BBQ Pope illuminate grief with indie-rock grace on ‘Pool Hall’

Toronto trio BBQ Pope mark their return with ‘Pool Hall’, a stirring centrepiece from their long-awaited second album UNFURL, a record born from pause, reflection, and emotional excavation. On this standout track, the band turns personal loss into something both anthemic and tender, balancing weighty themes with a luminous melodic touch.

Rooted in memories of late-night hangs at Annex Billiards and the lingering ache of a friend now gone, ‘Pool Hall’ captures grief in all its contradictions. Bassist-vocalist Reid Millar delivers a performance that aches and soars in equal measure, backed by Sean Hackl’s shimmering guitars and Duncan Briggs’ driving percussion. The production by Dylan Frankland (Tallies) is spacious but never sterile, letting emotion bleed into every note.