The best 20 bands of Vancouver Independent Music scene Part 2

The best of the best in Vancouver

Thats right folks, the post we all been waiting for is finally here. In the previous post we saw some of the bands that you have to watch for but that haven’t really go to the next level, these ones are on the next level. Time for us to unveil the best Vancover indie established bands. It this post we examine some of the best Vancouver acts that have achieved international success, that have dominated the press, that have toured or that are simply the dears of the Vancouver public. We had to leave a couple behind but look for Ninja Spy, look out for Boogie Monster that are getting a lot of press, watch for Hey Ocean! they also might leap to higher leagues. Also Dan Mangan had a wondeful year and probably should be in this list but lets consider him more of an island son than a mainlander. So enjoy the videos.

Again I will post these bands in alphabetical order becuase these bands are winners anyways.

Black Mountain

This is Vancouver favourite band. They sold out the Commodore Ballroom, the concert was shot professionally by Cecil English and his crew. Black Mountain released the CD Wilderness Heart with good reviews and immediately went to number one in a couple of charts. They have a video for hair song. The band is composed of Stephen McBean, Amber Webber, Matt Camirand, Jeremy Schmidt and Joshua Wells. They are going on an Australian tour in February. Basically, was the band that had the most hits in Vanmusic and the most press of the Vancouver bands nationally and internationally.

Brasstonaut

Beautifully crafted music, Brasstonaut had some cool shows, his album Mt Chimera had a lot of radio play in CiTR, CBC where they even played LIVE! Their song Heart Trumpet was nominated for an Echo Prize and the tour England, Canada and some parts of the USA. It was a good year for them and they are going on the road again in 2011 to Europe, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, etc. The members are Bryan Davies – trumpet, flugelhorn, glock
Edo Van Breemen – vocals, keyboards and main composer, John Walsh – bass, guitar, Brennan Saul – percussion Tariq Hussain – lap steel, guitar, Sam Davidson – EWI, clarinet

CR Avery

Outlaw Hip-Hop Harmonica Player, Beatbox Poet, Punk Piano Player, String Quartet Raconteur, Rock & Roll Matador, Playwright, CR Avery has recorded over fifteen albums as well as writing & directing six hip-hop operas, which were mounted and performed from New York’s Bowery to L.A.’s South Central. He has toured throughout Canada (including almost every major folk festival) the USA and Europe (headlining or opening for Billy Bragg, Buck 65, and Sage Francis) and garnered the attention of music peers the likes of Tom Waits (“…he’s blowin’ my mind”); blues harp trail blazer Charlie Musselwhite (“…no one plays harmonica like him… no one…”); and folk legend Utah Phillips (“…raw talent”).

Fond of Tigers

This band is the best band of Vancouver musically speaking, it has some of the best musicians. They released a CD this year called Continent & Western to great and numerous reviews from the media that used adjectives like superb, the best, masterful, out of this world and beautiful and I would add experimental, the CD had as guests Sandro Perri and the Swede trumpeteer Mats Gustafson and featuring seven of Vancouver’s leading creative musicians Stephen Lyons (guitar), Morgan McDonald (piano), JP Carter (trumpet, electronics), Dan Gaucher (drums), Skye Brooks (drums), Shanto Bhattacharya (bass), Jesse Zubot (violin)

Los Furios

Los Furios are simply the best ska band in Vancouver and quite probably in Canada, they have been around for many years now and this last year they were touring in Mexico being in a couple of TV shows, Los Furios now have a large following in that country where they sell more CDs than in Canada. These are great guys that have donated their talent for social causes as well. Their new CD is called Run Devil Run and has some jewels there. Los Furios is the favourite band of Scotty Ska T on CiTR. Enjoy their LIVE shows, they are awesome.

Japandroids

These guys went up like foam since their release Post Nothing. They were on TV Shows, they were in festivals in Europe and USA and of course Canada, my friends in Mexico and Spain are fond of them, they could not believe it that I saw them at Shindig. Their fame spread pretty fast last year. They spent most of the year touring. The group consists of Brian King (guitar, vocals) and David Prowse (drums, vocals).

Mother Mother

Another popular band and dears of CBC and CiTR and other stations, loved by folk, pop, rock, indie, and jazz enthusiasts. Their previous album was a success and they just announced that their next Cd is coming soon. They were touring in Canada and had a lot of press coverage including TV. The album should do well and its probable that Mother Mother is in this list next year.

The Pack AD

Other favourites of DJs and punk rockers alike. Drummer Maya Miller and guitarist/vocalist Becky Black are straight from East Van, they are chicks from the hood playing heavy blues. They spent most of the year promoting their new CD We Kill Computers on Mint Records touring in Europe and North America. They were everywhere. They are also very supportive of social causes and a true Shindig classic.

Sex with Strangers,

Sex with Strangers keep producing and this year they were playing and drinking at airports all over North America, we even saw them at Shambalah (Los Furios also played there). SWS also release a video for New City Anthem and a CD New Tokyo Steel, These guys are warning us about the dangers of a robot civilization where we can even lose our freedom to dance. Sex with Strangers are: Hatch Benedict: Vocals, Keyboards, Ideas Magnus Magnum:Bass, Keyboards, Ideas Wedge Beavers:Guitar, Bass Isabelle Dunlop: Vocals Dallas Archangel: Live Drums

You Say Party

For these guys 2010 was a hard year, they lost Devon, their drummer they had to overcome all that grief to keep the project going. They made some adjustments and shorten the name, Krista left the band but they continue to play and their CD XXXX is doing great, they rescheduled the European tour and they are ready to keep going. Robert Andow and Bobby Siadat of Vancouver band “Gang Violence” came to play keyboards and drums with Becky Ninkovic – Vocals
Stephen O’Shea – Bass and Derek Adam – Guitar

Bonus track

Hey Ocean