YEAR END REVIEW: 6 great Edmonton Bands
Edmonton’s music scene continues its journey towards becoming ever more diverse, and more noteworthy.
Some of the world’s biggest music blogs and podcasts continue to reference some of our bands. This year Major Love was perhaps the most noteworthy of those, getting some serious love from the UK’s The Line Of Best Fit. The latter also mentioned The Hearts in the same piece about Canadian music. And Faith Healer’s last two releases have landed the local band on some of the other big names, like My Old Kentucky Blog. One of the nation’s best music podcasts, Cups N Cakes, is even recorded right here in town. Focusing on CanCon exclusively, they namedrop Edmonton artists left and right, and centre.
Edmonton has an assortment of venues of all sizes, few of which cater to specific genres anymore. With the opportunity to slide into worldwide recognition around every corner, it’s the perfect time to be an Edmonton musician, and there are a lot of them. One would think that would bring about some serious competition – but no, this is Edmonton. You won’t get an upturned nose from rivals worried about being bested by you. You’re more likely to get a hand onto the stage, have someone lend you an instrument when yours breaks, or give you some guitar picks because you forgot yours at home. It’s a community. A community of like-minded souls. Who all just want to play music. Because that’s what they love to do.
But, of course, what would a year-end story like this be without a year-end lists? In no particular order, here are the top six releases our extraordinary community lay witness to this year.
Hex Beat
This local trio (photo above) released a thunderous five-track EP full of crunch and post-punk ire called HB2. It dips and dives, with the perfect blend of angst and anger, plus melodic guitar riffs. Definitely a band to keep an eye on going forward.
Major Love
The latest project for Edmonton’s Queen Midas, aka Colleen Brown, and this time she’s joined by other stalwarts of our local music scene, Scenic Route To Alaska. Their eponymous release from earlier this year was co-produced by Jesse Northey (of Jesse and the Dandelions) and Aaron Goldstein (Altameda). What Faith Healer did for the music world in 2015, Major Love did again in 2018. Stellar from top to bottom, a soulful indie romp featuring Brown’s intricate songwriting and siren voice, with some extraordinary guitar work thrown in for good measure. While every band on this list is worth checking out, if you’re only going to check one album out, this is probably the one.
Beach Towels
This modern surf rock band throws down some killer riffs, perfect for catching some killer waves. Which of course isn’t possible at this time of year – nay, any time of year here in Edmonton. But still, they released a perfect, lo-fi frenzy of five tracks in an EP called At the Shore in late August that’s sure to make your heart yearn for an oceanside cabana. A great escape to throwback surf pop wrapped ever so skillfully in more modern elements, such as psychedelia and punk.
Magnet and the Magnettes
This band’s been around the local scene for a while now, but really hit their stride with this year’s five-tracker titled Where the Wind Blows. Frontman Evan van Ramshorst transports the listener on a journey that feels both freeing, like an eagle soaring through the clouds, but at the same time caught in the grasp of something more sinister. An earnest and raw songwriter, Ramshorst grabs you by your ears but you can fill the tug on your heart just as strong.
Dual Nature
This local noise rock project released their four-song EP A Desperate Plea in September – equal parts mental health struggles and modern political discussion, and all parts raucous and righteous guitar. While recording it in one of their basements may have been a cash-saving strategy, it resulted in an extremely appropriate raw vibe, but still stays cozy and even perhaps a little bit warm.
Bloom Circle
September also brought us this indiepop project’s debut album. Titled A Spectrum Of Colour, the band, led by Ron Bass, billed themselves as “indie jangle pop”, but could equally be described as a glorious multi-flavored milkshake of indie, alternative, and arena rock all at once. Flirty guitars, a subtle but funky groove, and a musical soul beyond his years finds the frontman at the forefront of the new indie scene. Unfortunately for us, the band decided to call it quits after just the one release … but has promised us a couple more singles in the New Year after they finish up their scheduled gigs. And let’s face it, Bass will resurface again under some new mantle – he’s far too talented to not.
