As I’m walking into the site after polishing off some Barbie beers at Whistle Buoy, I am told by three people working the entrance that I have the best outfit of the festival so far- it’s only 4 PM, but the confidence boost is always ace.
The crowd is massive already – it’s busy and there are queues everywhere. They’re manageable, but it’s evident the chill, older demographic of Friday is replaced by a youthful Saturday energy. Let’s do this.
I grab a Solaris and head in to watch Vancouver’s Babe Corner and find my friend. They’re about halfway through their set (I was tied up in some great conversation about festivals with a new friend) and they have more chill vibes than the performers of the day before. I’m walking in as they’re performing They Don’t Love You Like I Do with the guitarist from Peach Pit. They then play Cigarette which opens with the lyrics “You think you’re such an artist” and I’m immediately invested. They have a dreamy synth vibe to their music and their vocal harmonies are stunning. A nice way to ease into the chaotic Saturday energy that is drifting around.
After their set, I decide to adventure for food and brace myself for a lengthy wait. And in some crazy twist of fate, there is no queue for Dead Beetz Burgers! This never happens! I happily order a Cashew Chickpea Burger and enjoyed it in the shade and do some people watching.
The Bankes Brothers come on and my immediate thought is “How is that voice coming out of that Tom Holland looking man?!” Victorian brothers Nelson and Morgan Banks lead the four piece and they’re confident as hell on stage. Their brand of upbeat indie rock has the crowd bopping along. They’ve got soul and great swagger. They were The Zone’s Band of the Month this past March and have just come back from their first tour with Jesse Roper which included many pranks. They hold up a pair of tighty whities that has “I <3 BANKES” written on them which they claim to be Roper’s. They breeze through singles In Waves and Things I’ll Never Learn and I look forward to hearing more from these local gents. I expect big things from them!
A few more passes through the misting station, some cups of water downed and it’s time for the delicious indie rock of Ruby Waters. Her voice is soulful and rich and she is a big fan of the word fuck. I can dig it. The Ontario native opens with Good Recipe which really sets the standard for her set. It is sexy, it is confident, it is electrifying, it is a cold drink on a hot afternoon (how appropriate). Songs like Harder and her most recent single Flash Flood both feed into the sexually amped set and there are some couples spotted grinding and experiencing the moment. To that, I say, good for them. She finishes her set with the song Difficult which includes stating that adulting is hard and “Let’s start a cult, do some drugs” and I can’t see a fault in her lyrics. After her sizzling closer, she has a message for the audience – “Have a good time, fuck! That’s my message for today.” Thanks Ruby – we really fucking did.
Allen Stone enters the stage and once again I’m asking where this voice comes from! His blonde hair flows, he’s got those chic dad aviators that everyone seems to have, and he is wearing an excellent cream coloured shirt that has “NO” within a red heart on the back – a man after my own heart. He has 70s golden retriever energy to match his sparkling soul and R&B tunes and he just wants everyone in the audience to be pals. He asks everyone to turn to the person next to them and get their name. I wish I could remember what my new friend’s name was, but alas, the heat was melting my brain. He gets the right and left side of the crowd to have a dance off – and the right hand side crushes the left (I blame the sun being on us lefties! They had shade on the right! I demand a rematch!) He covers Is This Love? by Bob Marley and the Wailers and asks the audience “Do you feel the love tonight, Victoria?” Yes, yes we do, thank you for asking. He continues the love fest with his song Consider Me and Brown Eyed Lover. Between him and Ruby Waters, they’ve covered two major parts of relationships in their sets. Well done, Reverb organizers… well done.
In between sets, it’s time for the great Victorian past time of queueing – first the bathroom, then for food (delicious pasta from Ciccio’s Cucina), then for drinks. I’ve noticed three people wearing “Protect Trans Kids” tees from Belle General – it makes my heart happy to see. People are milling about excitedly for what’s to come.
Peach Pit enters the stage with a vengeance – “Open the fucking pit!” singer Neil Smith proclaims as they launch into a Slayer cover and Smith vaults himself into the audience for a crowd surf. They’ve got everyone’s attention now and then start up with their own brand of Vancouver indie pop rock. Brian’s Movie and Peach Pit – (yes, they’ve got a song with their name) bring the mellow surfer vibes. I was expecting the crowd to be more feral, but it seems the sun and music has slowed everyone down. The band have lively banter between songs and at one point Smith forgets the words to his own song that “is about smoking too much weed.” We’ve all been there, friend; don’t worry. I’ve taken a spot towards the back of the backyard and it’s perfect – everyone is dancing, hugging, feeling their feels. The vibes are premium among the packed crowd.
I end the evening before the encore to not get stuck in the mass exodus of 4,500 people and make my way to say hello to some friends before heading back to Whistle Buoy to debrief on the day with my buddy Mikey. I also have my first Caesar ever and wonder how I have survived a hangover without one? Have I ever truly been Canadian until this point?
