The time local musicians and music lovers have been waiting for is finally here.
Breakout West officially kicked off on Thursday evening with an explosive showcase at the Kelowna Community Theatre featuring the incendiary talents of Like A Motorcycle, Little Destroyer and Kelowna’s own, The Wild!
Setting the evening ablaze were Halifax, N.S., punk-rockers, Like A Motorcycle (LAM). Although they may not be well-known in these parts, they certainly left the venue with an abundance of new fans.
Angst-ridden riffs and rage-fueled vocals give the quartet a savage sound you wouldn’t expect upon initial inspection.
Taking garage punk to elevated heights, the group sped through their 10 song set with ferocity and precision encompassing the rawness of the genre with an attention to detail you’d normally be hard-pressed to find.
Feasting off each other's energy like a pack of rabid wolves, LAM mustered up a bonfire of hype, undoubtedly earning themselves a place on my playlist and likely everyone else's in the theatre. Click here to check them out!
Up next came familiar faces to Kelowna, Little Destroyer out of Vancouver. Hard to in the box of the genre, the group infuses electro-pop synth and hip-hop with heart-sinking punk all defibrillated to life with powerhouse vocals.
Known for putting on intimate and fearless shows dripping with passion, the group took their audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions packed with messages of social justice, self-care and mental health awareness with crowd engagement as the cherry on top.
Frontwoman Allie Sheldan is a ball of kinetic energy, and covered every inch of the stage all the while managing to sound pitch-perfect.
Her Joplin-esque rasp added an extra dose of unf to the poignant lyrics you could already tell she was pouring her heart into.
From electric stage presence to instrumental prowess, Little Destroyer captivated their crowd, solidifying die-hard fans and earning new ones. Click here to learn more about them!
To close out the first showcase of Breakout West was none other than The Wild! Resuscitating Rock and Roll, this local group has made a name for themselves with face-melting solos, heavy-hitting rhythm sections, and rockstar stage presence.
Having been on the road for nearly two years, the boys offered up a gleamingly polished set, and there was no shortage of bad-assery and attitude.
From chugging beers to ripping riff after riff, they truly live up to that rock and roll lifestyle, all the while playing with effortless expertise.
Though the group has played with big names such as Steel Panther and Rose Tattoo, the love of their hometown crowd and gracious attitude still shines brighter than any stage light, as they often coerce more cheers from their fans.
The Wild! are undoubtedly rock and roll, through and through, however you can expect to hear influences of deep blues, and even early heavy metal in their raunchy riffs and hair-raising vocals, making them diverse and classic all at once.
Setting the tone for what is sure to be a weekend of musical magic, these three acts showcased the diversity of talent that resides in Canada, and the discovery potential offered by Breakout West.
BOW continues on until Sunday with over 50 bands conquering over 10 venues in our downtown core. Head to their website for a full list of performers and set times.
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