It’s no secret that Victoria, BC has been labeled a “no fun city” more than once in its lifetime — famously touting the unofficial motto: “for the newlywed and the nearly dead” for over half a century.
With the ongoing closures of art spaces, music venues, and a diminishing presence of the arts in our community, it’s important to embrace moments when people bring new energy into the city. That’s why we were so excited to hear that Alcoves was doing a cheeky single release show in the garden behind Routine Coffee & Supply.
The communal green space behind the café is a little oasis tucked away from the bustle of downtown and its ever-present sirens. Surrounded by condos on all sides, it feels like a hidden gem for those lucky enough to find it — and a surprisingly great spot for a Band of the Month photo shoot.
It might have been late June, but it sure felt like fall that Thursday night. A definitive chill cut through the air while torrential rains fell. As the crowd filtered in through a secret passageway between the coffee shop and an antique store, they huddled under borrowed tents, sipping hot drinks to warm up.
Despite the downpour above us, everything seemed to melt away when Tofino/Victoria-based singer-songwriter Alle took the mic. Her beaming, infectious smile and heartfelt lyrics immediately captivated the crowd — even her dad jokes landed. It was her only solo acoustic set of the summer, and we all felt lucky to witness it.
There was some trepidation as Alcoves took the stage — not just because they were following Alle’s beautiful set, but because a full rock band was about to shake up the garden. But the moment the first chord rang out, that fear vanished. Everyone was there to have fun — to be part of something real, something creative, something joyful.
Soon, people were dancing to the band’s track Raining in July — appropriately enough, on a very rainy night in June. And then, as if on cue, the rain stopped. Whether scared off by the electric guitars and drums or just taking pity on us, we’ll never know.
Though their set was shorter than originally planned, Alcoves sounded clean, full, and totally dialed-in — impressive for a DIY space. It was a celebration, and they made it feel that way. The addition of Michael Wilford (Dead Summer) on drums brought a new dimension to their sound.
As their set came to a close, frontman Garrett took a moment to thank everyone who braved the weather and showed support — and gave a special shout-out to The Zone @ 91-3 for naming them Band of the Month. They launched into Call Liz, the song we were all there to celebrate — kazoo solo and all — and left the crowd cheering “one more song!”To one neighbor’s dismay, Alcoves delivered.
Garrett and Robbie aren’t always in the same city, but when they are, they create something special. This time, it was an intimate show in a tucked-away garden, in the heart of downtown Victoria.
Sure, there were a few noise complaints. But we want to thank Routine Coffee and Alcoves for trying to make this a Some Fun City.
