| The newly-opened Venue has got a big boost right out of the starting blocks – DJ Rice has taken his Sunday Skool to the 10th Avenue S.W. location after a tremendously popular eight-year run at the Night Gallery. The new residency began May 2, and even though it’s a big shift, Rice describes the excitement as "massive."
Four plus one equals five: In a temporary move, Chris Vail of Vail Halen will be joining Hot Little Rocket’s normally four-piece lineup for the band’s June tour dates. He’ll be handling the keyboard end of things, which will give HLR an edge on their tourmates Sekiden – the Australian pop band has one guitar, one keyboard and no bass, while the Rocket will have two guitars, a keyboard, and a bass. Score one (or two?) for Calgary!
In quasi-Hot Little Rocket news, singer-guitarist Andrew Wedderburn is slated to join forces with The Means when they share a bill with NoMeansNo and Circle The Wagons at the Night Gallery on Saturday, May 8. Wedderburn says that "if all goes well," he’ll be adding some organ to the mix. A new career for Mr. W? I guess we’ll have to see. In the meantime, Wedderburn will be playing at Bamboo on Thursday, May 13 on a bill with former rayovaq guitarist Derek
McEwen. Both fellows will be performing their own material solo... alone... totally stripped of any safety net... (not to scare you, guys!)
If you’ve got some money burning a hole in your pocket, then you might want to think about picking up some home-grown CDs. For example, Guerrilla Funk Monster’s second album, BOMB, will be released nationally (and locally!) in mid-May. The local release party happens Friday, May 14 at 8 p.m. at the Liberty Lounge. In addition to getting a listen to the new material, you can wish the boys well as they embark on a month-long cross-Canada tour that sees them play Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and many locations in between. More info is always available at www.guerrillafunkmonster.com.
In addition, the debut CD from Calgary’s own hardcore heroes Dry Fisted is now available at finer record stores near you. The 12 songs comprising In God We Thrust were recorded at Boxer Studios here in town and produced by Peter D’Amico and Jeff Pitt. If you’re up for a road trip, you can check out the band live in Lethbridge on Saturday, May 8 at Vibes Nightclub. Head over to www.dry-fisted.com for more information on the band, the CD and the future.
If you have local music information you think The 411 should know about, send it to us at info@ffwd.greatwest.ca. |
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