artist wilderness years

Wilderness Years are four ruggedly handsome fellows from the wilds of Vancouver.

Having honed their rock moves in numerous West Coast bands such as Magic Ass, The Vinaigrettes, Timber Kings, Show Business Giants, The Papillomas, Jungle, Sister Lovers, Carolyn Mark, Rich Hope and Mazinaw, they’ve harnessed their grizzled powers to create something that’s weary of the past yet hopeful, ragged yet decidedly smooth and at peace with life’s disappointments.

Formed on the sweaty squash courts of an East Van community centre, Wilderness Years appreciate a good riff, enjoy talking to woodland creatures, consume far too much rye and ginger ale and sing songs about amateur debauchery, men who squander and prison injuries.

Their debut album, Pioneers, was partly recorded by Gord Nicholl of the Pointed Sticks and features 12 original songs, including the Motown-y shuffle of “Prison Yard Single,” the yacht rock-soaked “Rake’s Progress,” power poppy “A Field Day for the Therapists” and the spazzy hump disco of “Build a Hut” with its fuzzed-out call to love “you look so good, but I look better, we should build a hut and make a village.” Words to live by.

Wilderness Years are Brock Ellis, Ryen Froggatt, Erin Gillgannon and Michael Kissinger. They rock.