(Facebook/Peach Pit)
Have you ever wanted to quit the job you were in and follow your dreams? Well, that’s exactly what Vancouver band Peach Pit did. While in high school, friends Neil Smith and Chris Vanderkooy collaborated on a music project and got their start. Peter Wilton and Mikey Pascuzzi joined soon after on the bass and drums.
Peach Pit was originally just a side gig for the four. In the summer of 2016, the group released their first EP “Sweet FA”. It was produced and recorded by Smith’s former roommate Harley Small here in Vancouver at The Space Studios. Peach Pit wanted to continue their momentum and got to work on their debut LP “Being So Normal.” For the second time, Harley Small produced and recorded for the group, and the album was released in 2017 by local label Kingfisher Bluez.
While being musicians on the side, the members of Peach Pit had full time jobs. Smith was part of folk band Dogwood and Dahlia and worked with bass player Peter Wilton at Amazon as delivery drivers, Vanderkooy worked at a local brewery, and drummer Mikey Pascuzzi was a carpenter. The four decided to quit their jobs and head out on their first tour. From 2017- 2018 Peach Pit hit the road and toured across North America, Europe, and Asia. They have been going on tour consistently since the release of their first album, although COVID-19 has put touring on hold for the band.
(Youtube/Peach Pit)
In 2019, they performed at a number of U.S. music festivals, and played a set at the CBC Music Festival at Ontario Place’s Echo Beach. Following up this festival tour, Peach Pit released their second album “You and Your Friends” in April 2020. They released their latest single “Up Granville” on September 30th, 2021. In February, the band announced that they would be cancelling all their 2021 tour dates but mentioned that they would be working on a new album. Hopefully, that will be coming out soon.
(Facebook/Peach Pit)
The band has described their own music’s sound as “chewed bubble-gum pop.” While numerous publications have described it as “sad pop and surfer rock.” I get where both sides are coming from on the debate, I have not figured out how to describe their sound yet. I will say this, Peach Pit is a band that puts out fantastic music, you could be cooking dinner, or on the computer doing work, hit play and never skip a song. I am guilty of skipping songs consistently, but with Peach Pit that is not the case.
An interesting/weird fact about the group, they have worn the same clothes for every live performance since they purchased them when making their first music video. Not sure what people reading this article think about that? I guess that is the groups calling card. Do not let that fact scare you away, you will enjoy Peach Pit no matter what.
-Kosta Pappas