Phaeton, a prog-metal band, will be performing at the Fernie Elks Hall on Friday, March 29, as the opening act for Vancouver metal band, SVNEATR. Also appearing will be Weald and Woe from Boise, Idaho.
“We’re so excited to be performing Fernie for the first time,” says Ferdy Belland, bassist for Phaeton. “I mean, this was where Alex Lifeson was born, so for us, being huge Rush fans, this has all sorts of exciting significance - Fernie’s a prog-metal Mecca, don’t you know? A roots-quest, if you will. And besides, Fernie’s the coolest place in all of the East Kootenay region, so it’s high time we brought our A-game to town!”
Formed in March 2017 in Kimberley B.C. by drummer Colin Righton (ex-Xanimus, ex-Chaos Logic) and guitarist-producer-composer Kevin Thiessen (ex-AsZension, ex-Datura), the band’s lineup is rounded out by guitarist Daniel Airth (ex-Chaos Logic) and bassist Ferdy Belland (ex-Bif Naked). Influenced by artists such as Dream Theatre, Devin Townsend, Mastodon, Symphony X, Opeth, Gojira, and the aforementioned Rush, the band’s sound stands alone, in the Kootenays and elsewhere.
Phaeton has a unique sound.
“Some people find it odd since there’s no singing involved, or vocal storylines to follow,” says Belland. “But we let the guitar melodies do all the singing, and we let the listener decide what the song title means to them emotionally. It’s the same approach that all instrumental rock has followed since the early days of rock music, whether you’re talking about Link Wray or Duane Eddy or the Ventures, or whether you’re talking about more contemporary artists like Steve Vai or Animals As Leaders. Sure, we’re twice as loud and twice as fast as the Ventures, but there is a very real historical connection there.
“For the unfamiliar and the uninitiated, you need to listen to Phaeton the way you would listen to a jazz-fusion artist. Nobody’s barking into the microphone about sophomoric sociopolitical complaints, or trying to summon Azmeroth the Demon or anything. It’s just riff after riff, blastbeat after blastbeat. And don’t forget to rock out on the dance floor in front of the stage - we don’t muck about!”
Phaeton released their second album ‘Between Two Worlds’ in April of 2023, and it received great reviews in the Prog Rock world.
“We got a better review than the new Jethro Tull album!” says Belland. “Which tickled me. I remember way back when Metallica lost out to Jethro Tull for Best Metal Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards - so here we are getting Metallica’s revenge for them!”
The event, part of the Kings of Northern Darkness Tour, is presented by Stephanie Fling’s Infinitea Events.