| St. Paddy’s Day is coming, so get ready for love. There are lots of romantic things for you and your lover to partake in. Instead of the usual box of chocolates and flowers, why not try something different and watch a little local Irish action in the way of Rum Runner, headlining this year’s St. Patrick’s Day show at the Ship & Anchor. Their sound is known for its sensual punk rock-meets-Irish post yar-yar folk. For this show only, they’ve added a mandolin, an accordion and a tin whistle to the lineup to flesh out their set of all Pogues covers. Rum Runner are already quite comfortable with playing Pogues – their first release was a Pogues tribute seven-inch and their latest full-length features a Pogues cover as well. If you’re a Rum Runner fan and you would like to see them perform their own juiced-up punk-Celtic songs, you can also catch them at Broken City performing with The Von Zippers and The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir on March 26.
Speaking of The Agnostics, if you like their sweet juicy traditional murder ballads, then you will probably like Calgary’s newest band, RV. Comprised of musicians from various Calgary bands (Rodney Brent, Tim Campbell, Peter Balkwill, Vlad Sobolewski and Jenny Allen), RV boasts a classic Calgary one degree of separation. Balkwill was the drummer of The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir which has Sobolewski as a bass player who also played in Great Uncle Bull which also featured Brent, who lives with Allen and played in Sacred Heart Of Elvis with Campbell. This quintet of old pros will be sporting ’80s electro-pop-meets-baroque on turntables while opening for Ronnie Hayward at The Hifi Club on March 19, or you can catch them at Karma on April 3.
You guys know who Ronnie Hayward is don’t you? He’s that famous rockabilly guy who moved to Calgary a few years back. He’s popular in Europe, which puts him on the short list of famous guys who have moved to Calgary because they like the small-town feel. Other people on this list include Billy Cowsill (am I the only one who’s lobbying for a full Cowsill reunion at this year’s Rock Central Stampede Breakfast? – because it sure feels like it) and The Moffatts (The ’90s answer to The Cowsills) who moved here as a family when they were at the peak of their fame. You know what would be really great? The Cowsills and The Moffatts singing "The Weight" together at this year’s breakfast. I’ll see what I can do by using all my weight as a Canadian journalist to make that happen.
If you don’t already watch ZED TV on CBC television, make sure you check it out on Monday, March 14 to see their feature story on Calgary’s favourite label, Saved By Radio (Falconhawk, Vailhalen, Lorrie Matheson, Old Reliable). Along with interviews and choreographed dancing, this episode will feature live performances by bands from the label, captured at this year’s Western Canadian Music Awards’ Saved by Radio showcase. If you were there you might see yourself on TV (even if it’s only CBC).
If you have any information for The 411, e-mail us at info@ffwd.greatwest.ca. |
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