Odds (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Headquarters | Vancouver , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Odds is a Canadian alternative rock group originating from Vancouver, British Columbia. During the 1990s, they earned six nominations for Juno Awards and, by 2014, had been affiliated with five separate record labels.
Formation and Early Years (1987–1999)
Established in 1987 in Vancouver, the original lineup consisted of vocalists and guitarists Craig Northey and Steven Drake, bassist Doug Elliott, and drummer Paul Brennan. Initially, Pat Steward was approached to join as drummer but declined. The band's name was inspired by a comment made by Brennan while touring along the coast.
In the late 1980s, they frequently performed as a cover band named Dawn Patrol while simultaneously crafting original songs. After a showcase in Los Angeles, they secured a recording contract with Zoo Entertainment.
Their debut album Neopolitan (1991), which they produced themselves, featured radio singles such as "Love Is the Subject" and "King of the Heap." Although the third single, "Wendy Under the Stars," did not achieve significant chart success, it attracted critical acclaim. Following this release, Odds toured as Warren Zevon’s backing band during his Mr. Bad Example album cycle.
In 1993, Warren Zevon contributed to their album Bedbugs, which included the lead single "Heterosexual Man" accompanied by a memorable video featuring cast members from The Kids in the Hall. Other singles from that album were "It Falls Apart," "Jack Hammer," and "Yes (Means it's Hard to Say No)." The track "Jack Hammer" showcased a guitar duel between Robert Quine and Zevon.
During the recording of their third album in 1995, drummer Brennan left to join Big Sugar and was replaced by Pat Steward, who had previously played with Bryan Adams. Their most commercially successful record, Good Weird Feeling, contained hit singles like "Truth Untold" and "Eat My Brain," both reaching Canada's top 10 charts. Additionally, "Satisfied" made it into the top 20. Craig Northey also produced the soundtrack for Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, collaborating with Steward and Elliott.
Released in 1996, the album Nest featured the lead single "Someone Who's Cool," which climbed to No. 2 on Canadian charts and No. 6 on U.S. AAA radio stations; it was later selected as the theme for CBS's series Love Monkey. Other singles included "Make You Mad," whose video was co-directed by Bruce McCulloch of The Kids in the Hall, and "Nothing Beautiful."
Throughout the 1990s, Odds maintained an active touring schedule, opening for prominent bands such as The Tragically Hip and Barenaked Ladies. Their live performances continued until 1999, including a headline appearance at that year’s Arts County Fair at the University of British Columbia; however, no new studio albums were released during this time.
Period of Inactivity (1999–2007)
In March 1999, Craig Northey departed from Odds but remained musically connected with Elliott and Steward. During this hiatus, members engaged in separate endeavors and released compilation albums titled Singles: Individually Wrapped (2000) and The Essentials (2005).
Later that year, Elliott, Steward, and Northey collaborated with organist Simon Kendall to produce an instrumental soul project named Sharkskin. Meanwhile, Steven Drake shifted focus toward work as a recording engineer and producer based in Vancouver after contributing to mixing The Tragically Hip’s 1996 album Trouble at the Henhouse.
Northey released his solo album Giddy Up in 2002 and expanded his career as a songwriter and producer for artists including Rosanne Cash. In 2004, he partnered with Gin Blossoms guitarist Jesse Valenzuela on their joint album Northey Valenzuela, also composing the theme song for the television sitcom Corner Gas. Additionally, Northey, Steward, and Elliott performed alongside Rob Baker of The Tragically Hip in Stripper's Union, toured under the name Craig Northey Power Trio, and supported Canadian blues-rock musician Colin James.
In 2006, Odds’ track "Someone Who's Cool" was chosen as the theme song for CBS’s music-themed comedy series Love Monkey.
New Odds and Odds again (2008–2014)
In 2007, Craig Northey, Doug Elliott, Pat Steward, along with new guitarist Murray Atkinson, took part in Barenaked Ladies' "Ships and Dip" cruise event. On May 20, 2008, they launched Cheerleader, featuring Northey on all lead vocals. This marked the debut release on Kim Cooke's Pheromone Recordings label. The album's lead track, "My Happy Place," which was featured in Corner Gas, came out in March. Because the rights to the name "Odds" had expired, the album was released under the moniker The New Odds.
Once they reclaimed the rights to their original band name, they arranged U.S. distribution through the independent label Second Motion Records. Early in 2009, they issued the EP Noise Trade, which contained selections from Cheerleader alongside covers of songs by Pointed Sticks and Art Bergmann. That same year, they appeared as themselves in a dream sequence on Corner Gas. The group continued to be active at Canadian festivals and events, including performances on the 2009 and 2010 Holiday Train. During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Odds acted as the "house band" at Canada Hockey House.
For the 2010 and 2011 NHL playoffs, Odds were appointed as the Vancouver Canucks' house band and also performed the theme for CBC/IFC's The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town.
Following this period, they released several EPs: "The Most Beautiful Place on Earth" in 2013, followed by "Game Face On" and "Party Party Party" both in 2014.
Steven and the Evens (2024–)
In 2024, Steven Drake—co-founder, co-lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter of Odds—established a new power trio named Steven and the Evens. The group performs material from Odds' classic lineup spanning 1987 to 1999, focusing primarily on tracks from their initial four albums. The trio features former Matthew Good Band drummer Ian Browne and Brad Ferguson. While mainly performing around Vancouver, they are also booked for the 2025 Atlin Arts & Music Festival in Atlin, BC.
In pop culture
On December 3, 2021, Odds received a mention in "Canada Loves You Back," a song by Steven Page, performed during the Governor General's Awards ceremony honoring Ryan Reynolds.
Albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | CAN | ||
| 1991 | Neopolitan | – | |
| 1993 | Bedbugs | – | |
| 1995 | Good Weird Feeling | 23 | Platinum |
| 1996 | Nest | – | Gold |
| 2000 | Singles: Individually Wrapped | – | |
| 2005 | The Essentials | – | |
| 2008 | Cheerleader | – | |
| 2009 | Noise Trade EP | – | |
| 2013 | the Most Beautiful Place on Earth EP | – | |
| 2014 | Game Face On EP | – | |
| 2014 | Party Party Party EP | – | |
| 2022 | Universal Remote | ||
| 2023 | 'Crash the Time Machine' |
Singles
1995 "Eat My Brain" 22 21 - - - - - - |- 1995 "Satisfied" 29 19 - - - - - - |- 1995 "I Would Be Your Man" - - - - - - - - |- 1996 "Mercy to Go" 26 - - - - - - - |- 1996 "Someone Who's Cool" 2 3 - 20 6 41 - 33 rowspan=3 Nest |- 1997 "Make You Mad" 8 18 - - - - - - |- 1997 "Nothing Beautiful" 73 - - - - - - -| Year Released | Song Title | Highest Chart Rankings | Associated Album | |||||||
| CAN | CAN Alt |
CAN Content (Cancon) |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 |
US AAA |
US Alt |
US AOR |
US Rock | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Love Is the Subject" | 43 | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"Neopolitan |
| 1991 | "King of the Heap" | 42 | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1992 | "Wendy Under the Stars" | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1993 | "Heterosexual Man" | 60 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 44 | – | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"Bedbugs |
| 1993 | "It Falls Apart" | 69 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1993 | "Jack Hammer" | – | – | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1994 | "Yes (Means It's Hard to Say No)" | 60 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | |
Juno Award nominations
- Best New Group (1994)
- Best Rock Album (1996)
- Songwriter of the Year (1996, 1998)
- Group of the Year (1996)
- Best Video (Someone Who's Cool) (1997)
Band Members
- Craig Northey – Lead vocals and guitar
- Doug Elliott – Bass guitar and backing vocals
- Pat Steward – Drums and backing vocals
- Murray Atkinson – Guitar and backing vocals
Past Members
- Steven Drake – Vocals and guitar
- Paul Brennan – Drums and backing vocals