| Now that the Flames are out of the playoffs and Bermuda Shorts Day is behind us, Calgary can get back to what matters most – the music. Everyone and their dogs are talking about the upcoming Sled Island festival in June (check out sledisland.com for a lineup of the amazing bands), but I’m going to devote page space to stuff closer to the due date. April showers have brought May flowers, so let’s see what’s poppin’ up this month first.
The Summerlad, Woodpigeon and Azeda Booth are all playing a show together on May 5 at an unlikely locale – Christ Church of the Redeemer. The Woodies are also playing at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on May 8 as part of CBC’s "Combo to Go" program, and the Azedas are playing a free show at the Ship and Anchor on May 23 with Vailhalen.
Speaking of ’Hailen, those coordinated cats are also playing a show at The Palamino Club on May 11 with the lovely Lotus Galaxy. Lotus Galaxy is Hot Little Rocket guitarist Aaron Smelski’s old band, and this is their second re-formed show after a 10-year hiatus. They also have The Summerlad’s Garret McClure currently filling the drum stool.
Garage punk trio The Trophy Wives has been building up steam thanks to the addition of Sydney Koke (of The Incandescence fame) on bass. "Sydney adds a lot more glue to the mixing pot," says drummer/accordion player Caitlin Jane Parsons. The trio has also gained a bit of a rep for the strongly feminist messages and ideals it exhibits in its music.
"The lyrics I've written are mostly stories about my experiences, observations, ideas and the stuff that burns my goddamn guts," says singer/guitarist Stef Bolianatz. "The songs serve as purgation for me. I chose the name The Trophy Wives with a plan in mind, as I wanted to transmit third-wave feminist ideas to a community that was lacking that input musically."
"Why not sing about something that is part of your life?" asks Koke. "The sentiments are something that we all relate to. When I was joining the band, the mission was so important. Holy hell, a feminist garage-rock band, why would I refuse?"
Bolianatz and Parsons recently laid down some recordings with T. Depression (illustrious Castle pub DJ and member of The Suicide Wrists) as a two-piece and are planning on heading back into the studio with the current lineup in July. Catch them on May 18 at The Haymarket Café and on May 26 at the Castle. Jane Vain and her rotating backing cast known as The Dark Matter (recent additions include a member each from The Cape May and SIDS) have been keeping busy as usual, putting the finishing touches on their debut album. I’ve heard the unfinished, unmastered versions of a handful of tracks, and let me tell you, it’s going to be one of the best local releases since Reverie Sound Revue ruled the school.
Before setting off for a Vancouver gig at the end of the month, Miss Vain and company are playing at The Marquee Room on May 12 (which is also Lucid 44’s CD release), at EMMedia on May 15 (with Medicine Hat’s fantastic Mt. Royal) and again at EMMedia on May 18. That latter show has a Where the Wild Things are theme, and also includes performances by the super-cute Remote Kid, The Consonant C and Raccoon.
While we’re talking about wild things, the still sadly underrated rockers The Ostrich are playing three shows this month, where they will hopefully get their due. First off is the previously mentioned May 18 show at The Haymarket Café, then a gig at The Underground on May 26 and finally, a month-ending set at Broken City on May 31.
If you’re a local artist doing something interesting and want to have it written about, drop me a line at either alvy411@hotmail.com or myspace.com/alvy411. Oy vey. |
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