Known for infusing alternative and indie rock with country and pop, the spunky, up-and-coming quartet known as Guidestones are making a serious name for themselves across the Montreal scene and abroad. Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because of their self-proclaimed dedication to making quality music, Guidestones came highly recommended to me for this months’ feature piece by Liz, our very own kick-ass founder here at Bucketlist. (FYI, this means you know they are going to be good.)
Making their rounds this summer, Guidestones have played everything from Le Festival YUL EAT to Montreal’s Bar de Courcelle alongside country-folk rockers Bird’s Eye View (a show that our writer Brian was lucky enough to catch: check out his review here). Actively promoting their debut EP Cut & Run, which was released in April, they have even played a Maritime style ceilidh, or kitchen concert, that perfectly represents the casual and playful-yet-committed air that surrounds their work.
Their most recent video for the track “Hotline” off of Cut & Run exemplifies the spirit of those making music simply for the joy of it. While the EP is best in its more experimental moments, Cut & Run is a remarkably clean synthesis of rock, pop, and country – you can check out an in depth review here.
It is unclear what Guidestones have up their sleeves in the near future, but if this summer is any indication of the direct the band aims to head in, I would keep your eyes peeled for their next appearance in Montreal. (Or maybe even Toronto, for those Ontarians out there…) Either way, Guidestones are not one to miss. Featuring charmingly badass front woman Gabrielle La Rue (guitar and vocals), Zander Boudreau (drums), Ryan Boudreau (vocals and guitar), and Charles PG (bass), Guidestones are adventurous enough to satisfy dedicated lovers of rock, and accessible enough to launch themselves into indie pop stardom with the likes of Sam Roberts or Arcade Fire.
Written by Jordan Hodgins
*edited by Kate Erickson
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