Author Archives: Bryce Taylor

The Phillips Backyard Concert Series is back in Victoria for two awesome weekends!

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The Phillips Backyard Concert Series returns to Victoria this summer for two packed weekends of live music!

You can get single-day tickets, and weekend passes, or you can buy a pass for both weekends all in one go!

The Tilt series runs from Friday, July 7 until Sunday, July 9, and is loaded with talent.

On July 7, Lord Huron headlines a stacked lineup also featuring JJ Wilde, Neal Francis, Pastel Blank, and Skye Wallace. To me, JJ Wilde would be the act I most want to see. I think she makes incredible music.

July 8 is headlined by DJ Pee.Wee (aka Anderson Paak) with Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Fleece, Naduh, Missy D, and Nicky Mackenzie. I consider this to be the night I’m least looking forward to. I like some of Anderson Paak, but overall, I’m more of a rock fan.

July 9 will see Bahamas headlining with Sudan Archives, Whitehorse, Haley Blais, and Trophy Dad. Bahamas are my top pick for this day. They’re a band I’ve been meaning to get more into as I’ve only listened to a small sample, but I like what I’ve heard.

The Reverb series runs from Friday, August 11 until Sunday, August 13, and I think is even better than the July lineup.

August 11 will be headlined by Jesse Roper. It will also see The Blue Stones, Crown Lands, Little Destroyer, and Acres of Lions. This is a stacked day. Jesse Roper is incredibly talented, The Blue Stones are one of the fastest-rising rock groups going today, and Little Destroyer just straight-up rocks.

August 12 will feature Peach Pit, Allen Stone, Ruby Waters, The Bankes Brothers, and Babe Corner. On this day, I’d love to see Peach Pit and Ruby Waters the most. Peach Pit is a local Vancouver favorite, while Ruby Waters makes beautiful music.

The final day of the summer, August 13, sees Fleet Foxes, Hollow Cove, Jon and Roy, Steph Strings, and Cold Fame. I’m not too familiar with some of these groups, but I like Hollow Cove, and Fleet Foxes is the act I’m most looking forward to. They’re one of my favorite indie bands with so many great songs. “Mykonos” is one of my favorite songs of all time.

Take your pick. Whether you choose one day, one weekend, or both weekends, you’re sure to see some talented musicians that will knock your socks off!

The Phillips Backyard Concert Series in July and August is going to be one for the books. Don’t miss it!

The Interrupters are here to stay

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Aimee Interrupter (Allen) sings her heart out while the Bivona brothers take care of the guitar (Kevin), bass (Justin), and drums (Jesse). The Interrupters, a ska-punk band from Los Angeles, got their big break touring with Rancid early on.

Not a bad start before they even released their debut album. Their sound has changed a bit over the years. Earlier on, they were more of a traditional ska-punk band, but they evolved into a bit more of an indie rock sound.

Their first album from 2014, The Interrupters, faired well and built up some more momentum. My favorite song off this one is “The Metro.” The song “Take Back the Power” was used in a 2020 docuseries about Hilary Clinton.

In 2016, they released Say It Out Loud.  I think this one was an improvement over their first album. It’s just more polished. “Phantom City” and “Control” stood out to me as highlights. They completed their first solo US tour after this one, proving that they had officially arrived.

With Fight the Good Fight in 2018, they took that next step. Singles “She’s Kerosene” and “I Gave You Everything” got significant radio time and performed well. “She’s Kerosene” reached #4 on the Billboard Alternative charts. It’s also the theme song for Vancouver professional wrestler Nicole Matthews. The album hit #2 on the Billboard Independent Album charts. It was definitely their breakout album that pushed them to the next level.

In 2019, they recorded a cover of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” that straight up rocks. It’s a great cover that puts a punk-rock spin on a pop song

In 2021, they released a live album, called Live in Tokyo! It features a collection of songs from their first three albums.

Their latest album, In the Wild, released in 2022, is another excellent one from The Interrupters. It’s highlighted by “Raised by Wolves,” “In the Mirror,” “Kiss the Ground,” and “As We Live.” Now, they’ve lost a lot of their punk sound, which might turn off some of their earlier fans. However, it’s a more easily accessible sound that the general population can get behind.

They just played at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on April 23. If you went, you’ll know that it was an awesome show. I can’t wait for them to come back and blow the roof off again!

Their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, and it feels like they’re only just getting started. I’m excited to hear what they bring to the table going forward.

So far, so good.

Yeah, I’ll take another Yeah Yeah Yeahs album

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When Yeah Yeah Yeahs started out in 2000, they were part of a wave of bands in the post-punk revival scene. That melded with their garage-punk sound nicely. Karen O’s screeching voice stood out above the crowd, Nick Zinner’s incredible frantic guitar riffs were a nice throwback to the post-punk of old, and on drums, Brian Chase kept the band sounding tight.

Karen and Nick met at New York University and at one point lived with members of Metric. They recruited Brian later, whom Karen knew from her time at Oberlin College.

They released Fever to Tell in 2003 and it was a huge critical and commercial success. “Maps” was their big hit that got radio time. This is their grungiest album and I love it. It’s worth a listen, this album shreds from top to bottom.  “Date With the Night,” “Black Tongue,” and “Pin” are especially some of my favorites.

Their second album, Show Your Bones, came out in 2006 and was just as good as their debut effort. It builds on what they did before but this one is a bit more polished and moves more into an indie rock sound. “Gold Lion,” “Way Out,” “Phenomena,” “Cheated Hearts,” “Mysteries,” and “Turn Into” are my picks for this one.

It’s Blitz (2009) marked another change for the band. Here we get more of a synthpop sound. Once again, they did well with the change. They seem to succeed no matter what they try to do. Songs like “Soft Shock,” “Dull Life,” and “Zero” are good examples of how they’ve managed to evolve their sound with modern trends. What separated this album though, is “Heads Will Roll.” It was a huge hit and was remixed with A-Trak, and was in Project X. Remember that movie? That takes me back.

In 2013, they released Mosquito. It’s more psychedelic than anything they’d done before. You just can’t pin down what Yeah Yeah Yeahs are. Just when you think you have the answer, they change the question. I think this is their least consistent album, but you can’t fault them for trying. There are still high points on this album. “Sacrilege” and “Mosquito” stand out above the pack to me.

After Mosquito, they took a break. A long break. It would be nine years until they released their last album, Cool it Down in 2022. This one is cohesive. It’s atmospheric and will sweep you off your feet right from the get-go with “Spitting Off the Edge of the World.” It’s a moment that sets up the rest of the trip the album takes you on. “Lovebomb,” “Wolf,” “Fleez,” and “Burning” are my high points on an album that doesn’t have many low points, if any.

You can hear songs from Cool It Down here on Evolution! I’d recommend listening to the whole thing though. Just let it wash over you.

Mt. Joy really are a mountain of joy

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Mt. Joy is one of those bands that hit me hard the first time I heard them. Their music is just so emotional and powerful.

The band was formed when two Philadelphia boys who went to high school together, singer Matt Quinn, and guitarist Sam Cooper reunited in Los Angeles. They recorded the single “Astrovan” and their popularity grew.

They added bassist Michael Byrnes, drummer Sotiris Eliopoulos, and Jackie Miclau on keys to complete the band.

They released singles “Sheep” and “Silver Lining” as they prepared for their first album, Mt. Joy. It’s a great piece of work that I’d recommend giving a listen to. In addition to the singles, “Mt. Joy,” “Bigfoot,” and “Dirty Love” are also great songs. “Silver Lining” reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative Charts.

Their second album, Rearrange Us was released in 2020. It was right in the thick of it too. A few weeks before its release, George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis. This tragedy and the Black Lives Matter movement that followed inspired Mt. Joy to donate 100% of album profits in the first week to Campaign Zero. It’s a charity focused on ending police brutality.

Rearrange Us featured the singles “Rearrange Us,” “Every Holiday,” “Strangers,” and “Let Loose.” Though I prefer their first album, this is still a good follow-up. It’s a bit slower and just not my style. A live album was released in 2021, called Live at Red Rocks.

I think they got back on track with their 2022 album Orange Blood. Once again, it has a different tone from their previous efforts. It’s groovier in parts but still feels like Mt. Joy. You can feel that they’ve perfected their sound now. The four singles are all fantastic songs that I enjoy a lot. “Lemon Tree,” “Orange Blood,” “Evergreen,” and “Bathroom Light” are all worth a listen. “Phenomenal” is another song that is, well, phenomenal.

Mt. Joy is one of many great indie bands that are played here on Evolution. Just one of the bands that separate us from your typical radio station.

Mt. Joy last performed in Vancouver at PNE Amphitheatre last Summer, and now we’re waiting patiently for them to return. Hopefully, they release some new music soon as they’re currently writing their fourth album.

They’ve already left their mark on the indie rock scene, and I see them being a staple of the genre for a long time. Give them a listen!

Soccer Mommy has only scratched the surface

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Sophia Allison, known to the world as Soccer Mommy, truly can do it all. She IS Soccer Mommy. She sings and plays guitar, drums, saxophone, and bass.

Born in Zurich, Switzerland, she moved to Nashville when she was two and grew up there. She started playing guitar and writing music at six years old while attending the Nashville School of the Arts.

She would post songs to Bandcamp as Soccer Mommy starting in 2015 while going to York University to study music business. After two years, she dropped out to pursue her music career.

She made For Young Hearts in 2016 and Collection in 2017. There is a crossover with some songs being on both albums, like “Inside Out” and “3 AM at a Party.” They’re both good bedroom pop albums that started her career out with a bang.

Clean followed in 2018, and this is when people started taking notice of her. This is when I first heard Soccer Mommy. I love “Your Dog” and listened to it on repeat for a while. “Cool” and “Last Girl” also stood out to me.

In 2020, color theory was released and was a good follow-up. But it suffered from being released just before the pandemic. The standout songs are “bloodstream,” “circle the drain,” and “lucy.” Lyrically, this album is beautiful.

Sometimes, Forever (2022) is her latest album, and is much more experimental than anything else she’s done. “Unholy Affliction” is a trip. It’s dark, distorted, bass-heavy, and urgent. Then there’s “Shotgun,” which is just a straight-up jam. This album is a journey that will take you on the highs and lows. “Bones,” “With U,” “newdemo,” “Darkness Forever,” and “Feel It All the Time” will all make you feel something too. I’d say this is her best album yet. She took it to the next level and graduated from that bedroom pop sound. There are still songs like that, but this album goes places that Soccer Mommy’s never been.

Tune into Evolution 107.9 and you might hear Soccer Mommy! And go check out her song with Bully called “Lose You,” released earlier this year.

Soccer Mommy will be in Burnaby on June 5 with The National at Deer Lake Park! This doubleheader is an awesome 1-2 punch that you won’t get another chance to see. With the progression of Soccer Mommy, I’d be willing to bet her next appearance in Vancouver will be as a headliner. To see two acts of this caliber for the price of one is unmissable! Get your tickets now.

The Glorious Sons to kick off the 2023 Memorial Cup in Kamloops!

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To mark the start of the Memorial Cup festivities at Sandman Centre in Kamloops, a slew of musical acts will be performing from May 25 – June 4.

The opening ceremony for the 2023 Memorial Cup will kick off on June 24th with The Glorious Sons! They’re one of the best bands in Canada and have been for a long time. They currently have eight consecutive top-10 radio hits!

They just keep pumping out hit after hit. “White Noise,” “Shapeless Art,” “Everything is Alright,” “Sawed Off Shotgun,” “Hit the Lights,” “Closer to the Sky,” “Heavy,” “Hold Steady,” and “Panic Attack” are all well-known songs.

Don’t miss the opening ceremony which will also feature the arrival of the cup, plus the introductions for the four teams. This is your chance to cheer loud for your hometown Blazers!

There are many events throughout the duration of the tournament happening all over Kamloops. Fanzone, Hockey Hall of Fame, On-Ice Skill Development Sessions, a ball hockey tournament, and free concerts!

Tickets are available to see The Glorious Sons for $50, but you can see other concerts for free. At Molson Canadian Hockey House, just outside Sandman Centre, there are several concerts planned.

On May 31st, DJ Shubb will be performing, and Gord Bamford plays on June 1st. The one I’m most looking forward to though, is Dear Rouge. They’re a rising band from Vancouver that you should check out! They get playing time on Evolution 107.9 frequently, so tune in to hear them.

On other nights, local Kamloops bands will be performing as well so come on down any night.

This will be the most eventful couple of weeks in Kamloops in a long time. Be a part of the fun at the 2023 Memorial Cup in Kamloops!

Tickets are selling fast for The Glorious Sons so don’t wait until the last minute! You won’t want to be caught holding the bag. I’ve got my tickets so if you’re going, I’ll see you there!

There are still select tickets available for certain games on the Memorial Cup schedule. This is mostly standing room only, but you still get a good view of the action.

I’ll be back in Kamloops for the summer after finishing up my first year at BCIT, and I’m excited to go back and experience the Kamloops pride that has washed over the city.

When I went back for Spring Break, I could feel the energy. The people are pumped up, and ready to cheer on the boys as they take care of business.

Go Blazers!

 

The Evolution of Matt Mays

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Matt Mays is one of my favorite Canadian musicians. Period.

His music puts me in a different place. It makes me feel something. It soothes me. Ever since I first heard his music as a kid, I immediately fell in love.

Matt was born in Hamilton but grew up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. As he got his start in music, he was part of a band called The Guthries. When the band decided to go their separate ways in 2002, Matt started his own band: Matt Mays & El Torpedo.

Their first album was released in 2003, called Matt Mays. It’s highlighted by two of my favorite songs: “City of Lakes” and “Downtown.” If you haven’t heard these songs, stop what you’re doing right now and give them a listen. “City of Lakes” in particular is a thing of beauty.

In 2005, they released the sophomore effort Matt Mays & El Torpedo. This is one of my favorite albums of all time, with some of my favorite songs of all time. “Cocaine Cowgirl,” “On the Hood,” St. George’s Lane,” “Ain’t So Heavy,” and “Move Your Mind” are songs I’ve been listening to for nearly 20 years and still love as much as I did back then.

2006 brought When the Angels Make Contact. Not to the level of his first two, but still a good album. It just doesn’t hit the same peaks. “Never Saw it Comin’” and “The Past” are my picks. Terminal Romance (2008) had great songs like “Tall Trees” and “Building a Boat.”

In 2012, Coyote was released. Another great album that I think is the best since 2005. My picks of this one are “Take It On Faith,” “Indio,” and “Dull Knife.” It won Rock Album of the Year at the 2014 JUNO Awards.

After a five-year break, he released Once Upon a Hell of a Time in 2018 and it’s a triumphant return for Matt Mays. When these came out, I was beyond stoked. “Sentimental Sins” is such a great song. Go listen to it now. I also really like “Faint of Heart,” “NYC Girls,” and “Drive On.” An acoustic version, Twice Upon a Hell of a Time, came out in 2019.

The latest album, Dog City, came out in 2020 and feels like a bit of a throwback to his very earlier sound. A solid effort here. “Talking to the Sky” is my favorite.

Matt Mays will be performing in Calgary on July 27th, but if you’d prefer to wait until he comes to BC, don’t fret. He’s due, so I think it’s just a matter of time.

For now, Matt makes regular appearances on Evolution, so tune in to hear one of Canada’s greatest singer-songwriters!

The past, present, and future of Brkn Love

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At just 16 years old, Toronto kid Justin Benlolo left school and moved to New York to chase his musical dreams. He began writing songs and recording demos, which were discovered by producer Joel Hamilton. While in New York, he found guitarist Kyle Duke, bassist Nick Katz, and drummer Russell Holzman, and Brkn Love was born.

Benlolo was born to sing. His singing abilities scored him leading roles in Elementary School plays. He claims his biggest influence was Kiss, whose incredible live performances were a huge inspiration for him. With their colorful costumes and electrifying performances, he saw them as superheroes.

He was also influenced by Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Black Sabbath,  Wolfmother, Nirvana, and Muse.

He got his first guitar at 11 years old and never looked back. He taught himself how to play it by ear.

The name Brkn Love comes from the first letter of his favorite albums and the last letter of his favorite songs. The fact that it worked out so perfectly is a coincidence.

In 2019, they released their first single “Shot Down.” They also toured with Dinosaur Pile-up and Pop Evil, which was a huge break for the band.

In 2020, they released their debut album, Brkn Love. They were supposed to go on tour, but the pandemic put a hold on that. They would eventually tour once the world opened back up with Royal Tusk, Big Wreck, and Monster Truck in 2021. In 2022, they toured with Badmother.

Brkn Love is a fantastic first entry. They made an impact and put the rock industry on notice. It was ranked in many year-end lists as one of the best debut albums of the year. The whole thing is good from top to bottom. I would recommend giving it a listen. “I See Red,” “Shot Down,” “Papercuts,” “Seventeen,” “Toxic Twin,” “Complicated,” “Don’t Panic,” and “I Can’t Lie” are my favorites off the 15-song album.

They followed up with their second and most recent album in 2022, Black Box. It’s another strong effort for the rising band. “Dead Weight,” “Like a Drug,” “Under the Knife,” “Rubber Room,” “Animal,” “Bad Blood,” and “One in the Same” stand out as my picks for this one. Tune into Evolution 107.9 to hear the newest songs off Black Box from Brkn Love!

If you like Royal Blood, you’ll probably like Brkn Love. They’re cut from the same cloth.

They played at Vogue Theatre last November and tore the house down! I hope they come back soon with new music to play. I’m excited to see where Brkn Love goes from here.

Despite their name, the last thing The Standstills do is stand still.

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The duo, with Jonny Fox and Renee Couture from Ontario, formed in 2011. While gaining traction, they entered a radio station Rocksearch with nearly 150 bands in 2012. They won unanimously, which had never been done before.

They recorded Pushing Electric out of a basement before and released it independently. They said it was a tribute to Nikola Tesla, The Electric Jesus.

Their first EP was released in 2015, called From the Devil’s Porch. It’s a great start and got the ball rolling on their career. It has six songs, and all flow nicely and fit well. The whole album has punch and hits hard. There’s an edge to their sound. It’s an impressive first release that ends on a high note with my favorite song, “Rise of The Fall.” I think “Pay No Mind” and “Shotgun” stand out as well. iTunes included it on their list of best rock albums of 2015.

Their first studio album is awesome. Badlands (2019) was a great next step for their progression, and probably my favorite Standstills album. Songs like “Cold Blooded Killer,” “Black Hill Creek,” “Diablo,” and “Shaker Down” are my favorite of this album.

Their latest entry, which is played quite often on Evolution, came out in 2022. Shockwaves built on previous entries and is another excellent album. “Maple Sugar,” “Motherlode,” “Get Right,” “Pretty Little Broken Thing,” and “Heavy is the Reason” are my recommendations.

According to Canadian Beats, “Shockwaves was produced by Three Days Grace drummer and main songwriter Neil Sanderson and mixed by Grammy Award-winner Howard Benson. The songs are derived from Jonny and Renee’s personal experiences as a couple in a band, moving up the ranks in the rock world.”

They’ve done some fun cover songs too, like Alice Cooper’s “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and Ram Jam’s “Black Betty.” Both put a nice modern spin on a classic.

Unfortunately, they don’t have any shows scheduled in BC now. They did just play in Vancouver at Queen Elizabeth Theatre last November and played at Commodore Ballroom before that so it’s just a matter of time until they come back!

The Standstills have steadily built a following, and it feels like we’re on the verge of them getting to that next level. Where they go from here will dictate how far they go. If their next album is on par or better than their previous, then they cement themselves and their signature sound as one of Canada’s fastest-rising bands.

As the silver sun picks up, it’s time for some Silversun Pickups

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Silversun Pickups are one of the most popular indie rock bands in the world and have been for a long time now.

The band from Los Angeles has changed a lot over the years, but they’ve kept true to who they are. They feature Brian Aubert, Christopher Guanlao, Joe Lester, and Nikki Monninger. Aubert’s singing is memorable and distinct. You always know a Silversun Pickups song when you hear it.

Aubert and Monninger met on a flight in 1994 when Aubert saw Monninger stealing drinks from the cart. It was a funny meeting that changed their lives forever.

Did you know the band name comes from the Silversun Liquor Store? It’s where they would go to “pick up” alcohol.

They released their first EP, Pikul, in 2005. “Kissing Families” was the biggest hit, and with good reason. It’s a great song. Their earlier work has been compared to Smashing Pumpkins, which I’d say is accurate. This early album is noisy and psychedelic.

They followed up with their first official album, Carnavas, in 2006. They put the music industry on notice with this incredible album. “Checkered Floor,” “Lazy Eye,” “Little Lover’s so Polite,” and “Well Thought Out Twinkles” are some of the best songs the band has ever made.

The success continued with Swoon (2009) and Neck of the Woods (2012). There are great songs littered through both albums, like “Panic Switch,” “Substitution,” and “Catch & Release” on Swoon. Neck of the Woods has “Dots and Dashes,” “Bloody Mary,” and “Here We Are.” It also marked a change in sound for the band, as they abandoned their shoegaze influences, using more electronic elements here.

One of their best albums, Better Nature, came out in 2015. “Cradle,” “Pins and Needles,” “Latchkey Kids,” “Circadian Rhythm,” and “Connection” stand out to me in what could be the most consistent album they have ever put out. I’d highly recommend this one. By this point, they had changed their sound to a more classic indie sound without a lot of the noise and distortion of their earlier work.

Widow’s Weeds from 2019 has “It Doesn’t Matter Why,” “Freakazoid,” “Straw Man,” and “Neon Wound.” Another fantastic outing for a band that doesn’t have a bad album.

Their latest effort, Physical Thrills, came out in 2022 and follows the path of their last album. Another strong one here, with “Sticks and Stones” and “Scared Together” standing out as hits. This album is played on Evolution 107.9 regularly. You’d better tune in to hear the best that Silversun Pickups have to offer!