The Blue Stones have come a long way in their short tenure. I remember hearing their first couple of singles on the radio, and I liked what I heard. Their singles “Black Holes (Solid Ground)” and “Be My Fire” from their debut album Black Holes (2018) caught my eye right off the bat. The band from Windsor, Ontario was nominated for Breakthrough Group of the Year at the 2020 Juno Awards, but they lost to Neon Dreams.
The band followed up their debut album with Hidden Gems (2021). This is my favorite Blue Stones album. “Shakin’ Off the Rust,” “One by One,” “Careless,” “Grim,” and “Let it Ride” are my top picks. I feel like this is the album where they found themselves and their sound.
They didn’t waste any time releasing their third album, Pretty Monster (2022). This one was a nice follow-up to their sophomore effort. Songs like “Don’t Miss,” “Good Ideas,” and “What’s it Take to Be Happy” are all great efforts that represent the band well.
They’ve carved out a nice little niche in Canada, and Vancouver is no different. They’ve played here a few times, including twice in the past year. They played at the Commodore Ballroom on May 22, 2022, for the Hidden Gems tour, and at the Vogue Theatre on November 25th, 2022, for the Pretty Monster tour.
They don’t have any dates scheduled for Vancouver right now, so here’s to hoping that they schedule something soon. I couldn’t attend either of their 2022 shows, but I’d like to see them next time.
Have you heard The Blue Stones before? If you haven’t, I’d highly recommend checking them out.
What’s especially impressive about them, is that they’re only a duo. Tarek Jafar handles the vocals, guitar, bass, and keys, while Justin Tessier is on percussion and backup vocals. I’ve got to hand it to Jafar, who performs the bulk of their instruments. That is one highly talented man.
You can hear The Blue Stones here on Evolution 107.9 so keep that station tuned, and keep your eyes peeled for future releases!
I look forward to seeing what they bring to the table in future releases, as they’ve knocked it out of the park so far. I see them only getting better and better as they release more in the coming years. They’re sure to be remembered as one of the great Canadian rock bands of this era.
It’s true, The Blue Stones just don’t miss.