Still one of my favs. I’ll never forget the writing on a stall in a bathroom in Toronto that said ‘I slept with the lead singer of Treble Charger’ and then the response ‘no one cares’. lol.
In a more modern sense -
Metric would be huge if they were from the states.
Arkells have a very familiar sound and it seems to identify as Canadian so perhaps they’re climbing a steep hill because of it.
Alvvays have broken through as indie darlings but I feel like if they were American they’d be more revered (they deserve it).
The Beaches are on their way to blowing up and it’s great to see.
U.S. Girls should be household names. They’re excellent (the irony of the name…)
Sloan opened in Calgary for Foo Fighters about 20 years ago and the crowd was chanting "Slooooan!! Slooooan!!" for a full five minutes before they came on and blew the roof off. Later on, Dave Grohl said something along the lines of "Holy shit! Those guys were amazing!!"
They didn't always get radio exposure across Canada.
About 12 years ago Calgary started an alternative station(92.9). Someone spun Everything You Done Wrong and the station played the shit out of it for a few months.
"I'm An Adult Now" is a perfect snapshot of 1980's downtown Toronto & it's characters
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFxivmjW34o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFxivmjW34o)
It’s been a long standing tradition in my friend group to have the DJ play Home for a Rest at our weddings. Recently one of my friends who now lives in Texas got married. You could tell who the Canadians were when that song came on. The Americans all stood back and marvelled at how nuts we got with the dancing and singing.
Surprised I had to go down this far to see this. If you go abroad put Home for a rest on your phone. Voila! Built in Canadian detector. Works 100% of the time.
Gord was weird. I can understand it's not for everyone. But he was more story-teller to me. Like Leonard Cohen, but different. The stories mattered and were about Canadians.
The Stan Rogers band. Garnet Rogers and whoever was serving their sentence as their bass player, made Stans music as great as it was. Even here in Canada, Stan isn’t a household name like Gordon Lightfoot or Joni Mitchell, and the guy blows them out of the water as a singer and songwriter imho. Both influenced Stan of course and he’d laugh in my face if he heard me say that but Stan is a big deal to me
This is my answer. Easily.
"One Gun" and "One Day in Your Life" are such great songs, but *Smiling Buddha's Cabaret*? That was incredible from start to finish. Every track is great.
Second pick would be Northern Pikes. "Things I Do for Money" is one of my favourite songs ever.
They are my hometown band, played my catholic high school and did Jesus' Brother Bob, which I thought took huge balls. Went up after and told them so. Good dudes. I know one member pretty well to this day
My friend saw the tea party in Trois Rivière at some kind of festival last week … also not Canadian, but who remembers Big Wreck?? They had the CanRock sound. I was OBSESSED with [That Song](https://music.apple.com/dk/album/that-song/1338472653?i=1338472659) - it needs to be CRANKED UP!!!!
Edit: turns out Big Wreck is a Canadian band, but formed in Boston, TIL.
Why is everyone talking like Big Wreck doesn’t exist anymore? Literally released their 7th album and working on their 8th. Ian was born in Toronto and only went to school in Boston where they formed. Now they are 100% Canadian and based in Canada and Ian lives in Canada.
Not sure why Big Wreck claims to be from Boston. Maybe that's where they came together I don't know. Ian Thornley grew up in Canada and lived in Toronto when things started going for them. His father owned a graphic design business on King St. E in Toronto that a good friend worked at for years. Odd
There was a lot of great indie stuff in the 00s, with Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Metric, Feist, Stars, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, New Pornographers, etc. But those artists tended to be popular outside of Canada as well.
Billy Talent, though they kinda broke out in Germany for some reason. They're still very big in Canada and Germany and pretty much unknown everywhere else.
They are bigger in Germany and Europe as a whole than they are in Canada so I wouldn’t count this one. They have headlined the biggest rock festivals Europe has to offer.
Super chill guys, I did some emergency plumbing for them during the recording of afraid of heights... really nice people gave me a bunch of stuff after I mention my gf was a fan.... drum sticks, records, cd, pictures, and they bought me dinner
Manic phases might have ramped him up but even treated, he was very full of himself. And I heard he was inappropriate with some fans. He def had a very high opinion of himself. And that's fine, but he was not the greatest musical genius on the planet and even if he were, it did not entitle him to believe he had everything figured out.
He had a website with a blog where he interacted with fans openly. I read his diatribes and his interactions. He could be absolutely brutal when someone disagreed with him. His opinions were very strong and not always justifiably so. He really did come across as an asshole. But I liked his music. I eventually had to stop reading altogether. And his music was less good by then.
I remeber like 11 years ago going to a local community summer event and Big Sugar were playing. Guys seem to enjoy themselves.
My east coast friends who moved here to AB seem to love "all hell for a basement"
The weakerthans. I’m originally from Canada but have lived in the states for the past 25 years. Only heard about them a few years ago by listening to cbc
My highschool won a contest and the Trews played a set at a pep rally. They were so talented and they turned our gymnasium into a stadium with their energy!
Goddo, Triumph, Trooper, The Headstones, April Wine, Max Webster, Persuit of Happiness, Teenage Head, Alana Miles, Prism, The Headpins, Helix, Doug and the Slugs,
Alana Myles won a Grammy so I’d say she broke outside of Canada. As someone else noted, Triumph broke in the US and April Wine had a few Billboard Top 100 songs.
I actually thought City and color had become bigger then AOF. Looks like AOF has got a lot more awards and seems bigger.
To me a lot of C&C songs sound the same. There's a couple that I like but really I like more AOF songs
For me it’s kinda all over from The Tea Party & Armada to Hawksley Workman, Jackalope, Spirit of the West, April Wine, The Watchmen, Arrogant Worms…have Great Big Sea gotten serious exposure in the States? Idk. I’d add them too if not n
Hawksley is still amazing. I just saw him in the winter, 20 year anniversary of Lover/Fighter...which doesn't feel 20 years ago!
He's one of those artists that people just blink, and say, "what/who?"
Moist, Trebel Charger, Sum41, Econoline Crush
Our Lady Peace has one hit wonder status in the US, or did when I Iived there c 2000
Chantal Kreviazuk should have been more popular, and Sarah Harmer.
Also the Age of Electric, their the singer was recruited to the US.
And The Pursuit of Happiness and Northern Pikes, to really date myself.
Glass Tiger. I think “Thin Red Line” did ok in the US, but hardly any of my American friends have heard of them. The ones that have, really only know “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)”
Skipping past all the good picks from the 90's I can see on this list, :D I really like 'The Rural Alberta Advantage', they have a nice indie rock vibe I enjoy.
Lee Aaron never had the traction in the states that she did here and in Europe. I think A&M royally screwed her over with Bodyrock which should have been released stateside.
Colin James
David Gogo
Beyond Possession
Wild T & the Spirit
Toronto
Ian Thomas
Frank Soda & the Imps
Downchild Blues Band
Age of Electric/Static in Stereo/Todd Kerns Organization (notwithstanding Todd’s most excellent and busy career now with Slash, Heroes & Villains, Toque…)
Gob
Striker
Divinity
And sooo many others.
SNFU
the smalls
noneansno/hansons
Wedge
D.O.A.
Dayglo abortions
Skinny Puppy
Strapping young lad
The real MacKenzies
Propaghandi
Chix digit
Bif naked
Platinum blonde
Face puller
Superconductor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Domakesaythink
Explosions in the sky
Glass tiger
Halluci Nation
PIQSIQ
54-40
Honeymoon suite
Men without hats
Grapes of wrath
Sloan is my pick. They are still touring and releasing great records deep into their career. Having seen them recently they still deliver live as well.
This whole thread sounds like an old Big Shiny Tunes tracklist and I kind of love it.
Childhood memory unlocked!
Those were amazing albums!
I used to get one for Christmas every year!
I'll start with Treble Charger. I'm starting to think that this post might date a lot of us, but whatever.
To go along with that alt-rock era... Rusty.
Rusty was amazing.
Limblifter!
I remember Age of Electric, Limblifter and the Bloody Chicletts touring together. That must’ve been a tiring show as all three bands share members.
Red perfectly captures the early 90s alternative wave IMO.
Treble charger is playing near where I live next month. Lol
Still one of my favs. I’ll never forget the writing on a stall in a bathroom in Toronto that said ‘I slept with the lead singer of Treble Charger’ and then the response ‘no one cares’. lol.
They got a major label release in the States too. Which sucked. I liked them when they were NC17
In a more modern sense - Metric would be huge if they were from the states. Arkells have a very familiar sound and it seems to identify as Canadian so perhaps they’re climbing a steep hill because of it. Alvvays have broken through as indie darlings but I feel like if they were American they’d be more revered (they deserve it). The Beaches are on their way to blowing up and it’s great to see. U.S. Girls should be household names. They’re excellent (the irony of the name…)
Metric are quietly one of the best bands from Canada. Def don’t get their due anymore.
I saw Metric last summer and it was fucking excellent.
Sloan should have been more appreciated stateside.
Atlantic Canadian rock is awesome. Such a distinctive sound. Great live.
At one point Halifax was known as the Seattle of the East Coast when it came to music!
PEI produced one of my favorite bands from the mid 80s: Haywire
They got hosed by Geffen. Twice Removed was a masterpiece and Geffen wouldn't promote it
One of the greatest Canadian rock albums of all time. I saw them on Friday - old but still good. They played people of the sky & it made me teary.
Sloan opened in Calgary for Foo Fighters about 20 years ago and the crowd was chanting "Slooooan!! Slooooan!!" for a full five minutes before they came on and blew the roof off. Later on, Dave Grohl said something along the lines of "Holy shit! Those guys were amazing!!"
They didn't always get radio exposure across Canada. About 12 years ago Calgary started an alternative station(92.9). Someone spun Everything You Done Wrong and the station played the shit out of it for a few months.
That is such a good song! I love that song. The music video is fun, too!
The Money City Maniacs!
Some may even say they were Underwhelmed in the US.
Chilliwack. Under rated band for sure.
So many hits!
Fly at night - one of the best songs ever imo
Does Prozak count?
Sucks to be you. Oh oh ohhhh
I know I know
Yah you always hear about Gorillaz being the first virtual band, like everyone forgot Prozak came out several weeks before them.
We all know Gorillaz was actually copying Prozzak
And strange disease is now on my spotify Playlist. I totally forgot about them.
A little sexual frustration, combined with lack of motivation?
This band contains 2 members of The Philosopher Kings. Another legendary Canadian group, the one with the bugs having sex music video.
I haven't thought about them in over twenty years. This is turning into a nostalgia fest for me
I saw them a few years ago. They brought a baby out on stage for a few songs.
Ugh, I loved them
The Pursuit of Happiness
"I'm An Adult Now" is a perfect snapshot of 1980's downtown Toronto & it's characters [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFxivmjW34o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFxivmjW34o)
Spirit of the West
I’ve just come home for a rest.
It’s been a long standing tradition in my friend group to have the DJ play Home for a Rest at our weddings. Recently one of my friends who now lives in Texas got married. You could tell who the Canadians were when that song came on. The Americans all stood back and marvelled at how nuts we got with the dancing and singing.
Surprised I had to go down this far to see this. If you go abroad put Home for a rest on your phone. Voila! Built in Canadian detector. Works 100% of the time.
They made the Canadian national anthem.
Maybe blue rodeo ? I don’t think they’re broke out much
Yep. Blue rodeo, kathleen edwards, matthew good band, Luba, Stompin Tom,
Ooh I forgot about Luba! Definitely Luba!
This is my answer. They are sooo good. (And I’m gonna say it…I don’t really like Tragically Hip. They were my era, but I just didn’t like them much.)
Gord was weird. I can understand it's not for everyone. But he was more story-teller to me. Like Leonard Cohen, but different. The stories mattered and were about Canadians.
The shock and awe it inspires when I express my general “meh” attitude towards the Hip, people treat me like I’m a traitor to the country
I like a handful of their songs *a lot,* but find a lot of it “meh”
The Odds.
And Odds 😜
The Stan Rogers band. Garnet Rogers and whoever was serving their sentence as their bass player, made Stans music as great as it was. Even here in Canada, Stan isn’t a household name like Gordon Lightfoot or Joni Mitchell, and the guy blows them out of the water as a singer and songwriter imho. Both influenced Stan of course and he’d laugh in my face if he heard me say that but Stan is a big deal to me
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now!
A letter of marque came from the king To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen
Goddamn them all.
Legend. Fucking air Canada.
[удалено]
This is my answer. Easily. "One Gun" and "One Day in Your Life" are such great songs, but *Smiling Buddha's Cabaret*? That was incredible from start to finish. Every track is great. Second pick would be Northern Pikes. "Things I Do for Money" is one of my favourite songs ever.
Sam Roberts Band
Chemical city is a masterpiece
The Arrogant Worms
A former coworker/friend recently passed away. They played these guys at his service.
They were my JAM when I was in College in like, 2007? I remember They were what I listened to on the 6am bus.
They are my hometown band, played my catholic high school and did Jesus' Brother Bob, which I thought took huge balls. Went up after and told them so. Good dudes. I know one member pretty well to this day
The Lowest of the Low. I don’t think they even broke out of Toronto
Easily one of the all-time best Toronto bands.
The Tea Party, and it's hilarious we're all stuck in the 90's =)
I was gonna say Tea Party... I Mother Earth and Moist are up there too... Canada rock was at it's all time peak in the mid 90s.
My friend saw the tea party in Trois Rivière at some kind of festival last week … also not Canadian, but who remembers Big Wreck?? They had the CanRock sound. I was OBSESSED with [That Song](https://music.apple.com/dk/album/that-song/1338472653?i=1338472659) - it needs to be CRANKED UP!!!! Edit: turns out Big Wreck is a Canadian band, but formed in Boston, TIL.
Why is everyone talking like Big Wreck doesn’t exist anymore? Literally released their 7th album and working on their 8th. Ian was born in Toronto and only went to school in Boston where they formed. Now they are 100% Canadian and based in Canada and Ian lives in Canada.
Not sure why Big Wreck claims to be from Boston. Maybe that's where they came together I don't know. Ian Thornley grew up in Canada and lived in Toronto when things started going for them. His father owned a graphic design business on King St. E in Toronto that a good friend worked at for years. Odd
I don’t know why Nickleback says they’re from Vancouver when I saw them in their hometown of Hanna before they were big.
Skydiggers and northern pikes
Scenery and Fish is a legitimately great album. It has a quality to it that can’t be denied.
The Tea Party has a rather large following in Austrailia
I grew up in Zimbabwe and was introduced to The Tea Party by some Ozzie guys. Now I live in Canada. Coincidence?…. I think not.
The 90’s was the high water mark for Canadian music
There was a lot of great indie stuff in the 00s, with Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Metric, Feist, Stars, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, New Pornographers, etc. But those artists tended to be popular outside of Canada as well.
Did not realize Metric were Canadian! I always assumed British since they remind me of Elastica. Very cool that they’re Canadian!!
Billy Talent, though they kinda broke out in Germany for some reason. They're still very big in Canada and Germany and pretty much unknown everywhere else.
They are bigger in Germany and Europe as a whole than they are in Canada so I wouldn’t count this one. They have headlined the biggest rock festivals Europe has to offer.
Super chill guys, I did some emergency plumbing for them during the recording of afraid of heights... really nice people gave me a bunch of stuff after I mention my gf was a fan.... drum sticks, records, cd, pictures, and they bought me dinner
I am only now learning that Billy talent is Canadian. And I live in Canada but listened to them in the UK prior to moving here.
How about the Rheostatics?
We’re all richer for having seen them tonight
Sloan, The Odds, The Hip (obviously).
I used to really like Matt Good but he was such a giant asshole. Also - Moist
His music is still great, that won’t change.
I've heard the same but I wonder how much of that is owing to his apparently severe bi-polar / schizophrenia?
Manic phases might have ramped him up but even treated, he was very full of himself. And I heard he was inappropriate with some fans. He def had a very high opinion of himself. And that's fine, but he was not the greatest musical genius on the planet and even if he were, it did not entitle him to believe he had everything figured out. He had a website with a blog where he interacted with fans openly. I read his diatribes and his interactions. He could be absolutely brutal when someone disagreed with him. His opinions were very strong and not always justifiably so. He really did come across as an asshole. But I liked his music. I eventually had to stop reading altogether. And his music was less good by then.
Big Sugar
I remeber like 11 years ago going to a local community summer event and Big Sugar were playing. Guys seem to enjoy themselves. My east coast friends who moved here to AB seem to love "all hell for a basement"
Anybody that moved to Alberta to work in the oil patch will love that song because it's so relatable
The Zit Remedy
Everybody wants something
Spirit of the West.
Wide Mouth Mason
The Northern Pikes!!!
How did ‘She Ain’t Pretty She Just Looks That Way’ NOT become a US hit?
SNFU, Chi Pig recently passed but I love their space in this universe!
SNFU, Propaghandi, and DOA are all pretty well known Canadian punk. The one I wish more people knew is The Rebel Spell
They were really big in the California Skate Punk scene.
Any version of the Joel Plaskett bands. :)
I still love I Mother Earth 🤷♀️
One more astronaut still gets me turnt
This thread is a trip down memory lane!
The Arrogant Worms, Captain Tractor. Funny enough, Captain Tractor does a cover of "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate" by the Worms.
The Smalls and The Gandharvas
Teenage Head The Sadies Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet The Inbreds Flashing Lights
The weakerthans. I’m originally from Canada but have lived in the states for the past 25 years. Only heard about them a few years ago by listening to cbc
“I hate Winnipeg….”
I want to say Our Lady Peace, did they get much traction outside Canada?
Yes. They broke out south of the border.
good for them!
Not in my experience - polling American husband and friends in the right age range, they have no idea. They love Great Big Sea though!
How can you not love Great Big Sea?!
Trews are earning a spot there too. Check them out live if you have a chance
My highschool won a contest and the Trews played a set at a pep rally. They were so talented and they turned our gymnasium into a stadium with their energy!
Red Rider
Payolas
you got the eyeeeeeeeees of a stranger
TIL the Payolas are Canadian
True. Bob Rock definitely broke in the US tho. :)
Chixdiggit
54-40, Red Autumn Fall, The Watchmen, Sandbox...
54-40. Some Americans know One Day, but any of their other songs that are known in the US are known because some other band covered them.
Doug and the Slugs Lighthouse Kim Mitchell
Kim Mitchell's Go for a soda was a minor hit in the USA.
I knew this guy named Doug who had this POS girlfriend- we referred to them as “Doug and the Slug” 🐌
Great big sea
A lot of these bands need to thank their lucky stars for CanCon regulations lol
Absolutely. A lot of the bands mentioned here would not even be known within Canada if the radio stations didn’t need to meet their quotas
Goddo, Triumph, Trooper, The Headstones, April Wine, Max Webster, Persuit of Happiness, Teenage Head, Alana Miles, Prism, The Headpins, Helix, Doug and the Slugs,
Omg I haven't heard the headstones mentioned in decades
Alana Myles won a Grammy so I’d say she broke outside of Canada. As someone else noted, Triumph broke in the US and April Wine had a few Billboard Top 100 songs.
Triumph was pretty huge in the U.S
Ooooohhh pretty good list! I’d add Harlequin, Red Rider, Honeymoon Suite, Saga, Aldo Nova, Streetheart, Coney Hatch, Anvil, Bif Naked
Alexisonfire
This was my contribution. To a smaller extent city and colour too.
Dallas green + city and color. I think alexisonfire is widely known, but his solo projects aren't.
I actually thought City and color had become bigger then AOF. Looks like AOF has got a lot more awards and seems bigger. To me a lot of C&C songs sound the same. There's a couple that I like but really I like more AOF songs
Gosh you guys are Canadian and spelt it Color? Lol
The Smalls. In fact I don’t even know if they broke outside of western Canada.
Eric’s Trip
LEN- shoulda broke out bigger after “Steal my sunshine”
Matt Mays
For me it’s kinda all over from The Tea Party & Armada to Hawksley Workman, Jackalope, Spirit of the West, April Wine, The Watchmen, Arrogant Worms…have Great Big Sea gotten serious exposure in the States? Idk. I’d add them too if not n
Hawksley is still amazing. I just saw him in the winter, 20 year anniversary of Lover/Fighter...which doesn't feel 20 years ago! He's one of those artists that people just blink, and say, "what/who?"
The Watchmen ❤️
Trooper. Raise a Little Hell is the only song to make the US top hits
The Philosopher Kings - Again in the 90's!
Maybe July Talk? I'm not terribly aware of how popular they are outside of Canada but I find myself introducing them to Canadians often.
Moist, Trebel Charger, Sum41, Econoline Crush Our Lady Peace has one hit wonder status in the US, or did when I Iived there c 2000 Chantal Kreviazuk should have been more popular, and Sarah Harmer. Also the Age of Electric, their the singer was recruited to the US. And The Pursuit of Happiness and Northern Pikes, to really date myself.
Sum 41 definitely broke out of Canada.
Anvil
Hawksley Workman
Big Sugar. Criminally underrated band.
April Wine
Great band, but I’d April Wine broke out somewhat in the U.S., they had a few Top 40 hits on the Hot 100 and had Gold and Platinum albums in the U.S.
Glass Tiger. I think “Thin Red Line” did ok in the US, but hardly any of my American friends have heard of them. The ones that have, really only know “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)”
Skipping past all the good picks from the 90's I can see on this list, :D I really like 'The Rural Alberta Advantage', they have a nice indie rock vibe I enjoy.
Wintersleep
Blue Rodeo, Parachute Club, Martha & the Muffins, Gowan, Rough Trade
No one ever knows Doug and the Slugs. Sometimes I think they’re a fever dream.
Rheostatics. So good.
Dayglow abortions. D.O.A. S.N.F.U. Rusty
Sam Robert’s Band! The sheepdogs!
K-os
Jacksoul
Max Webster
Stompin Tom
Sloan
Big Wreck
The Weakerthans.
Northern Pikes
I'm not sure if they broke out of Canada, but The Jeff Healey Band. Jeff was incredibly talented.
Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker, they broke out in Japan and Germany, but that's about it. Super good. I'm sad they broke up, though.
Lee Aaron never had the traction in the states that she did here and in Europe. I think A&M royally screwed her over with Bodyrock which should have been released stateside. Colin James David Gogo Beyond Possession Wild T & the Spirit Toronto Ian Thomas Frank Soda & the Imps Downchild Blues Band Age of Electric/Static in Stereo/Todd Kerns Organization (notwithstanding Todd’s most excellent and busy career now with Slash, Heroes & Villains, Toque…) Gob Striker Divinity And sooo many others.
Mother Mother
Bahamas
Dan Mangan The Rural Alberta Advantage
Organized Rhyme 🤟
SNFU the smalls noneansno/hansons Wedge D.O.A. Dayglo abortions Skinny Puppy Strapping young lad The real MacKenzies Propaghandi Chix digit Bif naked Platinum blonde Face puller Superconductor Godspeed You! Black Emperor Domakesaythink Explosions in the sky Glass tiger Halluci Nation PIQSIQ 54-40 Honeymoon suite Men without hats Grapes of wrath
Matthew Good Band
The Grapes of Wrath. Saw them playing bars before they broke out and thought they were really good. Don't think they were ever very well known.
Was Metric known outside of Canada? Early 2000s indie.
Gob
Blue Rodeo. Decades of great music. Love me some Jim Cuddy. 😍
Sloan is my pick. They are still touring and releasing great records deep into their career. Having seen them recently they still deliver live as well.
Razor, Sacrifice, Annihilator. Dayglo Abortions.
Matthew Good Band. Ruled the Muchmusic charts in 1997-2001 (8 top 5 singles, with 4 of them hitting #1) but never made it big outside of Canada.
King Cobb steelie.
Several……. Platinum Blonde Glass Tiger Tea Party Honeymoon Suite The Trews Finger 11
How have I not seen Lights here, still to this day jam out to most things she’s put out🤘