Best of bands 2013: The Matinée

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      When your kids ask you a couple of decades from now what the summer of 2013 sounded like in Vancouver, you will have a choice. You can punch in “Robin Thicke + Blurred Lines” on YouTube. Or you can break out the Matinée’s We Swore We’d See the Sunrise, which gorgeously fuses damn-the-torpedoes classic rock with shimmering ’70s pop and whisky-town alt-country. Matt Layzell fronts the band, which also includes bassist Mike Young, guitarists Geoff Petrie and Matt Rose, and drummer Pete Lemon. Treat him nice, and he just might put you on the list when he opens the world’s most exclusive club.

      Best local release other than yours:
      “We’ve spent most of our time this year in the van, and the album that’s been played nonstop is Bear Mountain’s debut, XO. It’s full of beautiful hooks and is the perfect pick-me-up and mood-setter. It’s only equalled by their live show.”

      The year’s best gig:
      “Black Rebel Motorcycle Club visited the Commodore back on May 24, and they did all but burn the old ballroom down. They’re chock full of rock ’n’ roll charisma and make so much noise for a trio. I think they played for two full hours. Go see them play live any chance you get.”

      Your house is on fire. What album are you saving?
      “If only I was so lucky to have a house—I’d be sure to escape with my original copy of Abbey Road by the Beatles. Of course I’d slip Radiohead’s The Bends and Ryan Adams’s Cold Roses inside the album sleeve as well. See what I just did there?”

      Chip Wilson’s paying, so where’s dinner?
      “Our guitarist Geoff Petrie is an amazing chef, so we’ve developed a bit of a penchant for fine dining, which rarely happens as starving artists on the road. We’d gladly trade in the Subway sandwiches for a perfectly prepared lamb shank paired with the proper bottle of red at Chambar [562 Beatty Street]. We hear that Kings Of Leon once bought it out for a private party so if it’s good enough for them…”

      We’re reshooting the video for Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”. Who’s your topless costar?
      “First off, there’s no way anyone’s casting one of us hairy beasts in a ‘Blurred Lines’ remake, but if by some stroke of luck they do, then our choice of costar is easy. Our labelmate Louise Burns is one beautifully mysterious damsel who could probably generate as many YouTube views as the original. Come to think of it, maybe this should be the premise of our next video. Louise, what do you say?”

      Let’s make this city more fun by opening a venue. Where?
      “I want to open the most exclusive venue ever, never having to worry about trying to sell the place out. The Sam Kee Building [8 West Pender Street] in Chinatown is the world’s shallowest according to the Guinness Book of Records and would maybe hold five to 10 people plus a band. Just think of what those lucky few would pay to get inside and be so close to their favourite artist that they could taste their sweat!”

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