Alice Leon and her band have been plugging away for 10 years. I love her voice, and some of the songs she's written are truly amazing. A great live performer for sure. (Shout out to BillJ & SouthernBoy: definitely worth the effort to get to one of her shows)
"Once again, the talent that continues to flow out of Canadian musicians amazes me. I never know quite what to expect when I play a new release, and Chris Velan’s smooth voice and delightful melodies leave me yearning for more. This may be The Album of Summer 2009." Backstage Vancouver.
I actually only ever heard of them because I was travelling from Panama City to Orlando (was living in Orlando at the time, coming back from visiting my parents) and heard them played on Gulf 104 (I believe the station has a "locals" show on Sunday nights, or did). I told myself to remember the name and then promptly forgot it. Then... months later... I heard someone say to someone else "he doesn't know anything about me" and remembered the performance. Took awhile to remember the band name though :)
Giraffe Aftermath. Their live show was once described as what would happen if the Chicago Transit Authority became a reggae band, and they're really starting to get noticed here in Vancouver. They're definitely reggae and yet they have really carved their own niche with their unique sound. Two of their songs are on the LRC and seem to be getting positive feedback.
Local Latin-inspired band Grupo Fantasma and their side project Brownout.
Brownout did a set on the local public station today. They have some amazing Latin-infused-but-not-strictly-Latin chops. Grupo hews closer to the traditional cumbia and merengue (sp?) styles, but Brownout adds a dose of funk.
Giraffe Aftermath. Their live show was once described as what would happen if the Chicago Transit Authority became a reggae band, and they're really starting to get noticed here in Vancouver. They're definitely reggae and yet they have really carved their own niche with their unique sound. Two of their songs are on the LRC and seem to be getting positive feedback.
Local Latin-inspired band Grupo Fantasma and their side project Brownout.
Brownout did a set on the local public station today. They have some amazing Latin-infused-but-not-strictly-Latin chops. Grupo hews closer to the traditional cumbia and merengue (sp?) styles, but Brownout adds a dose of funk.
"the band’s sound is a mix of acoustic instruments and a generous heaping of distortion, which has the effect of disconnecting the sound from a particular time period: is it old-sounding because it’s acoustic? Is it modern-sounding because of the distortion? No, it’s simply rootless, drifting to wherever it needs to be."
They will be supporting The Weakerthans on their upcoming show at The Magic Stick in Detroit on September 24.
For all the RPeeps attending ACL this year: be sure to check out the showcase by Austin's own Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears. They sure won't be Local or Undiscovered for very much longer. Be able to say that "I saw them when...." FANTASTIC live act.
they played a couple of chicagoland gigs this summer, and they packed em in!
For all the RPeeps attending ACL this year: be sure to check out the showcase by Austin's own Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears. They sure won't be Local or Undiscovered for very much longer. Be able to say that "I saw them when...." FANTASTIC live act.
"Pop-Up Book Features some of the most honeyed, sentimental, coyly written pop tunes since Halifax's explosive Murderecords days glimmers of The Hollies, Turtles and The Beach Boys illuminate the album's sense of timelessness"- The Coast
For the past 15 years I've believed STEVE HODAK to be the strongest singer/songwriter I've ever come across. Still working on his 'official' CD...hope it's out soon. check him on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/49387608
For the past 15 years I've believed STEVE HODAK to be the strongest singer/songwriter I've ever come across. Still working on his 'official' CD...hope it's out soon. check him on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/49387608
"Hachey has a great falsetto and a powerful high register. It's the kind of voice that grabs you immediately, and may well be the weapon that brings the group to a wide audience.." — Bob Merserau - Telegraph Journal
