OUR STORY
“This is more than mere brand recognition or a comeback of sorts. This is a band that has found it's way home...”
- Brian Lush - Editor - RockWired Magazine
Dali Van Gogh are a guitar driven hard rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a sound described as ”infectious, gritty, and surprising“ (Byron Booker, founder of the Recording Artists Guild). The band has received worldwide radio play, and have officially released 6 records: Verbal Warning (2010), Mask Identity (2012),Wild Blue City (2012), From Ashes (2017), Under Her Spell (2019), and New Blood, Old Wounds (2022)
Initially formed in 2008 by guitarist Isaac Kent, the band has seen several lineup changes over the last nearly fifteen years, and took a hiatus from the stage in 2014/15. The current line up includes Rachelle Moreau (Lead Vocals/Keys), Johnny Moore (Drums), Lance Hicks (Bass), and Isaac Kent (Guitar).
In spring of 2015, Isaac Kent's home and recording studio caught fire. Within 5 minutes the building was a total loss, including all musical and recording equipment, every computer, every master disk, as well as all the contents from the rest of the house and Isaac's family's life. Almost nothing was recovered. Needless to say this was a major road-block for the band which was just being re-formed by Isaac after a 2 year break.
Isaac Kent
Guitarist and founder of Dali Van Gogh.
Over a year after the fire, with renewed drive and focus, Dali Van Gogh returned to the stage on Oct 7, 2016 at Montes Showbar, the de-facto home stage of the band for many years. In front of a packed house the band performed selections from their then upcoming record (From Ashes), a few covers, and the classic DVG songs “Heavy Living”, “Sober”, and “Wild Blue City”. Bell TV1 was on hand to capture it all live for broadcast, as well as photographers and music press from across the Atlantic Provinces.
Through fall of 2016 the band embarked on a Homecoming Tour that hit all corners of the Maritime Provinces and accepted a residency at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, sponsored by Molson Canadian. The band's first single in several years, “God Help Me I Like It”, climbed to #13 on the European Independent Music Charts (all genres), and their second single and music video, the politically charged “Black Scales”, received nearly 20 000 plays in the week leading up to the US presidential election before being removed by Facebook at the behest and petitioning of Republican/Trump supporters.
On March 25th, 2017, Dali Van Gogh released “From Ashes”, which was recorded at Isaac's newly minted HouseFire Studio One in Halifax, NS. Featuring 11 brand new songs from the band, From Ashes was largely inspired by the 2015 fire, and was representative of “a band that had found its way home” (Brian Lush, Editor of RockWired Magazine). Following the release, and the success of the album's lead single “God Help Me I Like It” which had advanced to the semi-finals of the SOCAN Canadian Songwriting Competition, Dali Van Gogh embarked on several Canadain tours, and locally won the highly coveted opening slot for the Glorious Sons at the Garrison Brewing Backlot Bash with the album's 3rd single, “Outside Looking In”.
On March 29th, 2019, Dali Van Gogh dropped the follow up to “From Ashes”. “Under Her Spell” has gone on to receive wide spread praise, including a glowing review in London, England's Fireworks Rock and Metal Magazine. Music videos from the album have received over 250,000 plays since it's release, launching the band to new heights on the international stage. The album has a decidedly lighter tone, featuring lyrics about partying, women, and the band's time on the road over the preceding 2 years.
Dali Van Gogh "Under Her Spell" Album Release Show
Left to Right: Johnny Moore, Rachelle Moreau
The band's plans came to a grinding halt in Spring of 2020 as the world was plunged into the Covid-19 pandemic, including dates with LA's Buckcherry and a six-week cross-Canada military bases tour. Not ones to let spare time go to waste, the band transitioned from the in person recording sessions with Rob Laidlaw at his Toronto studio, to recording a pair of singles remotely to test whether doing so was possible or pertinent during these unprecedented times. The results were the furiously structured “Boneyard”, and the groove-centric “Past Crimes”, which are now available on all streaming platforms.
Since then, the band has released a new EP “New Blood, Old Wounds”, which is mixed by multiple Juno and Grammy winning producers Eric Ratz (The Arkells, Billy Talent) and Rob Laidlaw (Platinum Blonde, Honeymoon Suite). This EP recently won Loud Recording of the Year at 2023 East Coast Music Awards, and was also nominated for Rock Album of the Year. The record was released following the band's signing with Wormholedeath under Warner Music Lmtd.
Dali Van Gogh 2021 Lineup
Left to Right: Johnny Moore, Lance Hicks, Isaac Kent, Rachelle Moreau
"[Dali Van Gogh] creates a monstrous river of sound that occasionally flows to some unlikely places. Dali Van Gogh continue to make musical legends from Canada's musical heart."
- Bruce EJ Atkinson, Fireworks Rock & Metal Magazine, England
BAND BIOS
ISAAC KENT - GUITAR
Isaac Kent has been the driving force behind Dali Van Gogh for over a decade, and as the founder of group his story is largely that of the band.
Born in 1990, Kent began his musical career as a saxophonist at age 12, and came to guitar late in life at the age of 17 shortly after attending a Guns N Roses concert, Awestruck by the spectacle of the night, Isaac his since aggressively perused not only guitar, but a career as a performing/touring artist.
He joined his first band, a power metal group called Black Rose in the summer of 2007, and helped to form the pop rock trio Eight Days To Saturday that winter.
Wishing to find the balancing point between his metal guitar skills and his pop and country song writing sensibilities. Isaac formed Dali Van Gogh in 2008. He is also the owner of Halifax based record label and recording studio HouseFire Records.
Stage Instruments:
Ibanez Jem 7V
Kramer Assault Custom Mod
Epiphone J-200CE (Acoustic)
Gibson Les Paul BFG
Gibson Les Paul Sutdio
Equipment:
SE-V7 Vocal Mic
D'Addario Strings
Line 6 Helix
Rachelle Moreau - Lead Vocal / Keytar
A graduate of Music Arts program at NSCC, Moreau is no stranger to the stage having performed with various ensembles across the province as both a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She joined Dali Van Gogh in January of 2019, just as the band were finishing up the recording process for "Under Her Spell". Lending her considerable vocal presence to the already rich harmonies of the band, as well as bringing nearly 2 decades of performing chops on the piano/keyboard, Rachelle was an immediate fit in the touring act.
Rachelle "Rocky" Moreau took over as front-woman for Dali Van Gogh in summer of 2021.
Stage Instruments:
Roland AX-Edge Keytar
Roland FP Digital Piano
Equipment:
SE-V7 Vocal Mic
Klein KTB-1
Boss OC-3 Super Octave
V-Tone GDI 21
JOHNNY MOORE - DRUMS
Nova Scotian drumming phenom Johnny Moore hails from the small town of Elmsdale, Nova Scotia.
Moore joined the band in late 2018 during production on DVG's new record, Under Her Spell, bringing with him over 10 years of percussive knowledge and song writing sensibility. Johnny is a stage veteran, having performed the breadth of Atlantic Canada with past projects Outlawed Beloved.
Moore is officially endorsed by Los Cabos Drumsticks out of Hanwell, New Brunswick, preferring their 7A series Maple sticks.
Stage Instruments:
Los Cabos 7A Maple Sticks
Soultone Custom Series Cymbals
Mapex Saturn Evolution Workhorse Kit (6 Piece)
Equipment:
SE-V7 Vocal Mic
LANCE HICKS - BASS
A multi instrumentalist, Lance pumps the low strings as bassist for Dali Van Gogh, and also lends his voice to the band's ever expanding harmonies.
Born and raised in Halifax, NS, Lance is a recent graduate of the NSCC Music program and is now studying electronics along side his work with the band. With years of stage experience, and a profound love of hard rock and metal, Lance is an excellent new addition to the band.
Stage Instruments:
Jay Turser Custom
Ibanez SR 755
ESP LTD GC-P4
Epiphone Blackbird
Equipment:
SE-V7 Vocal Mic
D'Addario Strings
Tech 21 Sans Amp DI
Kemper Profiler