Archive for June, 2011:
Cordova
I’ve been listening to this all weekend… it’s an unreleased song produced by U-Tern and AJK with vocals by Roxy of Love & Electrik. Yay Vancouver represent! Apparently this jam was finished in August of last year, but never saw the light of day until now. I wonder what other gems these guys are sitting on…
the interview show: Eamon McGrath
Spending time with a guy like Eamon McGrath is a bit of a mindfuck.
This kid is only 22, but has put out that many records already. He has toured the coutnry countless times and he has the colorful party-binge stories you would expect from a 50-year-old roadie going thru AA’s 12-Steps.
Eamon’s record Peacemaker is his attempt to make amends for his past mistakes and he was amazingly candid about the life of an up-and-coming Candian indie singer songwriter during our chat.
the interview show with Eamon McGrath
Eamon McGrath “Heaven Run Me Down”
Eamon will be in town Wednesday June 29th at the Zoo Zhop on Main. See you there!
the interview show is everywhere! (interviewshow[at]gmail.com)
follow us on twitter @interview_show
www.cjsf.ca (Vancouver, BC, Mondays 4:30-5pm PST and Wednesdays 12:30am PST)
www.ckdu.ca (Halifax, NS, Saturdays 1:30-2:00am AST)
www.radiocfxu.ca (Campus Community Radio, Antigonish, NS, Fridays 11pm-12am AST)
www.cfru.ca (University of Guelph Radio, ON, Tuesdays 3pm EST)
www.umfm.com (Winnipeg’s Hit Free Radio, MB, Fridays 6-6:30pm CST)
www.caperradio.com (Cape Breton University Radio, NS, Wednesdays 2:30-3pm AST and Fridays 5:30-6pm AST)
Permalink: http://winniecooper.net/tag/scott-wood/
Black Hills
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/23914678[/vimeo]
Gardens & Villa are a 5 piece band from Santa Barbara, California. They are relatively new but are about to tour with Craft Spells & Foster The People. Sadly there doesn’t seem to be a Vancouver date but I’m crossing my fingers. Their self titled debut LP will be released July 5th via Secretly Canadian. I personally can’t wait for more from them. <3 #cocovibes
Sled Island Festival – Day 2
Day two of Sled Island began auspiciously for me. There weren’t any bands in particular that I was dying to see so I was essentially open to anything. My friend recommended Zola Jesus, so I made my way to Central United Church (the venue I missed getting into on day one).
Pierre Laporte was just finishing up when I entered the venue. I couldn’t really get a handle on their music from the one song I heard but the kids seemed to enjoy it. There were a group of guys crowded around the front of the stage, clumsily staggering into each other, unsure of whether they should go-for-broke and mosh. I have a feeling they’ve never been to a proper punk or metal show. Give it time and they’ll be smashing each others’ faces in no time.
As for Zola Jesus? It was interesting. They have a certain aesthetic that is certainly effective—the pairing of powerful female vocals overtop of droning, gloomy electronic sounds. The Los Angeles-based duo got off to an awkward start, fiddling around with the sound while sheepishly trying to avoid eye contact with the audience before finally starting. The vocalist has a booming voice that has a haunting quality. Unfortunately, the lyrics were mostly indecipherable, coming off more like a series of wails and moans. There wasn’t any song structure per se; by the time the fourth or fifth song came along it was virtually impossible to tell them apart. This isn’t to say that their music is lacking—it would be easy to imagine this sort of thing inserted into a David Lynch movie. What it needs is a little more dynamic—the singer’s bloodcurdling scream was employed only twice throughout the show and was a definite highlight. The crowd was nearly as strange as the group. The packed house sat and watched the show in rapt attention, clapping politely after each track had finished. There was no joy or emotion to be seen; it was as sombre a celebration I’d ever witnessed.
In need of a palate-cleanse, I left the Church and made my way down the street to the Legion upstairs. A cold bottle of Alexander Keiths never tasted so good. To my delight the James T. Kirks came onstage and rocked out hard. I can’t remember the last time I heard an instrumental band that kicked so much ass. They let the music do the talking and the message was simple: let’s have a good time. As they played through their first couple songs I couldn’t help but feel like they sounded a lot like an amped up Link Wray—and wouldn’t you know it? They proceeded to cover the man himself. Everyone in attendance was appreciative of the raw aggression and ear splitting volume they offered out. Their rough-and-tumble brand of rock made the room want to jive, want to dance, want to scream. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
Next up was Dinosaur Feathers, a Brooklyn, New York band that came highly recommended. I knew very little about them last night but I am ready to learn more. This was their second time in Canada, having previously been to Vancouver, but I hope they come around more often. Showcasing incredibly tight surf/pop harmonies over jangly rock and roll guitar, they stormed in and wowed those in attendance. The arsenal of hooks within the songs they unleashed on this night was outstanding. It’s always refreshing to hear falsetto pulled off well; the lead singer’s falsetto was simply perfect. They weren’t afraid to break out the cowbell and even brought someone in to work the Theremin for a song. It was hard to hide the smile on my face while these guys played—their music makes you feel good. (CHECK THEM OUT IN VANCOUVER ON MONDAY JUNE 27th)
Dinosaur Feathers – Please, Please George
There still was a plan lacking on what to check out for the rest of the night. Dum Dum Girls were closing the show downstairs and it was mighty tempting, but my cohort (who I finally reconvened with during the Dinosaur Feathers set) and I, after downing some tasty Jagermeister, decided to make our way to the Distillery to check out GOBBLE GOBBLE and maybe even catch Man Man’s encore and final performance of the festival.
Every time I come to Calgary I forget that the Distillery is a different place than it used to be. My old band used to play the old Distillery when it was a little place that housed the best metal and punk in the city. That’s still the case, by the way, but the new place is huge and really pretty nice. The same can’t be said for the former venue. That place was a scummy and I mean that in the best way possible. I guess I’ll just have to keep coming to shows before I get used to it. What important is that CBC (Calgary Beer Core) remains in tact, and I don’t see that ending any time soon.
Whatever Distillery it is now, it was hopping when we arrived. Edmonton’s GOBBLE GOBBLE were tearing the place up, bringing the highest amount of energy I’d seen thus far. As a resident of Edmonton I’d heard tales of their shows but nothing prepared me their wild brand of electro-pop. This isn’t generally my sort of music, but their enthusiasm and willingness to party was infectious and as a result the party was pretty out of control. Who was I to deny the good vibes? If you’re looking to have a good time, get your ass out to see these cats.
Seeing how I was already there and the show the night before was so damn good, I knew that it was my duty to see Man Man. I was lucky enough to briefly talk to frontman Honus Honus before the show as he quickly downed a shot of whiskey at the bar. He assured me that the show would sound better than the last. This struck me odd, as they sounded fantastic before. That being said, he knows his shit. He’d have to. Their chaotic show is no accident. They are fully in control of every topsy-turvy sound in their carnival dance. With white war paint smeared across their faces, the Philadelphia five-piece enthralled the crowd, only stopping to trade instruments or for Honus to change into a trench coat and the kind of goggles someone might wear while tunnelling to the center of the earth. As great as everything else has been, I didn’t regret seeing them for a second time—I’d be tempted if there were a third.
We made our way back to the Legion in hopes of catching some of Dum Dum Girls’ show. Several people slammed back swigs of vodka before heading inside when it hit me that I’d been swilling beer pretty consistently all day. The prospect of getting some rest to prepare for the next day was too tempting—I took the bait and got on the train back to my lodgings. What I didn’t expect was a nearly empty train with the important exception of a group of young ladies who decided to sing seemingly every soul song they’d ever heard in unison. And the funny thing is they actually sounded pretty good! If you’re reading this, anonymous girls, get your asses booked at Sled Island next year. That or continue to entertain my half-drunken ass in transit. It’s your call.
>>>>>>FULL PHOTOS Day 1-2<<<<<<<
Pierced Arrows
Beatroute After Party
Sled Island Festival – Day 1
I completely forgot about Sled Island.
It was Tuesday night when I received a message from Tristan, a man I’d yet to speak with, asking when I’d be arriving at the festival. “…just working that out,” I assured him, frantically trying to figure out what to do. I could have sworn SI didn’t start until July. Oh well. Real world be damned, I got my ass in gear and made it to Calgary, just in time.
Or so I thought. I was set to meet with Tristan at the Central United Church to see Wild Nothing/Braids perform but due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to get together. Flat tires and crossed wires will do that. While I never did technically get inside the venue what I heard from outside sounded nice enough.
We finally managed to catch up briefly at The New Black, a small venue upstairs on 9th Ave SE, for Bayonets!!! high-energy set. Those in attendence were treated to a frenetic, go-for-broke performance featuring three vocalists willing to ditch their microphones and yell instead. Between their short, punchy numbers the band jostled goofily with the crowd, clearly in a joyful mood. The anthem-like songs burst to life and abruptly stopped just as it seemed they were picking up steam, daring the crowd to start dancing; not unlike their songs, the group ended their show on a sudden high note, leaving us wanting more.
Bayonets!!! – Spank Lloyd Wright
Since we had no real game plan at that point, we hailed a cab and headed to Tubby Dog to see Montreal’s Pat Jordache. I’d never heard of Pat Jordache before but I won’t be forgetting them any time soon. Their hauntingly defiant sound draws a listener in immediately. Singer/bassist Pat Gregoire has a sort of charisma that draws you in and forces you to take notice. His cool, strangely soulful baritone doesn’t need your attention but will take it anyway.
Pat Jordache – radio GENERATION
The two drummers and two guitarists (one of whom plays keys sporadically) never overplay, allowing the songs to speak for themselves. Many bands that use multiple drummers often can’t pull it off, but the two pounding the skins, while not necessarily in perfect unison at all times, fed off each other and made it feel like one giant sound. And just when you think that you have these guys figured out, they launch into a stomping number where three of the members howl together like a pack of wolves.
The sound at Tubby Dog was surprisingly good. The vocals were clear and the guitars were as clean or noisy as they needed to be. Not bad for a place that puts Captain Crunch, peanut butter and jelly on hot dogs. After Jordache’s set we spoke with members of the group who were humble and very friendly. If you have a chance to see these guys in your town, don’t hesitate. (VANCOUVER, WEDNESDAY JUNE 29th)
It was around 11:30 we realized we still hadn’t decided what to do to close the night off. I knew that Man Man was playing at midnight at the Legion but also Thursday at the Distillery. Thing is, at Sled Island there’s so much to do and see, if you have a chance to see something you want, go and avoid disappointment by waiting for another day.
When we walked into the Royal Canadian Legion #1 there was a bit of a shock to the system. Here we’d been in two small venues with appreciative but limited attendees—this was not the case. The crowd, to put it delicately, was going completely apeshit. Chali 2na, a former member of Jurassic 5, and his band destroyed. I was only able to catch a couple songs but from what I saw it was funky as hell. The guy has a great flow. I’m not entirely familiar with his work but I liked what I saw. Everyone clearly did, too.
2na’s set didn’t finish up until midnight, meaning Man Man would have to be put on hold for a short time. Luckily this show was 18+ giving us an opportunity to down a few beers, something that was long overdue. At 12:30, Man Man finally graced the stage.
Knowing their records does not even begin to give the scope of what these guys do onstage. It’s a bizarre, exhilarating spectacle punctuated by manic performances by every band member. Honus Honus, the moustachioed frontman, pounds the piano with a fervour so electric it’s impossible not to be swept up by it all. He’s also not averse to donning a dress looking like something out of the Liza Minelli Collection. “Piranhas Club,” from Life Fantastic, the band’s latest record, got everyone dancing while “Dark Arts” ignited crowd surfing and piercing screams throughout the hall. Everyone in the group frequently switched instruments, showcasing their ridiculous talents and how important each part—no matter how seemingly slight—is to each song. They kept everyone at rapt attention until the final notes rang out of the venue around 1:30. It’s amazing knowing that they’ll be doing it all again the next night.
I exited the Legion, emotionally and physically drained from the pure awesomeness I had just witnessed. If Thursday can live up to the opening night, this should be one hell of a festival.
>>>>>>>>>>FULL PHOTOS DAY 1-2<<<<<<<<<<<
Writing: Scott Malone Photos: Tristan Orchard
David Comes To Life
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syg6XGbdUkM[/youtube]
Toronto band FUCKED UP first video from “David Comes To Life”, out now.
