(Artist Report)

Written by: Ginny Gaines   

Black Pontiac is a young, energetic rock band from Vancouver, Canada. The band started around 2018 with members Matt Purkiss (singer and lyricist), Mac Riddell (guitarist), Sam Riddell (drummer, Mac’s brother), and Avery Shoesmith (bass player). They got their start by jamming together just for fun, but quickly realized they had something special. The name “Black Pontiac” came from Mac’s old black Pontiac Sunfire car, which used to take them to their early shows.

Black Pontiac blends garage rock, pop, funk, and even a bit of hip-hop. Their songs are full of energy with snappy guitar riffs and powerful vocals. If you like bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cage the Elephant, or The Clash, you’ll probably enjoy their music. Their songs are often loud and packed with personality. Some tracks are party anthems, while others dig into personal stories, but all keep that high-energy vibe.

In 2929 the band released their EP titled Ponyboy. This Ep has 5 tracks on it that include "Green Lipstick," "School Girls," and "November State of Mind." The song “November State of Mind” became a fan favorite with over 2 million streams on Spotify. Black Pontiac released their first album titled Form Bad to Worse (And Back Again) in 2022. This album has 10 songs on it that include "Soda Pop Rock," "Troublemaker," "The Streets Are Hot Tonight," "Island Honey," and "Slow Dance at the Disco." This album has a little bit of everything, from rock to pop and some funk. The band released their latest single " I Need Peace Remix" on June 5, 2025.

Fans say their concerts are wild, full of energy, and crowd interaction. They've toured across Western Canada and played big festivals like Treefort in Idaho. People in Vancouver and Victoria are especially passionate about them. They’ve shared the stage with bands like Peach Pit, lovelytheband, and Yukon Blonde. They book most of their shows themselves and love adding a little flair and showmanship to their performances, like stage characters or funny banter, similar to how The Hives perform.

They’ve racked up over 8–10 million streams on Spotify. The band is popular in Western Canada and are gaining more fans across North America. Their live shows get great reviews and people say they’re super tight and full of energy. They’re still independent (not signed to a big label), but they’re working hard to grow and reach more fans. Fans bring boxes of Harvest Crunch cereal to shows, an inside joke from one of their old skits. There's also quirky stuff like “gnome lore” from their music videos too.

Black Pontiac is currently working on new music for 2025. They're aiming to keep pushing boundaries and exploring deeper themes about identity, relationships, and the highs and lows of being a performer. Black Pontiac is a young, exciting rock band with a fresh sound that mixes fun and feelings. They’ve come a long way from jamming in high school to playing big festivals, and their story’s just getting started. If you’re into modern rock that keeps it real and brings the party, give them a listen!

That will do it for this report on Black Pontiac. In closing, please just know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you the rock music report! Please consider supporting me and the crew by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and support our sponsors! Until next time... Rock on friends🤘

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