In a way, the first show that you attend sets the bar for the rest of the year, musically. If the Little Wild, The Ruffled Feathers, & The Oceanographers show this past weekend at The Biltmore was any indication for 2014, the year is set to be another year full of solid shows from the local music scene.
Starting off the night was Abbotsford’s Little Wild, who released their debut album Victories at the end of last year through Neptoon Records. Tracks such as “Brown Vest” off their debut showcased the band’s energy and penchant for anthemic vocals. The band is set to tour the US later this year, including a showcase at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
The Ruffled Feathers are no strangers to the Biltmore stage, but the Vancouver band has experienced a shuffle in the line-up since last summer. Gina Loes (vocals, guitar, ukelele) Andrew Lee (trumpet), Sam MacKinnon (drums) welcomed violinist Molly MacKinnon, pianist Sophia Xiang, and bassist Paolo Brian to the band. The intricacies in The Ruffled Feather’s arrangements translate well in their live performance.
It was the first time that The Oceanographers graced the Biltmore stage, and were warmly received by the hometown crowd. 2013 was a busy year for the band, releasing their debut album Thunderous Goodbyes, winning the Cellar Launch Project, and 99.3 The FOX Seeds competition.
The show was the band’s last full set show until the summer, as bassist Matt Prior is heading to Ireland for a semester abroad. However, The Oceanographers will be part of the line-up for the upcoming “The Songs of Bob Dylan” – Bob Dylan songs covered by a fine list of local artists, also at the Biltmore.
It’s always a great time at the Biltmore, and Saturday was certainly no exception.
