Inspired by the “first concert / last concert” thread (where I mention two local bands I’ve seen recently), how about a thread where we brag up our favourite local or regional bands that others may not be familiar with? There are so many talented, hard-working artists out there who deserve more streams, download sales, and merch sales than they get. I’ll start:
- Elektric Mistress (yes, named after the pedal) is a stoner rock band from Kjipuktuk (Halifax, Nova Scotia). Two of my friends from high school (twin brothers) are the guitarists. The singer’s vocal style lends them more of a classic rock vibe than a lot of other stoner acts. I don’t [personally] know anyone who devotes more time to their craft than these guys. They bust their asses rehearsing, performing, recording, and promoting their work online. Find them on Bandcamp and Spotify.
- Earth Altar is another local Kjipuktuk band I recently saw live with Elektric Mistress (who were so impressed they worried they couldn’t follow EA’s brilliant set). EA skews more prog/space, and I am listening to their debut album on Spotify for the first time right now, as I type! Find them on Bandcamp, too.
- I’ve been listening to Acadian south shore band Kuato for years but have never managed to catch them live. (WTH?!)
Wacky psych/stoner/doom goodness,(nope, way more post-rock than I remember!) and hilarious song titles to boot. Kuato is on Bandcamp and Spotify, too.
- These local folks may be a bit harder to find, since I don’t think they’re still producing music. I saw Hey Mother Death (later re-formed as Love Supraeme) at an experimental music festival several years ago, and have followed their work ever since. Very different from the bands I’ve mentioned so far: spooky, sexy, loungey, post-punky (think Tones on Tail or PIL but crafted by a young couple in love). You can still find some of their work on Spotify. I think they moved from Nova Scotia to Paris several years ago. Wherever they are, I miss their music and hope they’re doing well.
- Hopping to a different timezone now, the Treaty 6 (Edmonton, Alberta) band Nehiyawak is probably my favourite band in the country – and they broke up after only one [critically acclaimed, Polaris Prize-shortlisted] album.
In the album Nipiy (which means “water”), space rock and Indigenous (Nehiyaw/Cree) musical influences meld into something incredibly special and powerful. You’ll hear ethereal glints and glimmers of Beach Boys, Mars Volta, and Arcade Fire – but those touchstones don’t do it justice. Nipiy is an album-listener’s album, a lay in the dark with your hi-fi album, and no, I am not parting with my vinyl copy - one of only a few hundred ever pressed. 
Find them on Bandcamp or Spotify.
I could go on, but I’m going to stop here for now! Can’t wait to see what others post. Cheers. 
