Summer has only just begun, and Whistlerites have already been treated to live performances from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, the Lazy Syrup Orchestra and Dear Rouge. The 2023 Summer Concert Series is continuing on July 13 with Moontricks.
Nathan Gurley and Sean Rodman met roughly 20 years ago at the Shambhala Music Festival near Nelson, but did not start performing together as Moontricks until 2015. They share a love of creating and sharing music and enjoy bringing their divergent interests together without parameters or limitations.
"We like to play a variety of music and bring different genres together that aren’t often connected with our music. It’s a mix of electronic folk, blues, and soulful mountain stompers, 'technicolour campfire' jams or 'backwoods bass,'" said Rodman about the duo's musical style.
Moontricks has made a few previous appearances in town at the Garibaldi Lift Co. Both band frontmen remember rowdy crowds, energetic characters and "a lot of extreme crowd surfing" as well. Rodman in particular loves Whistler, for he enjoys his mountain biking and laments that Nelson does not have as much air time as the Sea to Sky.
No matter where they play, the two musicians hope to help people bond with each other.
"Nothing beats coming together as a community and if you can sing and dance together and leave your worries behind, it’s a big win for everyone," he said. "Our music generally resonates with old and young and with something for everyone to mingle together and get down."
Moontricks released their debut album, Currents, last September and have some new music out as well.
"We just released a new funky single called ‘Nebulizer’ as part of a compilation in celebration of our record label's 10-year anniversary," said Gurley. "It features funky grooves of guitar and bass with co-production by Keegan Scott and Vibraphone played by Plexus Play. You can check it out on all platforms."
DJ: Crippledwheel opens the show at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday before Moontricks takes over at 7:30 p.m.
