There is something visceral about being back in the Phillips Backyard – it triggers your sense memories. It’s the smell of the warm hops scent hanging in the air, the sweetness of the malt fermenting, being surrounded by towering silver vats making some of the Victoria’s finest beer and the slightly sticky concrete.
This is where good times happen.
It’s been three long and patient years waiting to be back in the brewery loading docks turned music venue. In what seemed to be a lifetime ago we were sonically bathed by the Dirty Projectors, Steel Pulse and Danny Brown. Needless to say we were excited to be back for the Glitterbomber.
As festival-goers trickled into the venue through the festival gates Victoria indie-rock ensemble, Bridal Party warmed up the crowd gathering in front of the stage. At the same time in an almost poetic fashion the sun crept out from behind forecasted rain clouds to bathe the Phillips Backyard in golden sunlight for the first music festival of the season.
Before Bridal Party’s set was over we were reminded that knows how to make one heck of an ear-worm of a tune. Have you ever had competing songs stuck in your head? For us it was Fruitless and Speak Easy. We might have had to listen to Too Much almost too much to shake them out afterwards. Bridal Party didn’t pull any punches with their set and were a great way to kick off the weekend festivities.
Fresh off the release of their latest single, Shopkeeper, Pastel Blank is riding a wave of cool. After seeing them perform at All Ways Home Festival last summer we’ve been smitten with them and awaiting new material.
Pastel Blank has one mission and that’s to bring dancing back to indie rock. Well, that and male crop tops. We are sure they will have no issue bringing back either.
You just need to look to the joy on the face of the band’s percussionist and resident pizza box sign maker to see know you are in for a fun show.
Pastel Blank is a band to watch for in Victoria because we are sure they’ll be the next big act to break.
Where do we start with Winnipeg’s pop sensation, Begonia?
Begonia took us by surprise. There was a certain majesty that came as Begonia flowed onto stage in her fringed orange outfit and adorned with a cowboy hat. Instantly we were captivated. We were sure what we were expecting but we were in 100% before her first note.
With a soulful timbre and a commanding presence. The entirety of the Phillips Backyard was entranced during her latest single, It’s Too Quiet. Alexa Dirks’ unshakable positivity and happiness were evident throughout her set even commenting on how great it was to be performing live again.
Begonia was the act of the festival for us and we hope she makes it back to out little island city again soon.
Every time you think you have a handle on The Zolas they flip the switch and head in a new distinctively Zolas direction.
Zachary Gray, the leading force behind The Zolas, remains one of the most entertaining performers to photograph and watch. Within seconds of being on stage – he was off the stage. In a mixture of performative dance and showmanship he was on the stacks in front of the stage ready to hop into the crowd. Zach’s energy feeds the crowd and that feeds him right back.
The Zolas started with some newer songs that gave off loose Happy Mondays vibes but with Zach doing double duties of Shaun Ryder and Bez. Joined by the intense and manic energy of bassist, Dwight Abell the band took on a new revitalized energy as they jumped into Molotov Girls, Swooner and Energy Czar.
It felt like the band was just getting warmed up as they wrapped up their Glitterbomber set. The Zolas feel like a band that are relegated to the festival slot in Victoria a lot when they could be doing a full club set.
An anxious and nearly sold-out crowd inched closer and closer to the barriers in front of the stage as the moment we all anticipated approached. Future Islands.
For most of us this would be our first chance to see this critically acclaimed rock band. Future Islands had played Victoria once before but disappointingly Rocktographers wasn’t here for it as we were at the Skookum Music Festival and The Foo Fighters in Vancouver. It’s been a long wait to for us to see one of our favourite groups and let’s just say it was worth the wait.
Frontman, Sam Herring is something to behold. We are amazed he can walk after a performance. In an almost mesmerizing fashion he moves about the stage effortless as if floating. Emphatically he emotes every piece of his songs. We can’t not think of a better way to describe him than part of this verse from Bob Seger’s song Turn the Page. “Out there in the spotlight / You’re a million miles away / Every ounce of energy / You try to give away /As the sweat pours out your body.”
It’s easy to overlook the other members of Baltimore-based synth-pop act, Future Islands when they have such a dynamic frontman like Sam Herring. While they hang back they create the backbone of the bands sound. Driving rhythms from King of Sweden from Michael Lowry and William Cashion and heavy synths from Gerrit Welmers direct the band on Hit The Coast.
For those who were uninitiated to Herring’s dynamic vocal styles it was a bit of surprise when he went from sweet crooning to a death metal growl. Whether you only knew their single Seasons (Waiting on You) or their entire catalog everyone left the Phillips Backyard with a new found appreciation of the Future Islands.
By the end of the Future Islands set we weren’t sure if our face had melted or that was the sunburn we got earlier the day. Either way we couldn’t wait to be back for a second day of more great music, friends and beer.
