The art in mainstream, modern music is suffering; dying. It gasps for the crisp air of originality as the noxious clouds of imitation, insincerity and fabrication threaten to stifle it existence. Quite simply, creating original, earnest music is becoming extinct.
Vancouver area-based quartet The British Columbians are a breath of that fresh air. While their music is an incomparably unique union of very diverse backgrounds that results in a mixture of old school blues-influenced stompy rock 'n' roll songs (heavy emphasis on the roll), with songs that are haunted, wooden and pastoral, one must understand how their outlook and passion fuels this creativity and originality. It is their grassroots approach to making music for music's sake that is seeing them blossom as one of Canada's few truly authentic acts.
“We're passionate about there being integrity in music,” states Moran matter-of-factly. “I feel like if you have a gift to play music, you should use it and it should be sincere. Those are the bands that we gravitate towards and love: the ones who are genuine. And the first time you hear those bands, you connect with them.”
For The British Columbians, those connections have been coming fast and strong thanks to their heartfelt devotion to music and unwavering intent on delivering trustworthy art devoid of needless pomp and circumstance.
In fact, it has resulted in a powerful independent eponymous debut that is grabbing the ears of our nation's most prominent music fans. The British Columbians have been voted Canada's Best Undiscovered Band by a top mentor board for the Zune Concert Series Competition comprised of representative from the likes of Dine Alone Records, Explore Music, Last Gang Records, Universal and Roadrunner Records respectively. Not to mention successful cross-country tours and select dates on renowned festivals including NXNE and V-Fest, sharing the stage with Band of Skulls, K-OS and Broken Social Scene to name a few.
They are also quickly amassing astonishing amounts of radio play at Canada's top stations, a direct reward for their hard work and musical sincerity. Not bad for two men who met while working in a music store and became fast friends due to similar interests and perspectives on music. Notes Knox,
“We got together to make some music...just playing around without any big ambition. The chemistry was there at the first moment and we both thought this was something special.”
“It was a long process of ideas and collaboration with the album coming after deciding that some songs were together and viable,” adds Moran. “We started working at writing songs and thought we'd make a record, not really planning on where to take it. We just knew we wanted to make something we felt was strong and worthy.”
Strong and worthy it has been. A few months and many jam sessions later, the duo found themselves entering Burnaby, B.C.'s legendary The Hive studio with renowned producer Colin Stewart (Black Mountain, Destroyer, Ladyhawke) to create a self-titled affair that has gripped the world of rudimentary, guttural rock.
Bringing in Ellis and Connell to complete the fold, The British Columbians were solidified and the album's lead singles “Hoodoo” and “In The Leaves” began commanding airplay. Third song “Hail To The Rising Sun” is the new release for The British Columbians who believe their expedient success relies on fortitude, veracity and the intent on being true to the most important aspect of any artist, creativity.
“So much of what is contemporary popular music is wallpaper but, still there are artists out there who are motivated to make truly great music, we align ourselves with them,” declares Knox. “This music isn't for show or a put-on. We're connected to it.”
“Music should be a reflection of who you are, not an image,” he continues. “We hold that as important to our art. While people might try to compare us to this band or that one, nothing about what we're making musically is a calculated manoeuvre. It's about being in touch with the currents that run deeply within. We always try and do what we do with conviction. It comes from an honest and real place: us."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
*Played V-Fest Vancouver with Broken Social Scene, K-OS, Our Lady Peace & Spinnerette - July '09
*Unanimously voted "Canada's Best Undiscovered Band" by top mentor board for the Zune Concert Series Competition. Mentors included: Joel Carriere (Dine Alone), Alan Cross (Explore Music), Chris Taylor (Last Gang), David Cox (Universal), Joe Kresta (Roadrunner), and Guillaume Lemieux (Feldman).
*Feature interview/performance on Explore Music with Alan Cross
*Played NXNE'09 "Myspace Showcase" with Band of Skulls at El Mocambo, Toronto - June'09
*Opened BC spring tour dates for Arkells/The Waking Eyes
*Feature Radio airplay at over 20 stations nationwide including: 99.3 The Fox Vancouver (Feature Rotation), Shore 104 Vancouver (Feature Rotation), The Peak Vancouver, 90.1 CJSF Burnaby, The Zone Victoria, The Wolf Nanaimo, 98.3 CIFM Kamloops, 94X Prince George, X92.9 Calgary, Rock 105 Medicine Hat, Rock 106 Lethbridge, The Wolf Regina, Power 97 Winnipeg, Y108 Hamilton, FM96 London, Rock 101.9 Cornwall, KROCK 105.7 Kingston, Live 88.5 Ottawa, 91X Belleville, The Edge 102.1 Toronto.
"Thankfully the British Columbians got things back on track and, in fact, stole the show. Snarling and groove-heavy, their undaunted set erased any sins permeated by the Capitals. With dry ice penetrating the nostrils, the band chugged through a mature, Southern-tinged set. What became immediately apparent was not how much the British Columbians wanted this opening slot, but how much they deserved it." Joshua Kloke - Exclaim Magazine (Taken from the concert review of The Manvils | The British Columbians| The Capitals @ Venue on Oct.15/09 in Vancouver)
"I bought their self-titled CD a few months ago and have been hooked ever since. Their song 'Hail to the Rising Sun' will go down as a great summer classic. I can’t wait to see this band live and look forward to playing their CD every day at my cottage. Hail to The British Columbians for writing a real rock record." Joel Carriere - Dine Alone Records (Alexisonfire, City and Colour, Bedouin Soundclash)
"This debut album by The British Coulmbians is so clear in its vision and spot-on in its execution that we wonder why we've never heard a peep about them until now. The four-piece mixes gritty blues-rock with sleazy classic rock and throws in some softer folk, too. The rock songs are built around tough, slinky guitar riffs and singer/guitarist Girard Knox's badass voice...a polished, promising debut." Carla Gillis - The Now (Toronto)
"I eagerly awaited The British Columbians to take the stage because their powerful, edgy Southern rock has made them one of the best Vancouver bands out there right now. As soon as they hit the stage, I could feel I was in for something special. They gave the audience a much-needed jolt of energy. Having lived in New Orleans and seen my share of great Southern bands, these guys held the tradition of good music up to its highest standards. Girard Knox's vocals and stage presence were so badass that he now has a small shrine in my heart. The rest of the band displayed fierce musicianship and having two percussionists gave their set real heft. Bands like this are few and far between, so The British Columbians are a must-see." Kyla Keir - Backstage Vancouver
"The British Columbians have a great feel with a creative and interesting array of rock, electric blues and alternative riffs that come together to give this band a great shot at being noticed in a similar light as The Raconteurs, Black Keys, Kings of Leon and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Solid players live, and well written songs should impress many out there. They bring a wealth of quality musicianship and straight grind to the table."Patrick Zulinov - Assistant Program Director / Music Director Shore 104 - Vancouver
"This Vancouver four-piece proved that driving 5,000 miles across Canada (for NXNE) was worth it as they started the night with a bang at Toronto's legendary venue (El Mocambo).The British Columbians had the 8 p.m. slot with a sparse crowd in a dimmed candle-lit setting. They immediately brightened the atmosphere with crunching blues guitar harmonies that remained tight throughout the set. Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations. Grade: 85. Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants." Ciara McCann - CHARTattack
"As befits a band with such a regionally specific moniker, The British Columbians makes distortion drenched gutter blues that seem to owe more to Vancouver's rain-slicked streets than to the Mississippi Delta." Georgia Straight - City's Brightest Lights (Junofest 2009 Top Ten)
"Vibe, real style and true grit. Killer."Michael Olsen - Uncomfortable Silence (Producer - Jim Guthrie, Great Lake Swimmers, / Cellist - Arcade Fire, K-OS)
"Between raucous and soothing material, the Canadian band is steeped in American rock and roll, electric blues and elegant Americana. The variety of material at work here seems like it was pulled from years of creativity. It ranges from banjo laced near lullabies to barn burning, pounding rock numbers that would startle The Black Keys or Jack White. Slower paced songs…sound beautifully ageless. While the album switches mood - craftily and often, the result is something mild-mannered, ill tempered, a brilliant collection of fire and warmth that stomps as much as it caresses the soul. The British Columbians have a lot to work with musically. Hopefully we’ll see more of it. Easily one of the best albums of 2008.” Bootleg Magazine
"Their stage presence was amazing, they stole my vote on this fateful night with amazingly powerful vocals, the willingness the experiment and a tight but classically loose style. After playing their 45 minutes set they had the crowd cheering for an impromptu encore, which was subsequently shot down by the house. Much to the dismay of the now somber mass, the opening act left the stage." Concertaddicts.ca
"Along with their knack for stir-fried boogie and low, lonesome rumblings borne from the bayou, the British Columbians reference numerous disparate forebears. They mimic the upturned ambitions of Led Zeppelin, the swagger and wail of Kings of Leon, the rugged blues moan of John Lee Hooker and the unhinged exuberance exhibited by those residing on the sunnier side of the Mason-Dixon Line. A promising, impassioned debut, this eponymous effort suggests the British Columbians are warmer than their handle implies." L. Zimmerman - PerformingSongwriter.com
"The British Columbians are an eclectic mix of modern day rock elements juxtaposed with a traditional blues style. The musicianship is well executed and the sound quality easily transferable from a studio recording to a live show environment." Anne-Marie Smith, Lonestar Music Services
"The British Columbians self-titled debut is folky and beautiful, and heavy in some places, with songs like "Bye Bye Marie" and "Gasoline Handshake," and softer in others, like "In the Leaves" and "By and By." It's full of the heart that is found in dusty bars and smoky backyard barbecues, in driving through the desert at sunset with the windows down. There's something about this sort of music that welcomes some sort of honesty and closeness. It's hard to pin down, and people tend to call me crazy when I mention it, but it's inside these songs." Rachel Eisenberg - Redefine Magazine
"For fans of talented groups in the vein of The Black Keys and any othersthat successful choose to modernize blues-rock in a way that is neither shameless nor desperate, The British Columbians is a vital purchase." Obscure Sound
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