Corner Brook’s (non-existent) indie scene
When I pitched an article about the blossoming Corner Brook alternative scene, I was stoked. I had just found out I was heading across the island for Jibfest, giving me the opportunity to see GIRLS, an all-male four-piece, play on Feb. 16, and Mother’s Garden, a local trio, play on Feb. 17.
Having been to Corner Brook many times before, but never having heard of either of these bands, I was pretty stoked to shine a spotlight on them in print.
I already knew the trad scene was alive and well, having seen guitars, fiddles and more make many appearances at Flynn’s.
I knew Swirsky’s hosted a blues jam that was well-loved by friends in the west coast city.
I knew Corner Brook had great interest in the 2018 RPM Band Off Challenge, which birthed random bands for one weekend of musical partnership and creation.
What I didn’t know, however, what that both of the new bands I was so excited to see this past weekend would play cover sets.
I’m not here to hate on cover bands — tribute sets are extremely popular the world over, but I couldn’t help but feel a slight pang of disappointment upon arriving in Corner Brook, after days of excitedly telling friends I was going to see some live original music on the west coast.
Mea culpa, though — I should have done my homework.
GIRLS, strictly a cover band, I would learn, play well known — and undeniably crowd pleasing — radio hits.
Booked at Whelan’s Gate on Friday night for Jibfest’s Coors Light Block Party, GIRLS played for an at-capacity bar, with an enthusiastic crowd on the dance floor.
The boys can play their instruments, they made good use of their space, and the lead singer engaged the audience throughout the show.
My only complaint — I knew all the tracks, and it wasn’t what I had come to see.
Mother’s Garden played the same bar the next night, performing a Nirvana cover set to an admittedly sparsely populated bar, but hey — they were competing with the Jibfest Weekender main event for an audience.
Like GIRLS, the young three-piece are proficient musicians and obviously have been playing together for some time — a little over a year, lead vocalist and guitarist Andrew Tobin explained via email.
Tobin explained that he and drummer Alex Murrin started Mother’s Garden, which also includes bassist Kyle Howe, because they felt “it was time to move on from just covers and start something of our own which is practically non-existent on this part of the island.”
This led to a System of a Down tribute show, which proved successful, Tobin continued. This success led to the formation of their Nirvana tribute show, which they hope to eventually tour across the island, doing an exact recreation of the grunge rock band’s famous live album “MTV Unplugged in New York.”
Re-reading this email, I was confused. This group formed to move on from covers, and ended up becoming a cover band? Was I missing something? I did more research — Mother’s Garden has an album of original music called “Natural Society,” released in February 2017. The album is a half hour of indie rock with a hint of psychedelic garage rock, and the band displayed the talent, which, at their young age, they can continue to hone.
This opinion is not meant to deter these bands from their current work, their future goals or even playing cover sets, which clearly seems to be working for them.
I’m not here to discourage. I aim to inspire.
You have the ability, the venues, the connections and, most importantly, the drive to do something amazing — to create a scene unlike what you already have, and to be the pioneers of that scene.
Build it, and surely they will come. I’ll even make the 700-kilometre trek for the debut show.