Despite the name, The Dinosaurs are anything but old; the local band formed three months ago.
Consisting of Max Zaitlin, guitar and vocals, Jason Mcwhinnie, guitar and brothers Jon, bass, and Allen Pelletier, drums, the group is set to headline for the first time at the 557 Artist Block on March 26.
The Dinosaurs grew from multiple musical projects, specifically a unique children’s album involving Zaitlin. It used to be Scary Gary and the Dinosaurs but Gary moved.
“We still got the ‘scary’,” Zaitlin said.
The moniker stems from a self-professed “demented” project Scary Gary and the Dinosaurs were working on. The idea was a darker, more in-depth children’s album involving a time-travelling, space romping, vampire brontosaurus.
Now Jon describes the band as an “alt-rock, grunge, post-punk, jam band.”
“It’s the grunge band I wanted to be in in high school,” Jon said.
“It’s the grunge band YOU wanted to be in in high school,” Mcwhinnie said with a laugh.
The group collectively hail from Summerland, though they are now located in Penticton.
The performance at the Artist Block will be the third official show for The Dinosaurs, though they have been jamming together as parts of different projects for years.
“I’ve been trying to get my brother to be in a band with me for 10 years,” Jon laughed.
The members work on multiple projects, so it was a matter of finding the time to collaborate as a group.
It’s the first time The Dinosaurs will play at the 557 Artist Block, but they have been patrons for a while.
“The 557 is always great. Vaelei (Walken-Brown, owner) is the best. She’s always enjoying hosting awesome events and things of that sort, so it’s always fun to come here. The people who come here too, it’s a great scene, the people are nice and enjoy what’s going on,” Allen said.
It’s a new central location for artists in Penticton, according to the band.
The Dinosaurs may be new to the scene as an official group, but the members have been part of a community of Penticton musicians and music supporters since high school.
While the central location for shows may change, the people generally don’t.
“It’s these tight-knit people who watch each other play the same songs over and over again,” Zaitlin said.
The Dinosaurs are eyeing up making an album, looking to work with Jeremy Head, a local producer and musician. Head is also one of the opening acts for The Dinosaurs.
Tickets are available pre-sale at the 557 Artist Block (262 Main Street) for $10 or $15 at the door.