The Stills

The Stills
Name	The Stills
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Years active	2000–2011
Genres	Indie rock, post-punk revival
Labels	Vice, Restless, 679
Associated acts	Eight and a Half, Chinatown, Logic of a Dream

The Stills

The Stills were an indie rock band formed in Montreal, Quebec, in 2000, known for fusing post-punk textures with melodic songwriting. The group released three studio albums and toured internationally, connecting scenes in Montreal, Toronto, New York, London, and Los Angeles. Their work drew attention from critics and peers across alternative music networks and independent labels.

History

Formed in the early 2000s amid the same Montreal scene that produced acts like Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, Stars and The Dears, the band evolved from the collaborations of musicians who had played in local projects such as Apostle of Hustle-adjacent lineups and campus bands at McGill University. Early exposure came through Canadian radio programs like CBC Radio 3 and independent labels similar to Vice Media and Restless Records. Their debut gained traction when tastemakers associated with Pitchfork Media, NME, and BBC Radio 1 began featuring their singles, leading to festival invites including South by Southwest, Reading and Leeds Festivals and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival-adjacent bills.

Following personnel changes concurrent with lineup tensions, the band signed to a UK imprint connected to 679 Recordings for European distribution while maintaining North American ties to boutique imprints. Recording sessions took place in studios frequented by artists tied to Jagjaguwar and Sub Pop, with producers who had worked with Broken Social Scene and Interpol-adjacent projects. After releasing three albums across the 2000s, the group announced a hiatus in the early 2010s as members pursued side projects and production roles with acts like Metric, Cold Specks and Basia Bulat.

Band members

Core contributors included individuals who later formed or joined other notable projects and collaborated with artists from Montreal and beyond. Early lineup featured musicians who performed alongside members of The Unicorns and participated in compilations curated by staff at Consequence of Sound. Subsequent members toured with acts connected to Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Death Cab for Cutie, and worked in studios used by producers associated with The National and Foals. Touring and session players often had credits on releases from labels such as Matador Records and Domino Recording Company.

Musical style and influences

The band’s sound combined elements found in post-punk revival contemporaries like Interpol, jangly indie reminiscent of The Smiths, and art-rock traces akin to Talking Heads and Television. Reviewers compared their moody atmospherics to the work of Joy Division and the melodic sensibilities of R.E.M.. Influences also ranged to classic rock figures such as David Bowie and Neil Young, and alternative forebears including Sonic Youth and Pixies. They drew inspiration from production techniques used on seminal records by Brian Eno and Steve Albini, and their arrangements echoed the urban narratives explored by Patti Smith and the lyrical restraint of Tom Waits.

Discography

Their studio albums were released across independent and international labels, charting modestly on alternative and college radio playlists and receiving attention from outlets like AllMusic, Rolling Stone and The Guardian. Singles were featured on compilations alongside tracks by Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party, and B-sides appeared on limited releases distributed through independent record stores such as Rough Trade and HMV Canada. The band issued EPs and 7" singles that collectors sought, with vinyl pressings circulated at record fairs and specialty shops in Montreal, London, New York City and Los Angeles.

Tours and live performances

Touring extensively, they performed headline shows as well as support slots for groups like The Killers, Interpol and Arcade Fire. Festival appearances placed them on stages alongside artists booked by promoters from Live Nation and AEG Presents. Their live sets were reviewed in publications including NME, The Independent and Spin, with particular notice given to atmospheric lighting treatments and arrangements that recalled performances by Nick Cave and the theatricality of Kraftwerk-influenced staging in indie circuits. International tours included stops in Europe, North America and Australia, and radio sessions were recorded for broadcasters such as KEXP and XFM.

Reception and legacy

Critics noted the band’s contribution to the 2000s indie-rock resurgence, situating them among Canadian contemporaries who elevated Montreal as a cultural hub alongside institutions like POP Montreal and independent labels that nurtured breakout acts. Coverage in outlets such as The New York Times, The Globe and Mail and Le Monde highlighted their role in a network of artists that influenced later acts on labels like Arts & Crafts Productions and Constellation Records. Members’ subsequent projects have kept their musical lineage active through collaborations with artists connected to Broken Social Scene, Feist, and production credits on records by The Besnard Lakes and Plants and Animals, ensuring the band’s stylistic fingerprints persisted in indie and alternative circles.

Category:Canadian indie rock groups Category:Musical groups from Montreal