Hello fellow Earthlings...or aliens, whatever you are. My name is Dylan Jackson and I used to write a lot about the local music scene in Victoria through Band Night. That, unfortunately, doesn't exist anymore and I've made a conscious decision to stay away from any conflicts of interest.
This brings me to The June Fiasco. A band DT Jackson has never played with. They are neither friends nor foes. In all honesty, the perfect reason to give my boney fingers a crack and open my ears.
The band is of the local variety and label themselves as modern rock, which only means that the demographic they are aiming for is of Zone listeners. Good for them, since aside from college radio, there really isn't much for radio that is worth listening to in this town or supportive of local bands. Andrew Spark [vocalist/guitarist] and Damian Anthony [lead guitar] have had plenty of history. They traded many musical ideas and met eye to eye. The problem was that Spark was living in Birmingham, England and Anthony was stuck where we're all stuck, Victoria. After three years of back and forth, Spark came back to Victoria. He had experienced a great music scene in England that hasn't yet erupted here on the island. To say the least, it was inspiring. How could it not when you look back to the "British invasion"?
Now to avoid telling the whole story from front to back [which you can read for yourself on their facebook page], let's just say even though certain projects didn't work out, Spark and Anthony still shared the same views. Those same views have infected their new project, The June Fiasco. Adam Sutherland, of Armchair Cynics, is a big time producer around these parts and they are looking to release their debut album sometime this year and I think it will do well.
Of course, it's not just a Spark and Anthony show. The band is filled out by Steve Williams on bass and RJ Fraser on drums. I can't review the album just yet, but The June Fiasco have posted three songs up on their site. With such influences as Foo Fighters, Weezer, Live and Soundgarden, I am intrigued but wonder if they are as stuck in the 90's as their page suggests...
Song #1 "This Is Your Life" is reminiscent of a softer tinged Rise Against. It definitely has radio potential with it's anthemic chorus. It bounces through the ears and you will find yourself tapping along. It's not horribly complex music, but the catchiest songs aren't. It's just pop rock and it carries itself well. Not uncommon to something that could be picked up by 604 records. This isn't hipster music. Anthony's solos never overstay their welcome. This should be a hit for The June Fiasco.
Song #2 "Me" is more in your face. It channels a mix between Foo Fighters and Theory of a Deadman. Very well produced and the boys know what goes into writing songs that don't need a second listen to appreciate. Instant gratification. There is even a bit of screaming, but not too much to scare the children. Another song I could imagine on the radio, but This Is Your Life still sticks out as the main choice. You would think these guys employ song doctors. Everything is at that perfect radio length and doesn't come across as a wussy 13 year old's diary. Kudos to that.
Song #3 "To The End" is quite....Creed. "Arms Wide Open" springs to mind quite quickly. This is the ballad. Maybe even a bit Daughtry. The chorus pumps some much needed energy in the song. Another radio smash. This one is a bit too sugary pop for myself, but will be the one your girlfriend will want to dance with you to. We all need ballads, right? Just listening to these songs makes you wonder why these guys aren't making splashes across Canada. It has all the right chemistry. If there is a God, these guys will get the recognition they deserve because not since the band Saul, has their been anything so designed for mass consumption in Victoria.
So, in closing....this band has the right formula for making it big. If you like pop and enjoy listening to The Zone, it's not a stretch to say you will enjoy The June Fiasco. If you hate the radio and think it's a big pile of crocodile shit, then you most likely won't enjoy them. It's fairly simple. This band isn't going to re-write rock n' roll, they are just going to add to the ambiance. As for the "being stuck in the 90's" comment, nope. They represent the now.
