Imagine Yes had a love child with George Clinton and Led Zeppelin…in Canada. That child would look a lot like Vancouver’s own Daniel James’ Brass Camel, a self-proclaimed “prog-funk” quintet that blends 70’s prog, funk, and blues rock into a fresh and original sonic experience. Born in early 2018, the group is the brainchild of Daniel James, who began touring at 11 and at just 25 years old has performed with Les Paul and at NYC’s Apollo Theater. Since the release of their self-titled debut the group has been on a hot-streak of sold-out shows.

Their mix of hard hitting hooks, scruffy vocals, clever changes, and fiery solos displays a rock machine that is truly a force to be reckoned with. In addition to their own material, the band has hosted unique cover performances, such as “Prog at the Planetarium,” where they took over the Vancouver Space Centre, projected cosmic visuals on the dome, and played note-for-note versions of some of the greatest songs in progressive rock, utilizing all vintage musical equipment of the seventies. The show included renditions of “Watcher of the Skies” (Genesis), “Xanadu” (Rush), “21st Century Schizoid Man” (King Crimson), “Roundabout” (Yes), and more. It’s remarkable that this band has less than fifteen shows together and is already putting on performances like this, making it apparent that their live show is not to be missed. 

They recently shot a live in-studio studio video featuring the album’s closing track, “A Long Way To Go,” an anthemic call to the state of the globe, where James proclaims “we’ve got the power to bring the world down to its knees…despite how far we’ve come, we’ve still got a long way to run”. A message I’d say is also true to the potential of this band, who is only getting started.

You can watch the live studio take below:

DJBC will be filming their next performance on March 15th at the Russian Hall in Vancouver, dubbed the “St. Paddy’s Day Slammer”. We can’t wait to have more live footage for all to enjoy.

In the meantime, check out their album and stay tuned for more dates and U.S. appearances to come! 

Please contact danieljamesgtr@gmail.com for any inquiries.