Isobel Trigger promises to make musical magic
Isobel Trigger
While Victoria can proudly claim to be the birthplace of several local bands, it's not often that the same bands are simultaneously being claimed by two other cities. But this is exactly the case with quasi-Victoria locals, Isobel Trigger.
Isobel Trigger hails from all over Canada (with members from Ontario, Quebec, and BC) and now call Victoria, Vancouver, and Nanaimo home.
"Thankfully we're touring most of the time, so it's not really a problem," says Isobel Trigger frontwoman Felicia Harding. "When we're at home we use Skype. Then it's just about getting a good internet connection."
The tech savvy electro-indie/pop-rock band is back in Victoria for their spring tour, hitting up Lucky Bar on May 11. Sharing the stage will be Pauline Edwards, Cole Grifter, and Alberta's As the Crow Flies.
"We played with Cole Grifter at their CD release party at Felicita's. It was a really awesome show, so we’re excited to play with them again," says Harding.
In a world overrun with people calling themselves musicians, it’s hard for a legit band to make a name for themselves. Luckily, the music of Isobel Trigger is like eating gummy bears on the Scottish moors, but for your ears.
"We've got this really west coast sound. They say it's haunting and whimsical, but it can be really pop-rock at the same time,” says Harding. “I'm really influenced by strong females and female-fronted bands. Sarah McLaughlan, the Cranberries, the Cardigans, Metric, but also the Tragically Hip and guys like that..."
Harding encourages newbies to come out and see Isobel Trigger. "We try to take you on a journey,” she says. “Our music is an experience. We start out really high energy with some of our more pop, danceable music. Then we'll bring it down and it'll be a little moodier. I really like to control the energy of the crowd. I like to make sure that everyone feels something when they’re listening to us."
Isobel Trigger diehards will also be glad to know that old favourites have remained in their live set.
"We're still playing a lot of music from the original album, but also a lot of really fun covers. We usually end with a [mash-up] cover of ‘Sweet Dreams’ [the Eurhythmics] and ‘Seven Nation Army’ [the White Stripes]. The way we play it is fun. We make it into a total dance party. It’s going to be magical,” says Harding.
The band’s debut album, Island, is available on iTunes and is an homage to the place where the band got together.
"We called our album Island because we all met here on Vancouver Island. We're from all over the place, but somehow we all ended up here," says Harding.
Originally from Victoria, Harding met guitarist Brett Faulkner, bassist Dave Ruigrok, drummer Todd Dekuyper, and keyboardist Stephanie Boutet-Bouget (from Cranbrook, Toronto, Nanaimo, and Quebec, respectively,) in 2007 before releasing their album in September of 2009.
For the time being, Isobel Trigger is focused on the home stretch of their BC tour, bringing the funk back to Victoria, and maybe making some sweet dreams come true on the dance floor.
Isobel Trigger
May 11
Lucky Bar, $8
CCSS Nexus promo