If you’ve been to a local rock or punk show within the last year or so, you’ve probably seen The Orchids play live.
Taking over venues across Atlantic Canada, especially during the summer, this two-piece noise rock/stoner rock band is brilliantly loud, passionate, and one of the most interesting bands to follow right now. Singer and guitarist Rhys Poirier is still in high school. Drummer Alexis Grant is in her second year of college. Yet, they sound like they’ve been doing this for years.
The scene, and the industry, seems to agree. Despite stiff competition, The Orchids made out with their first award, Loud Recording of the Year, for their debut self-titled album. They were also nominated for New Artist Recording of the Year.
“When we were making the album, we were like, this needs to be loud,” says Grant. “That was one of our main priorities. So, to get nominated, we were like, hell yeah, this is really, really cool. We were just lucky for that.”
“It was pretty flattering to be nominated for two different awards,” adds Poirier. “We were extremely lucky to come out on top.”
The band, based in Truro, sprouted up in 2023. With similar music tastes, Poirier and Grant began jamming with each other, eventually starting The Orchids that June. Since then, they’ve maintained a tightly packed schedule of shows, even in between their regular lives at school.
Being a new band, this was also their first Music Week, taking place in Yarmouth this year. They had the chance to play a set at Haley’s Lounge at the Rodd Grand Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 25.
“As soon as we started playing, it was an immediate mosh throughout our whole set,” says Grant with a laugh. “We had very bright lights on us, so I couldn’t see anything, but I was like, I think there’s a mosh right now? I would see Rhys disappear into the crowd while doing a guitar solo, and like, OK, hopefully he comes back.”
“It was really fun because we knew most of the people there,” says Poirier. “So many people came out to see us, and it was one of the best shows we played in a while. I think we work decently well under pressure, and we did go in having something to prove, I suppose, but also trying to play the best we can be and have fun doing it.”
Getting the chance to see so many people they’ve met during the course of their career so far was also a highlight for The Orchids. They say the scene has taken them in with open arms.
“I like to think we fostered ourselves in the Radstorm scene, and go and take ourselves further,” says Poirier. “We got lucky and were able to go out of province really quickly… to do all the shows we’ve done, and all the festivals we’ve done, is pretty great.”
“Every band in this scene just wants to help each other out, is the main thing I noticed,” Grant explains. “Everyone’s just trying to get good gigs with each other. Everyone just wants everyone else to succeed, and people have been so helpful in supporting us along our journey.”
Despite their quick success, The Orchids have loftier goals. One of those is to produce another album, which they’re currently writing songs for. Even past that, the duo wants to see not just them, but the entire scene, burst into the Canadian mainstream.
“If we could make the second East Coast explosion, like in the ‘90s, that’d be pretty awesome,” says Poirier.
The Orchid’s debut album is available on streaming platforms. Their next gig in Halifax is at 2 Crows Brewing, opening for fellow rock band Bologna Colorado.
