All music festivals should have dragonflies. It lends that beautiful edge to a festival – a shining note that you don’t get anywhere else. It was gorgeous outside for this year’s festival, and the breeze off Deer Lake helped cool down the diehards camped out in the sun in front of the main stage.
Read more "Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival – August 9th, 2014 – Deer Lake, Burnaby, British Columbia"I’ll straight-up admit it. I haven’t listened to post-punk since the nineties, and I pretty much left the genre for dead. Belgian post-punk band Rape Blossoms’ new album “Ruinenlust” reminded me why I liked the genre in the first place, but it manages to avoid wallowing in the sticky nostalgia that waits like a tar pit for the unwary musician.
Read more "Rape Blossoms – Ruinenlust"The UK has produced absolutely brilliant musical comedians. Bill Bailey, Dead Cat Bounce, Eric Idle… heck, even David O’Doherty. LXCO, I’m sorry to say, is not among them.
Read more "LXCO – Don’t Be a Cat"Sault Ste. Marie band Jack Spades released The First April 20th, thirteen solid minutes of driving punk thrash with a rock and roll feel. It’s an album you want to turn up while driving – I just wish there was more of it so I could drive a little further!
Read more "Jack Spades – The First"Let’s face it, it’s hard to find a band that covers subjects from the vileness of Colonel Steel to Israel’s use of white phosphorus. Disworship, however, is that band. From the first burst of feedback on their self-titled album released April 18th 2014, they use a relentlessly sludgy doom grind to destroy consumerism, worship, and the tyranny of torturous regimes.
Read more "Disworship – Self-titled"Candles were burning on the table with a beer and a shot glass sitting in front of them like offerings. I saw Jex move her way to the back of the crowd, and a woman helped her light up a bit of wood. The sharp, resiny smell of palo santo drifted across the crowd and the music began as she moved slowly forwards.
Read more "Jex Thoth – May 24th, 2014 – Media Club, Vancouver, BC"There’s not a lot of crossover between birding and thrash… so there’s probably no faster way to get me into an album than by using the name of an obscure bird-of-paradise as a song title.
Read more "King Coyote – Self-titled"Evan Hardy, organizer and bassist for Dead Again was disappointed in the misogyny, and wanted to “turn it around, and turn the evening into an exclusive, and positive event.” Dead Again’s drummer Shaun added, “I support any organization that reaches out to people, especially women, in the DTES.” He said that with funding cuts, many programs are having to compete for money. “Events such as the one held last night are becoming the only way to secure revenue.”
Read more "Forest & the Femme Fundraiser – May 10th, 2014 – Astoria, Vancouver, BC"Korpiklaani has become one of my favourite bands, and they closed out the night. I love the Kalevala-styled lyrics, the use of fiddle and accordion, and the emphasis on themes of nature and Finnish history. This was the first time I had seen new accordionist Sami Perttula, and he was exceptional. He and Tuomas are mixing in well with the rest of the band – always a concern when replacing long-standing members.
Read more "Paganfest V – May 8th 2014 – Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, BC"They put on a great show, and the crowd loved it. I’d say the best line was “Vancouver! I want you to make me one promise, please. To keep Satan in your heart for all eternity.” They wrapped up with “Apocalyptic Havoc.” The music drove hard, and it was an outstanding set.
Read more "Metal Alliance Tour 2014 – May 2nd, 2014 – Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, BC"
Sepiidae 