TABITHA REEVES
Co-Managing News Editor
Canada-native band Peach Pit is best known for their funky tunes and upbeat performances. Now grossing 2.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and in the midst of a tour throughout New Zealand and Australia, the group has grown more than they initially imagined.
We sat down with the four-piece band to learn if their day-to-day life matched their eclectic music. What Peter Wilton, the band’s bassist, jokingly described as a “boring routine on an average show day,” is one consisting of continental breakfast, their favorite sport and local shopping.
“It’s mostly just waiting around,” lead singer Neil Smith said. “You’ve got to find stuff to keep yourself occupied.”
According to Wilton, most mornings tend to start off with Smith and guitarist Chris Vanderkooy waking up right before the time they have to leave.
After scarfing down a breakfast of powdered eggs and waffles, both usually provided by the hotel’s included breakfast, the band heads out for the day.
“We’ll probably be about 15 minutes late for our call time for the lobby,” Smith said. “So our tour manager’s a little bit irritated at us.”
Once arriving at the venue and supporting their crew from afar as the gear is unloaded, the band searches for a lunch location. Having traveled for shows all over, Vanderkooy explained that they do not often check out the tourist locations anymore, describing doing so as “kind of exhausting in a way.”
Instead, the “Shampoo Bottles” performers find themselves taking time to enjoy the little things, like a tasty bite to eat.
“I have a long master list of [restaurants] that I look up and get from watching food shows and stuff, so if there’s a restaurant that I really want to go to, we’ll go to that,” Smith said.
To work up an appetite, the group brings their collection of discs everywhere they go and searches for a local disc golf course to check out in every city. If they have time, they see if there are any well-rated vintage stores in the area to do some thrift shopping.
After a day of exploring the town, the band prepares to take stage by repeating their new pre-show saying: “Have a good show, and if you don’t, you did.”
“Mikey coined that motto yesterday,” Vanderkooy said, referring to drummer Mikey Pascuzzi. “If you feel like it’s not fun, and you’re going to tell one of us that it’s not fun, then keep that f—– s— to yourself.”
They explained that the purpose of the expression is to reinforce positivity and avoid bringing the whole team down.
Maintaining a bright outlook is a theme not only in their everyday life, but one that shines through in their songwriting. Though their lyrics may tell sad stories, the sound of most songs is upbeat and joyous.
“It’s just easier for me to write about real life than making it up,” Smith, the band’s primary songwriter, said. “So all of our songs are kind of true stories in one way or another.”
Smith finds himself writing notes in his phone about funny events and daily happenings that he feels would make an alluring song.
Their song “Give Up Baby Go,” which has garnered more than 20 million streams on Spotify since its release in March 2022, seemed to catch the attention of the Oceans Calling crowd. Despite a heavy meaning, the track features bouncy guitar plucking and a carefree melody.
“Knock back a drink, there’s nobody home,” the lyrics read, in reference to alcoholism. “Waking up Monday only to realize that your Saturday self ain’t one you like.”
Somewhat jokingly, Vanderkooy mentioned making their next album have “happy lyrics, but a really sad sound.”
Though the group plans to release more music and is growing in popularity, it was not long ago that they were only playing local shows in Vancouver, Canada, where they formed.
There, they played multiple shows for the production company Trash City. Describing one local venue that stood out to him as “really beautiful,” Vanderkooy recalled often playing at a place that was an auto shop by day and concert location by night.
“The Canadian music scene is pretty sick,” Vanderkooy said. “It takes a lot of people volunteering their time to put [shows] on or host with their venue. So, yeah, really cool people in that scene and people who keep it going that we’re super thankful to have.”
Although they now have plenty of on-stage experience, Peach Pit spent about a year-and-a-half strictly practicing their music before they ever officially booked a gig. Smith said he remembered what it was like to “just bomb super hard” with a previous ensemble he was a member in, so he made sure to avoid doing so with Peach Pit.
“Most people make a band, they practice for a bit, then they’re like, ‘Let’s play a show,’” Smith said. “And they play, and then they aren’t very good, and then people are like, ‘Well I’m not gonna go see these guys again.”
While Smith boils down their success to practice, other members of the band might jokingly attribute their rising number of fans not just to practice, but to their heritage as Canadians.
After sharing their routine, Vancouver roots and advice for up-and-coming bands, the members explained that there is little Canadian artists love more than reminding others how many famous musicians are also from Canada. As such, they took the time to list off some for The Review to share.
Collectively, the members mentioned Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Alanis Morissette, Drake, Shawn Mendes, Carly Rae Jepsen, Alessia Cara, Barenaked Ladies and Michael Bublé. And, of course, there’s also Peach Pit.