Indie Rockers Flowshine Challenge Status Quo With Provocative “After School at Bobby’s House” Anthem
Calgary’s veteran indie-alternative trio Flowshine is set to ignite the airwaves with the release of their high-stakes new single, “After School at Bobby’s House.” Merging the clever storytelling of Doctor Hook & The Medicine Show with the raw energy of modern rock, the track serves as a “soft offering” in response to the political pressures currently facing the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Alberta. Recorded in makeshift spaces and refined through marathon 18-hour sessions, the single captures the “excitement and nervous resolve” of young love and the transformative power of coming out.
‘After School at Bobby’s House’ marks a bold evolution for a band that has spent over fifteen years carving a path “a little left of centre”. Frontman Jeremiah Erhardt—who penned the track while navigating a Master’s degree in forestry and recovering from emergency surgery—describes the song as a defiant embrace of identity. With lyrics like “I want to paint my toes, try on your mama’s clothes” and “I’m coming over, I’m coming out,” the band trades their traditional Canadiana roots for a sharp, forward-moving landscape of “ear candy” and big harmonies. Erhardt admits to a sense of fear regarding the release but remains steadfast: “I don’t want to be ashamed of our province—we have to help, love, and respect each other”.
Produced by Erhardt and Eric Svilpis, and featuring a jazz-trained rhythm section with Dallen Muise and Calen Blondal, Flowshine continues to prove why they have been regional finalists in CBC Searchlight and mainstays on campus radio charts nationwide. Having shared stages with rock heavyweights like Chilliwack and Five Alarm Funk, the band is now preparing to take ‘After School at Bobby’s House’ on the road across British Columbia and Alberta. From small-town pubs to festival stages, Flowshine invites audiences to “jump in our canoe” and experience a messy, joyful, and unapologetically honest musical journey.
After School at Bobby’s House” feels deeply personal and deliberately public. When did you realize this song needed to exist outside the band, even if it felt risky?
I shared a phone voice memo of this song with some people years ago, looking for feedback. I was overwhelmed by the positive response. The character Bobby began to grow into this idea that was larger than us. One of my dear friends mentioned that they wished they had heard something like this when they were growing up, which is the highest praise we could possibly receive. Risky is a tricky word; more so, I’d say we’re anxious and hopeful that the feelings expressed will resonate with people.
You’ve described the track as a “soft offering” in response to current political pressures on 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. What does softness mean to you as a form of resistance?
For us, this song is about joy and light. We wanted to capture the anxious excitement of youth, coupled with strength and resolve. These are universal qualities, and this coming-of-age story is a moment of celebration and admiration. We know it’s just an indie rock song, but is is especially pertinent in our home province of Alberta. We need to protect and respect each other.
You’ve been a band for over 15 years. How did it feel to step away from your more traditional Canadiana roots and move toward something sharper and more direct?
This song clocks in at under 3 minutes. We worked hard to be concise and direct. We’ve adjusted our songwriting and production to give people the hooks quickly. As an indie band with modest success, we understand the importance of grabbing a listener’s attention, and we know how hard it is to keep it. We worked hard to use the studio as an instrument and make Bobby a dynamic and rewarding listen. I’d like to think that with each studio recording we’ve done, there’s been an element of experimentation and trying something new.
Your rhythm section brings a jazz background into an indie-rock framework. How does that musical training influence how Flowshine builds tension and release?
When it comes time to arrange a song, it is very much a collaborative effort. I think our music has colourful chord voicings, phrases, and moments of tension that are subtle and often missed by the drive-by listener. That’s something that we love; just weird enough. Producer / engineer Eric Svilpis has been our George Martin, and we are very grateful for the opportunities we’ve had to work with him.
As you take this song on the road across BC and Alberta, what do you hope happens in a room when people hear it live for the first time?
Bobby had a live debut at two shows last year in small town BC. After one of our sets, a young person approached us and thanked us for playing that song and mentioned that the subject matter is something people don’t talk about around here. Whatever happens moving forward, we get to hold moments like that close.
All net proceeds from “After School at Bobby’s House” are donated to Skipping Stone (www.skippingstone.ca)
Upcoming Shows:
February 6: York Public House – Cranbrook, BC
February 7: Kootenay Coldsmoke Powderfest – Nelson, BC
August 1 & 2: Thirsty Bear Waterton – Kitchen & Bar – Waterton Park, AB
September 26: The Black Dog Freehouse – Edmonton, AB (Free Entry)