Beautiful Sounding Echoes

Folk-Pop duo, The Echos, create a hauntingly beautiful musical experience when you see them live. They have a well arranged, very current sound full of memorable harmonies, full band instrumentation, and lots of energy. It's very easy to become static on stage, especially when tied to a mic stand for the whole set. However, this duo, Nicole Broughton and Jess Cichos, (+ backing musicians), did an exceptional job of keeping people on their toes - in some cases, literally! Although the dance floor wasn't full (the event was hosted at the Roxy after all... Infamously known for packing in the crowds after the local talent plays), they had every patron in the place's eyes on them, head's bobbing and feet tapping during their set. Put this group in any slot; opening, middle, headlining or during a festival, they'll be sure to entertain!

Some of the most memorable moments of the night, for me, were when songs, "Blue" and "All is Quiet", were played. Having listened to both songs on their Soundcloud previously, I knew I was in for something Vancouver hasn't heard a lot of - well thought out, folk-pop inspired, vocal harmonies and instrumentation. I was most intrigued to hear what they would sound like with a full band behind them. Needless to say, the live interpretations of these songs far surpass the audio recordings. The quality and technical ability seem to have heightened tremendously while being performed live and accompanied by an additional drummer, keyboardist, guitarist and bassist. Another memorable moment was when the Christmas cover came out. Within seconds, every member of the band was decked in bells, hats, reindeer horns, and even a full costume switch into a santa suit on their drummer! The guitarist, throughout the set, took a few chosen opportunities to descend from the stage and rock in the crowd with those who braved the front lines of the dance floor.

All in all, it was a memorable performance. One I look forward to seeing again in the future as this band continues to grow and blossom into an even more well-oiled machine. Give them a year or two at this pace and they'll be headlining every show on the strip. For now, they were a perfect pairing to place between the other two acts of the night, Andre Chrys, and scene veteran, Taylor Skelton with his new band line-up.

Ellice Blackout @ Studio Records

Danha puts the ROX in ROXY!

Danha is made up of talented, professional, passionate musicians. They always put on an incredible performance. I popped into the Roxy and it was the best I've ever heard the band. The vocals were so crisp and clear, they soared over everything. The bass was so rich and thick that you could feel it in your body. The guitar was so larger than life, I swear John Pettrucci or Steve Vai were playing. The drums were crisp that could hear every little detail in the beats. Hearing the drum solo almost made me march across to Tom Lee and buy myself a drum kit!

Check out more photos HERE. and Check out Danha's Facebook page HERE.

One Awesome Night

It was my best friend's birthday and we wanted enjoy the night! So, we grabbed a few friends and made our way down to Joe's Apartment for the finals of the Best In Vancouver contest! Three bands, The Faceplants, Little India and Dear Adeline with a special headliner, Aviator Shades. For my friend's birthday, we gave him some cashola as well as a gift certificate for "One Awesome Night". Hopefully it lived up to it!

Surprisingly, up first was The Faceplants. Starting their set at 7:45 to a small crowd, they played a tight set. Perhaps it was the lack of crowd, or maybe they just had a big night on Friday, but it almost seemed a bit dull. It lacked the usual Faceplants punch! That being said, they actually had more crowd involvement than some of the later bands. Packing a ton of songs into their 45 minute set, as well as throwing in a cover of "Bad Touch" by the Bloodhound gang, they really kept things interesting on stage. Overall, a solid set, but I wish they had more of a crowd like the last weekend we saw them. Check them out on Facebook HERE.

Little India took the stage next and just laid down the groove. This three piece rocked hard and impressed us with their prog-indie sound. Great use of dynamics for a three piece. Bass laid down the foundation which the drums locked in with, allowing the guitar to almost be an accent piece. The vocals ranged from catchy hooks to atmospheric sounds. Some great tunes that were interesting to the ear but also melodically pleasing. Go check them out on Facebook HERE.

Dear Adeline was the last Top 3 band to play the stage, once all the judges votes were in they were also proclaimed the winner of the Best In Vancouver contest. We can see why they won, out of all three bands they were actually probably the most commercial. Having a very pop rock sound, they would fit right onto the radio with a well produced single. With a marketable image as well, these good looking guys played their way to victory. The crowd seemed engaged but I didn't catch much interaction between the band and audience. They just played their tunes and the crowd just listened. Be sure to check them out on Facebook HERE.

Closing the night was Aviator Shades, which was a total 180 degree flip musically from Dear Adeline. As usual, these boys brought the thunder and laid into their rock and roll tunes with gusto! Some great banter with the audience and great stage work ensured that all eyes were on the band. Finishing the night up with the crowd demanding an encore is always a great feeling. Very excited for their new EP to be released in the new year! Check them out on Facebook HERE.

To see all the photos go HERE.

Pizza Pop! ft. Halfway to Hollywood and Take Me To The Pilot

Back in town after a fairly long tour stint (starting from Winnipeg - my hometown! and ending in Vancouver at Olympia Pizza) was Halfway to Hollywood, alongside some friends of theirs in Take Me To The Pilot and Chase Your Words. It was a great show all around. Quick set changes, great crowd (consisting mostly of 13-18 year old females and their chaperons), loud music you can't help but dance to, and an awesome sense of "community" you just don't see much in the Vancouver scene today.

Chase Your Words opened the night with their pop-punk driven set. Although they seemed young and a little inexperienced on stage, they put on a good show. The main vocals and a few of the harmonies were a little pitchy at times, but I chalk that up to nerves and not hearing themselves properly. With the addition of in-ear monitors, their set could excel. The instrumentals were catchy with a strong drum beat driving each song. They remind me of a young "All Time Low." A little rag-tag, but with some practice and experience they could be the next big band to emerge from Vancouver's pop scene. Check them out HERE.

Take Me To The Pilot (or simply TMTTP) was next to rock the stage. This band is a long way from their hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, yet still had hordes of teenage girls screaming and singing along to every song; original and cover alike. The vocals were nearly pitch perfect the entire set, the melody lines were beyond catchy, and they had obvious stage experience. With such a tight, driving instrumental, hook filled lyrics, and a sweet use of harmonies and backing vocals, it's no surprise TMTTP had every body in the place moving. Great musicality, great personality, and great showmanship make for an amazing live show. I'm looking forward to their next tour already, and will definitely be keeping my eye on them online. Be sure to check these guys out HERE.

There's not much I can say about Halfway to Hollywood that I haven't said before. These three individuals have immense talent and are one hell of a force to be reckoned with in not only Vancouver's pop scene, but all of Canada's! Their heartwarming songs are full of cool guitar riffs, cute catchy lyrics, and a tight rhythm section that will keep you dancing all night. For such a young band, having only started playing live shows two years ago, it's incredible to see how much they've grown, and how successful they've become so early in their career. Halfway to Hollywood already has die-hard fans nation wide and will only continue to get bigger and better with time. Always a pleasure covering and reviewing one of their shows (and albums)! Thank you again to Roman, Brenden and Grant for inviting us out. We look forward to the next show! Be sure to check them out HERE.

For more photos from the show, please visit and like us HERE!

Also! Big thanks to both Take Me To The Pilot and Halfway To Hollywood for all the awesome swag!
You'll be seeing some new album reviews coming your way soon.

- Rose Weekes

Round 5, Put em' up!

The final round of Best Of Vancouver took place last night. 5 bands duking it out for 1 of 3 slots in the finals on Dec 7th and a chance to take home all the amazing prizes! Big thanks to the sponsors; Rednyne, Artopolis Media, Branston Photography and Joe's Apartment for putting these shows on!

Within Rust and Stone Travellers opened up the show but unfortunately we didn't catch them. We got there just as Dream Seeking Missiles took to the stage. Their sound was a mix of Pink Floyd, Fields of Green, Explosions In The Sky and Tool. Very progressive riffs and great use of effects really made their tracks stand out. This 3 piece is a great example of what a 3 piece can sound like. The depth of each song and the dynamics really created this beautiful wave of music that surrounded you. Both the guitarist and the bassist sang but having similar tones, their voices blended perfectly and you heard a great sense of fullness. Definitely check them out HERE.

The Faceplants had probably more gear than all the other bands put together! Recently they have had great success and have had great opportunities presented in front of them. It was apparent that they had also worked incredibly hard since the last time we had seen them. The band has been moulded into a super tight, well oiled machine of pure pop rock. With a heavy 90's pop rock influence, The Faceplants brought you back to when rock was fun again. The crowd was all smiles as these boys blasted their way through their set. Each song flowing nicely into each other with perfect turnovers. The lead vocalist had really "upped" his singing since the last time we saw him as well. His voice soared over the band and really took command of the crowd. Each band member sang back up as well, so the chorus' were huge and sounded like a well produced studio quality song! Be sure to check them out HERE.

Closing the show was Fellar. This is the third time we've seen them and it was an interesting choice putting them last. They had much more of a laid back Nirvana sounding set compared to the previous bands. Their basic bare bones rock line up just almost seem to lack when being compared to the well produced Faceplants. However, they make up for it with their rock anthem sounding tunes. Putting on a solid set it was a nice way to end the evening! Check out their Facebook page HERE

Check out all the other photos HERE.

Whose The Best?

Joe's Apartment held round 3 of the "Best Of Vancouver" show on Saturday and we were there! It was a packed night, full of great bands, good beer and lots of hi-5s! Another thanks to Kevin and Rednyne for putting on the event and Joe's Apartment for hosting it! Great seeing local bands showcased.

Who says rock and roll is dead... Not Queen Cobra! Playing tunes that hail back to when rock was in it's prime. Opening up the night with a solid set which included some great lead guitar work and vocals that could rival Joan Jet and Ann Wilson. The sound was solid but we had wished the rhythm guitarist had put on a bit more of a "rock and roll" show. A quarter of the band looked classic rock and roll and the rhythm guitarist didn't match. Didn't help that he had just a small amp compared to the half stack of the lead guitarist. His tone just didn't match up. The lead player rocked the crowd by jumping in front and at one point even running into the crowd! The lead singer rocked the mic and the two back up vocals really added to their sound! A solid set for opening up the night. Check out their Facebook HERE.

By 8pm Joe's Apartment was getting full! One of the fullest we've seen for that time slot. No Operator had brought a large number of fans over from Nanaimo. (Impressive) The front was packed with people and the band provided one heck of a show! Their new rhythm guitarist was super tight and played fantastically. The addition of a light box really amped up the look of the show! The whole band filled up that stage and headbanged hard. With a super solid set that flowed so smoothly they really made an impact on the crowd. Check them out on Facebook HERE.

The Vidos were up next and were definitely a switch up sonically! Going from hard rock to old school pop punk. With an awesome 90's sound they kept up the energy with a fast-paced set and a quirky attitude. Sounding like an early Blink 182, this band had a secret fourth member! A huge teddy frog! The guitarist was jumping around and ripping solos! We had seen them before at the Richmond Night Market and we look forward to seeing them again! Check out their Facebook HERE.

We've seen The Green Room before and they were the third act that night. They were a bit of an energy drop from the previous acts. They played some more chill tunes and didn't have their usual fire and flare. We don't know if the lead singer couldn't hear himself but his vocals were a bit rough and sometimes not in key. With some guitar problems, it seemed to throw him off his usual swing. We have seen them tear the roof off and we can't wait to see them do it again! Check out their Facebook HERE.

Last up was 7 Years Luck. Once again just didn't have the energy of the first three bands. However still putting on a solid set! Definitely had some catchy tunes. Near the end of their set they brought up the energy and ended on a strong note. Be sure to check out their Facebook HERE.

Only one more week of competition until the finalists are announced! Be sure to catch our coverage of Week 4! Check out the photos HERE.

#IronManMarkus (BC Musicians VS Cancer)

We had the honor of covering a cancer benifit for young Markus Yule. With such a great list of performers and a cause so close to our hearts, we made sure not to miss it! What a night! Big thanks to Tina for organizing the event, and The Shark Club for hosting. The night was MC'd by Mary Zilba.
Markus Yule is 10 years old and has just been diagnosed with Brain Cancer and is currently in the Oncology Wing of the BC Children’s Hospital. Last week, Markus, went through surgery to remove one of the two tumors on his brain, although somewhat successful, they were not able to completely remove the large tumor as portions of it were embedded into his brain stem and could not be removed surgically. Unfortunately, he will be going through aggressive radiation treatment in order to try and eliminate the second tumor and the remnants of the first tumour.

Stay strong Markus. You're an incredible kid. 
(#IronManMarkus on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook to show your support.) 


For pictures from the event, please go to: Photos HERE

Big thanks to all the performers and silent auctioneers! Be sure to check out these compassionate performers at their links below.

Bonnie Kilroe as Cher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoiXyhJqpwk

Kelly Brock Country Rock Solo 
http://www.kellybrock.com/...

Ian Perry 12 yr old Guitar Prodigy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc9J2vFJ6tw

Barracuda Heart Tribute
http://barracudahearttribute.com/

Jim Byrnes Blues/Solo Actor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpPWOCrhKOs

Jayden Holman Country Rock Solo WINNER of the PNE star contest 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-H_JOl7TM8

Mike Reno Rock Duo (from Loverboy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc40EasXz18

Mary Zilba Pop Country #1 hit in the UK called “ Hero” 
(Real Housewives of Vancouver)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmEBreD-LeQ

Bodhi Jones Folk Rock (The Peak Performance Project Finalist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_FS_pSTu94

Jupiter Jill Alt Country Rock Duo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdszSwSpVHk

Elise Estrada Pop Star
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjor3rzTSKc

Stone Poets Dark Folk Rock Band
http://www.reverbnation.com/stonepoets

Damn the Diva Pop/Rock Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baHS3m3gkmc

Island Invaders!

Hammer Records covers a lot of Vancouver shows, but on the odd occasion that we've been in Victoria, we have gone out to enjoy their local scene. On one of those outings we went to see No Operator at the Copper Owl, and also saw Synapse that night. Well, both of those bands made the trip over to the mainland to rock Joe's Apartment with local band Liars and Lions. Booking two Island bands is always an interesting move, so we weren't shocked when the venue wasn't packed, even by the end of the night. However, the music was top notch and there were some very enjoyable sets.

Synapse opened the show. Think of Alexisonfire, Rise Against and a smattering of Tool all mixed together. Some solid prog-rock tunes. Great stage presence. Having three people in the band sing really makes the chorus' sound huge and the gang vocals stand out. Also, we noticed a great use of harmonies in their set that really sets them apart from a lot of bands. The vocals really cut through the mix and we could really hear some catchy hooks and the lead singer's pitch was spot on. The guitar and vocals were very melodic, laid perfectly on top of a thick and heavy instrumental. I think a perfect combination would be having them open up for local bands Quartered or Incura to help them propel themselves to the next level. Go check out their Facebook page HERE.

It was our first time seeing No Operator's new lineup with the additional guitarist. We had seen their vocalist's first front man show (due to a wrist injury he didn't play guitar but has healed since) and we could tell that it was still new to the band. What a show though! Such catchy songs and nice trade off of clean vocals and screaming. The new guitarist stepped up and really didn't miss a beat that we could catch! I think some more time and tightening of parts will make this band a force to be reckoned with! If you haven't checked out their Facebook go HERE.

Last up was Liars and Lions. From what we had seen so far this night, the energy kind of dipped down. Being a three piece is hard because you have to push that much more to really fill that stage and connect with your audience. The tunes sounded good and the originals were nice and heavy. A good number of covers were thrown in which was nice, including a Rage Against the Machine cover and a Queens Of the Stone Age cover. I did notice that the bassist didn't really connect at all with the audience; kind of had a blank stare going on through the entire set and remained fairly still in one spot. The guitarist/vocalist did his best to rock but being tied down to a mic stand really limited his capability of movement. The middle of the stage remained fairly empty for the duration of the set. Check out their Facebook Page HERE.

To see more photos go HERE. Big thanks to Clyde from Magnetized Productions for letting us cover this show and to the bands for putting on a great show!