| Hello, and welcome to the inaugural edition of the 411 column with your new host, me, Alvy Singer. I’m a longtime standup comedian who recently moved here from New York to try and make it as a music writer. For a long time, I had said I never wanted to live in a city where the only cultural advantage is being able to make a right turn on a red light. But what do you know – here I am in Calgary.
I kid, I kid because I love. The music scene here is full of interesting stuff, and this column is all about it. Leslie Birdfly, your previous ambassador of all things Calgary has flown the coop. But enough with the bad bird jokes, let’s see what the month of September has to offer.
Post-rock two-piece Race to the Stars have recently released their debut full-length, The Prolonged Prologue. The duo make largely instrumental, mood-driven music and are playing at The House coffee shop in Kensington on September 2. Check out racetothestars.com for song samples and more info.
Feeling a bit worn out by regular rock shows in Calgary, The Summerlad have decided to curate a new variety night (RAMP) for the first Thursday of every month. For the first event on September 7 at Broken City, the ’Lads have written a brand new 20-plus-minute song, which front man Garrett McClure describes as "a psychedelic epic about the Horse Latitudes, being in a band for almost eight years and drowning at sea."
The opening night will also include a pirate operetta in five parts by the one and only Woodpigeon, and a sneak preview of Kara Keith’s upcoming animation project with a live musical soundtrack. For future RAMP events, The Summerlad say they are hoping to include everything from light shows to collaborations between bands and local rappers, a night of mainly percussion-based music, art installations, heavy metal excursions, film/video presentations and more.
"The whole point is to allow the artists to be as creative as they want and let loose with their crazy side-project ideas or idle electro-glitch fantasies," says Summerlad guitarist Arran Fisher. "We still want to make sure it's a solid act though and not just gratuitous wanking."
Besides Chad VanGaalen’s very excellent Skelliconnection, another recent release that includes drummer Ian Russell is the Fake Cops’ Thundertheft EP. With the assistance of Edmonton’s Reluctant Records, the pretend policemen have assembled another angry and angular collection of tunes. Now we just need a full-length, so come on guys, put down the donuts and get back on the beat.
Sudden Infant Dance Syndrome have been busy recording in Chris Vail’s basement for the last few months and will soon be set to release three split seven-inch records, sharing vinyl with The Incandescence, The Rough Lovers and Edmonton’s Let’s Dance. Their dance-punk dementia will be on display live on September 16 at Cat’s Eye Vintage (105 58th Avenue S.E), where they will play alongside the previously mentioned Let’s Dance, Vancouver’s Fun 100, pogo-punks The Skitzos and The Suicide Boys.
Speaking of those post-hardcore psychos, The Suicide Boys also have an EP ready for release in the near future. With new bassist Dillon Whitfield in tow, the record is fittingly entitled We Died With Intent. If the first track I’ve heard "RhimJim Sex Dwarf" is any indication, it should be heavy, scary and very, very good.
The Joe Strummer Memorial Society has another big benefit show scheduled for September 23 at The Warehouse. Knucklehead, Hot Little Rocket, The Martyr Index, The Riviera Heist, The Pants Situation and Surrender the South are all on the bill for the all-ages event to raise money for the Joe Strummer memorial hall. All of the bands’ sets will also be filmed and later released as a live compilation DVD. Sweet stuff.
Axis Of Conversation are the newest, coolest band in town, playing a dreamlike brand of hip-hop/indie-pop sound collage that lead singer Chris dela Torre describes as "an open-minded music nerd's wet dream mixtape." With Cody Coates of the beloved all-ages group Lions and Tigers and Bears now joining them on the drums, music nerds will have a chance to judge for themselves when the band plays on September 28 at Broken City. In the meantime, trip out to three lovely songs at myspace.com/axisofconversation, and add them to your friends list while you’re at it.
Oy vey, that’s all for this month. If you’re in a Calgary band or just have some interesting info, drop me a line at alvy411@hotmail.com. |
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