Vancouver, British Columbia, Cana

A popular folk-rock outfit based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Spirit of the West was one of Canada's most successful alt-rock acts of the 1990s. Founded in 1983 by John Mann and Geoffrey Kelly, the group's compelling blend of roots rock, Celtic music, folk, and radio-ready alt-pop drew comparisons to artists like the Waterboys, Saw Doctors, Wonder Stuff, and Blue Rodeo. Since the release of their eponymous debut album in 1984, the band has released dozens of albums and singles, with highlights arriving via 1990's platinum-selling Save This House, 1991's gold-selling Go Figure, and 1993's Faithlift, the latter of which produced the group's biggest international hit, "If Venice Is Sinking." Spirit of the West continued to play and produce new music well into the first decade of the new century, eventually calling it quits in 2015. ~James Christopher Monger