The Facts
The Wind Whistles are an indie-folk band headed by Tom Prilesky (vocals, guitar) and Liza Moser (vocals, bass) from Vancouver Canada. They have recorded four albums, with musical styles that span anti-folk, roots revival, twee, pop and alternative rock, and americana, with lyrical themes about death/revival, empathy for living things, and DIY culture. Many of these musing are delivered in fun and endearing ways using animal characters and paying tribute to friends and family. Their studio albums featured supporting musicians from their friends in The Greenbelt Collective, Bad Fate, Supermoon, The People Verses, The Dirty Beat, Suzuki Jacuzzi, and live performances could swell from just the two of them to a crowded stage where the line between performer and audience would blur. The Wind Whistles were most active between 2006-2010, touring extensively across Canada and in Europe. In the decade following a hiatus from performing live, they have produced a farewell album called ‘Sail Away’, again enlisting musical help from their community.
Birth, Death & Revival
“I met Liza at a show in 2003. My best friend was playing a farewell set with his punk band Walk The Line (members of which have all been on TWW albums), and it was one of those nights where the emotion bonds the entire room. A couple friend-circles had blended, and by the end of the night a plan was afoot for a mass exodus to an all-night Denny’s that happened to be right by my house. (Back then the nocturnal culinary choices were limited.) Despite the early morning wooziness, we endeared ourselves to each other enough to begin an adventure that would last almost a decade.
One thing we prided ourselves on was traveling light. Touring as a duo, each of us carried a guitar case in hand, and large bagpacks on our backs. We’d have enough shirts, socks, and underwear to last a week between washes, as the bulk of our bags & cases were filled with merch. (This is, by the way, the reason we never pressed vinyl, as it doesn’t lend itself well to cramming inside the body of a guitar.) Even as a full band we managed to shove six people, a drum kit, three guitars, clothes, merch (at one point we were selling flats of home-made jam!) and even a nintendo all into a minivan. We found ourselves in some pretty wild places, from private parties, to squats, Czech TV, city parks, Bluegrass festivals, schools, even summer camps. We’d be gone over half the year, booking dates as we went along, sometimes even getting added to bills on the spot.
About 2 years in, we had rented a very short-in-height basement suite together. Naturally crafty people, we launched ourselves at numerous projects, one of which was an acoustic jug-grass kind of thing. It was so far removed from anything that we were into, that it took on a type of novelty for us. We went with it and soon realized that our ‘band’ had a certain freedom of mobility, such as not needing electricity to perform. And being two started making a lot of things happen very quickly. The possibilities expanded right in front of our eyes. If I’m being honest, in the beginning we didn’t take it very seriously. It was a fun time playing shows around town, yet pretty soon we got antsy-pants and wanted to expand our horizons.
The last Canada tour was hard. We set the bar high for ourselves, committing to 38 shows in a 40 day dash from coast to coast and back with our friends Paper Tiger from the Netherlands. Our spirits began to drop with every new stick in our spokes, and by the time we returned to Vancouver we weren’t sure if we ever wanted to be in a band again. Yet by the the summer of 2010 we were back on the horse and rehearsing for a new album. Inspired by our recent trials, we already knew then that we had something special, which made it even more heartbreaking when it was stopped in its tracks by several life altering (and near death) events. Years would go by before we would pick where we left off. In 2013 we began the slow process of mobilizing our community around the recording of Sail Away, and it would take the better part of the decade to cross the finish line. For something to go from an impossibility, to now a realized vision that resonates so deeply with our journey, is a thing we can barely find words for. We’re back and have something for the world.”
-tom
Past Shows
11/21/2009 8:00 PM Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, BC
10/17/2009 3:00 PM SPEC Anniversary Benefit Vancouver, BC
10/16/2009 8:00 PM Tree’s Vancouver, BC
10/11/2009 9:00 PM Pat’s Pub Vancouver, BC
10/10/2009 9:00 PM Cedar Creek Cafe Winlaw, BC
10/9/2009 9:00 PM The Hydeaway Edmonton, AB
10/8/2009 9:00 PM Dicken’s Calgary, AB
10/7/2009 9:00 PM Henotic Lethbridge, AB
10/6/2009 8:00 PM All Citizens Bruno, SK
10/4/2009 9:00 PM Ragpickers Winnipeg, MB
10/3/2009 9:00 PM Apollo Thunder Bay, ON
10/2/2009 9:00 PM Townehouse Sudbury, ON
10/1/2009 8:00 PM EVAC London, ON
9/30/2009 9:00 PM The Mansion Kingston, ON
9/29/2009 9:00 PM Bar St. Laurent Montreal, QC
9/27/2009 8:00 PM Crumbs Fredericton, NB
9/26/2009 8:00 PM Ampersand Charlottetown, PE
9/25/2009 9:00 PM Casa De Eva Seaforth, NS
9/24/2009 9:00 PM Gus’s Pub Halifax, NS
9/23/2009 9:00 PM Struts Gallery Sackville, NB
9/22/2009 9:00 PM Baba’s Charlottetown, PE
9/21/2009 8:00 PM Falls Brook Centre Knowlesville, NB
9/20/2009 9:00 PM L’AgiteE Quebec City, QC
9/19/2009 8:00 PM L’Innocent Riviere Du Loup, QC
9/18/2009 8:00 PM The Treatment Room Montreal, QC
9/17/2009 9:00 PM Le Divan Orange Montreal, QC
9/16/2009 9:00 PM Zaphod’s Beeblebrox Ottawa, ON
9/15/2009 9:00 PM The Spill Peterborough, ON
9/14/2009 9:00 PM The Boat Toronto
9/13/2009 9:00 PM Casbah Hamilton, ON
9/12/2009 9:00 PM Rancho Relaxo Toronto, ON
9/11/2009 8:00 PM Exhibit Kitchener, ON
9/10/2009 9:00 PM Loplops Sault Ste. Marie, ON
9/9/2009 9:00 PM The Apollo Thunder Bay, ON
9/8/2009 9:00 PM Royal Albert Arms Winnipeg, MB
9/7/2009 9:00 PM The Club Regina, SK
9/6/2009 9:00 PM Lydia’s Saskatoon, SK
9/5/2009 8:00 PM Auditorium Hotel Nanton, AB
9/4/2009 9:00 PM Naked Cyber Cafe Edmonton, AB
9/3/2009 9:00 PM Broken City Calgary, AB
9/2/2009 8:00 PM The Habitat Kelowna, BC
8/30/2009 1:00 PM Lion’s Park Port Coquitlam, BC
8/29/2009 3:00 PM Beanstalk Festival Port Coquitlam, BC
8/28/2009 7:00 PM Fireside Cafe Surrey, BC
8/23/2009 12:00 PM Coquitlam Farmer’s Market Port Moody, BC
8/17/2009 8:00 PM Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, BC
8/15/2009 9:00 PM Logan’s Victoria, BC
8/14/2009 9:00 PM The Cambie Nanaimo, BC
8/11/2009 9:00 PM Clubkeller Frankfurt, DE
8/9/2009 8:00 PM Waggon Offenbach, DE
8/7/2009 9:00 PM La Catrina Zurich, CH
8/1/2009 8:00 PM The Livingroom Stuttgart, DE
7/31/2009 9:00 PM Willemeen Arnhem, NL
7/28/2009 9:00 PM Note 5 Gornichem, NL
7/25/2009 8:00 PM Limes Cologne, DE
7/24/2009 8:00 PM Cafe Arte Uslar, DE
7/23/2009 9:00 PM Schroder Gottingen, DE
7/21/2009 9:00 PM Hinz und Kunz Leipzig, DE
7/20/2009 9:00 PM Bautzner Tor Dresden, DE
7/18/2009 6:00 PM Woody Bash Festival Hamburg, DE
7/15/2009 9:00 PM Vera Groningen, NL
7/13/2009 9:00 PM Slaughtered Lamb London, UK
7/12/2009 3:00 PM The Green Note London, UK
7/10/2009 8:00 PM Gallery Cafe London, UK
7/7/2009 9:00 PM Big Hands Manchester, UK
7/5/2009 8:00 PM Nada Stockholm, SE
7/4/2009 7:00 PM Tchai Ovna Glasgow, UK
7/3/2009 9:00 PM The Bowery Edinburgh, UK
6/30/2009 8:30 PM Madame Claude Berlin, DE
6/28/2009 8:00 PM Cafe Tharandt Tharandt, DE
6/27/2009 1:00 PM Mìlník Pšovka fotbalový stadion Mìlník Pšovka, CZ
6/26/2009 8:00 PM Balbinka Prague, Not Applicable, CZ
6/25/2009 8:00 PM Hifi Klub Plzen, CZ
6/24/2009 7:00 PM Čajovna Inspirace Strakonice, CZ
6/23/2009 8:00 PM Malostatek Blatiny Šebáòovice, CZ
6/22/2009 8:00 PM D-Klub Tabor, CZ
6/20/2009 9:30 PM Fest Strelické Strunobraní Strelice u Brna, CZ
6/19/2009 8:00 PM Hlava XXII Bratislava, SK
6/18/2009 8:00 PM Bigbít Brno, Not Applicable, CZ
6/17/2009 5:00 PM Čajovna Šnek Brandýs nad Labem, CZ
6/16/2009 8:00 PM KASS Vltava Kralupy nad Vltavou, CZ
6/15/2009 7:00 PM Kafe Barka Ústí nad Labem, CZ
6/14/2009 2:15 PM Fest Gody 2009 Liberec, CZ
6/13/2009 9:30 PM Fest Osecka Kytara Osek, CZ
6/6/2009 9:00 PM Intersoup Berlin, DE
6/5/2009 9:00 PM Antje Oeklesund Berlin, DE
6/4/2009 9:00 PM Schokoladen Berlin, DE
6/3/2009 9:00 PM Noch Besser Leben Leipzig, DE
6/2/2009 9:00 PM Glashaus Bayreuth, DE
5/30/2009 8:00 PM hinZundkunZ Leipzig, DE
5/29/2009 9:00 PM Schulclub Schleusingen, DE
5/27/2009 9:00 PM Clubkeller Frankfurt, DE
5/24/2009 8:00 PM Lugz Vancouver, BC
4/17/2009 7:00 PM Fireside Cafe Surrey, BC
4/14/2009 9:00 PM CJSF Radio live performance Burnaby, BC
3/18/2009 10:00 PM The Media Club Vancouver, BC
3/13/2009 10:00 PM The Art Space Vancouver, BC
2/16/2009 10:00 PM Pat’s Pub Vancouver, BC
2/8/2009 1:00 PM Coquitlam Farmers Market Port Moody, BC
1/26/2009 3:00 PM CITR Radio live performance Vancouver, BC
1/25/2009 7:00 PM Little Mountain Vancouver, BC, CA
12/27/2008 8:00 PM The Princeton Pub Vancouver, BC
11/5/2008 9:00 PM Cafe Deux Soleils Vancouver, BC
10/31/2008 8:00 PM Cafe Deux Soleils Vancouver, BC
10/28/2008 8:00 PM The Grateful Fed Psychedeli Kelowna, BC
10/26/2008 8:00 PM The Hydeaway Edmonton, AB
10/25/2008 3:00 PM Wunderbar Edmonton, AB
10/23/2008 9:00 PM Canmore Hotel Canmore, AB
10/22/2008 9:00 PM New City Edmonton, AB
10/21/2008 9:00 PM The Ottoman Lounge Medicine Hat, AB
10/20/2008 8:00 PM Quincy’s Calgary, AB
10/19/2008 8:00 PM Lydia’s Saskatoon, SK
10/18/2008 8:00 PM The Exchange Regina, SK
10/10/2008 9:00 PM Cafe Mondragon Winnipeg, MB
10/8/2008 9:00 PM The Apollo Thunder Bay, ON
10/7/2008 8:00 PM the Estate Thunder Bay, ON
10/6/2008 9:00 PM Calico Cafe Thunder Bay, ON
10/4/2008 9:00 PM The Townehouse Sudbury, ON
10/3/2008 9:00 PM The Spill Peterborough, ON
10/2/2008 9:00 PM Jimmy Jazz Guelph, ON
10/1/2008 8:00 PM Strega Cafe St. Catherines, ON
9/29/2008 9:00 PM Pepper Jack’s Hamilton, ON
9/28/2008 9:00 PM The Boat Toronto, ON
9/28/2008 3:00 PM The Communist’s Daughter Toronto, ON
9/27/2008 9:00 PM Rancho Relaxo Toronto, ON
9/26/2008 9:00 PM The Spill Peterborough, ON
9/24/2008 9:00 PM Irene’s Pub Ottawa, ON
9/20/2008 9:00 PM Le Cagibi Montreal, QC
9/19/2008 9:00 PM Ninkasi Quebec, QC
9/15/2008 7:00 PM Falls Brook Centre South Knowlesville, NB
9/14/2008 7:00 PM Cafe Ampersand Charlottetown, NS
9/12/2008 10:00 PM The Lyon House Charlottetown, NS
9/10/2008 9:00 PM Paddy’s Pub Wolfville, NS
9/7/2008 9:00 PM Gus’s Pub Halifax, NS
9/6/2008 8:00 PM Seaforth Community Hall Seaforth, NS
9/5/2008 9:00 PM Heather and Jenn’s Barn Gaspereau, NS
9/4/2008 8:00 PM The Mersey House Liverpool, NS
9/1/2008 9:00 PM The Slaughtered Lamb London, UK
8/31/2008 6:00 PM Ragged Hedge Fair Cirencester, UK
8/29/2008 5:00 PM Woolfire Festival Woodmancott, UK
8/26/2008 9:00 PM Antje Oeklesund Berlin, DE
8/25/2008 8:00 PM Wagenplatz ‘Toter Arm’ Leipzig, DE
8/24/2008 8:00 PM Kurzes Eck Saarbrucken, DE
8/23/2008 8:00 PM livingroom show Bonn, DE
8/22/2008 8:00 PM house show Gottingen, DE
8/21/2008 9:00 PM Kulturbunker Mülheim Cologne, DE
8/20/2008 9:00 PM Hasenschaukel Hamburg, DE
8/19/2008 9:00 PM House show – spaldingstrasse/”open air” Hamburg, DE
8/17/2008 8:00 PM Tristeza Berlin, DE
8/16/2008 7:00 PM Free park show Berlin, DE
8/15/2008 5:00 PM Broadstairs Folk Week Broadstairs, UK
8/14/2008 2:00 PM Broadstairs Folk Week Broadstairs, UK
8/13/2008 8:00 PM Broadstairs Folk Week Broadstairs, UK
8/10/2008 2:00 PM Northern Green Gathering Festival North Yorkshire, UK
8/7/2008 8:00 PM The Front Bar Mullingar, IE
8/5/2008 9:00 PM Kenny Lahinch, IE
8/3/2008 8:00 PM Anseo Dublin, IE
8/2/2008 8:00 PM Sunrise Celebration @ The Big Chill Eastnor Castle, UK
8/1/2008 2:00 PM Sunrise Celebration @ The Big Chill Eastnor Castle, UK
7/31/2008 8:00 PM Clubkeller Frankfurt, DE
7/29/2008 9:00 PM Henry’s Cellar Bar Edingurgh, UK
7/28/2008 8:00 PM Bloc Glasgow, UK
7/27/2008 3:30 PM Lomond Folk Festival Loch Lomond-Balloch-Scotland, UK
7/26/2008 4:00 PM Americana Weekender Newcastle, UK
7/25/2008 8:00 PM 1 in 12 Bradford, UK
7/24/2008 8:00 PM 1 in 12 Bradford, UK
7/19/2008 5:00 PM Nozstock Festival Bromyard, UK
7/11/2008 9:00 PM The Primrose Pub Leeds, UK
7/6/2008 7:00 PM Beatherder Festival Lancashire, UK
7/5/2008 6:00 PM Workhouse Festival Llanfyllin Powys, Wales, UK
7/3/2008 8:00 PM Clubkeller Frankfurt, DE
7/2/2008 9:00 PM Under 13 Munich, DE
6/30/2008 8:00 PM Noch Besser Leben Leipzig, DE
6/28/2008 8:00 PM Chateau Rouge Underground Prague, CZ
6/28/2008 5:00 PM Porta Festival Revnice, CZ
6/24/2008 8:00 PM Probuzený Slon Brno, CZ
6/23/2008 7:15 PM Radio Proglas in-studio performance Brno, CZ
6/22/2008 4:00 PM Festival Za Vodou Lodìnice Dìhylov, CZ
6/21/2008 7:00 PM Dny Karviné Festival Karviná, CZ
6/20/2008 7:30 PM Labyrint Žilina, SK
6/19/2008 6:00 PM Klub Futra Orlova, CZ
6/18/2008 8:00 PM Music Club 13 Opava, CZ
6/17/2008 8:00 PM Klub Parnik Ostrava, CZ
6/16/2008 8:00 PM Coutry Radio live performance Prague, CZ
6/14/2008 8:00 PM Cafe Central Magdeburg, DE
6/13/2008 9:00 PM Antje Oeklesund Berlin, DE
6/12/2008 9:00 PM Intersoup Berlin, DE
6/11/2008 9:30 PM Spielbudenplatz Hamburg, DE
6/11/2008 8:00 PM Hasenschaukel Hamburg, DE
6/10/2008 8:00 PM Kulturpalast Hannover, DE
6/9/2008 9:00 PM Plan B Bar Bielefeld, DE
6/9/2008 7:00 PM Radio Hertz 87.9 in studio performance/interview Bielefeld, DE
6/8/2008 7:00 PM Veranda Sessies Timboektoe, NL
6/7/2008 8:00 PM Gorechtkade 40C Groningen, NL
6/6/2008 8:00 PM Amelandsdwinger 307 Leeuwarden, NL
6/5/2008 8:00 PM Café Barok Arnhem, NL
5/31/2008 8:00 PM Cat’s Cradle @ Sunrise Celebration Yeovil, UK
5/25/2008 9:00 PM Logan’s Pub Victoria, BC
5/24/2008 9:00 PM Chrome Horse Nanaimo, BC
5/22/2008 7:00 PM Pinetree Secondary Coquitlam, BC
5/21/2008 9:00 PM Railway Club Vancouver, BC
5/20/2008 8:00 PM Featured Artist on CJSF – Melodies in Mind Burnaby, BC
5/19/2008 9:00 PM The Blue Gator Kelowna, BC
5/17/2008 9:00 PM The Pawn Shop Edmonton, AB
5/15/2008 9:00 PM Broken City Calgary, AB
5/14/2008 9:00 PM The Slice Lethbridge, AB
5/13/2008 9:00 PM The Ottoman Lounge Medicina Hat, AB
5/12/2008 9:00 PM Little Pictures Arts Preserve Saskatoon, SK
5/9/2008 9:00 PM The Club/ The Exchange Regina, SK
5/7/2008 8:00 PM Avenue Skate Park Edmonton, AB
5/6/2008 9:00 PM The Loft Kamloops, BC
5/1/2008 9:00 PM The Media Club Vancouver, BC
4/18/2008 10:00 PM Railway Club Vancouver, BC
4/16/2008 9:00 PM Hoko’s Vancouver, BC
4/12/2008 2:00 PM Trout Lake Vancouver, BC
4/6/2008 9:00 PM Hoko’s Vancouver, BC
3/28/2008 9:00 PM Fireside Cafe Surrey, BC
3/21/2008 8:00 PM Little Mountain Studios Vancouver, BC
3/21/2008 6:30 PM Cornerstone Cafe Coquitlam, BC
3/15/2008 9:00 PM Cafe Deux Soleils Vancouver, BC
12/22/2007 9:00 PM The Purple Crab Vancouver, BC
12/14/2007 7:00 PM Gathering Place- Leigh Square Port Coquitlam, BC
12/7/2007 7:00 PM Wise Hall Vancouver, BC
12/5/2007 8:00 PM Folk Oasis UBC Radio Vancouver, BC
12/4/2007 8:00 PM Melodies in Mind SFU Radio Vancouver, BC
12/1/2007 1:00 PM Cornerstone Cafe Coquitlam, BC
11/26/2007 8:00 PM Hoko’s Vancouver, BC
11/20/2007 9:00 PM WISE Hall Vancouver, BC
9/1/2007 4:00 PM Deckfest! Vancouver, BC
8/25/2007 1:00 PM Leigh Square Port Coquitlam, BC
8/12/2007 7:00 PM Cafe Montmartre Vancouver, BC
8/5/2007 7:00 PM Rime East Vancouver, BC
7/1/2007 5:00 PM Golden Spike Festival Port Moody, BC
6/21/2007 9:00 PM Backstage Lounge Vancouver, BC
6/16/2007 4:00 PM Beanstalk Folk Festival Port Coquitlam, BC
6/2/2007 4:00 PM Pitt Meadows Day Festival Pitt Meadows, BC
5/25/2007 5:00 PM Northwest Folklife Festival Seattle, WA
5/15/2007 8:00 PM Alf House East Vancouver, BC
4/29/2007 5:00 PM The Mansion Vancouver, BC
4/12/2007 9:00 PM Backstage Lounge Vancouver, BC
4/5/2007 7:00 PM Cottage Bistro Vancouver, BC
3/30/2007 8:00 PM Cafe Deux Soleils East Vancouver, BC
3/20/2007 8:00 PM CJSF 90.1FM Vancouver, BC
3/17/2007 9:00 PM Railway Club Vancouver, BC
3/16/2007 7:00 PM Trees Organic Coffeehouse Vancouver, BC
3/13/2007 8:00 PM Cafe Deux Soleils East Vancouver, BC
3/7/2007 7:00 PM Wise Hall East Vancouver, BC
2/23/2007 6:00 PM Radha Yoga and Eatery Vancouver, BC
1/9/2007 9:00 PM Cafe Deux Soleils East Vancouver, BC
12/9/2006 9:00 PM The Main Vancouver, BC
10/28/2006 9:00 PM Cafe Deux Soleils East Vancouver, BC
10/20/2006 9:00 PM Palomino Social Club Calgary, AB
10/18/2006 9:00 PM New City Compound Edmonton, AB
10/17/2006 9:00 PM The Urban Room Red Deer, AB
10/16/2006 9:00 PM The Slice Lethbridge, AB
10/15/2006 8:00 PM The Snoring Sasquatch Creston, BC
10/14/2006 7:00 PM Nelson Rec. Complex Nelson, BC
10/13/2006 7:00 PM The Grateful Fed Psychodeli Kelowna, BC
10/12/2006 9:00 PM Railway Club Vancouver, BC
9/16/2006 3:00 PM Beanstalk Folk Festival Port Coquitlam, BC
9/9/2006 1:00 PM St. James Market Victoria, BC
9/8/2006 7:00 PM Black Stilt Coffeehouse Victoria, BC
9/2/2006 3:00 PM Deckfest! East Vancouver, BC
8/27/2006 2:00 PM Blackberry Festival Vancouver, BC
8/15/2006 8:00 PM Cafe Deux Soleils East Vancouver, BC
8/8/2006 8:00 PM Lamplighter Vancouver, BC
7/29/2006 9:00 PM Marine Club Vancouver, BC
7/7/2006 5:00 PM Leigh Square Port Coquitlam, BC
6/10/2006 4:00 PM Beanstalk Folk Festival Port Coquitlam, BC