54-40’s opening act Jets Overhead was exactly what you’d expect from them. Even if you don’t know who they are, if you listened, it feels like you have. Not in a derivative “Oh these guys are the same as every other early 2000’s canrock band” but more of a familiar “Hey, I remember songs like these from when I was younger kind of way.”

But I have to be honest with you. I did not know who these guys were before I walked in, I actually didn’t know if 54-40 even had an opening act. So we actually showed up part way through their set, but what I heard made me wish we had gotten there sooner.

We showed up right around when they played Heading for Nowhere, their top hit. The song is a product of its time. Not in a bad way, but if you listened to it for the first time, you could pretty easily place it as a song from the late 2000’s. It’s got a Maroon 5-esque quality, but the vocals of an English indie band. Imagine if Radiohead sang Moves Like Jagger. Not a mashup you think would work, right? But if you don’t believe me that it does, check it out for yourself. I believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

But who are these guys? Well, they’re a rock band from Victoria. The first thing to rock to come out of there since… well… I don’t know the last time they moved an artifact from the museum? Nothing happens there, it’s hard to make a joke about it. Moving on. They have been rocking since 2003, and been going strong the whole time. I want to talk a little about their album Boredom and Joy.

That reference to Radiohead earlier wasn’t just a “Quick whats an English band, I didn’t think this comparison through before I wrote it” it was a legitimate reference to one of their strongest influences. Which this album makes abundantly clear. The title track is how they closed out their set before 54-40 came out, which was a great pick. My buddy Jake turned to me and said “When they bring out the tambourine, you know they’re getting to the hits.” And he was right. Check these guys out when you have the chance, they’re great. Unless you hate indie rock, but then what’re you doing here?