Ready to take a trip down memory lane, Victoria?
Nearly 29 years ago, on December 26, 1995, an 18-year-old John Flatman captured footage that’s now resurfaced in a nostalgic cover video.
The video, which recently debuted on YouTube, is part of a musical project Flatman calls Marble Dynasty.
The cover is of a 1995 track by the band The 6ths, with Flatman on vocals and his friend Nate on keys and backing vocals. “We’ve recorded about 30 covers of bands we love over the past five years,” Flatman told Victoria Buzz. “We’ve just started releasing them on our new YouTube channel.”
Flatman and Nate are no strangers to the Victoria music scene. Their current original band, Sail Cassady, evolved from their previous group, Man Made Lake.
The video has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response online. “I suspected folks would enjoy the nostalgic footage,” Flatman said. “I’ve got lots more that I’ll be using for upcoming cover song releases in the new year.”
Victoria residents will recognize numerous bygone landmarks featured in the video, evoking memories of an era gone by.
The video showcases now-vanished favourites such as A&B Sound, Lyle’s Place on Yates Street, and Circuit City next door.
The original Victoria Memorial Arena makes an appearance, as does the charming Undersea Gardens. Longtime locals might even spot iconic nightlife locations like Rumours and Monty’s. Chinatown, with its unmistakable charm, also plays a role, along with a glimpse of the beloved original Johnson Street Bridge.
For those who enjoy a walk down Douglas Street, the video offers views of many familiar spots that were popular among Victorians in the ’90s. While some locations, like Vic High, still stand strong, others exist only in memories and footage like this.
Flatman, who also creates music videos for other artists like r.mason and Kele Fleming, hinted that this release is just the beginning. “This project has been a great way to combine my love of music and nostalgia,” he shared.
Whether you’re a lifelong Victorian or simply love revisiting the past, this video is sure to warm your heart. Check out the Marble Dynasty YouTube channel for future videos and to watch the video below and see how many landmarks you can spot!
Which spot stood out to you the most? Let us know in the comment section below.
