Last week Carry the Storm opened the night with their unique brand of metal. It doesn't matter what kind of metal you're into, Carry the Storm has created a sound that seems to blend them all together! They're my favorite local metal band and they fucking rock the place to it's foundations everytime they play. Oh, I should also mention that they were the judges favorite at the VIU (Vancouver Island University) Battle of the Bands and actually got paid! I hear their winnings are going into the artwork for their upcoming EP! I can't wait for that release!
Under The Mountain are the fucking hard rockers that took home honors at this past year's Cambie Battle of the Bands and they never disappoint....though I'm really starting to wonder if Steve (lead vocals and guitar) knows how to play without a hangover...everytime I catch them he's well, under the weather, let alone under the mountain. Doesn't seem to fucking matter....they kill it everytime! They too are promising an upcoming EP release!
This week the I was treated to Vancouver's SplitTRACT and was fucking blown away by the incredible talent of this band. Hard Rock is their style and man, they are fucking tight! I'm not the only one noticing either...local radio stations have picked up on their sound and have been sending it over the airwaves. I highly suggest you pick up their EP while it's still dirt cheap...these boys have the makings to make it big and it won't be long before their merch goes up in price - and rightly so! And dare I say...not hard on the eyes either. Oh fuck it, check them out for yourself....
ALONE
Next up was another Vancouver band, Soundstem, and what a great set! Randy...killer bassist for SplitTRACT did double duty and played bass for this band as well! I feel I know Randy well because after every song he played (for both bands) an enthusiastic fan (I believe his name was Geoff - don't know if that's how he spells his name, he just struck me as a Geoff with a G...) yelled out "I love you Randy" ....not in a gay way (not that there's anything wrong with that) but in a drunken friend at 2:00 am way. Well I fucking agree Geoff...I fucking love him too! This band has been around for a while and played originals off both their CDs as well as a covers of Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive and Billy Idol's Rebel Yell! One of the originals they played is Erase and also the first track on their CD Tomorrow can Wait....check it out rockers....
ERASE
Headlining the show was No Operator and also what drew me to the Cambie for a second weekend in a row. These guys are fucking amazing! I missed their show a couple of months back and was heartbroken....stupid winter weather...and there was no fucking way I was going to miss this one! There's a reason these guys are the fucking beaus of the ball in Nanaimo! No Operator has managed to find the perfect blend, a clean sound that appeals to rock fans yet hard enough for metal fans to throw their horns in the air and start a mosh pit. And oh yes....there was definitely a pit! Their high energy is contagious and they had the joint jumping! Goes to show you don't need a large stage to move around because these boys used every bit of that small stage and put on a show like no other!
There is something else I need to share with you about No Operator. These boys are just more than pretty faces! I've had the opportunity to really dig into their latest CD Weather and War (not a hard feat considering I own it) and not only am I impressed by their incredible talent as musicians but also by their intelligence. Their songs are rife with political opinions and they're using their gift of music to not only open ears, but minds as well. I have to admit, I had a hard fucking time trying to choose just one of No Operator's songs to share with you! I chose this one because it's just so fucking hauntingly beautiful.....
WITH ALL SIDES
These bands fucking rocked to a packed house and I have to congratulate Amber McGrath for a job well done in bringing talent like this to our appreciative ears! But that's not all I'm congratulating this awesome chick for! Saturday marked the 150th show she's brought to Nanaimo's Cambie Bar and I for one am grateful for her dedication and support of live local music. The Cambie has been an awesome venue for local bands to stretch their stage performance muscles as well as gain new fans...good job Amber! Yeah, yeah....I know....I still expect to pay the cover..... ; )
Where can you find more info on these bands? Well, let me help you out!
If facebook is your thing:
Carry the Storm - https://www.facebook.com/carrythestormmetal
Under the Mountain - https://www.facebook.com/UndertheMountainband
SplitTRACT - https://www.facebook.com/splittract
Soundstem - https://www.facebook.com/Soundstem
No Operator - https://www.facebook.com/nooperator
If you like to tweet:
Under the Mountain - https://twitter.com/UnderThMountain
SplitTRACT - https://twitter.com/SplitTRACT
Soundstem - https://twitter.com/Soundstem
No Operator - https://twitter.com/NoOperator
Random links:
Carry the Storm - http://carrythestorm.bandcamp.com/
Under the Mountain - http://www.reverbnation.com/underthemountain
SplitTRACT - http://chriswitoskimusic.com/splittract/
No Operator - http://www.nooperator.com/
