Checkerboard Floors

The Checkerboard Floors want to play music you dance to. They've been doing it for over a decade.

Other than their energy-packed live shows that have crowds singing and dancing along, nothing demonstrates the band’s drive better than the material they've been releasing independently, including their 2014 LP, Art Project. Hamilton Blues Lovers called it “a multi-layerd, dynamic album packed full of powerful riffs with an alt-rock touch”, where “roots, funk, alternative rock [and] classic rock are all mixed in with panache”, and Heidi Hopf of BScene described it as being “soaked in delicious tele riffs, upbeat drum tempos, smooth vocals, bouncy bass and lyrics we can all relate to”.

The Checkerboard Floors are Derek Palango (vocals, guitar), Tyler Wilson (guitar, vocals), Matt Outerson (bass, vocals), and Kevin Barrie (drums, vocals) who officially replaced founding member Rob Shorney in 2018. The group originally found themselves together through work, mutual friends, and a shared love of music in early 2009. They quickly secured gigs in local venues as a cover band, and spent the next few years refining their act, performing a wide array of covers from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Paul Simon, and more contemporary artists such as The Black Keys, The Sheepdogs, and The Tragically Hip.

Their sound could be called Alt-Rock in general terms. However, just beneath the surface, one finds evidence of their passions for the varied styles that propel their music forward, including though not limited to Blues, Funk, Motown, and Jazz.

The band is currently toiling away as best anyone can in these times. Keep a close eye on this space and the usual social media haunts for what's next. No matter what, the rock keeps rolling.