Royal City (band)
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Guelph , Canada |
Area served | Canada, United States |
Key people | Aaron Riches, Jim Guthrie, Simon Osborne, Nathan Lawr, Lonnie James |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Royal City was an indie rock group hailing from Guelph, Canada.
History
The band Royal City originated in 1999 at the residence of Jim Guthrie in downtown Guelph, Ontario. Led by Aaron Riches, who was well-known locally for organizing concerts and his releases on DROG Records, they launched their first album, At Rush Hour the Cars, in 2000.
Initially named The Royal City All Stars, the group moved to Toronto after securing a deal with Three Gut Records. There, they became part of Toronto's early 2000s music scene alongside label peers like Cuff the Duke and The Constantines. The main lineup featured Riches, Lonnie James, Simon Osborne, and Jim Guthrie. In 2002, James took over drumming duties from original member Nathan Lawr.
Royal City embarked on extensive tours throughout Canada, including performances in Whitehorse, and supported artists such as Sarah Harmer. Their appearances included the 2002 South by South West festival. Notably, in 2002, an emerging Arcade Fire served as their opening act during a tour, and in 2003 they held their inaugural New York City show in the living room of Sufjan Stevens.
The band worked alongside prominent musicians including Leslie Feist, Sufjan Stevens, Final Fantasy, Gentleman Reg, and Bob Wiseman.
Following their breakup in 2004, Aaron Riches pursued higher education at the University of Nottingham. Nathan Lawr continued his music career both solo and with the Minotaurs. Jim Guthrie earned acclaim for composing the soundtrack to the video game Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP as well as the documentary Indie Game: The Movie. He also participated in Human Highway and toured with Islands. Meanwhile, Lonnie James released two solo albums to critical praise through Teenage USA Records.
In 2009, a compilation of outtakes and b-sides titled Royal City was issued by Asthmatic Kitty, the label owned by Sufjan Stevens.
Members
- Aaron Riches – guitar, lead vocals
- Jim Guthrie – guitar, backing vocals
- Simon Osborne – bass guitar
- Nathan Lawr – drums (1999–2002)
- Lonnie James – drums (2002–2004)
Collaborators
- Leslie Feist – guitar
- Sufjan Stevens – glockenspiel, production
- Owen Pallett – violin
- Gentleman Reg – guitar
- Bob Wiseman – keyboards
Albums
- At Rush Hour the Cars (2000)
- Alone at the Microphone (2001)
- Little Heart's Ease (2004)
- Royal City (2009)
Singles
- "Small Singles Club" (EP) (2001)
- "I Called" – featured on City of Music compilation (2002)
- "There's a Hole in My Heart" – included on Ten; Ten compilation (2002)
- "14.12.01" – live recording from CKLN’s Wired for Sound: 2001–2002 (2002)
- "That My Head Were A Spring" – from Comes With a Smile issue 13 (2003)
- "Is This It" – part of Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before, Various Artists release by Rough Trade (2004)
- "Tarry" – featured in Comes with a smile issue 16 (2004)
Covered by
- The Constantines – "Raw Youth" – Young Lions EP (2004)
- The Wooden Sky – "I Am A Raw Youth" – Bedrooms + Backstreets EP (2009)
External links
- Review and audio samples on Epitonic
- "Royal City and the Charm of the B-Side" CBC Radio 3
- "Lost Classics: Royal City “Alone At The Microphone”" from Magnet
- "The Secret Behind Royal City's Unexpected Success" CBC Radio 3
- "Asthmatic Kitty Records: Royal City Self-Titled Album"
- "Guelph Quartet’s Country Breakdown" by Matt Galloway
- "Interview with Aaron Riches" from !earshot
- "Remembering Three Gut Records" by Stuart McLean on CBC Radio’s Vinyl Cafe
- "An Oral History of Three Gut Records" authored by Michael Barclay
- Royal Treatment" by Dylan Young
- "Questionnaire with Aaron Riches"
- "Bad Luck" official music video at Bravo!FACT