(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 30^th, 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

(Photo Credit: cityandcolour.com)

While the citizens of Vancouver try and return to normal with the COVID-19 pandemic, concerts continue to be announced around the city. One that was announced recently was City and Colour.

His real name is Dallas Green. Before going out on his own as City and Colour, Green was a member of the band Alexisonfire. Green was with the group from its formation in 2001, up until they disbanded in 2011 when Green decided to go out on his own. This past September, Green announced that Alexisonfire was putting some new music together, they are scheduled to appear at a U.K. music festival in 2022.

Green began putting music out as City and Colour in 2005, at first he would put out music online for fans to download, eventually the music he released turned into his first solo album, “Sometimes.” By 2011, Green went on as City and Colour fulltime leading to the end of Alexisonfire.

            His second album “Bring Me Your Love” which released in 2008, featured a collaboration with The Tragically Hip’s front man Gord Downie. The song, which is titled “Sleeping Sickness” peaked at #32 on the Canadian Hot 100 charts.

(Youtube/[PIAS])

City and Colour’s third album Little Hell features the hit song “Fragile Bird” was the first single off the album. Fragile Bird went as high as #48 on the Canadian Top 100 charts and was #1 on the Canadian Alternative Rock charts for over 9 weeks. The song was used for the intro video for Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins.

(Youtube/Cassie Espinosa)

Since going solo, City and Colour has released six studio albums, four of which have gone platinum, and the other two went gold. No news of a new album has been announced yet.

City and Colour will be heading out on tour starting October 12^th in Pittsburgh PA. Two shows are set for the Queen Elizabeth Theatre here in Vancouver for November 12^th and 13^th 2021. City and Colour will hop on BC Ferries and head to Victoria for two shows on November 15^th and 16^th, before finishing the BC portion of the tour in Vernon on November 18^th.

(Facebook/City and Colour)

For tickets to the Vancouver shows, head over to the Ticketmaster website

-Kosta Pappas

(Facebook/Said the Whale)

The Juno-Award winning Vancouver band Said The Whale has a new album on its way. The seventh studio album, titled “Dandelion” will be released on October 21^st, 2021. The album has had three singles (“Show Me Everything,” “Everything She Touches Is Gold to Me,” and “Honey Lungs”) released, in lead up to the albums debut in October.

(Youtube/Said The Whale)

Formed in 2007, Said The Whale released their first full EP “Howe Sounds/Talking Abalonia” that very same year. Two years later in 2009, the band released their EP “The Magician” in anticipation of their second studio album “Islands Disappear”.

In 2011 they toured the United States for the first time, being the subject of the CBC documentary Winning America. The documentary highlighted their shows along the West Coast of North America, leading to their highly anticipated show at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin Texas. The documentary concluded with their 2011 Juno Award victory for New Group of The Year.

In 2012, they received a spot on Canadian music magazine Rockstar Weekly’s “Top-12 Rock Stars to Watch in 2012”. The list included the likes of Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, and Rush.

Since their start, Said The Whale has been a mainstay on the Canadian Music scene. I remember back in 2014, they had a show at my high school. My friends and I thought it was the coolest thing that a well-known band was having a show at our school. The band ended up playing at a number of high schools across the city that year.

Said The Whale will be going out on tour in the later part of 2021, supporting Tokyo Police Club. That portion of the tour starts November 2^nd in Seattle, and finishes November 9^th in Phoenix Arizona.

In 2022 they will have a cross Canada tour starting March 8^th in Montreal and will finish here in Vancouver with three shows. The first at Fox Cabaret on March 24^th, the second at the Biltmore Cabaret on March 25^th, and the final show at the Vogue Theatre on March 26^th.

(Twitter/@saidthewhale)

For tickets to one of the three shows, head over to admitone.com

-Kosta Pappas

(Spotify/Schwey)

One thing that everyone loves to and should be doing when times get rough, is dance. That’s exactly what you will do when you listen to Schwey. A local group, consisting of Jacob Schwinghammer, brothers Isaiah and Jarah Terrell-Dobbs, and Chris Marriot have a passion for music, and the ability to make people get up and groove to the beat.

The East Vancouver band was formed in 2013 by bassist Isaiah, and keyboard player Jacob while they were still in high school. Originally called Funk Schwey, the group has built quite the reputation for themselves, starting off in underground DIY venues, to now having two albums and an EP released as well as being featured in numerous local publications.

It seems as if the band has had a few changes of members in the past. The current group played their first show together just before the pandemic began in February 2020 at Dolly Disco. The reoccurring event known as Experimental Waves, features a wide variety of artists who love to entertain their crowds with tunes that will make you want to dance all night.

Their first album titled “Schwey” was released in March of 2019 and features ten songs, including my favourite “Can’t Stop (The Groove)”. They released an EP in May 2020 called “Korenteen”, and a year later released their second album “Schwey 2: Cyber Soul”. Cyber Soul has the laid-back summer vibes feel to it, and offers a wide variety of dance, pop, and alternative tunes.

(Youtube/Schwey)

I was just recently introduced to Schwey. I am not too familiar with the local music scene but was astonished to see the following the group has built. From what I have heard, their live shows are can’t miss, and will have you leaving wanting more.

No concerts are currently scheduled for the group. You better believe that when one is announced, I will be there, eager to enjoy the live Schwey experience.

-Kosta Pappas