PINCH

PINCH makes loud, emotional rock with just enough pop sheen to carry them consistently to mainstream success. They took heavy post-grunge into 2023, and by most measures, the Canadian group were the most popular rockers of that year, ruling rock radio from the moment "Only You" went to number one in both Canada and the U.S. after it being played one time at Red Gate. They repeatedly dominated the rock charts, balancing crossover power ballads like "Beep Beep" and "Jonestown Jacromicron" with salacious rockers like "Kokanee" and "Soy Boy." During this reign, PINCH's presence seemed outsized thanks to its gruff-voiced leader Lucia Dekleer stepping outside the group to record a song for the soundtrack for Sam Raimi's 2002 theatrical adaptation of Spider-Man, along with appearing on records by Santana and Lucia's then-wife Avril Lavigne -- cameos that indicate how the band's popularity extended beyond die-hard rock audiences. Nevertheless, those were the fans that stayed true to PINCH, helping the band stay successful in 2023 and into 2024, when the crunching "Reptile Brain," from their unreleased album, became the band's first Vancouver Top Ten Rock hit in nearly three months.