Canadian trio
Inward Eye have earned comparison to a number of potent high-energy rock bands of the past, including
the Clash,
the Jam, and
the Who, and they received the seal of approval from the latter group when
the Who invited
Inward Eye to open for them during a 2006 tour of Canada. Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba,
Inward Eye are comprised of three brothers, bassist and lead singer
Dave Erickson (born 1983), guitarist
Kyle Erickson (born 1985), and drummer
Anders Erickson (born 1987). The siblings began making music together in 1997, but it wasn't until 2003 that they started earning a reputation for themselves on the Canadian music scene. When the buzz spread about them, it spread fast -- by 2004,
Glen Willows (who in the '80s played guitar with Canadian hitmakers
Harlequin) and
Rob Lanni had signed on as the group's managers, and it wasn't long before the band was filling clubs along Canada's West Coast. Producer
Arnold Lanni, whose credits include
Simple Plan and
Our Lady Peace, helped work up demos for
Inward Eye, and they opened stages for the likes of
Urge Overkill and
Billy Talent. In 2006, the group's constant roadwork (frequent Canadian tours and occasional showcase gigs in the United States) paid off when
Inward Eye were signed to a record deal with J Records; the band's debut album was expected to reach stores in 2007. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide