Vancouver Indie bands rocked 2011.

2012 is already looking like an exciting year! But 2011 (though not as exciting as 2010) deserves a list of what I think are the best Vancouver bands of the year. Last year continued to show the world that the Indie Music Scene in Vancouver is thriving with amazing talent. So much so that VanMusic and CiTR could no longer ignore the demand to promote both emerging and established bands. We came together to start the Indie Pop Vancouver Series, a musical event that showcases acts every Friday at the British Ex-Servicemen’s Association on the Kingsway.

Before I continue I think it’s important to mention that we all know that it is hard making a living in the music industry in this city either as a musician or on the business side of things, we live in a world where the big corporations and multinationals control the media. This makes it even harder for independent artists to reach their potential markets and be successful doing their craft. We feel that having weekly events such as the Indie Vancouver Series is critical in helping promote what this city has to offer musically. So thank you all for your hard work as it also encourages VanMusic to keep going and to continue working hard as well.

Ok, doing a list of my favourite bands for 2011 was really difficult to say the least, there are so many great bands and artists around that made my decisions tough ones. I checked other peoples lists, press mentions, radio plays, friends favourites, gigs, etc. But I finally compiled my list and here it is!

My list starts with the best of 2011 (alphabetical order) and ends with some bands to watch in 2012. This year should be an interesting one, it has the potential for the Vancouver Music Movement to explode.

Be part of the movement.

Aunts and Uncles

The band consists of Adrianne Marie, Daniel Ruiz and Joseph Hirabayashi. Their self tittle EP was released this past Spring topping the charts at CiTR. The CD consists of 5 songs including a booklet with the song lyrics and art from local artists. Their songs are quirky, catchy, fast noisy punk with beautifully crafted melodies. Favourite tune: Yet to relent.

Dirty Beaches

Dirty Beaches is Alex Zhang Hungtai. He is a lo-fi musician based in Vancouver who released the CD Badlands in March of last year. Nominated for the Polaris Award and popular on many of 2011 Best of lists, this Taiwan born and Vancouver based artist provided one of the greatest live performances of 2011. Dirty Beaches took his soundscapes of drum machine and solid state reverb around the world. He is an exceptional experimental and electronic crooner. Check out this song where he reminds of Alan Vega.

Geoff Berner

Geoff Berner

Vancouver’s Geoff Berner, whose Mint records album, Victory Party,  was released on March 8th, 2011  went on to win in The Canadian Folk Awards the prize of Pushing the Boundaries. His openness to experimentation, spirited Eastern European klezmer influences, punk rock attitude and his work with producer/mastermind Josh Dolgin (Socalled) resulted in an innovative, engaging and lively album full of surprises.

I have played his previous CD Klezmer Mongrels on my radio show The Morning After Show as well. I highly recommended playing both CD’s at parties or just to amuse your friends. The song The Whiskey is an instant classic.

Los Furios

In 2011 Los Furios toured Mexico and conquered the huge ska scene there becoming the most known and successful indie band from Canada in Mexico. This is not their first time in the land of the Aztecs and Mayans. In the past Los Furios toured city to city on the legendary Warp Tour and played Mexico’s Festival Xtremo circuit to thousands of people. They are also regulars at Victoria’s famous Ska Festival and have shared the stage with some of the most legendary ska bands in the world: FishBone, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Bedouin Soundclash, The Aggrolites, Cherry Poppin Daddies, Left Alone, Westbound Train, The Pietasters, Chris Murray, The Toasters, Voodoo Glow Skulls and Bad Manners to name a few.

Don´t miss Los Furios playin the Indie pop Vancouver Series Vol XIV on January 20th at 1143 Kingsway.

Joyce Collingwood

Joyce Collingwood by Phillip Jeffrey

Joyce Collingwood received a lot of press coverage in 2011. This year also saw their first EP release in the form of a 7 inch. They became the indie darlings of punk rock in Vancouver with raves from CiTR to the Georgia Straight. Currently writing new material and fine tuning their set, it will be interesting to see what JC brings to the table in 2012.

Matinee

The Matinee probably was the most successful Vancouver indie band in 2011, they ended third in the Peak Performance Project, they were the only Vancouver band picked by the CBC as one of the bands to watch in 2012.

After four years of independent production and promotion under their label Blue Collar Records, The Matinée is currently putting the final touches on their next album, slated for release in the Spring of 2012.

The Pack AD

Mint released their third album we kill computers in 2010, which cemented their place at the forefront of Canadian independent music on the back of dozens of glowing reviews and a few award nominations. Showing no signs of slowing down, the band’s fourth album Unpersons, produced by the infamous Jim Diamond (The Dirtbombs, The Paul Collins Beat, The White Stripes), came out in September. The Vancouver garage band have been getting good reviews from all over the world. They toured Europe again. Catch then live on January 28th at the Rickshaw Theatre.

John Pippus

Situated somewhere between the musical influences of John Hiatt, Tom Waits, and Kris Kristopherson, Vancouver singer/songwriter John Pippus has just released his third full-length album, “Wrapped Up In The Blues”.
From sharing a stage with Jackson Browne to playing to small, but appreciative coffee house audiences, John has lived a life filled with music and well-earned stories.

John Pippus is a reference in the Vancouver music scene, he hosts and books the Tree Coffee Music series every Thursday and Friday. His new album has been played literally all over the world, from the Netherlands to Tasmania. Now Pippus will embark on a solo tour to Europe.

Synthcake

Synthcake, the “Sci-fi-delic” East Van 5 piece, released their first EP, Musicophilia, in July 2011. After destroying house parties and independent art spaces around Vancouver since 2010, Synthcake garnered huge local attention from the press and people, charting as as high as 2 on CITR’s Earshot top 30 and earning a feature in the Georgia Straight’s “Best of Vancouver 2011”. Synthcake played on the Indie Pop Vancouver Series.

Tyranahorse

Tyranahorse is a band to watch. Their first album climbed the charts at college radio stations around the country and the USA. They also nailed the second place of the CiTR Shindig competition. Tyranahorse is a five-piece indie rock band based out of East Vancouver. Their music is inspired by the diverse backgrounds of their members, whose music fore’s include noise, grunge, classical, pop, old country, hip hop, rock, and early hardcore.

The resulting ensemble is a unique genre bending mash with mainstream hooks and melodic undertones. Musical instruments in their quiver include: theremin, kazoo, synth, guitar, bass, shakers, vocal loops, piano, and harmonica. Their sound has been described as the B-52’s meets Jello Biafra and Janis Joplin at a dinner party with the Pixies.

Bands to watch in 2012: The Stolen Organ Family Band, Redrick Sultan, Two Apple Tobacco, Oh No Yoko!, SSRIs, Ruffled Feathers, The Psychedelic Alliance, Quit The City