some full vocal harmonies and a funky sax solo add distinctive color to the sound of this song. 5. Loidie's Lavish Ling-Ling Lotion: A quirky happy song about the trials & tribulations of the vain customers of a less than reputable skin-care salesman. They find out too late about the damage this product is doing to their skin. A bouncy beat with some unique arrangements make this a memorable tune. 6. Snapshot: A personal song containing only vocals and grand piano about a guy coping with an absent partner by trying to console his loneliness with only a snapshot of his girl to look at. 7. Spinning A Web: A jazzy-rock song with again Steely Dan influences which addresses the woes of discovering an infidelity with a lover. Some smooth sax work and fluid guitar solos add to the mystic of the trap or 'web' which the narrator sets to find out the truth behind his suspicions. 8. Imitation: A more or less acoustic tune attesting to the appreciation of soul-partner with some interesting arrangements on concertina & glockenspiel for added color. 9. The Good Clean Fun: Anyone who has played as a professional musician in bars has at one time or another felt the rush of being onstage and basking the attention of an audience. This song tries to convey the joy of playing live and the acceleration in body & mind it produces. The song has an infectious beat with some counterpoint vocals which add to the feeling of musical kaos before individual band members coalesce as a single unit. 10. Still Tangled: An organ driven waltz with Procal Harem influences addressing the legal profession and court system in a tongue in cheek style. 11. Here's The Nude I Mentioned: A smorgasbord of a tune with many twists, turns and diversions which showcases a very creative, adaptable band with a sculpture-loving obsessive theme. The laughs are hidden in the lyrics culminating when our narrator finally takes his artwork to bed with him. 12. Bonfire: A night on a Cape Breton beach with crickets and a bonfire. Most of us have had some experience in this scenario. Two people relax on a warm summer night and talk about the pros & cons of where they are in their relationship. An intimate song which builds up with some Arabic percussive elements to a fulfilling ending.