Absolute Losers

Absolute Losers formed in 2019. The Charlottetown-based band consists of Josh Langille (guitar, vocals), Sam Langille (bass, vocals), and Daniel Hartinger (drums, vocals). They may have named their band after something Josh saw on the bathroom wall at Plan B in Moncton, NB, but they aren’t entirely sure. Daniel says he didn’t like the name much at first, but when they began writing songs, it started to feel right, and today, he admits he loves it.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the band set up a makeshift studio in their rehearsal space (Josh’s basement in Stratford), and began the trial and error process of self-recording their music. 

The very first self-recorded, self-produced offering from The Losers was a two song cassette/digital release called Coexist / Astray, that featured a photograph of Josh and Sam’s grandfather Gerard Mooney holding a bird. It was released in 2021.

Absolute Losers were steadily gathering fans with their 70s post-punk leanings, showing clear influences from bands like Gang of Four, Talking Heads, and Television. Their live shows were fun, precise, yet ragged. Their material twists and turns and offers hooks that could spend some time in your head.

Following a string of early tours, the band, once again, began the arduous process of self-recording. This time, they scrutinized the results, re-recording the songs almost three times before they were satisfied. They handed the tracks over to Graham Walsh (Holy F@#k) to mix it, and he passed them on to Mikey Young, in Australia, for mastering. Their first full length album, At the Mall, was released in August 2023, and featured artwork by Brandon Hood. In 2024, on the strength of At the Mall, they were awarded New Artist of the Year by Music PEI. As well, they signed a publishing deal with CYMBA Music Publishing. 

In support of their first album, the band spend a fair amount of time on the road. They toured in Ontario, Quebec, and all around the East Coast. They played SappyFest, Dawson City Music Festival (Yukon), Flourish Festival (Fredericton), and Sommo Festival. They toured with or played shows with Daniel Romano’s Outfit, Dusted, Skydiggers, Tuns, and Holy F@#k, and during these performances, began showcasing new material. 

These new songs are heavily influenced by 70s and 80s power pop. The tracks are punchy, precise, once again full of hooks, and loaded with jangly guitars and sweet harmonies, a few times tapping into The Beach Boys. They have traces of Big Star, Fleetwood Mac, The Toms, The Knack, and sometimes they borrow from more recent East Coast Canadian bands like Sloan or The Flashing Lights. 

The songs that made up At the Mall were created from rehearsal jams that the trio worked and developed into fully formed songs. That method served the band well when they needed it, but they’ve settled nicely into a new direction, in both style and writing. All three members take turns singing lead vocals. They each brought songs, and as a band they arranged and refined them over a period of creative rehearsals. 

Once again, they connected with Graham Walsh (as producer), but this time in Toronto at Palace Sound. Look for news on this release sometime in the near future. 

Before they get to the album release, they are preparing a standalone single, to be recorded and released through the Music PEI Golden Ticket program. 

If you’re interested in catching Absolute Losers live, you can find them in Charlottetown at Sportsman’s on November 1 and 23, and at The Guild on December 14.