One of the newest Fraser Valley bands is about to release their first EP in March, but in the meantime the band just released their single, “Vacation“, a catchy rock pop song that flirts with punk.

The single is available on their bandcamp page, and if you like the tune, there are four versions of it for your enjoyment: A studio version, a raw demo, an acoustic and a Live Action Fezz remix, (which is very trippy by the way).   The band is very interesting, while it is a new project,  their members are “veterans” of the Vancouver scene ( You Say Party! We Say Die!, On No! Yoko, and GSTS!). The single with all its versions just makes you curious to see what their EP will have in store for the listeners. I can’t wait.

Members:

Everett Morris – Vocals/Guitar
Drew Riekman – Guitar/Vocals
Stephen O’Shea – Bass
Liam Hamilton – Drums
Hometown
Abbotsford, BC

Twitter: @realboysarereal

Biography

Formed in April 2011 as a side project for lead singer Everett Morris’ songwriting, Real Boys arrive with fresh-faced enthusiasm and the bravery to wander on tangents. Their two guitar attack dispensing strong melodies against an air-tight rhythm section, these summery tunes will have you dancing through winter. Featuring members of You Say Party! We Say Die!, On No! Yoko, and GSTS!.

REAL BOYS ARE PROUD TO BE RELEASING THEIR FIRST SINGLE ‘VACATION’ AVAILABLE DIGITALLY FEBRUARY 4, 2012. THIS RELEASE MARKS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR ARRIVAL AND SUBSEQUENT RELEASE OF THE DEBUT SELF TITLED EP ON MARCH 27, 2012. LOOK FOR THEM TO BE TOURING WESTERN CANADA IN SUPPORT OF THIS EP IN APRIL.

UPCOMING DATES:
MAR 23 – ABBOTSFORD – UFV u-HOUSE – EP RELEASE PARTY
MAR 29 – VANCOUVER – 560

MAR 27 – REAL BOYS EP RELEASE!!!

WESTERN CANADA TOUR
APR 7 – KAMLOOPS – TBA
APR 8 – EDMONTON – WUNDERBAR
APR 11 – SASKATOON – TBA
APR 12 – WINNIPEG – LO PUB
APR 13 – REGINA – O’HANLON’S
APR 14 – CALGARY – PALAMINO
APR 15 – KELOWNA – TBA

Also on the bill were Left Spine Down and Stiff Valentine. Unfortunately I only caught the tail end of Stiff Valentine.   However I did catch Left Spine Down and I chatted with KAINE D3L4Y after the show.   And btw D3L4Y = Delay for all you non-text-emoticon-lingo -un- L33T speaking way back in the days.  Check out the interview with KAINE D3L4Y from Left Spine Down in the podcast above.

Left Spine Down put on a great show. Epic, tight and powerful. Crisp vocals with a heavy atmosphere and strong beats. That’s the way I like my industrial punk. And I like it loud so when KAIN D3L4Y brought out the megaphone and hit the custom made chain mic stand I was stoked. One thing I hate is when bands try to pull this off and fail, Left Spine Down did not fail. Clear vocals and melodies through the megaphone into the mic,  riding on a surrounding pulse of sound that filled the Biltmore like blood into a heart.  It was the first time I’d heard Left Spine Down and it won’t be the last. I will definitely check them out live again.

In between bands I ran into Gillian Callander from Joyce Collingwood and our very own vanmusic.ca, she took me backstage where we had drinks with the bands. The show was sponsored by Cariboo beer and let’s just say that a good time was had by all.

Jakalope poured onto the stage with a sweaty landscape of industrial dance layered melodies, which to me were like smoke curling in air. Sometimes in thick waves, sometimes in subtle waves and sometimes in directions you don’t expect. As Chrystal Leigh performs her vocals and sex appeal seem to control the room and if she locks eyes with you, be assured that there is no breaking her powerful gaze.  All in all Jakalope’s return to Vancouver after their West Coast U.S. tour solidified them as having the city’s premier industrial dance sound.

http://www.myspace.com/leftspinedown
http://www.myspace.com/jakalope
http://jakalope.ca/

Admiral Akiba is an electro-rock band from Vancouver BC, made of Dan (vo/guit), Rhino (key), Ryan T, (bass), and Alfonso (dr). Formed and masterminded by Ray Bixon who is the godfather and the supreme leader of everyone at Valentine Records. Admiral Akiba is the brain child of this international playboy, war hero, ex-mercenary and music superstar.

Much like Howard Hughes, Ray Bixon has avoided the public for a number of years. Having spent most of his youth at the forefront of music and culture until the mid-nineties when he disappeared almost entirely. It is believed that Admiral Akiba spent a lot of time in Japan training hard to master their craft while gaining international recognition.

This latest endeavor was conceived, written, produced and recorded by Ray and he has handpicked the band members from over 300 applicants.

Come check out Admiral Akiba play as part of the Van Music weekly Indie Pop Vancouver Series.

Friday Jan 27th
British Ex-Serviceman’s Association – 1143 Kingsway
9pm – midnight
$5 cover
$2 beer

There is no secret Vancouver loves Folk music. This new duo from the east side of town is the newest example. If you are into folk/Americana, you cannot miss these guys when they play. Their next show is on January 28 at the Biltmore Cabaret and next month they will be touring the interior of BC. Now here is their bio:

BIO

“The River and The Road” are currently based out of East Vancouver and play Folk/Americana music. They are comprised of Banjo player Keenan Lawlor and Guitarist Andrew Phelan.

While only playing for a short period of time, their fan base has grown considerably and continues to draw in new listeners.

Keenan draws influence from the North Island where he was born and raised, where as Andrew writes from his experiences growing up in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.

Together they have developed a sound that stands out from the standard Folk/Americana genre and can be easily recognized by their powerful harmonies and energetic live performance.

Sleuth hail from the wilds of Vancouver’s surrounding towns and cities.

Vancouver´s indie pop band have won the Shindig competition last December beating favourites Tyranahorse.

With influences such as Galaxie 500 and My Bloody Valentine and the boost of winning one of the major competitions in Vancouver, we expect great things from this band in 2012. They just released their CD Brave Knew Nothing and this is what they have to say about themselves:

Brave Knew Nothing by Sleuth was recorded on an island in Washington state in a forest next to the ocean, by three naive and earnest Canadians with the aid of a wise sage. The music explores indiepop tropes with a backlog of literary, artistic and musical references to support the soulful lyrics. The group of friends came together in early 2010 featuring The Lion in Love on guitar, vocals with Julian Bowers on drums, guitar and Oliver McTavish-Wisden on keys. Having quickly amassed a selection of songs to be recorded 8 months later produced by Jherek Bischoff (The Parenthetical Girls, Dead Science), the music is now available on a limited cassette or download.

Sleuth believes it’s not how you describe it, but what you do with it, and that is what explains a thing’s “it” quality and in turn, creates resonance. This is why Sleuth believes in verbs rather than adjectives.

Sleuth is noise and bubblegum, and seeking a space that makes enough sense.

Things you should know about Sleuth:

1. We would make awful detectives.

2. We might be nervous.

3. We have the capacity to talk endlessly, but we like to listen too.

4. We took 3 hours to decide on a name. Other options included Joan Crawford’s Eyebrows, My Mother is a Fish and a bunch of other good ideas that someone beat us to.

The five piece Vancouver band will play January 14th at The Railway Club with CRIMINAL CATERPILLAR, NO ISLAND, IVY LEAGUE BRAWLERS & DUBAI

No Island delivers a new brand of rock that blurs the lines between genres and generations. With well-crafted original songs and a unique sound complimented by keyboards and saxophone, No Island’s approach to rock is catchy, powerful, and sophisticated all at once.

Drawing from influences including Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Steely Dan, and Led Zeppelin, No Island has taken their love of innovative classic rock and channeled it in their own new direction, one further inspired by a wide range of different genres and modern influences.

Formed in 2009 by saxophonist James Wilfred Martin and guitarist/lead vocalist Keith Sinclair, No Island soon grew to include the talents of keyboardist/vocalist Andy Rice, bassist Sara Lauridsen, and drummer Mike Ferguson. Raised on rock and trained in jazz, each member of No Island shares a similar musical background in which they find their common ground.

No Island released their debut album, Sign of the Times, in the spring of 2011.

James Wilfred Martin – saxophones & vocals
Keith Sinclair – lead vocals, guitar
Andy Rice – keyboards, vocals
Sara Lauridsen – bass
Mike Ferguson – drums

Shalini is an upstream fish who has just finished launching her first self-titled EP.  Produced by Winston Hauschild (Nat Jay, Hannah Georgas, Wanting Qu) in Vancouver, British Columbia, her musical style is best described as Indie, Quirky, Baroque and Melodramatic “Theatrical” Pop.

The songs on the EP were written in Shalini’s dark closet – “I have to make music in the closet under the stairs because my grandparents don’t like listening to me sing.  They feel I should be married and working in an accounting firm in New Zealand” – and though the lyrics are “lonely, lost and dreamy”, Shalini has a very powerful and exhilarating voice that turns the songs into uplifting and inspirational pieces.  All 5 songs are potential singles, but Shalini and her fans have chosen to launch the catchy, coming-of-age love song, Freeze Up, as her first official single.   Her music has been compared to the works of Regina Spektor, Danny Elfman, Coldplay, Philip Glass, Lilly Allen, Sarah Maclachlan, and Zooey Deschanel. 

Shalini has been playing around town promoting her record with memorable gigs at the Anza Club and Displace Hashery, just to name a few.  The EP captures live instrumentation featuring Shalini on the piano, harmonium (a traditional accordian-sounding instrument from India) and synths; Niko Friesen (Kelly Rowland, Marcy Playground, Veronica Mars) on drums; Doug Gorkoff (Transiberian Orchestra, Mariana’s Trench) on the cello; Winston Hauschild on bass, guitars, glock and synths; Guru Bhaskar Sharma on the tabla and Marcus Abramzik on the upright bass.

When asked on an interview by album designer/photographer, Vikaash Prasad,”If you could choose any track on Shalini’s EP for the world to fall in love with, which one would it be?”, producer Winston Hauschild answers:

“I think it would probably be Telescope because I think it’s really emotional and it will probably appeal to the most amount of people. I always said that just the composition of the piano piece itself stood on its own. You almost don’t need vocals or lyrics. That song just has it’s own vibe. I think people will fall in love with that song. For me, it was great piano composition that we took a step further with Shalini’s words and lyrics…. It’s a universal song, whereas Life of the Mind probably isn’t and is going to work for a certain demographic. I think for a song that’s going to capture the world, I think Telescope …”  He adds to Shalini, “My vision for you making this record was you coming out of your cage and being able to fly and be free and make music and say “fuck” on record. I thought of her as a bird from under the staircase to out in the world”.

“I am recording a full length album next year,” Shalini tells me about her new year resolution plans on The Morning After Show. “We are making a video right now for Freeze Up, it’ll be my first music video ever!” she concludes.

The music of Shalini is fresh and catchy. The 5 songs are very emotional and really well crafted.  The young career of this performer can only get better, her followers are looking forward to listen to her new creations. In the meantime catch her playing LIVE.

For upcoming shows, music and personal blog, please visit shalini at www.shalinimusic.com.

Photography by Raymond Kam .

Cover art, design and photography by Vikaash Prasad.

Born in Nigeria, Adrian spent his childhood performing with his school and church choir; it is during these years he found his love for music. He draws his influence from different cross overs; life experiences through his travels, appreciation for British bands like Tears for Fears, Beatles, Queen, Imogen Heap to funk-pop music like James brown, Prince and Jamiroquai. In 2009, while still finding his sound, he released his first single, ‘Broken Man’ which received positive criticisms and was featured by Heavy D/Post Media National playlist.

Despite Majoring in Psychology and Marketing he often felt disconnected with the world, and music was the one element he used to fill that gap. Music would be his eventual pursuit as he could no longer ignore it, so in 2008 he attended the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts for further music training. Currently he lives in Vancouver working with producers, writing and performing. In December of 2011, Adrian released his new single titled ‘Crazy World’ produced by Pierre Joseph Armstrong.   This latest effort shows a departure from adult-contemporary pop to a Fusion like Psychedelic, Electro-Soul/Funk sound as he calls it. His upcoming album and future performances are scheduled to be released later this year.

www.adrianessiet.com

www.reverbnation.com/adrianessiet

www.facebook.com/adrianessiet

1143 Kingsway. 5 Dollar cover. 2 dollar beer. Also on the bill Karen Fowlie and Mouthful of Daisy.

Following the footsteps of Vancouver bands like The Stolen Organ Family Band, Two Apple Tobacco and Redrick Sultan comes Quit The City to play the Indie Pop Vancouver Series presented by CiTR radio and VanMusic.  The band was formed in Calgary two years ago by two musicians eager to play music. It seems that a lot of Calgarians are coming to town to become part of the musical movement that is happening right here in our city. This exodus of musicians is benefiting our community by bringing new sounds and new energy, Quit The City is an example of that. Don’t miss the electrifying experience of their reverberations of their psyche.

Quit The City is a Canadian alternative rock band now based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Formed in late 2009 by founding members Colin McDonald and Ryley Campbell, Quit The City has changed and evolved through members and styles to continue writing new and progressing material. Moving to Vancouver in summer 2010 they have added Bassist Liam Worthington And Drummer Dan Whittal to the line up. They are currently working with producer Brody Mudryk of Standstill Productions on their first full length studio album, due out early 2012.

Their music is a mix of psychedelic rock with hints of southern and grunge sounds. Their first single could be Burn; noisy, electric, catchy, buzzing with sounds. It reminded me of The Fluid or Screaming Trees, they have that Seattle 90s sound without going to heavy into Mudhoney territory. Could I hear the folk Alberta influence there in their psychedelic music?   I can hear a lot of great music into their backgrounds when I listened to their songs.
As for the name Colin says “basically its about quitting what you know and finding something else to make you happy. or just taking yourself out of your enviroment to discover something you didnt know before”.
Ryley Campbell – Guitars, Vocals , Colin McDonald – Guitars, Vocals . Liam Worthington – Bass Dan Whittal- Drums

Vancouver BC’s Tim Readman is a musician, folksinger, songwriter, producer and music journalist, originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, England. He is the former leader of Canadian Celtic/folk favourites Fear of Drinking and has played for years with The Arrogant Worms. He also plays guitar, sings and writes with ace Celtic fiddler Shona Le Mottee. He has produced a number of CDs for other folk acts. He writes for Canada’s folk roots magazine Penguin Eggs. He was the Artistic Director for the 2008 and 2009 CelticFest Vancouver and is still with them as performer, musical host and MC. He has an extensive repertoire of original songs and can also perform everything from traditional murder ballads to more contemporary material by artists as diverse as The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Steely Dan and Madonna. He can entertain in any setting, from concert hall to campfire and makes people laugh at every show. He has just released a new CD of mainly traditional British and Irish folk songs entitled Out of the Green.

Check out Tim’s website here

Mouthful of Daisy will perform at The Indie Pop Vancouver Series Vol. XII with Quit The City and Karen Fowlie. 1143 Kingsway. 5 dollar cover charge. 2 dollar beer.

Mouthful Of Daisy is a unique blend of female fronted alternative rock. Their upcoming album “Twice Renewed” is laced with melodic guitars, catchy melodies and driving rhythms that will playback in your head for days. They are the band to discover in 2012.

“We want to start promoting our upcoming album “twice renewed” which we recorded in New York with producer and VP of A&R at Chamberlain Records Anthony Santos. It will be released sometime in January or February 2012″ the band said. Check them out when they play this new year promoting their new album. It has been almost five years since their release their first LP 1st Place winner.

Biography

In the spring of 2005, Mouthful Of Daisy came together to focus their unique musical callings. With their first EP “Zero” released that same year, they began to share their creations on the local stages of Vancouver, B.C. In 2007, the band returned to the studio to record their self-produced album “1st Place Winner”.

Since its inception, Mouthful Of Daisy has shared the stage with many local bands and enjoyed many live performances throughout British Columbia, including a few festivals.They have also had the opportunity to share their music through local radio station interviews and plays. Connecting with their amazing fans in a variety of ways allows M.O.D. to understand how their music is experienced by others, which in turns helps to inspire further growth.
In the spring of 2011, with three original members and a new bass player, Mouthful Of Daisy has decided to take things to another level. After being contacted by producer and VP of A&R at Chamberlain Records, Anthony Santos, the band made a decision to record their second album at Killingsworth Studios in New York.
Surrounded by the City that never sleeps and a new sense of inspiration, they recorded their new full length album “Twice Renewed” which is set to be released in early 2012.

Instrumentation
Michella – Vocals
J’ace – Guitars/Piano
AlIx – Bass
Sean – Drums
Discography
“Zero” EP 2005
“1st Place Winner” LP 2007

Don’t miss Ben Wilkins playing LIVE on The Morning After Show on December 27th at 11:30 AM on 101.9 FM www.citr.ca

But this credo stuck with Ben Wilkins, and provided influence for what will surely be one of the most remarkable debut albums of 2011. His self-titled full-length utilizes his vast array of influences and experience, creating a timeless and incredibly flushed-out debut that brings to mind the ‘70’s, a time when grand and orchestrated pop music was celebrated.

“What inspires me about that era is the way music was produced,” says Wilkins. “There was something special about the grooves, the distinctive sounds of the recordings and the entire band playing live in the studio. We tried to achieve the same natural atmosphere while recording; I wanted the songs to breathe.”

And breathe they do. Wilkins’ unique combination of piano-driven pop, soulful rhythms and grand orchestration produces songs that grow with every listen. Simply put, Ben Wilkins is an album that will surely appeal to a wide variety of music lovers; a direct result of Wilkins as a genuine music lover himself whose time studying has given him a unique appreciation and understanding of music.Wilkins was approached by acclaimed engineer Pascal Shefteshy (Sarah McLachlan, Rufus Wainwright) to record an album and you can hear the fruitful results of two artists working towards one goal: an ageless and enduring classic pop record

Born and raised in Ontario, Wilkins moved to Montreal to study music at McGill University. He majored in Classical Trumpet and soaked up as much composition, arranging, singing, theory and jazz harmony as possible, spending countless nights sneaking into the piano studios after hours to write songs. Upon graduation, he received a scholarship to study Mandarin in China, and spent the better part of a year at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Beijing Language and Culture University.

Ben Wilkins self-titled debut was released on October 18th via Milagro Records.

Check out his website here.

Check him out on Milagro Records.

Listen to the podcast of The Morning After Show on CiTR 101.9 FM where Cole Petrone performs LIVE on studio and talks to host Oswaldo Perez Cabrera.

Cole Petrone is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has been entertaining audiences all over the world. Combining a smooth tenor voice with an artistic finger-picking style, Cole has crafted a unique indie sound that has often been compared to that of modern James Taylor and Paul Simon. Widely acclaimed throughout the music industry, his original and catchy melodies include obvious influences from the Beatles, Neil Young, Burt Bacharach, and jazz standards from the “Tin Pan Alley” era. As a finalist in both the “John Lennon Songwriting Contest” and “Great American Songwriting Contest”, and as acknowledged on “Billboard Magazine” and radio stations throughout North America, Cole’s originals are truly heartfelt gems that resonate with authenticity.

Having lived, worked, and played in over 50 countries, destiny has put Cole in the middle of several iconic moments in history. For reasons he will never understand, Cole lived in Germany during the fall of the Berlin wall, worked in Russia shortly after the fall of communism, spent two years in the Arctic Circle, and as a resident of New York City, witnessed the tragedy of 9/11 first hand. This most ‘improbable life’ has influenced Cole’s songwriting in ways he could never have imagined. Combining lyric, rhyme and melody to tell his “life story”, he has translated his epic journey into a canvas of word and song. His poignant lyrics on loss, love, and the yearning aspects of the human condition have struck a chord with thousands of appreciative fans worldwide. Whether opening for Bon Jovi in front of 20,000 fans, or performing in an intimate venue of 200 people, Cole’s performances always leave an audience wanting more.

Assisted by Grammy-nominated co-producer Michael Creber, and joined by session players who have performed with a “who’s who” of rock royalty – including Elton John, Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, KD Lang, Sarah McLachlan, Ray Charles, Ringo Starr and others – Cole has just released his second CD of originals titled “Songteller” – which is now available on all major musical distribution channels.

Check out Cole’s Website here.

Buzz about Cole Petrone

Infectiously catchy rock n’ roll laden with synth textures, dynamic rhythms, contemplative lyricism and luscious guitars – that’s the genius of Saskatoon’s post-pop rockers Foam Lake. The band released their long-awaited debut album, Force and Matter, last November 15th.

Foam Lake is comprised of four brothers – Paul, Barrett, Tyler, and Kalen Ross – who have played in several acclaimed bands (The Blood Lines, Warbrides, Slow Down, Molasses, among others) and have most recently served as the backing band for roots rocker Shuyler Jansen. But as Foam Lake, the band far exceeds the sum of their individual parts.

Mixed by David Carswell (The New Pornographers, Destroyer, Tegan and Sarah) at JCDC in Vancouver, Force and Matter swings from absolute thunder to quiet whisper at the drop of a hat. Eldest brother Paul’s songwriting places melody at the forefront of the entire album, while Barrett’s sinewy bass lines anchor the songs with a nimble character. Tyler’s drumming punctuates each track by abandoning the straight backbeat in favour of inventive patterns that push and pull, and youngest brother Kalen adds textural polish through nuanced synth and guitar parts. Each song is painted brilliantly with a fully balanced palette of musical colours.

Taking influences from their father’s extensive record collection that includes selections as diverse as the Ramones, Neil Young, My Bloody Valentine, and the Smiths, Foam Lake reshapes the music of their heroes into an entirely new creation – pushing past musical revivalism and forging into brave new sonic territory.

Photo by Patrick Schmidt

Foam Lake Official Bio

A band named after a place where a mother grew up and a grandfather lived and died, Foam Lake is four blood brothers who have been playing together longer than they can remember. In late 2008, after the sudden demise of a band half the brothers were members of, the Ross brothers decided it was time to make it official and Foam Lake was born.

Heavily influenced by their father’s obsession for the drums and his extensive record collection, the Ross’ bring together a mixture of the guitar tones of Neil Young and My Bloody Valentine, the driving beat of the Ramones, electronic elements of post punk and new wave with lyrics influenced by the Smiths and Magazine.

Currently, both Tyler and Kalen are members of the rock trio the Warbrides, Paul is a member of the alt/country/shoegaze collective Slow Down, Molasses, and Barrett is active in Chiba. In their previous band (The Blood Lines), Barrett and Paul toured across Canada, parts of the US and China, including showcases at the CMJ festival in New York, NXNE in Toronto, and a spot at the Beijing Pop Festival. They also managed to land on the cover of the New York Times as a result of their trip to Austin’s famed SXSW festival.

Born into a family of travelers, Michael journeyed internationally, busking in the streets and performing at electronic music festivals such as Shambhala as well as jazz festivals in Europe, Canada and US. Along the way he’s been invited to share the stage and exchange solos with gypsy legends: Angelo Debarre, Robin Nolan, Garry Potter and Macho Winterstein.

In 2007 he joined world jazz fusion group Tambura Rasa. The band opened up for Damien Marley at the Vancouver Winter Olympics and were two time nominees for the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2010 and 2011.

Picking up DJ tricks from Kid Koala & A-trak, programming beats for rappers like Dru Down & AP.9, getting studio experience laying down violin tracks for Chin Injeti & Hot Hot Heat and rocking club crowds opening for Talib Kweli & DJ Fashen, all contributed to Michael’s current Gypsy House flavored style. Get in on the action and join Michael’s sweaty dance party. Follow him on Twitter @MFViolin or Facebook & Soundcloud @MichaelFraserViolin

michaelfraserviolin@gmail.com