Hailing from the Toronto suburbs, Mississauga's River Groves are ready to reveal a brand new video for "Waiting…" and Exclaim! has got your first look at it.

The track comes from the band's 2015 EP Workhorse, and the new clip finds the four-piece performing amidst shadowy effects. Lights dance in front of the camera, adding some extra visual interest to the black-and-white performance video.

The footage was self-produced by the band, along with photographer Adrien Yiptong, building the set with found materials and drawing inspiration from old-school drive-in movie theatres and a classic film noir aesthetic.

It ends up as a perfect light-and-dark accompaniment to the song, which combines upbeat punk energy with slightly more sinister sounding instrumentation. Hear the intriguing combination come together in the clip for "Waiting…" below. - Exclaim!

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to River Groves? How long has the band been around?

Kevin and Adam were playing guitar together for years before they started River Groves as a three-piece around 2010/2011. Meanwhile, Al and Bryan played in a bunch of bands together for several years without really getting anywhere. Kevin met Al in college and invited him to jam, since he and Adam were having trouble finding a committed third member. Al in turn offered to invite Bryan, and from the very first jam the chemistry was remarkable. This lineup played its first show in June of 2012, and has been plugging away in the local scene ever since.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

River Grove Avenue is a street that runs through the neighbourhood where Adam and Kevin grew up. They stuck with the name since starting the band years ago, and changing the name isn't really something that's ever been considered as it means a lot to them.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

Usually one of us will bring an idea -- a riff, a melody, etc. -- to the table and the rest of us will feel it out and build around it. The writing process is a four-way decision and is very democratic. Kevin writes the lyrics, and a lot of the content on our last record, Workhorse, had to do with our experiences in 9 to 5 work situations.

A lot of stuff has changed since we wrote those songs, and we've been through a lot of stuff both as individuals and as a band, and I think there are a lot of darker feelings and emotions that we all currently have that are beginning to course through our newer material. We are working on a split with Stockholm Siesta right now, and I think a lot of people are going to be surprised with how the new songs sound.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

Between the four of us, our backgrounds are very diverse. We listen to so many different kinds of music that the focus of our influence is constantly shifting. Some of the artists that have stuck with us as influences are Arcade Fire, PUP, Thrice, and Arctic Monkeys. Recently some of us have been really into Julien Baker, Charles Bradley, and Bruce Springsteen.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

Billy Talent has always been an inspiration for us. They're from our hometown and we've always admired how they built themselves from a local, DIY band into international superstars. It's humbling to think that a band can go from playing basement shows in Streetsville to selling out arenas. Of course it takes time, but they have proved that it is possible if you work for it.


What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc…

We usually start by chugging a big ol' cup of coffee, followed by 20 jumping jacks and a pagan prayer circle. Usually does the job.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

In 2013 we opened for PUP in our hometown of Mississauga. It was in the basement of a small community hall known as Masonic Lodge, and it was absolutely packed. Last year we opened for Gob and earlier this year we played Canadian Music Week.


If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

The Strokes seem like they'd be a lot of fun back in the day. Currently Jeff Rosenstock and Chris Farren seem like they'd be interesting to be on tour with -- I hear they are good guys.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

If you're in the Toronto area, we'll be playing a free show at Horseshoe Tavern on August 16. Come out and have a beer with us. Also, our last record Workhorse is free to download/stream on our Bandcamp. Check it out, it's alright. - Kill The Music

Back by not-so popular demand, here's a list of songs from 2015 by independent artists with Mississauga ties.

This year's twist: a proverbial mixtape divided into two sections – New Year's Eve (NYE) and New Year's Day (NYD) – with the first intended to get the party going and the other lends itself to a more a relaxed feel that could quell the pangs of revelry you may experience the following day.

[Excerpt:]
Track three: Going Back
Album: Workhorse
Band: River Groves

Tasting notes: Opens with a garage rock riff that would make Sloan blush. Just a good pop song that has aggressive subtleties and clever hooks. The lyrics could serve as a cautionary tale for how New Year's Eve could go, if you're not careful: "…2015 and it ain't quite right. I'm losing my mind and I'm losing my sight." - The Mississauga News

I am really loving this sound.

River Groves, a Streetsville originated band, gives off a kind of mellowed out Muse vibe with an Arctic Monkeys style blunt depression.

I feel like this would be the kind of music that would be used for a vampire fight in a movie.

To more clearly state myself, I think it's really badass. It's clean and empowering and gets your blood pumping in a very killer I'm-a-young-adult-who-giveth-zero-f*cks kind of way.

Kevin Pinto, the lead singer for the group, has an incredibly enticing and slick voice that is very easy to love, whilst the remaining instrumentalists, Al Quinn (Guitarist), Adam Furukawa (Drummer), and Bryan Edwin (Bassist), have a uniquely calm and well put together accumulated sound. Meanwhile, the groups altogether look is very musician-casual, which I really like. Not over the top, but not too little.

Upon watching live video of them on Youtube (like I've said before, I don't get out much) I instantaneously liked them. They have a very authentic feeling, like they're real and are the kind of people you could easily become friends with.
I find that some bands can feel a little detached from the world, which can in turn make the audience feel detached from them.
River Groves does not have that feelings. They have a great vibe happening onstage.

It kind of reminds me of Twenty One Pilots early footage. Just a couple of really likeable guys who want to make music (and happen to be really brilliant at doing it).

So, seeming to play gigs almost every weekend and having some more than stellar songs up for purchase on BandCamp, I'd find it next to impossible for this band not to go far and I'm excited to hear more from them.

Check them out and if you like what you hear, the band is playing a gig alongside a personal favourite of mine, Huge Cosmic, and two other bands in Port Credit, which you can get more information on here. - Elysian City

After listening to the new EP "Workhorse" by River Groves a few times, I have to say that it didn’t really hold my attention despite that there was nothing wrong with it musically or lyrically. This type of post-punk music just isn’t up my ally; it’s not something I’d get home and have a desire to put on. For those who do enjoy this type of genre, you will probably find the album well balanced, catchy, and of a good studio quality.

It’s relatively a short EP with five tracks, the longest one being “Puzzle” which runs at 3:58. “Going Back” was my favorite track on the album; its a little quicker and harder than the others. One aspect of the album I noticed and found interesting was the writing style for the lyrics that stray from the beaten path. It’s not the traditional chorus and verse, rather they tend to be small paragraphs that, aside from a few words here and there, are not repetitive like a lot of post-punk seems to be.

River Groves are from Mississauga, Ontario, and often play in the GTA. They have a couple upcoming shows, the first in Brampton on June 20th at Spot One and then on July 4th in Mississauga at the Masonic Lodge. The members are Kevin Pinto on vocals and guitar, Brocoy on bass/vocals, Atom Furukawa on drums, and Al Quinn on guitar and vocals. Released in May, Workhorse is their second EP and is available on their Bandcamp page. It was engineered by Nick Ginn of School House Studios and by Dalomed and Mariana Czapski at Salt Rock Studios. Nick Ginn also mixed the album, and it was mastered by Greg Dawson. The cover art, which is fairly unique and pretty cool, is a piece done by the artist known as Mo at Peach Moon DIY. - Bucketlist Music Reviews

MISSISSAUGA – River Groves prefer to keep the audience on its toes.

Take the four-piece Mississauga group's latest single, Mexico, a polished number with a Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros feel that makes an abrupt instrumental detour midway through.

The change is led by Bryan Edwin, whose distorted bass line suddenly walks the song from a funky strut through the desert to a Latin-infused Gypsy hoedown.

But the whirlwind of celebration proves to be an oasis as the sound dissipates to dual classical guitars strumming with foreboding flamenco-like flare while the credits roll.

"We try to throw curve balls at our listeners – hopefully to keep them interested," Edwin said over the phone.

The track's slick production quality, which also prevalent on their self-titled EP released last year, is another bit of a head-scratcher when it comes to the band's live show.

"We find that when you go and see a band live, sometimes they let you down, but we wanted to have a very clean recorded sound, so when (listeners) see us live, they're in for a lot more of an underground surprise, so to speak," Edwin said of the raw energy that courses through their concerts.

"Our live shows get pretty wild."

Those up for a little shock and awe can be the judge of that when River Groves perform alongside fellow Mississauga acts Bike Thiefs, Huge Cosmic and Never Trust a Wizard at the Masonic Lodge in Streetsville on Jan. 17.

Founded in 2012, Edwin and his bandmates – Kevin Pinto, Adam Furukawa and Al Quinn – started River Groves united by a common taste: they liked their garage rock sugary with a splash of vinegar.

The catchy, four-chord progressions played over bastardized Ramones' drum beats from bands like Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party and The Hives, all served as influences early on for River Groves.

"We wanted to write songs that sounded really big, really anthemic sounding. So, something that you'd have just as much fun listening to in a small bar or in a stadium – even though we might not get the chance to play a stadium any time soon," said the 22-year-old, who studies music business management at Durham College in Oshawa.

Another common thread, he added, is a punk mentality that outlines their sound rather than colours it in. Bands like The Clash and Against Me! are fitting comparisons.

That esthetic, he said, "naturally translates through our music."

Don't hold your breath for a repeat of past efforts, though. River Groves is experimenting with '90s alt-rock for their upcoming material.

"We're just trying to keep people on their feet."

The band was recently working on a new single in the studio with GTA producer Mike Evola, who's also worked with the likes of Mirrelia and Mississauga's Dan Daly.

The yet-to-be-titled track should be released sometime this month.

In the meantime, more shows along Highway 401 are up ahead for the Mississauga outfit as well as plans for a new record.

Doors for the all-ages show on Jan. 17 are 7:30 p.m. and cover is $10.

Visit rivergrovesband.com for music and show information. - The Mississauga News

MISSISSAUGA – Rock the Coliseum is around the corner and the lineup is something for music fans to get excited about.
The annual festival showcases some of the city's finest independent acts as well as artists from around the GTA, drawing hundreds to the city centre area to see what all the noise is about.
A free event, the festival is all ages and takes place Aug. 14 and 15 at the Celebration Square Amphitheatre.
This year's bill is once again packed with a diverse pool of talent that runs from
from 4 to 11 p.m. each day.
Day one will feature electro-pop band Dan Daly, Tomahawk Love, Montreal's The Damn Truth, local duo Huge Cosmic, The Imports, Joel Martin and New Design. Headliner will be pop-rock quartet Wildlife.

Day two will see hip-hop artist LordQuest (featuring HMLT), a breakdancing battle courtesy of Ground Illusionz, Caveboy, Oneiroi, River Groves, Odd Ones, Surges and Kyle Fraser. There will also be a performance from Toronto electro-pop trio For Esmé. - The Mississauga News

MISSISSAUGA – Key Club Mississauga is holding a youth talent showcase to raise funds to help alleviate world hunger through Kids Against Hunger.
Dubbed Keysino Royale, the event takes place Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Central Library’s Noel Ryan Auditorium.
The concert features talented youth from across the GTA. They include faith-based hip hop dance crew I Rock with The One and River Groves, an indie punk-rock band, both from Mississauga.
Representatives from Kids Against Hunger will be on hand to talk about where the proceeds will go.
Members of Key Club Mississauga have participated in service projects across the city since October 2014. They’ve helped out in tree planting, with Operation Christmas Child, at seniors’ homes and at the ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development.
Key Club, sponsored by Kiwanis International, is an international student-led organization which provides its members with opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership.
Tickets for Keysino Royale cost $7. They’re available by emailing keyclubmississauga@mississauga.com. - The Mississauga News

" From Mississauga Ont., Kevin Pinto, Adam Furukawa, Al Quinn Alquinto and Bryan Edwin are "River Groves". This particular group plays a refreshing blend of garage/indie/pop punk that is not like anything you’ll be likely to hear on the radio. They blend a lo-fi nostalgic fuzz-rock sound with a modern twist using various effects to add depth and originality to their sound. In addition to the bands stage presence and personality, in my opinion they represent everything a band should be, they’re happy doing what they love and I am expecting their project will pick up a lot of momentum this year. It’s as if someone took the best of the 70’s, 90’s and mid 00’s and stuck the guys together to make something out of it.
If anyone has listened to the Scott Pilgrim Soundtrack, River Groves would be right at home with their material on this track list. As I stated previously, the band offers a nostalgic fuzz-fuelled indie sound that is fresh and relevant enough to catch on in today’s music scene. You are seriously doing yourself a favor if you check these guys out, seriously!" - Cody Gutsman Luciano