Grossbuster (photo: Blake Morneau)
The west coast of Canada has, for years, cultivated a certain musical aesthetic, one that draws from all genres with equal reverence. The thing that seems to tie it all together is groove. Deep rhythms anchor our rock and folk music. Hip-hop culture, rooted in the head-nod, is able to thrive and evolve unchecked. Going into its sixth year, Tall Tree Music Festival in Port Renfrew, on Vancouver Island, BC, has become the foremost place where all the funky facets of the West Coast scene come together for a display of unity in their loves of all things rhythmic. We’ve taken the time to pluck out a few of the gems lurking on this massive lineup of West Coast favourites.
Grossbuster
True story: For the first few months of seeing Grossbuster’s name pop up all over town I was constantly tricked into thinking a ton of shows were featuring screenings of Ghostbusters. Seriously, that’s a thing I thought. I wasn’t mad at it so much as I was confused. Upon finally seeing the good homey, I decided if ghosts were indeed real they would probably dance to Grossbuster. He could lure ghosts to a central ghost-party location and provide groovy distraction while the Ghostbusters do their job. His latest offering, Singularity, is full of haunting skeletal arrangements that would be perfect for hip-hopping in a graveyard. It’s also really thrilling to watch Grossbuster pound his beats out live because seeing DJ music being created on the spot like that isn’t something you get to see every day, and it really does add an extra human element to the whole thing.
Five Alarm Funk
If there’s a band in Canada that is as powerful as Five Alarm Funk, please point me in their direction because I have yet to hear them. For years, Five Alarm Funk have been the West Coast’s most prevalent purveyors of party-rocking awesomeness, leaving a trail of obliterated faces and ears in their wake. With a nine-piece band, three of which are banging out rhythms at any given time, Five Alarm Funk delivers some of the biggest, hairiest grooves you’re going to find anywhere. I’ve introduced dozens of friends to these guys and not a single one has been disappointed. There are aren’t a lot of things in life more fun than an outdoor Five Alarm Funk show, and with the band taking a headline slot at Tall Tree this year, we’re all in for something truly epic.
Slynk
There are few guys around that deejay more unassumingly and consistently brilliant as Slynk. A disciple of the good homey Featurecast, Slynk takes a similar approach to electronic music, mastering various skills on his way to becoming a jack-of-all-trades in the DJ world. Part of the ever-growing Ghetto Funk stable, Slynk is equally adept with breaks, masterful scratching and (surprisingly) can drop some pretty aggressive drum ‘n’ bass. The fact that I even care about his DnB is astonishing, as it’s never been my thing, but when it’s delivered with Slynk’s impossibly positive demeanour, it’s hard not to get into.
Pigeon Hole
Favourites over here at Rice and Bread, Pigeon Hole just keeps getting better. Every time I see these guys (it’s been quite a few times now) they come with some new twist on their trap/rap, Dennis the Menace shit. Even though it’s been awhile since Chimp Blood, their last full-length triumph, the chaotic duo has released a string of top-notch singles, doing the unthinkable and making trap music on the West Coast interesting and enjoyable. Whether they’re channeling the spirit of Bun B, or reworking classic Beastie Boys tracks, the rapscallions of Pigeon Hole are keeping the spirit of hip-hop alive in a deep sea of electronic mess.
Shred Kelly
Shred Kelly might win the award for coolest folk band name if ever there was such a competition, and they definitely live up to their badass name. Their shows are joyous celebrations of life that will only reaffirm most of the things you love about music. With an overabundance of singing talent in the group and a bigger sense of groove than (I’m willing to bet) most folk groups have, these cats, straight out of that bastion of art and culture, Fernie, BC, promise to be a winning mix of engaging and shake-worthy. Hopefully they take large chunks of their set from their latest record, Sing to the Night, because it’s a damned fine record, and one I’m personally stoked to see live.
Tall Tree Music Festival takes place June 26-28 in Port Renfrew, BC.
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