The Awkward Stage Explained

The Awkward Stage
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genre:	Indie pop
Years Active:	2006-2009
Label:	Mint Records
Website:	(defunct)
Current Members:	Shane Nelken Tygh Runyan Tony Koelwyn Chris Mitchell

The Awkward Stage was a Canadian indie pop band from Vancouver fronted by singer-songwriter Shane Nelken.^[1] The band's supporting lineup consisted of Tygh Runyan on lead guitar, Tony Koelwyn on drums and Chris Mitchell on trumpet and keyboards.

History

Nelken, who works as a cremationist, had a longtime side career as a musician, supporting a number of artists including A. C. Newman, New Pornographers and Sparrow.^{[2] [3]} He put together The Awkward Stage (which included drummer Kurt Dahle),^[4] and released a debut album, Heaven Is for Easy Girls, on Mint Records in 2006.^{[5] [6]} Nelken performed much of the music himself, with some help from violinist Kim Koch and trumpeter Shaun Brodie.^[7] The album charted on Canadian campus radio^[8] and CBC Radio 3, which named the band's song "We're Going for a Ride" one of its Top 94 songs of 2006.^[9]

With Tygh Runyan, Tony Koelwyn and Chris Mitchell, The Awkward Stage released a second album, Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights, in 2008.^{[10] [11]} The songs were written and arranged by Nelkin.

The band has been inactive since 2009.

Discography

• Heaven Is for Easy Girls (2006), Mint Records
• Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights (2008), Mint Records

External links

• The Awkward Stage official site
• The Awkward Stage profile at Mint Records
• Interview with Shane Nelken, October 8, 2008.

Notes and References

1. CMJ New Music Report. CMJ New Music Report . 967–990. 2006. 80 .
2. http://www.allmusic.com/album/slimming-mirrors-flattering-lights-mw0000788580 "The Awkward Stage Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights"
3. https://www.straight.com/article/tragically-unhip "Tragically unhip"
4. http://www.chartattack.com/news/2006/08/04/vancouver-buzz-little-hamm-on-big-screen-and-the-awkward-stage-sign-to-mint/ "Vancouver Buzz: Little Hamm On Big Screen And The Awkward Stage Sign To Mint"
5. Web site: The Awkward Stage – Heaven Is For Easy Girls . discogs.com . October 2006 . Discogs . 16 January 2022 . 16 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116091059/https://www.discogs.com/release/864154-The-Awkward-Stage-Heaven-Is-For-Easy-Girls . live .
6. http://exclaim.ca/music/article/awkward_stage-heaven_is_for_easy_girls "The Awkward Stage Heaven is for Easy Girls"
7. http://www.popmatters.com/review/the-awkward-stage-heaven-is-for-easy-girls/ "The Awkward Stage Heaven Is for Easy Girls"
8. http://www.chartattack.com/news/2006/10/24/charty-chart-chat-the-dears-return-to-the-top-of-the-chart/ "The Dears Return To The Top Of The Chart"
9. https://archive.today/20120718220122/http://radio3.cbc.ca/blogs/2006/12/Top-94-Tracks-of-2006 CBC Radio 3 - Top 94 Tracks of 2006
10. Web site: The Awkward Stage – Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights . discogs.com . Discogs . 16 January 2022 . 16 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220116091059/https://www.discogs.com/master/1005649-The-Awkward-Stage-Slimming-Mirrors-Flattering-Lights . live .
11. http://exclaim.ca/music/article/awkward_stage-slimming_mirrors_flattering "The Awkward Stage Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights"