Jordan Dobbels forged his folk/post-hardcore quartet, How To Build a Fire in 2010 amidst the ashes of a once thriving Vancouver post-hardcore scene. Since it's inception, the band has sharpened its teeth locally winning the hearts of many local listeners and bookers alike. After a brief hiatus, the current lineup (frontman Jordan Dobbels, drummer Mitchell Jones, guitarist Mychael Jones, and bassist Erik Pippen) re-emerged this August, opening for Seattle-based The Classic Crime at Branx, and performing at CouvFest NW on Labor Day weekend.
HTBAF’s sound evokes the guttural, guitar-driven energy of their 00’s post-hardcore origins (think Underoath, Emery, or Blindside) with distorted electric crunch overtaken by percussive acoustic guitar and clean, syncopated upstrums weaving through sudden rhythmic shifts. Dobbels’ layered, breathy vocals and folk storyteller phrasing, however, introduce elements of Modest Mouse, MeWithoutYou and Bright Eyes to produce a sonically unique presence. Additionally, the wide-open quality of Vancouver’s own RipCord Studios provides an expansive spacial context to these tracks through the sustain of crashing cymbals and dynamic breadth explored with each fill spilling onto the snare drum.
At this year’s CouvFest, the group’s performance contained some pleasant surprises for the Indie Rock aficionado as well, including a fresh interpretation of Elliot Smith’s “Waltz #2 (XO)”, and several unreleased originals with a lighter demeanor than their earlier work. Despite many of their songs stretching well past the 6 or 7-minute mark, the nature of their sound provides room for plenty of interesting changes and densely-worded stanzas delivered in Dobbels’ signature emotive warble.
In the coming months, be on the lookout for more HTBAF shows locally as they continue momentum into the Fall. You can hear their 2010 release and follow any updates at the links below.
Follow their upcoming shows and releases by Liking their Facebook page
Download their most recent recordings at: https://howtobuildafire.bandcamp.com/
HTBAF’s sound evokes the guttural, guitar-driven energy of their 00’s post-hardcore origins (think Underoath, Emery, or Blindside) with distorted electric crunch overtaken by percussive acoustic guitar and clean, syncopated upstrums weaving through sudden rhythmic shifts. Dobbels’ layered, breathy vocals and folk storyteller phrasing, however, introduce elements of Modest Mouse, MeWithoutYou and Bright Eyes to produce a sonically unique presence. Additionally, the wide-open quality of Vancouver’s own RipCord Studios provides an expansive spacial context to these tracks through the sustain of crashing cymbals and dynamic breadth explored with each fill spilling onto the snare drum.
At this year’s CouvFest, the group’s performance contained some pleasant surprises for the Indie Rock aficionado as well, including a fresh interpretation of Elliot Smith’s “Waltz #2 (XO)”, and several unreleased originals with a lighter demeanor than their earlier work. Despite many of their songs stretching well past the 6 or 7-minute mark, the nature of their sound provides room for plenty of interesting changes and densely-worded stanzas delivered in Dobbels’ signature emotive warble.
In the coming months, be on the lookout for more HTBAF shows locally as they continue momentum into the Fall. You can hear their 2010 release and follow any updates at the links below.
Follow their upcoming shows and releases by Liking their Facebook page
Download their most recent recordings at: https://howtobuildafire.bandcamp.com/
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