Ambush (band)

The original line-up (from 1993 to 1999) consisted of Skip Layton (drums), Jef Leeson (bass guitar and lead vocals) and Mark McDonell (guitar and vocals).[1] They met while working as the back-up band for Ottawa singer Dennis Whitty,[2] and derived the name Ambush from the name of Whitty's backing band, 'Bushwacker'.

This line-up recorded three albums of cover songs: On Stage in 1993,[3] Hard to Say No in 1994,[4] and Kickin' Up a Fuss in 1995.[5] All were produced by Leeson and released on his independent label Chancellor Music.[6]

Through 1996, they recorded their first CD of original music in Nashville, with producer-writer Cyril Rawson.[7] The CD, Ambush,[8] yielded modest regional hits with "Since She Got Back From Texas"[9] and "Girls Like That".[10]

In 1997, a 3-track CD featuring the songs "Let's Go Crazy Girl",[11] "Since She Got Back From Texas" and "Don't Let It Hit You on the Way Out"[12] (all originally from their 1996 debut CD) was released, which included new vocals and remixes by Chad Irschick at Inception Sound Studios in Toronto.[13]

Leeson left the band in November 1999 to pursue a solo career.[14] He was replaced by Glenn Desjardine who, in November 2001, was replaced by Riq Turner. Riq departed in 2014, and was replaced by Kris Lafontaine. Skip Layton departed in October 2005; he was replaced by Jim Wright. Wright left the band in October 2011; he was replaced by Tom VanCoughnett. VanCoughnett departed in 2015; Dan Killen joined the band as a touring/session member until 2016, when he was replaced by Danny Derue. In 2002, Ambush signed with Longshot Records.

In 2006 Ambush won the CMT reality series Plucked.[15] They shot videos for their songs "This Could Be The Night" and "In This Room" during the series.[16][17]

In 2006, the band released a studio album entitled I Wanna Go Home With You.[18] This album included singles such as "This Could Be The Night", "Too Hot For Words"[19] and "Anything To Rock You".[20]

At the 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA Awards), the band was nominated as Group of the Year.[21] They received the same nomination in 2008.[22] At the latter ceremony, the "In This Room" video was nominated as Video of the Year.[23]

Ambush has released seven live albums, most recently in 2016, with Ambush Live Off the Floor.[24] They last toured in 2019, traveling to the UK to play the Tokyo World Festival[25] and the Wireless Festival.[26] As of 2021, the band remains active.

Albums

• On Stage (1993), Chancellor
• Hard to Say No (1994), Chancellor
• Kickin' Up a Fuss (1995), Chancellor
• Ambush (1996), Chancellor
• Live (2002), Independent
• Ambush Live II (2003), Longshot Records
• I Wanna Go Home with You (2006), Independent
• Ambush Live: Three (2007), Longshot Records
• Live 4 (2008), Longshot Records
• Ambush (2009), 306 Records
• Ambush Classics (2009), Longshot Records
• Ambush Live in Cuba (2013), Longshot Records
• Ambush For Kidz! (2014), Longshot Records
• Ambush Christmas (2016), Longshot Records
• Ambush Live Off the Floor (2016), Longshot Records

EPs

• Let's Go Crazy (1997), Chancellor

Singles

• Champions of the CMT reality series Plucked (2006)

• Ambush Official Site
• Ambush at MySpace
• Ambush at facebook