There are seemingly hundreds of contemporary indie pop bands that claim the bubblegum music of the 1960s as a prime influence. Few, however, manage to accurately reflect that sound in their own music, usually through an inability to lose the protective layers of irony and hipster cool long enough to actually write a bouncy two-minute pop song with enough hooks and harmonies to appeal to a discriminating Monkees fan. Then there are The Bicycles.
This Toronto quintet has the bubblegum sound nailed, but there is also a spiky D.I.Y. quality to their music that connects them to like-minded acts such as the Apples in Stereo or Of Montreal. Formed in 2000, the Bicycles consist of guitarists Matt Beckett and Drew Smith, multi-instrumentalist Andrew Scott, bassist Randy Lee, and drummer Dana Snell; all five sing, often in full-on sunshine pop harmonies. The Bicycles' first serious studio sessions, co-produced by Toronto pop scenester Dan Bryk in 2002, went unreleased for several years while the band developed both their studio polish and a multimedia live show akin to that of Sufjan Stevens, with matching band outfits, props, and skits between songs. The Bicycles signed to the local indie Fuzzy Logic Records in 2005 and used the unfinished 2002 sessions and some new recordings featuring guest appearances by John Southworth and members of the Meligrove Band (which Andrew Scott splits his time with), the Hidden Cameras, and the Golden Dogs. The Good the Bad and the Cuddly was released in the summer of 2006.
MARINA CELESTE (France) THE LOVE ME NOTS (USA) PALM SPRINGS (UK) PLACENTA (Denmark) OLIVE TREE (Indonesian) THE CRASHLANDERS (SWEDEN) QUINCE (Switzerland) THE SCHA LA LAS (UK) MONKEEMAN (Germany) THE MOTIFS (Australy) STRIP SQUAD (Sweden) THE BICYCLES (Canada) NISTAL (Spain) SILVER ROCKETS (USA) THE SPOON AND THE PORK FAMILY (USA) THE DORIAN GRAYS (Switzerland) MY NAME IN LIGHTS (UK) SON OF THE VELVET RAT (Austria) THE LUMIERES (Ireland) THE SECRET INK (USA) MR. POPUP (Belgium) SLEEPYARD (Norway) SPINSHOTS (Holland) THE BUDGES (Sweden) THE OTHERSIDE (USA) SOUTHERN BEACH TERROR (Indonesian)
Hey – just a reminder to listen in FRIDAY afternoon at 4:30-6 pm CST to hear THE BICYCLES on “This Great White North” an ALL CANADIAN music show from Austin, Texas It’s on 91. 7 KOOP-FM Listen here
Just wanted to let you know that we played one of your songs on the show Thursday night. Go check out our myspace page for more info! Cheers, The WAC gals
Hey guys, greetings from Ireland, we appreciate the friendship. Great tunage going on here. Maybe catch you round Toronto when we come over for NXNE in June.
Get on your bike to Albert road May 11th 2008! All welcome loads of cycling activities food and drink Street entertainment competition fun for everyone sunday 11th may 2008 12-5 shops open, come along and enjoy the things we have to offer in this great independent shopping road.
"tour de Albert" pay £2 enter the prize draw (£1 to charity £1 towards LOVE ALBERT ROAD FESTIVAL on september the 28th 2008) and do a lap of the road and you could win a prize including a carharrt bike donated by Bored of southsea hope to see you on the 11th of may 12-5 LORD SONIC OF SOUTHSEA
hi there, if you guys are free tomorrow night (thurs.), you should come out to the Free Times Cafe. Four acts on the bill for your listening pleasure (myself, Jesse Carlson, Melissa Dalton, Joe Garant) a bientot
i just want to pop about and flail my arms around. how could a band be some apealling. it seems too perfect you sing about a girl who rides a bike called bonnie. that's me to a T! i guess that's not that rare really. hm keep the good juices flowing, coming to australia?? bon!
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