I’ve said before that I love January because it is a start to a brand new year, and for me it held a very special band of the month. Well, even though all of the bands are special to me the band I chose for March is sort of different. This is a band that personally, I love. They are a five-piece band from Newmarket Ontario Canada and chances are, if you talk to me about music I will tell you to check them out. They are Hasket.

I first heard of Hasket when the site covered Teeters CD release party back in October. It was the first time I ever just walked up to someone I didn’t know and just started talking. (I am very shy) Hasket was first on the line up and we all really enjoyed their set. We were standing around after and everyone was trying to make someone go up and ask for an interview. We are all very shy people so no one really wanted to. I don’t know what came over me, but I said, “Okay!!” and the next thing I know I am talking to lead vocalist Joe and asking for an interview.

Consisting of Joe Farrugia on vocals, Mikey Reale on guitar and back-up vocals, Ryley Young on guitar, Matt Griffith on bass and Dillon Forret on drums, Hasket is definitely a force to be reckoned with. The average age of this band is seventeen and I’m sorry to any older band that takes offence to this, but this band knows more and has a better head on their shoulders than most bands out there today.

I recently sat down for a follow up with Mikey after their performance on Much Musics’ disBand and in all honesty, it was one of the most intelligent interviews I have ever done. This boy knows his stuff and he, and the rest of the band are not going to let anyone or anything stop them from doing what they love. I have been to a couple of concerts (All Time Low, Take Action Tour) where they are playing acoustic for the line. Handing out demos to people. Just anything to get their name out there. They are dedicated. They have played lots of shows around Newmarket and Toronto and there is always a great turn out. They even broke the record for a disBand crowd. 150 people, PLUS there were people outside!! Way to go boys!!

They are currently working on a follow up to 2008s EP, City Lights. The new album will have seven songs and I know the girls and I can’t wait!

I chose to promote Hasket this month because well, have you heard these guys? Seriously check them out. Right now. I’ll wait

I told you!! I know what you’re thinking too…Seventeen?! Yep. Totally. I have compared the effort they put into a live show to The Devil Wears Prada. And I stick by it. I mean everyone always puts their best into a show. But seeing Hasket reminded me of when I saw The Devil Wears Prada.

Check them out, and watch Hasket TV. Its jokes! And if you see them in line at a show in Toronto, talk to them and get their EP. If they are playing acoustic, watch them. They are great guys and a fantastic band. You will not regret adding Hasket to your playlist.



Oh Hasket... what's not to love about these kids? They have an average age of... High School... and the heart of some of the best bands I know. I mean these kids really put their all into their band, and it's so refreshing to see a group of teenagers so dedicated to what they want to do. When we first saw Hasket play it was when we were covering the Teeter release party for "Heating Up". This group of kids took the stage and rocked our faces off. We literally stood there in awe, watching these guys play, and I believe that after the first song finished it was unanimous that we were going to pull them aside and snag an interview with them come hell or high water.

Hasket is a great band... that's all there is to it. Sure, we comment about how young they are, and how sweet they are and what nice guys, et cetera, but when it comes down to it, they are first and foremost: a GREAT band to listen to! I have them on my iPod, I rock out to them at least once a day, and piss off my ultra-conservative neighbors by playing it nice and loud as I jam around my apartment. So go drop by their MySpace page, give them a listen, support them, if you happen to be in their area, check them out at live shows, keep tabs on them, because this is a band that is certainly going somewhere, and we are incredibly proud to watch them on their way to success!

Now The Sound Faction's relationship with Hasket is one of those truly wonderful thing that happens by accident. We worked the release party for Teeter's "Heating Up", and a whole bunch of amazing bands played. One of them being Hasket. We happened to catch their set after our interview with Teeter, and Jen managed to work up the nerves to go up to Joe and ask him if they'd be willing to talk to us. All of us here have loved the band ever since.

They're a talented group of kids, who I think will most definitely be going somewhere in the future. The fact that they're average age is... what? 17 maybe? And they've already accomplished some of the things they have, and have the sound and the fans that they do, is amazingly impressive. They're already going in the right direction, and I have no doubt that they'll keep going.

It’s that time again. Wow. Where has the beginning of the year gone already? As you probably know by now, Hasket is our band of the month. The first time I heard the name Hasket was when we covered the Teeter release party last year. I remember standing at the back and someone pointed out how young the act on stage was as they set up. This made me curious, really curious to see this bands performance. To be honest the moment they took the stage and started we were all completely blown away by what we heard. This band is young, has the talent and you can see the obvious drive and passion in them for their music. We have had the chance to be able to see Hasket perform a couple times and each time, you can see a small growth in them. Hasket has become one of those bands that we have taken under our wing and want to help them step forward. Heck, at one point, when we caught up with Joe and Mikey outside a show playing acoustic sets, they referred to our very own Jen has the ‘Hasket Mom’. These guys have an amazing sense of who they are as artists and an amazing work ethic behind them. They are easy to talk and no matter who you are, they will talk to you. We have had the chance to interview these boys a couple times, and both times the knowledge and know how that they present is stunning.

These boys will be going places. Maybe not right at this moment, because I believe they are focused on school at the moment, but you know what? In a few years watch out, because I do believe you will be hearing the name HASKET everywhere. These five boys have talent coming out of everywhere, and if they keep on the same track they are going right now, they will make it. I know for a fact that I will be one of those proud people standing behind them and saying I knew them when.



I admit that I am the only SF crew member that hasn't seen Hasket play live (chalk it up to living in Virginia, far away from the US/Canadian boarder.) However, I was excited to have them as our BoTM, because I have only heard wonderful things about these guys. So, I took the opportunity to check out their stuff on myspace, which is amazing.

The songs they have featured on the myspace are from their new EP, The City Lights (on Itunes, go download it!), and they are great! "Summer's Last Sunset" and "Away from Here" are definitely songs to jam to in the car on a long road trip.

So, in conclusion, get your hands on some Hasket material (hit up itunes!). Or, go see them live in Toronto next weekend. Just get some Hasket tunes in your life pronto!

-Hasket's MySpace
-Hasket TV

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