Recording: Alvvays

Artist: Alvvays

Song: Dives

Recorded at Izakaya Sushi House, October 24, 2013.

Alvvays - Dives

Full review to follow. Alvvays first crossed paths with Marine Dreams back at the Mattyfest BBQ, and there was enough mutual admiration that they got asked back to help celebrate Marine Dreams' album release. Alvvays brought a full house and gave what I'm pretty sure was the best-sounding set I've yet heard in this back room.

Recording: Alvvays

Artist: Alvvays

Song: Party Police

Recorded at Parts + Labour ("Mattyfest Summerslam BBQ 2013"), August 18, 2013.

Alvvays - Party Police

Full review to follow. Although they've now settled on one google-able version of their name, Alvvways are still keeping a deliberately low (lovv?) profile — seemingly never playing a headlining show and now selling their Chad VanGaalen-produced debut album on tape at shows, but keeping the music mostly offline. But for all the mystery, they're cheerful in the flesh as they present their nuanced (but poppy) numbers.

Recording: Always

Artist: Alvvays (née Always)

Song: Archie, Marry Me

Recorded at The Dakota Tavern ("Jason Collett's Basement Revue"), December 13, 2012.

Always - Archie, Marry Me

Full review to follow. The dreamy jangle-pop from Molly Rankin and her bandmates (here in a stripped-down trio) was louder than anything else at this instalment of the Basement Revue, but a wholly welcome discovery nonetheless.

Added later: It looks like the band is now formally billing themselves as "Alvvays" (presumably for easier Google-ability), though they weren't yet doing that at the time of this show.