British Invasion

When I was in my early teens I discovered the Beatles.

I think it was this random documentary that was on TV one day about how they broke into America in 1964.  I had heard a lot of their music growing up (how could you not, their music is ingrained into society) but there was something about them that I had never quite connected with until I saw this brief doc.  I remember hearing their cover of "Rock and Roll Music" and thinking wow, that's what a band is supposed to sound like.  I rabidly devoured everything Beatles and have done so like millions upon millions ever since.

This continued. With.  All.  British. Music.

When I get into something, I need to feed the addiction.  For example.  Just like a billion others, I got really heavy into Harry Potter a number of years ago.  I am a nerd.  (If you have read some of my blog you may have realized this by now) I loved the series so much that I started reading other books in the same genre (children's sci-fi fantasy) because I wanted more.  more and more and more.

This applies to music. 

I love the Beatles so I got into John's solo work.  And George's.  And Ringo's.  And Wings.  And Paul's.  Then I got into the Stones.  And the Who.  etc etc etc.

Then I went modern.  Radiohead.  Kula Shaker.  Oasis.  Blur.  Pulp. Supergrass.  The Stone Roses. (that was the 90's for me).

A while ago I met a group of Londoners travelling through Vancouver on their way to Whistler.  I got to talking with one guy in the group, Finn, who then gave me a few bands that were undiscovered in Canada but up my ally.  I told him I was really into Bloc Party/Franz Ferdinand/Arctic Monkeys/Boy Kill Boy/the Futureheads and was looking for some bands that were similar and new.  He introduced me to a couple amazing bands called the Pigeon Detectives and the Wombats and from there I got into Scouting for Girls, the Hoosiers, Two Door Cinema Club, Hard-Fi and more.   Needless to say Finn and I are close friends and I'm planning on seeing London in the summer and sleeping on his couch and singing Oasis songs over a pint (or 8) and talking about music until wee hours in the morning and also trying to desperately explain hockey.

Fast Forward to now.

About a month ago a friend of mine (who is from the UK) sent me a text saying, "do I want to go to the Venue to see Biffy Clyro play a show".  I said yes not having any clue who they were.  He said I'd like them and that it would be fun.  Fair enough.  I emailed another friend from the UK to email me an MP3 of her favourite Biffy song.   Born on a Horse was in my inbox the next day.  Mind blown.  I bought the entire newest record, "Only Revolutions" on iTunes and have been really getting hardcore about this band.  The more I delve into this band the more I realized that this UK based group has been together for years and even has a connection to Vancouver having recorded a previous record at the Warehouse with local legends GGGarth & Mike Fraser.

What you've learned from this post:
I want to hear new undiscovered music from over the pond.

I hope you can take some of my advice and maybe check out some of these awesome bands.

Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra