For the record while Nickelback and Bieber Fever are Canadian exports, it was Americans who made them big. Just saying we all played a part in that sad tale. And yet there’s so much good music coming out of Canada. I’ll be in the US Grandpa Simpson rambling about some band that’s HUGE in Canada and earn blank looks. Who or what are you talking about? So that’s the purpose behind this CanCon Column every Tuesday at 9am…to provide illumination of Canadian music: retro, past and present/future. Any suggestions email or use comments below.
Pilot Speed
Formation: 2001-
Twitter: @PilotSpeed
Website: PilotSpeed
Fan Website: Coming Soon…
Check Out:
Sell Control For Life’s Speed
Here’s the thing with music from Canada…ok music from Toronto. There is no “sound.” Toronto is a buffet of sounds not a one cuisine restaurant. You’ll hear Britpop, you’ll hear classic rock…you can hear good old fashioned pop music. But there is no definitive 100% Toronto sound.
When Pilot came out (that’s what they were called before legal matters forced a name evolution to Pilot Speed) they shocked many folks because they sounded so British but were from…Toronto. Really? To quote Elaine Marie Benes: “Get out!”
Recently I was playing Sell Control and somebody intrigued by the music asked if it was a new Travis album. Nope. New British indie band? Wrong again. 2006 album from…a Toronto band. I got that “shut up!” like I’m an infomercial host selling an obvious lie.
Sometimes sounds lie. And sometimes sounds are fantastic. If you’re a fan of British rock music like Coldplay, Snow Patrol (yes I know they’re Irish) check out Pilot.
Sounds Like:
Britpop and…Travis, Shins, Coldplay, Verve
Fun Fact:
Back in the day I happened to listen to an advance copy of Sell Control for Life’s Speed. Shortly after that I encountered one of the A&R guys repping Pilot. Excitedly extolling the album I suggested: “you should take this sonic goodness and tour the heck outta the UK: festivals, pubs, universities all that fun stuff.”
Clearly puzzled he responded: “Why would we do that? We’re a Canadian band, we have to tour Canada first.” It’s one of those moments where somebody shares what they consider logic but really…is far from logic. Shame really…had they toured UK? Who knows. You can’t always play what if you have to live with the decisions you make.
Funky Cool Lyric:
“You can’t shape love with a hammer/and you can’t shape love with a will/what horror lies in knowing there’s no faith that chaos can’t kill…”
