Remember when we all partied at a local brewery last July, and we listened to some of the most incredible music while we drank beverages (both alcohol and non-alcohol) with our friends? Rocktographers remembers and we enjoyed it so much that we’ve were counting down the days until we could do it all over again! Phillips Backyard Music Festival – REVERB has officially arrived and to say we are beyond stoked is an understatement. Day one’s lineup was filled with rock & country greatness and featured a headlining set by Peach Pit. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for everyone; let’s get to it!
Main stage started off with local favourite, Layten Kramer. Layten’s band is filled with all-star musicians and all of them coming together to perform these songs was a blessing. The drone of the violin added another element to these already rich compositions. If you get a chance to see Layten perform, take that opportunity because you will not regret it. Then, Uncle Strut hopped onstage to perform their groove-esque rock. Think Santana style of grooving with a west coast feel. Their performance had us moving the whole time. If you were like us and couldn’t get enough of Uncle Strut, they will be returning to Victoria to open for Hotel Mira later this year at Capital Ballroom. REVERB’s Main Stage was off to an electrifying start, but there’s a whole other stage to check out too.
One of our favourite additions during the last festival was the Music BC stage, and we are so happy to see it return with some upgrades! Smaller speakers on both sides, higher stage, and a cool backdrop behind the bands. Talk about a makeover, am I right? Day one for the stage saw a great selection of country with a touch rock. First up for the stage was Vancouver’s Antonio Larosa. Country can have a lot of feeling behind the music and Antonio brings that out in his voice so well. We also can’t forget to mention that stellar group of musicians playing with him. Then it was time for Pony Gold, one of our favourite acts to cover. If you’ve been to a Pony Gold performance before, then you know just how lucky we are to have such talent here. The set was wonderful as always and getting to see her perform with a full band is always a treat. Finally, Kate Yahn closed out the stage for day one. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Kate Yahn perform but in the first few moments of her set, we remembered why we enjoyed her music so much. Giving a Fleetwood Mac vibe in her music while still staying unique made for a fantastic closing performance.
Okay, we know a few of you probably scrolled down to this paragraph immediately after this review released, and we totally get it. Mac Sabbath, a fast-food character inspired Black Sabbath cover band, holds a very special place in our hearts. I mean, I wear a grimace outfit to festivals, so I bet you could tell I was like a kid getting a happy meal. From the costumes to the on-stage props, to the clever lyric changes, Mac Sabbath is what cover bands wish they could be. You aren’t just getting a generic cover of a Black Sabbath song; you get Ronald Osbourne cooking a rubber bat on a grill and placing it between two buns before he takes a bite, all while playing Frying Pan, their cover version of Black Sabbath’s Iron Man. It’s an incredible sight to behold. To close their set, Ronald addressed the elephant in the room; the passing of Ozzy Osbourne. Mac Sabbath paid tribute to prince of darkness by ending their set with a cover of Paranoid, but not the Mac Sabbath version, Pair-of-buns. Once the song finished, it was tough to say goodbye but as one final laugh, they walked off to Wesley Willis’ iconic track, Rock ‘n Roll McDonalds. This experience will forever be remembered by us.
Victoria loves Ruby Waters; at this point, that’s just a fact. Making her return to Phillips Backyard this year wasn’t always the plan, but after another artist dropped from the lineup, we couldn’t think of a better artist to replace them with. Whether it’s her high energy or just the beauty of her music, it really makes sense why she is one of the most exciting names in the Canadian indie scene. The crowd was fully packed out to watch her set and you could tell everyone was really enjoying the moment. Having now seen Ruby for a fourth time, I think it’s safe to say that Ruby also loves playing here and if that’s the case, we will always welcome her with open arms.
Day one for REVERB closed out with a power performance by Vancouver Indie heartthrobs, Peach Pit. It’s always a grand occasion when Peach Pit rolls into town. Everywhere you looked, you saw at least four or five people wearing or holding Peach Pit merch. So, what is it about them that brings out such a dedicated fanbase? The answer is performances like this one. Perfectly performed set by the band filled with fun and good vibrations made for an overall glorious experience. Every time Chris Vanderkooy, Peach Pit’s Guitarist, would hop down from the riser to play closer to the crowd, the crowd would roar with excitement. Speaking of Chris, at one point during the show, he rocked a double neck guitar which is always fun to watch. Peach Pit has done it again and I can already tell some people in the crowd are waiting for their next show in Victoria.
Last year when Earl Sweatshirt performed at REVERB, he mentioned how Phillips isn’t just a brewery, but a lifestyle. As time goes on, that sentence becomes truer. This festival is one of our happy places and we are so excited to see what day two has in store for us!
