Two Apple Tobacco

Based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Two Apple Tobacco creates thought-provoking and topical music, fusing genres and pushing the boundaries of the indie rock idiom.

Like with many bands, founding members Daniel Deorksen and Jordan Kling met in high school, but not in the classrooms or hallways – in the senior jazz band. They formed an alliance and began jamming every week with a rotating cast of musicians. They developed a style uniquely their own, mixing rock and funk with elements of jazz, blues, folk, Latin and hip-hop.

Before long, they crystallized the lineup with soul-jazz vocalist Jessica Harvey, rock vocalist and flautist Courtney Lancaster and veteran session drummer Vern Shewchuk. The ensemble is frequently joined, on stage and in the studio, by saxophonist Dominic Conway and star violinist Phyllis Ho.

With Dan, Jess and Courtney being actors and playwrights in their own right, it has only been natural to incorporate theatrics into their live performances. In July 2009, the Two Apple Tobacco began a long-awaited workshop of an original rock musical based on their tunes: Horribly Sunny. In the spring of 2012, the group will release their first full-length album: a pan-apocalptic rock opera entitled Squinter’s Paradise.

Two Apple Tobacco has gained quite the reputation for their dynamic live show. Each of the members has an exuberant and energetic stage presence and a high level of musicianship that captivates audiences. Every show, by tradition, the band covers a song by the artist who has possibly been their greatest inspiration: Frank Zappa. Two Apple Tobacco is definitely a band to watch out for in the coming year.