BeatRoute Magazine B.C. print e-edition - June 2016

to be one of the best around, blowing the roof off of venues
leaving crowds bruised, battered, and satisfied. (GW)
Thee Oh Sees perform at the Malkin Bowl on June 18
THUNDERCAT
LOS ANGELES, CA
There are not many famous bass players, let alone ones that
managed to be a part of three of the most critically lauded
albums of last year (His solo record The Beyond/Where the
Giants Roam, Kamasi Washington’s The Epic and Kendrick
Lamar’s universally adored To Pimp a Butterfly). With jazz
roots and experimental sensibilities, Thundercat’s crossgenre
blend is funky enough to fill the dancefloor and smart
enough to expand the mind. (GW)
Thundercat performs at the Imperial on June 18
TYCHO
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
An ambient music project led by San Francisco’s Scott
Harris, also known as IS050 in the visual art world. Tycho’s
music is characterized by warm, melodic tones and layered
samples, creating aural landscapes that exhibit both
melancholy and hope. His live show is known to effortlessly
mesh dancing, trippy visuals, and great vibes all together. You
won’t want to miss it. (GRE)
Tycho performs at the Malkin Bowl on June 17
WHITE LUNG
VANCOUVER, BC
Loud, vicious, and socially conscious, White Lung are one of
the most exciting punk bands operating right now. And they
are from right here, in Vancouver, BC! With each album, White
Lung has moved their sound in a progressive direction and
their newest record, Paradise, may be their most aggressive
and brash, while simultaneously being their most pop-y and
accessible yet. With a killer live show to boot, White Lung will
be the talk of the fest after their performance. (JE)
White Lung performs at the Malkin Bowl on June 17
SUUNS
MONTREAL, QC
Montreal electronic psych band SUUNS know how to
stay fresh. Which is ironic since their third album, Hold/
Still (released on Secretly Canadian, April 15), contains
previously unrecorded tracks they have been reworking
and playing live for up to eight years - almost as long
as the band, formed by vocalist/guitarist Ben Shemie
and guitarist/bassist Joseph Yarmush in 2007, has
been together. However, according to Shemie, SUUNS’
one pre-show ritual is writing out their set list. “It’s not
like we’re playing through this sequence that we get
used to,” Shemie says. Rather than a “choreographed”
performance, audiences are treated to a song progression
dependent on the moods and vibes leading up to the
show, likely determined backstage at the venue.
photo: Nick Helderman
Shemie admits that although he appreciates their social
aspect, the buffet-style of big festivals is less preferential
than club shows. The latter are more conducive to
SUUNS’ dark and intimate sound, which fluctuates
between the violent tension of fellow Canadians Crystal
Castles and the dronier trance-inducing tunes of the Black
Angels (they toured with both back in 2011). However,
SUUNS – including keyboardist/bassist Max Henry
and drummer Liam O’Neill – won’t compromise when
they play the Rickshaw on June 17 as part of Levitation
Vancouver’s night show series. Fans may even be privy
to still unreleased songs, if the band feels inspired to dip
into what Shemie calls their “reservoir of tunes.” (TS)
Sunns perform at the Rickshaw on June 17
THE GROWLERS
DANA POINT, CA
The Growlers are a vintage psychedelic/surf rock
sounding band from Pasadena California. If you ask lead
singer Brooks Nielsen about their sound, he’ll respond
with a flippant “I’m surprised we even made it out of
the garage.” They retain the sound of a garage band
that was called to greater things through the sheer
catchiness of every one of their songs. Their tunes have
an immediately recognizable signature sound with
low-fi instrumentals and poignantly modern lyrics.
Their personas are as fun as their sounds, as they
completely embody the laid back Cali surfer dudes
you would see in movies. Their laid back lifestyle is
directly responsible for their enjoyable sound. “I think
we’ll always stick with a lo-fi sound as none of us
possess a lot of musicianship,” Nielsen claims with
cheeky modesty. As for what they are bringing to
Levitation Vancouver, Nielsen says, “Well we’re actually
rehearsing lots which is a first for The Growlers, also
what can we get away with getting across the border?
We made some set pieces and have other… things.”
You should check them out at Levitation if you are
in the mood for a new favourite band. The Growlers
can hook immediately. Don’t believe us? Spotify the
Chinese Fountain album and join in on the edge-ofseat
waiting for their new album on the horizon. (VB)
The Growlers perform at the Malkin Bowl on June 18
June 2016 MUSIC
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