Pineapple may be a disgusting abomination of a fruit, but the lighthearted rhythms of Vancouver pop outfit BESTiE manage to make it go down like a refreshing pina colada.
The world’s worst pizza topping shares a name with the lead-off track on the band’s first full-length album No Bad Days, recorded with heavy-hitting producer Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers, and Mother Mother).
With their penchant for tropical soca beats and Paul Simon, the comparisons to Vampire Weekend are valid. But last time I checked, Vampire Weekend was a pretty sweet band, and clearly BESTiE are of the same opinion.
Fronted by Tristan Orchard (Gemini-nominated filmmaker and the man behind Vancouver music website WinnieCooper.net), BESTiE are quickly establishing themselves as one of the city’s top acts to watch, and certainly one of the most fun. After placing third in last year’s Peak Performance Project, the past 12 months have seen the band make appearances at SXSW, Canadian Music Week, Sled Island, and Rifflandia.
This Friday, the boys of BESTiE are celebrating the release of No Bad Days with an album release party at Fortune Sound Lounge that also serves as a homecoming after a month on the road touring across Canada.
Make sure to get to the show early to find out why openers NEEDS are banned from nearly every bar in Western Canada.
• BESTiE album release party at Fortune Sound Lounge, with Sunshine, NEEDS, Derrival, and Can I Live DJs. Doors open at 6pm, 147 E. Pender. $13 advance tickets available at Highlife, Zulu, Red Cat, Beatstreet.
