A long time ago I saw a band with lots of local buzz play a packed show at The Reverb (R.I.P) at Queen and Bathurst. I remember one of them wore a plush backpack shaped like an animal and there was almost a full brass band onstage with them. Nowadays, you’re hearing one of their hits on the radio, or watching them on Much Music or MTV. Down With Webster has launched into superstardom from humble beginnings in Toronto, and their dedication is no surprise when you learn that they’ve been bandmates and buds for 14 years.

Down With Webster consists of Tyler Armes, Dave Ferris, Patrick Gillet, Cameron Hunter, Andrew Martino and Martin Seja, a.k.a Bucky Buck. In a loft in Toronto’s east end last week, we all gathered for a photoshoot with Jeff Hui for the premier issue of Cuver Magazine, complete with swaggerific shades from Aeroplane Vintage Eyewear. The boys in the band were stoked to be shooting their first magazine cover.

After touring solidly the last few years, the guys are excited to spend most of the summer in between Toronto, New York and LA writing material for their next album. Oh, except for a quick trip to Montreal to play Osheaga of course. Go big or go home, right? They’ve toured with Black Eyed Peas and 303 (good friends of theirs) and have played Ottawa Blues Fest, D Fest, and Warped Tour as well as a million other venues around town.

Cuver Magazine is bringing some of North America’s biggest online influencers and cultural movers and shakers together and is stamping them into timeless print. Kudos to Alison ‘The High Heeled Bandit’ for holding down the Toronto portion of things. The first issue is being launched this summer in Toronto and New York, and it will be printed quarterly. In the premier issue, Down With Webster will be featured alongside contributions from Canadian photography legend Steve Carty, NYC super-blogger The Little Black List and Skateboarding phenom Nolan Lee.

After the shoot, Down With Webster zipped off to go throw the first pitch at a Blue Jays game. Just another day in the life of Canadian rockstars. Nbd.