The Roxy – Vancouver, BC
July 7, 2011
by Sandra Sigfusson
http://www.the-niche-band.com
http://www.facebook.com/TheNicheBand
The Doors Are Open
When I say the doors are open, I mean that in a philosophical and literal way.
Enter The|Niche. I wasn't expecting big things from The|Niche, knowing ahead of time that they were new to the scene (7 months with their current lineup) and having limited exposure on a live stage setting compared to other bands on this same circuit.
The band members are young (19-21) but don't let their age fool you, as their talent maturity level is undeniable. Last night's set consisted of a mix of 30+ year old cover tunes such as For Your Love (The Yardbirds), & Turn The Page (Bob Seager), with a few poetically intense original pieces like Who's Little Girl Are You, which the audience also loved. This band is tight, talented and worked seamlessly together during their show.
As a young indie band carving out a path for their eclectic style, front man Gabriel Savage is charismatic, deeply into his craft, and strongly present on stage. As the youngest member at 19, he seems far wiser than his earthly years. I offer the compliment "old soul" to Gabriel because he is definitely channeling someone from the 60's.
Gabriel could easily slip into Jim Morrison's vacant shoes in vocal style, physical appearance and stage presence. As much as I hate to pigeon hole any band, this was my first impression and I can't shake the resemblance - but in the same breath they are much more than this. There is also a distinct infusion of blues sounds, which further illustrates the "eclectic feel" of the overall performance that I was experiencing. Dare I call them refreshing and liken them to The Doors in the same sentence? I'll bet nobody's done that before, but maybe that's why they call themselves The|Niche.
I think this band will quickly gather a cult-like following and a strong fan base as long as they keep pounding the pavement. With their memorable style they should be able to easily entertain audiences in both rock-based clubs like The Roxy and jazz/blues venues like The Yale respectively.
"Day jobs"?, I asked. "This is it.", Gabriel replied. Currently the band is gathering a fan following via social networking (online & offline) and street performances, while also creating new material for their upcoming debut album. For more information on the band, go to their website at http://www.the-niche-band.com/. Check them out...the doors are open.
