Comments on: CONTEST – Royal City artwork giveaway

By: Rachael

Rachael — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:40:08 +0000

Although totally unrelated to the contest, is there any possible way to get “At Rush Hour The Cars”?? I figured this may be the best place to enter my desperate plea…I NEED that CD.

By: Frank Yang

Frank Yang — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:36:23 +0000

ah, sorry- forgot I hadn’t picked a winner.

Melinda gets the prints – thanks to everyone for sharing their memories

By: aMy leigh

aMy leigh — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:16:21 +0000

sooo… who won? who won?!!

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:57:22 +0000

I saw the band play in St. John’s (my hometown) with the Constantines in 2003 or so. I remember the Cons blowing the roof off the place, but leaving with Royal City in my head. It was a tour-ending show, and the band were offering merch if you bought them a beer. A few minutes later they had more beer than they could possibly drink, so I just bought every record they had.

Years later I talked with Daniel from Danielson about the great Royal City and we commonly lamented the band’s end.

Is that enough of an anecdote? I hope so. I’ve got each of these records, I’d love to have the prints as well.

By: Matt Hawker

Matt Hawker — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:50:28 +0000

I remember Jim opening for The Cons in London. After the show I went up to talk to him and he went on and on about the Cons. I was struck by how enthusiastic he seemed to be about not just the Cons but all the 2nd generation three gut bands, especially Bry Webb and co. whose success overshadowed his own.

It really reinforced what Three Gut was all about coming from its namesake. Love Royal City.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:19:46 +0000

At Rush Hour, The Cars drive down the Human Highway to Royal City.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:43:50 +0000

I was so excited to see them at the Horseshoe with friend, and sister of Aaron, who I had met that year in Thunder Bay. (as Dylan mentioned earlier) Sufjan Stevens also played. I knew nothing about him at the time, or even how to pronounce his name, but both bands played a very memorable show. I continue to love both dearly.

By: JRH

JRH — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:27:53 +0000

I biked to a Royal City show in Kingston through the rain in 2001. They played an amazing show – Here Comes Success was particularly memorable. Aaron was snarling and growling through the set and I loved that it freaked out the crowd. They were my favourite band at the time and I got to talking with them after the show. The person who was supposed to host them flaked out and they ended up staying on my couch and floor in my small box of an apartment. We talked about records and Aaron introduced me to the music of Grant Hart – 2541. All four guys were just as sincere as their music. I miss the shows that never were but cherish the ones that did. They were(are) the real deal.

By: melinda

melinda — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:37:17 +0000

I’m not generally the super-fan type, but I love(d) Royal City.

I first heard their music on a mixtape from a boy, who gave it to me on our first date, tossing in “I Am a Raw Youth” and “I Can See” among songs from Pavement and Beat Happening. (This could be why I fell in love with him.) The relationship with that boy fizzled out, but my feelings for Royal City lingered. I have misty, water-coloured memories of so many Royal City shows: singing along to “Daisies” at the Horseshoe, sitting at cabaret tables at Harbourfront, getting caught in a sudden blizzard en route to a show at Lee’s, and eventually meeting a new love at one of their shows.

They figured so prominently into my early-twenties, it’s hard not to feel mushy about them. I realized recently that, since Royal City stopped playing together, I’ve found it impossible to care about a band with such fervour. It’s partly because I’m older and more jaded now, but also because they were damn special. Thank you, boys.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:53:57 +0000

I remember seeing Royal City on the back patio of the Jimmy Jazz in Guelph….and then staring incredulously at the Horseshoe bouncer a few years later when he said their show was sold out. The band had blown up all of a sudden, to the point that someone reported that Royal City were now playing shows “standing up.” That’s when you know you’ve arrived.

Also: Play “Baby Let Your Heart Out” on your way to work……it will — without fail — be a great day.