The Starling Effect

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Allan MacInnis of the Georgia Straight described THE STARLING EFFECTs first EP as “psychedelic” and “shoegazey”, observing that “the guitars on the album move in a dreamlike, narcotized swirl that would make them worthy of a Gregg Araki soundtrack” and that “it all rocks out a bit more when the band plays live”.

That last observation was certainly true, but the band’s intention upon entering Little Red Sounds in January was to capture the full range of its sound, from the dreamy swirls to the propulsive crunch. Working with the studio’s owner and resident recording wizard, Felix Fung, the Starling Effect emerged with its first new material in over four years. This show marks the official release of these long-in-the-works new songs.

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HOTEL EMPRESS’s sonic blueprint has its roots in the world of ripping guitar riffs, shimmering vintage synths, and tightly-woven melodies. Roots that defined an era and gave birth to many of their influences like The Pixies, The Breeders, and early Radiohead.

A band characterized by a collision of styles (and personalities), their sounds bleed together into a vision of indie synth-rock that’s both light and dark, tender and fiery. Something you can dance to and something you can rage to in the twilight hours of the night.

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PONTIAC marks a new era for David Cotton of Vancouver scene stalwarts Seven Nines and Tens, but still features some of his signature songwriting tricks ie understatedly intelligent, cerebral, and memorable tunes.

With this new project, Cotton simply aims to deliver a less arcane, idiosyncratic sound which aligns stylistically with genres he has loved his entire career: indie rock, progressive blues, classic rock, and post punk.

Pontiac’s debut record “Hard Knox” was released January 14, 2024, with a limited edition cassette released by Coup Sur Coup records to mark the occasion.