The Wild Romantics

The Wild Romantics: The next big thing from Vancouver Island? This super cool duo / couple hails from Nanaimo and could be giving Whitehorse and/or the White Stripes a run for their riffs very soon. Their debut EP She Could Tell is out this week. - CBC Radio 3

‘She Could Tell’ is the first recording for The Wild Romantics and they are clearly off to a kick ass start on their musical career.

We first came across them at the MusicBC Schmusic Party, basically as soon as they started playing they had the attention of the entire room. Their debut album has the same effect.

Evan Miller and Aleisha Kalina front this musical duo. Evan looks like Jack White but sounds a bit like Angus Stone. They actually sound similar to Angus and Julia Stone but aren’t siblings so they don’t have the same creepy brother/sister feel when singing their love songs. If you know what I mean.

Six song EP has moments of alternative folk and pop rock all blended together seamlessly. Each song has it’s own weight in beautiful harmonies, stellar songwriting and gorgeous melodies. Really it is six songs that feels like a lot more in their variety and consistency.

This album sounds great. Not just the songs but the recording. Sonically it is recorded very well, which we sometimes don’t always hear from new local bands. The album was produced by Cory Woodward and mixed and mastered by Adam Veenendaal.

Our favourite track on the album is ‘Who Ya Foolin’ this is the only song on the album that is explicit and at first I didn’t understand why until I realized that they aren’t singing ‘fugging love song.’ This song has the most pep out of all the songs on the EP and is easily the most catchy.

‘India Lee’, the fourth track on the album, takes us to a slower place that shows of the dynamic range this band can handle. ‘India Lee’ is a lullaby love song with elements of storytelling and beautiful harmonies. This is about the folkiest the album gets and it feels really honest.

Coming out of ‘India Lee’ we are taken back to the upbeat pop sounds in “A Monday in May.’ I think the ‘blue eyes’ hooks sounds a lot like Crash Test Dummies but that might just be me.

The EP ends on ‘Your Bright Eyes Keep Me Awake.’ It’s another beautiful slow one with some lovely song writing with likes like ‘I’d rather be scared with you.’ It is a haunting conclusion to an album that leaves us wanting more.

http://www.westcoastlive.ca/#!The-Review-The-Wild-Romantics-She-Could-Tell/c1rfl/569fc3320cf230b3a0f14af0 - West Coast Live

Be still my heart, for I love, love, love this song! This is like a cross between Whitehorse and Neil Diamond! The harmonies! The beat! The vocal interplay between the male and female singer! I love it all. Thanks to Radio 3 listener @kirkofdoom for tipping me off to this Searchlight Standout from Nanaimo, BC.

http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2015/4/Searchlight-2015-Grant-Lawrences-second-round-standouts - CBC Music

Get ready for some grungy indie folk pop in this new EP by the Wild Romantics, She Could Tell. Evan Miller and Aleisha Kalina are the two part of this powerful indie group. Their music brings up a Mumford and Sons feel to it with interesting melodic and harmonic choices between the two.

Miller and Kalina both have unique voices that could stand alone on a record, but together are a perfect pairing. A little bit raspy, but with the folk twang that is so enjoyable; they manage to find a perfect balance between having too much harmony on a track and too much unison. When they choose to go into unison, it’s almost like Kalina’s voice is an echo of Miller’s in a higher pitch; that’s how good they are paired together.

Hard hitting drums and electric guitar and bass propel each track on this EP into the listener’s body at a steady pace throughout. But, when they choose to slow down their track they do an amazing job at doing that too. India Lee is an example of this; with an interesting ornamental approach to the guitar instrumentation and vocal parts.

Who Ya Foolin’ and A Monday In May are my personal favourites from this EP. Miller’s voice really stands out in most of the songs, but when Kalina gets the chance to sing a part to herself, it’s equally as interesting. Penned very well, these two songs are definitely my recommendations for first listenings to this album.

Some nostalgic indie-grunge pop music, you should keep an eye out for this duo and check out their music to get a taste of that good old folk-y experience. - Geyser Music

Alt-country sweethearts The Wild Romantics have released their debut EP, She Could Tell. The charismatic, soulful nature of Evan Miller and Aleisha Kalina translates well into the EP, which ranges from foot-stomping anthems to ballads of their trademark, tranquil harmonies. Stream and purchase the release below! - The Permanent Rain Press

Being an opener is hard, especially in a fairly reserved city like Vancouver. Not only do you have to perform for a generally sparse and fairly sober crowd, but you have to do this with as much enthusiasm as you can muster in hopes that you'll get your audience on board with the idea of dancing, cheering, and having a good time for the following bands. In this city, we've seen amazing bands fail to be able to pull this off. That being said, The Wild Romantics crushed this stereotype.

By the end of their first song, Hurricanes, the audience had gathered to the stage, cracked beers, and started swaying. The energy that radiated off this band was exciting, and the passion between Aleisha Kalina and Evan Miller commanded attention. Their interaction between not only themselves and band members, but with the audience as well was by far the best of the evening. From the anecdotes about each song, to their wandering throughout the audience, it was clear that The Wild Romantics were playing to impress.

A clear audience favourite was their Canadian cover, a mash-up of songs including No Sugar Tonight and American Woman by The Guess Who and I Don't Know by The Sheepdogs. Their final song, Starvin' Moon, takes a close second for the amazing dance party it created. All in all, a great performance, and a high-energy start to the evening. - Geyser Music

Vancouver’s Wild Romantics are, on record, a haunting acoustic duo worthy of close attention; onstage at the tiny Cameron House they were a rather loud five-piece electric outfit that sacrificed subtlety for sultry swamp boogie that would probably go over great at the far larger outdoor venues Grace Potter plays these days. - Buffalo Spree

Next up on the night was a band that I have liked more and more each time I've seen them play, The Wild Romantics. Up until recently I had only seen them as the duo of Aleisha Kalina and Evan Miller, and I liked them okay. But last month, they were opening for Shred Kelly, with a full band, and I was really impressed.

Aleisha and Evan's great harmonies were still on display, evidenced by songs like "A Monday In May" or "Memphis, TN", as the couple shared the mic a few times throughout the night with an intimacy. But as a full five piece, the band is much more rocking. And the set just built in energy and intensity as they went on, with a couple highlights being the sharp and biting "Who You Fooling" which had Evan jump into the crowd to sing with some people (those willing, anyway), and a badass rocker called "Fist Fight", that featured an almost literal guitar duel between Evan and their guitar player Rory Froese.

The couple just moved to Vancouver from the island and put the band together a few months ago, and I am looking forward to see what is next for them.

http://www.3amrevelations.com/reviews/2015/04/hollow-twin-ep-release-hindenburg-042615.html?rq=the%20wild%20romantics - 3AM Revelations