Stabilo

Juno-nominated, Vancouver based Stabilo began rocking out at suburban B.C. barn parties, but their first major label full-length Happiness & Disaster reveals the slow burning band is finally ready to blow up. Like the album title itself, Stabilo is defined by dichotomy, by the distinct but complimentary songwriting styles of Jesse Dryfhout and Christopher John, who combine acoustic and electric guitars while taking turns on lead vocals and keyboards. Drummer Nathan Wylie, childhood friends with both lead singers came aboard with a jazz-rock aesthetic that added rhythmic depth to the dual-guitar sound. In 2000, the line-up was cemented when soul and funk-inspired bassist Karl Williaume, a university classmate, joined a few months prior to their self-titled debut album, Stabilo Boss. Stabilo's early success came not from ad campaigns or media hype, but a listener-voted radio competition on XFM that saw "Everybody" become the station's most-requested song for nearly a month. In 2003, Stabilo became the only indie act nominated for the Canadian Radio Music Award for Best New Rock Group. Though they didn't win, the unlikely nod did not go unnoticed. Labels began sniffing... more...