Given that this issue is the spring music preview, it’s tempting to use this space to talk about some of this summer’s more promising shows — concerts like hip hop princess M.I.A. and instrumental mathematicians Battles in May, or world-popsters Islands’ recently announced Calgary stop in June. That’s not even mentioning the Calgary Folk Musc Festival acts whose names are trickling out (Torngat, Great Lake Swimmers, Bela Fleck), or the Flaming Lips’ trek to Virgin Fest, or Sled Island’s sterling lineup thus far. Needless to say, the next few months will hold more musical goodness than any sane concert-goer can take in.
The only reasonable option is to build up your endurance. Like a marathon runner, start it off in small doses. Like, say, mixing your concerts with comedy and dance at the Marquee Room’s variety show this Thursday, April 17. Matt Masters will continue his habit of playing at every Calgary event by performing his soundtrack to the pilot episode of the 1936 Flash Gordon series, followed by standup comedy by Donald Wood and Key to the City’s Brent Gough. It all wraps up with a Gary Powers dance party, an excellent way to keep fit for the summer concert season.
If you’d rather dive straight into the musical grandeur, check out Winnipeg’s Mahogany Frog at the Palomino, also on Thursday. The Frog make their own unique blend of prog-rock, jazz, electronica, lounge and ambient jams — this might sound a bit heady, but it’s surprisingly fun. Think Zappa, but without the intentional inscrutability. Or, there’s always The D’Urbervilles at Broken City that same night. These Guelph boys seem to be drawing from the same spring as The Constantines, which bodes well for their live show.
Once your body’s become sufficiently limber, it’s time to stretch your mind. Calgary psychedelic collective The Tetraktys are releasing their debut CD this weekend, with an all-ages show at Hillhurst United Church on Sunday, April 20, and they’ve taken Honeybear, The Neighbourhood Council and the excellently named Stolen Organ Family Band along for the ride.
By the time you’ve taken that all in, you should be ready for Tuesday, April 22’s Handsome Furs show at the Republik. Yet another Wolf Parade offshoot, these dark, noisy rockers will be joined by Calgary’s equally hypnotic The Ostrich. Who says you have to wait for the summer for good concerts?
