King Bob

Jackson McDonald has been kicking around the fringes of Victoria BC's DIY scene for most of the last decade, most recently as bassist for nerd-rock band The Plodes, while also serving as co-frontman of synthpunk duo Timing X from 2015 to 2020. Following an extended Covid-induced hiatus, McDonald has offered up "Depresh Mode", a collection of home recordings that stand as his first official solo release under the moniker King Bob.

In late 2024, they released Rookie, a 17 track opus that- as Destroyed Victoria puts it- “evokes the nostalgia of ‘90s/late aughts alt-rock and pop-punk... a mix that features all the recognizable characteristics of the genres -catchy hooks and riffs, lyrics that are easy to sing along to, and songs that often run under three minutes- but it’s his musings on life captured in his lyrics that serve as an outlet for his relatable, personal struggles and philosophical musings on modern life that elevate him above the rest.”

In June 2025, King Bob released Still Me, the lead single off of their as-yet-unnamed sophomore album (release date TBD). It will be the first to feature a full band that includes drummer Evan Matthiesen (The Projectors), bassist Jeremy “Jimbo” Rai (The This) and guitarists Jes Matthiesen and Annie McKinley (Fall Fair Car).