ygkPlaylist: Best of 2017
As we look towards the holidays and the conclusion of yet another year, we’re hitting play on the #ygkPlaylist one last time for 2017. In what has become an annual tradition, December’s installment of our monthly playlist features our favourite tracks from local bands and solo acts who we’ve featured over the past year. Needless to say, putting this list together is both exciting and difficult, as each and every month’s #ygkPlaylist is bursting with catchy tunes from promising and established talent. But don’t take it from me, hear it for yourself. Without further delay, our Best of 2017 series kicks off with an epic playlist to keep you rocking well into the new year. Happy listening!
After The News: this band has only been playing together since 2015, but the musicians who form it are no strangers to the Kingston music scene. You will certainly recognize the core members from bands including Telefoto and Ianspotting and an impressive line up of guests who have played with The Gertrudes, Rueben DeGroot and The Kingston Symphony. While the holidays may be over, their rendition of The Little Drummer Boy is worth checking out. They released a limited edition 7? record at the end of December which can be purchased by contacting the band. It will be available for download soon. Check them out on Facebook.
The #ygkPlaylist Best of 2017 features:
Amanda Sadler: With a fresh contemporary sound, Amanda released her debut EP The Light in August of 2015, which was recorded in Nashville. The EP featured the infectiously catchy single titled “Nice Just Ain’t Your Colour,” which earned her a semi-finalist position in the International Songwriting Competition. This year continues to be an exciting one for Amanda, as her newest radio single “Drop The Needle Down,” is now climbing the charts and in rotation on Country radio stations. Find Amanda on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
The Wilderness: Since meeting at an open mic and deciding to form a band, Kingston’s The Wilderness released their first EP, Sunday Afternoon, in 2015. Since then they have released videos of recording sessions at North of Princess Studio (hinting at a new upcoming album?) and perform regularly in Kingston. They’ll also be hitting the road at the end of the month for a performance at The Opera House in Toronto. The Wilderness are playlist veteran Jonas Lewis-Anthony (Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocals), Sacha Lansky (Lead Guitar, Vocals) Tõnu Karl Tombak (Bass, Organ, Vocals), and Henry Lawrence (Drums, Vocals). Find The Wilderness on Facebook, BandCamp and YouTube.
Falconer: Born in Hamilton, raised on Vancouver Island and making his way in Kingston, Falconer combines top-notch lyricism with his penchant for storytelling to create emotionally-driven music. Falconer’s debut EP, released last Fall, showcases some of his best work. Covering a variety of topics from family to the summertime to the prison-industrial complex, Falconer puts forth his take on a wide range of experiences. Find Falconer on Facebook, and YouTube.
Ian Wong: Ian Wong is a pianist, composer and music educator. He began writing music in 2014 and recently released his first album of original piano compositions, “Stories in Motion”, which he recorded with producer Matt Rogalsky at The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. Ian currently teaches piano privately and is a board member for The Kingston Arts Council. Catch Ian’s set at the Classical venue, Calvary United Church, at 4:15. Find Ian on Facebook and Twitter.
Orange Alabaster Mushroom: is the brainchild of bedroom D.I.Y. auteur Greg Watson, whose reproductions of classic circa-1967 psych-pop are so dead-on perfect in every detail that one could play on the band’s recordings for any fan of Nuggets-era obscurities, and they’d think it was authentic circa 1967 psych-pop. Orange Alabaster Mushroom are Greg “Grog” Watson (vocals, guitar, organ), Gord Mylks (guitar, vocals), Mark “Fuzzy” Fraser (drums), Ryan Bol (organ, vocals, guitar), and Andy Shurvell (bass). Find them on Facebook, and Bandcamp.
Sweep Trio: Sweep Trio is an alt-rock group made up of Sean Patterson (lead vocals/guitar), Logan Morris (bass) and Jordan Bulhoes (drums). The three come from diverse musical backgrounds with influences from across the board including Hawksley Workman, Green Day, Damien Rice, The Beatles and The Tragically Hip, to name a few. Their live performance includes elements of improvisation, creating an exciting and fresh live experience. No two shows are exactly alike. Find Sweep Trio online on Facebook and Soundcloud.
Forty Seven Teeth: this gritty indie pop band formed in Kingston, but now calls the Big Smoke home. They are known for writing memorable songs with impassioned grit, which courses through the speakers like a stream of erratic energy filled with unforgettable hooks. Their sound is tinged with a rawness that’s refreshing in its realness. It’s a sound that’s bred in the hearts of each member. Forty Seven Teeth are Anna Robertson, Dee Prescott, Jesse Aylesworth, and Matt Woo. Catch them at both the Wolfe Island Music Festival on August 11th. Find Forty Seven Teeth on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
Vile Bodies: Vile Bodies formed in 2016 and is made up of Mike Faires, Rory Kite, Elliott Gould, Dylan Hendrick and Chandler Betteridge. While they list themselves as a band from Kingston/Ottawa, they played a number of shows this past summer in the area, including Rock Fest in Quinte alongside The Sheepdogs and ygk’s The Glorious Sons. Their influence is a wide range of musicians including T-Rex, Little Richard, Thin Lizzie, Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell and they refer to their sound as “rock n’ roll and borderline dad-rock”. Find Vile Bodies on Facebook, Bandcamp and Instagram.
Les Soliloques: members of this franco-Ontarian band split their time between Kingston and Ottawa. The Soliloques revel in the colours of their Indie-Folk dream-like landscape. The band’s songs are devised like soliloquies; one moment lucid, the other nebulous, letting the personality of each band member seep through. Membres: Heinrick Gonneville, Max Nolet et Erika Lamon. Find Les Soliloques on Facebook and Twitter.
Tom Savage: Tom Savage is not your typical country and folk singer-songwriter. While his music is rooted in those genres, his influences comes from many corners of music including Townes Van Zandt, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen. He is a phenomenal guitar player who also picks up the mandolin on occasion. His 20+ year career has seen him off on numerous tours across Canada and the United States – in fact he is gearing up now for a trip down south with his eighth album, Everything Intertwined, which was released in October. When he’s not on tour, you can find Tom hosting the open mic at The Rose and Crown every Wednesday night. Find Tom on SoundCloud, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Every month, we comb Soundcloud looking for sounds that are unique to Kingston. We are constantly seeking out active musicians to show off to the local community and beyond. If you’re a musician who wants to be included in a future #ygkPlaylist, the first step is to get your original music up on Soundcloud and then follow us. We promise to follow you back, listen to your work and consider it for the monthly #ygkPlaylist.