Dakona - Good Enough For Me

Tracks

		Track Name	Length
	1	Bar & Grill	05:06
	2	Sucker	03:36
	3	Center of the World	04:18
	4	Asteroid	04:37
	5	Brevity	05:20
	6	Sara's Playground	03:52
	7	September	04:49
	8	She Waits	04:05
	9	After All	03:11
	10	Gently	05:30

Photos

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Information/Write-up

Dakona was a Vancouver-based alternative rock band whose short but memorable run bridged earnest indie beginnings with major-label ambition. Formed in 1997 by a group of close friends—Ryan McAllister (vocals, guitar), Shane Dueck (bass), Brook Winstanley (guitar), and John Biondolillo (drums)—the band quickly found their voice in heartfelt, melodic songwriting that blended personal reflection with arena-sized hooks.

Their debut independent album, Good Enough for Me (1998), captured the raw spirit of four young musicians pouring themselves into their craft. It was a DIY affair through and through—self-recorded, self-distributed, and backed by a growing grassroots following in the Vancouver scene. A second indie release, Ordinary Heroes (2000), revealed a band coming into its own, balancing emotional depth with an increasingly polished sound.

Dakona's honest, searching lyrics and soaring choruses soon drew attention beyond the Pacific Northwest. In 2003, they signed to Madonna’s Maverick Records and teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Rob Cavallo to record Perfect Change. The album, featuring tracks like “Good (I’ve Got a Lot to Learn)” and “Waiting,” was a leap forward sonically, pairing McAllister’s introspective vocals with sleek alt-rock production. It was released internationally and supported by extensive touring across Canada and the U.S.

But just as momentum was building, Maverick Records dissolved, and Dakona’s major-label chapter came to an abrupt end. By 2004, the band had quietly parted ways.

While their time together was brief, Dakona left behind a catalog of emotionally resonant music that continues to connect with listeners. Their songs, filled with questions about love, faith, identity, and purpose, reflect a band that wore its heart on its sleeve. Following the breakup, Ryan McAllister launched a solo career and later formed North Country Gentlemen, continuing the musical journey that began with Dakona’s first chords in a barn outside Abbotsford.

Today, Dakona is remembered not just for their one album on a big label, but for their honesty, their hustle, and their ability to turn personal stories into anthems that meant something to the people who heard them.
-Robert Williston

Shane Dueck: bass
John Biondolillo: drums
Brook Winstanley: guitar
Ryan McAllister: vocals, guitar

Additional vocals by Carla Hiebert
Produced by Scott Rogers and Ryan McAllister
Mixed by Larry Anschell at Turtle Recording Studios, Richmond, B.C.
Engineered by Alex Repetowski & Brad McNeill at Toyroom Studios, Abbotsford, BC

Cover Design by Ryan McAllister
Graphic design, and cover layout by Ken McAllister
Cover & insert photography by Linda McAllister, Carla Hiebert & Jenn Miller

Thanks:
Brad & Alex and everyone at the Toyroom, Big Ken (again), Mr. Wylie and Lulu Island Printing, Ken & Kevin at Act One Music & Sound, CLCF and C.A.L.A., Mr. Turtle, The T-Shirt Man, John at Northwood, Ross Leadbetter, Kim, Angela, Oggie, Aaron, Amanda, Jenn Miller, Bob Long, The Super Chevy Novas, Green Bay, honorary Dakona members: Jeremy, Ben & Jesse, Stabilo Boss, Flood (best of luck), Two Moons & A Wrinkle Coffee Shop, ABC, Earls, Ryan & The Panic Squad, The Dakona moms, dads & friends, Joel & Lara, UCFV, Tim the sound guy, anyone who bought our stuff or comes to our shows, Mastercard for making this CD possible, a gigantic thanks to Carla Hiebert (our manager) for looking after her boys, and God for Grace.

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