Five Vancouver Bands You Should Hear

Said the Whale

These guys have been around for a while now, with three EP’s and one full length album under their belts. Their full length, called Islands Disappear, has been out since October of 2009 and has garnered them some major attention, particularly thanks to the singles “Black Day in December” and “Camilo (The Magician)”. Filled with great melodies and vocal harmonies, this band shouldn’t be missed. Here is the video for “Camilo (The Magician)”, if you like this song, then you will want to check out “This City’s a Mess”.

Brasstronaut

Now touring their second release, Breasstronaut is a pop/jazz fusion to be reckoned with, and let’s face it, everyone could use a little more jazz in their lives. Their airy mellow sounds are soothing to the soul, even if jazz is not your thing. Since they don’t yet have a video for any of the songs off their newest album, Mt Chimera, here is a song from their first EP called “Requiem for the Scene”.

Aidan Knight

Although relatively new on to the Vancouver scene, Aidan Knight’s deep voice, relaxing music and meaningful lyrics will take you in. This talented folk singer/songwriter may only have one album under his belt but it is obvious with just one listen that he has an amazing career ahead of him. Like Brasstronaut, he has no official videos to offer off his album, Versicolour. Instead I have a video that was recorded somewhere on the British Columbia side of the Rocky Mountains. The name of the song is Jasper and backing up Aidan Knight is another upcoming Vancouver folk artist, Dan Mangan.

The Zolas

Releases this year seem to all be about the keys and the Zolas have that in spades. The Zolas are comprised of two amazing musicians named Zach Gray and Tom Dobrzanski and this is possibly the best album to come out of Vancouver in the past year. The album name is “Tic Toc Tic” and the this si the video for “The Great Collapse”

Bend Sinister

This band has been around for a while and are finally getting some of the recognition they deserve. Bend Sinister has a lot of musical talented but they don’t take themselves too seriously. The world needs bands like this to keep you smiling. Their music is very reminiscent of 80’s power rock. Even though they just released a five song EP in June, they will soon be back in the studio around November to start working on a full length album. In the meantime, here is one of my favourite songs from them called “Time Breaks Down”