Best In Vancouver - CRNKSHFT

Roaring in from tour, CRNKSHFT is all warmed up and ready to blow away the competition. We had a great chat with the band about their upcoming show in the Best In Vancouver competition.

Hammer Records: For those who might not be familiar with your band, can you give a brief description of the sound of your band?

CRNKSHFT: CRNKSHFT’s original sound is influenced by hardcore bands like Five Finger Death Punch and Korn. Grunge bands like Nirvana and Alice in Chains, and metal bands such as Pantera and Metallica. That gives us a refreshing sound that’s forges these genres together. Their riffs are designed to get your blood pulsing, their dynamics get your fist pumping, and the melody keeps you singing along. We prides our selfs on writing raw, emotional, music; that is transforming a genre that we have branded “H.F.R.”(Hard Fucking Rock).

Hammer Records: Have you checked out past “Best In Vancouver” competitions? What do you think gives your band the edge on the competition?

CRNKSHFT: The power of our sets are high in energy and our front man has a great way of engaging with the crowd. We have been able to have people come to our shows and have them appreciate metal music even if that's not their style of music.

Hammer Records: What do you think of the battle of the bands competitions? Do they help build a scene?

CRNKSHFT: any competitions that let people engage with live music is good for our music scene. It brings bands and fans together.

Hammer Records: What do you want to say to the sponsors who are helping putting on the event?

CRNKSHFT: Thank you to all the sponsors that are putting the time and effort towards this event and bringing bands together. It's a great push for our local music scene.

Hammer Records: Aside from playing the showcases, what is in the future for the band?

CRNKSHFT: We're getting ready to release our E.P, we're heading on a Western Canadian Tour this September and a summer European Tour is in discussion at the moment.

Hammer Records: Do you believe in promoting with handbills or other methods that aren’t online? Or do you think that online promotion is key?

CRNKSHFT: We don't think that online promotion is the only solution, we believe in engaging directly with people and approaching radio stations and other forms of distributors

Hammer Records: What are your social media links and how can people find your music?

CRNKSHFT: https://www.facebook.com/crnkshfthttp://www.soundcloud.com/crnkshfthttps://twitter.com/crnkshftbandhttps://www.instagram.com/crnkshftband/https://crnkshft.bandcamp.com/merch/shaft-shirtshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8nMR5NEi90

Best In Vancouver - Elle Wolf

This indie band is on the prowl and going to devour the competition and win the title "Best In Vancouver". We had a quick chat with the group about their upcoming show.

Hammer Records: For those who might not be familiar with your band, can you give a brief description of the sound of your band?
Elle Wolf: Elle Wolf is a 5 piece folk rock band with a bit of an edge. The boys in the band bring a rockier side to things with inspirations from classic rock bands, while the girls bring a more folk side to soften things up. Elle Wolf is influenced by the sound of Metric, Florence and the Machine, July Talk and Laura Marling.

Hammer Records: Have you checked out past “Best In Vancouver” competitions? What do you think gives your band the edge on the competition?

Elle Wolf: Honestly, we are pretty excited to see the other bands. Elle loves her stoner rock so she's going to be dancing to The Poolsharks. We are really into driven guitar bands and The Bicyclists rad UK inspired sound reminds us of the strokes, so they are going to be great fun. Sail With Kings also sounds amazing, they should probably win on their beard game alone. We got some female power in Elle Wolf that might give us a bit of an edge, but we are just really excited to be playing with these other rad bands. 

Hammer Records: What do you think of the battle of the bands competitions? Do they help build a scene?

Elle Wolf:  Anything that brings bands together that wouldn't have other wise met is pretty cool. We are all about creating a community and playing music with everyone. If we could build a Vancouver Broken Social Scene, that would be a dream and we've kind of already started that with a few bands.  

Hammer Records: What do you want to say to the sponsors who are helping putting on the event?

Elle Wolf:  "Thanks!" the more opportunities for smaller bands around this city the better. 

Hammer Records: Aside from playing the showcases, what is in the future for the band?

Elle Wolf:  Elle Wolf is heading into the studio with Dan Ponich in November and we will be dropping our first EP early spring with the launch of our Western Canada tour. We are hoping to get into the festival circuit next summer and just keep on playing. 

Hammer Records: Do you believe in promoting with handbills or other methods that aren’t online? Or do you think that online promotion is key?

Elle Wolf: 

We think a lot of different methods of promotion are good. Online is our preferred method because we can reach out to more people that are actually interested in what we have to share, in a shorter amount of time.

Hammer Records: What are your social media links and how can people find your music?

Elle Wolf:

www.facebook.com/ellewolfmusic

www.soundcloud.com/elle-wolf

we are also on 

instagram @ellewolf

twitter @ellewolfmusic

Best In Vancouver - Blue Lake City

Rock and roll band, Blue Lake City plan to take the title "Best In Vancouver" at this years competition. We had a nice chat with the band about their thoughts on the competition.

Hammer Records: For those who might not be familiar with your band, can you give a brief description of the sound of your band? 

Blue Lake City: Straight up rock n' roll is the only way I can describe it. I can't keep up with all these sub-genres of genres these days. Post-this, electro-that. It's too confusing haha.The five of us have vastly different tastes in music ranging from punk to jazz to hip hop but even after all those influences, it's still just rock n' roll at the end of the day.

Hammer Records: Have you checked out past “Best In Vancouver” competitions? What do you think gives your band the edge on the competition?
Blue Lake City: We participated a year or two ago so we checked out some of the bands competing at the time. Some were great, others not so much. I'll definitely check out this year's participants. As for an edge, it's hard to say. I find that most of the rock bands here in Van aren't all that supportive of each other as it is. It's like every show is a competition and too many inflated egos and rock star attitudes when they're playing the same stages as everyone else. Maybe I'm just meeting the wrong bands and people haha. The local punk scene however... now they seem to help each other out.

Hammer Records: What do you think of the battle of the bands competitions? Do they help build a scene?
Blue Lake City: I think they're great. As long as there's some worth while prizes designed to help bands move up and better themselves and ample promotion to try and attract a crowd. Only so many of your friends are gonna come and see you play for the 10th time and I find there's a lot of pressure on the bands to fill the venue. That's the promoters job, not the bands.   

Hammer Records: What do you want to say to the sponsors who are helping putting on the event?
Blue Lake City: Keep it up! We all appreciate it. Without them there'd be no battle. Well, there might be but I bet the prizes would suck. 

Hammer Records: Aside from playing the showcases, what is in the future for the band?
Blue Lake City: We recently finished recording our first album a few months ago. It's in the mixing stages and we still need to decide how we're going to distribute it. It's all independently funded so money is tight. Do people buy CDs still? Cassette tapes are fucking lame. We've been toying with the idea of a small run of vinyl but in the end it might just be a digital release for free and used to promote any live shows. 

Hammer Records: Do you believe in promoting with handbills or other methods that aren’t online? Or do you think that online promotion is key?
Blue Lake City: It seems these days that online promo reaches the most people but any kind of promotion is great. I personally enjoy seeing posters plastered to light posts. Handbills dropped in dirty pub bathrooms, stuck to the wall of the stall with spit. I don't listen to the radio but maybe get the local stations to announce an event from time to time? I don't know. Again, that's the promoters job. Not mine.

Hammer Records: What are your social media links and how can people find your music?
Blue Lake City: https://www.facebook.com/bluelakecity/?notif_t=page_fan&notif_id=1473803632209762
https://www.muzooka.com/blue.lake.city
https://bluelakecity.bandcamp.com

Best In Vancouver - Sail With Kings

Taking folk to a whole new level, Sail With Kings are hoping to sail through the competition and win the title "Best In Vancouver". We had a quick chat with them about their upcoming performance.

Hammer Records: For those who might not be familiar with your band, can you give a brief description of the sound of your band

Band: Our sound focus mainly on getting the crowd involved, to feel something more than just the vibrations of sound, but to feel enlightened, empowered and uplifted. We play Power-Folk, the first of its kind ;)

Hammer Records: Have you checked out past “Best In Vancouver” competitions? What do you think gives your band the edge on the competition?

Band: We definitely have! And we don't look to particularly have an edge on the competition, but more or less present to Vancouver that our sound in itself is very unique, for we put true technicality, thought, and our talent into each and every song. 

Hammer Records: What do you think of the battle of the bands competitions? Do they help build a scene? 

Band: What I personally think, is that they DEFINITELY help build the scene, and promotion companies or any company/business putting on shows in general are what keeps the local/"underground" music flowin'. 

Hammer Records: What do you want to say to the sponsors who are helping putting on the event?

Band: We'd just like to say thanks for the exposure and the possibility to have our music spread further than we could have done by ourselves, for we know we can't do it alone! 

Hammer Records: Aside from playing the showcases, what is in the future for the band?

Band: Currently we are on the search for some key additions to the band, whilst working on getting ready to record a 10-14 song full length album, so aside from all that and playing many many shows along the way, we plan to endlessly tour and raid the world with our music 

Hammer Records: Do you believe in promoting with handbills or other methods that aren’t online? Or do you think that online promotion is key?

Band: I believe online promotion is key, for people check their Facebooks every 2 minutes, but nowadays I'm not sure if anyone would actually stop and read a poster on a postered-up light post. But, other methods NOT online would definitely work, just depends on what they are. 

Hammer Records: What are your social media links and how can people find your music?

Band: They can check us out on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, ITunes, Spotify, and pretty well any other distributors their are. Just type in "Sail With Kings". 

Best In Vancouver - Sleepcircle

Sleepcircle is getting ready to rock the stage at Studio Records for the Best In Vancouver competition. We had a quick chat with the band about their thoughts on battle of the bands competitions around Vancouver.

Hammer Records: For those who might not be familiar with your band, can you give a brief description of the sound of your band?

Sleepcircle: A juicy blend of alternative, metal and prog.

Hammer Records: Have you checked out past “Best In Vancouver” competitions? What do you think gives your band the edge on the competition?

Sleepcircle: Our band has an edge because of our songwriting and coordinated outfits.

Hammer Records: What do you think of the battle of the bands competitions? Do they help build a scene?

Sleepcircle: Battle of the bands are great! It introduces you to regulars and up and comers in the scene and their girlfriends!

Hammer Records: What do you want to say to the sponsors who are helping putting on the event?

Sleepcircle: We love Jack Daniels! Not only is it a smooth and delicious Tennessee whiskey but a 260 is the perfect size and weight for braining the raccoons that are always rummaging around in the trash cans out back.

Hammer Records: Aside from playing the showcases, what is in the future for the band?

Sleepcircle: We're currently working on our EP and working to expand our presence in the Vancouver music scene through show and events such as this one.

Hammer Records: Do you believe in promoting with handbills or other methods that aren’t online? Or do you think that online promotion is key?

Sleepcircle: Online promotion is obviously crucial in promoting bands and shows in this social media age. It never hurts to do some boots on the ground promotion either! We imagine one day doing a WW2 style leaflet bombing campaign in which we drop thousands of leaflets over a city that say, "BUY OUR RECORD BUY OUR RECORD BUY OUR RECORD."

Hammer Records: What are your social media links and how can people find your music?

Sleepcircle: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleepcircleofficial

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sleepcircle

Instagram: sleepcircle

Metal At The Media Club

Journeyman Productions put on a great bill of three up and coming bands at the Media Club on a Wednesday and we decided to go check it out. For a Wednesday night, we know the crowd wasn't going to be bit, but every person there was attentive and up front to support the bands which was nice to see.

Sundran was the first band to hit the stage and their mostly instrumental set really set the tone for the night. Their dynamics were fantastic and being an instrumental band, that is one of the key elements. Adding in the heavy vocals at key parts really made this band stand out. Their riffs were tight and the band overall had such a tight sound. Even though there were odd time signatures thrown around a lot, I found it relatively easy to head bang and follow along with. They are playing a show this Saturday at Funky Winkerbeans and I would highly recommend checking it out!

Porcelain Sky was up next and really blended well with the band before them. Their front man did a great job at getting the crowd interested from the start and kept it up all the way through the show. The bassist, guitarist and drummer really seemed locked together. When parts got quiet, the whole band got super quiet. When things got heavy, it seemed like everyone worked together and just sounded epic. This band has a lot going for them and I hope they keep working hard and I can't wait to see them open up for bigger and bigger bands!

When I was in a band called Freedom Ride, we played a few shows with Lungflower. Then even after that band was finished and I was in a new band called Moniker, who also played shows with Lungflower. This band has been around for ages and had a few member changes but seem to have a formula down for success right now. Their guitarist is just rocking crisp riffs and some great leads. Their bassist is just a monster of a man and even more of a monster on the bass! His thick grooving bass lines fit perfectly with their drummer who adds a classic metal vibe to the whole sound. Overall their sound has changed since I last knew them, but they have grown into a whole new beast that seems to be ready to take on the world!

Best In Vancouver - Switch To Black

Switch To Black is a band that is hungry for glory. Aiming their sights on winning The Best In Vancouver competition this year, we hope to see them do well! We managed to have a quick chat with the band about their thoughts on the competition itself.

Hammer Records: For those who might not be familiar with your band, can you give a brief description of the sound of your band?

Switch To Black:  We play a strange breed of desert rock, metal, and punk.  Think of Kyuss, Iron Maiden, and The Dead Kennedy’s having a love child.

Hammer Records: Have you checked out past “Best In Vancouver” competitions? What do you think gives your band the edge on the competition?

Switch To Black:  Well since we’re all still underage we’ve never had a good chance to check out many bands and their sweet moves, but we always have a few tricks up our sleeves and the sleeves shall be rolled up on October 7th!!

Hammer Records: What do you think of the battle of the bands competitions? Do they help build a scene?

Switch To Black:  Our past two experiences in the Best in Vancouver competition have been awesome and we’ve met, and been inspired by, lots of other great bands.  We really hope these events get music fans excited for the opportunity to discover new bands and enjoy the live music experience.

Hammer Records: What do you want to say to the sponsors who are helping putting on the event?

Switch To Black:  THANK YOU!  Thank you for believing in live music, for giving local Vancouver bands the chance to perform at an amazing venue, and to get their name out there.  There’s so much art, and so many talented musicians in this city; and it’s because of you - the sponsors - that a few of them are able to connect, learn from each other, and show off Vancouver’s giant upcoming rock scene.

Hammer Records: Aside from playing the showcases, what is in the future for the band?

Switch To Black:  We’re getting into the studio again and hope to have a brand new single out before Christmas.

Hammer Records: Do you believe in promoting with handbills or other methods that aren’t online? Or do you think that online promotion is key?

Switch To Black:  Online promotion has been key since Zuckerberg birthed Facebook and it gets more and more important every time another social media platform comes along; but as for offline promoting, making friends and connections with bands, or just complete strangers, is definitely our favourite way of getting ourselves out there.

Hammer Records: What are your social media links and how can people find your music?

Switch To Black:  We have a website, along with all the usual social media links. You can find our debut EP, Nascent Noise on Spotify, BandCamp, iTunes and CDBaby!

http://switchtoblack.com