Hipster's Guide to Calgary

PHOTOS: Flemish Eye Ball (May 16, 2009)

2009-05-19T12:05:00.002-06:00

Calgary’s premier indie label, Flemish Eye, put on a highly anticipated (and highly sold out) shindig at the Royal Canadian Legion #1 in the downtown core. It was a veritable who’s who of local musicians with a few very special guests from coast to coast added to the mix.

Two synched stages (upstairs and downstairs) offered back to back bands all night long. First off, I caught The Pale Air Singers. The supergroup Singers feature both members of Victoria's Run Chico Run and Calgary's The Cape May. To top it off, their self-titled debut album was released TODAY!

Next up was Ghostkeeper with special guests Jay Crocker and Scott Munro (Günther, etc.). The crowd was packed in very tightly, but I managed to get close enough to catch a few great shots.

Local road warriors WOMEN tore it up afterwards. Their sound crystallized by over 200 shows in the past year. Matt Flagel held it all down on bass, not the least bit tired from his earlier performance with the Pale Air Singers.

Trivia Moment: Mr. Matt Flagel, not to be confused with his brother Pat (WOMEN vocalist), is also in The Cape May AND plays with Chad Vangaalen from time to time.

(Yes, that is a small picture of Oprah on his pick guard)

Unfortunately, the crowd upstairs wasn’t as easily navigable this time around, so my shots of Azeda Booth were taken from a precarious perch atop a railing

The evening culminated with a fantastic double shot of Julie Doiron and Chad Vangaalen. First, we heard Julie doing a few solo songs. I was glad to hear “Spill Yer Lungs” among others from her great new album. Chad backed her up on drums.

Then, the musicians changed roles. Chad picked up his guitar and threw down lots of material from Soft Airplane. Here he is playing banjo while maintaining a steady Vrksasana (tree pose) throughout the song “Willow Tree”:

Two big thumbs up to Ian Russell (AKA Mr. Flemish Eye, AKA The Hardest Working Man in Calgary Music) and everyone at/on Flemish Eye for regaling us with such a rare event!

Check out more photos here.

Top Albums of 2008

2009-01-08T12:48:00.001-07:00

Portishead — Third (Universal)

Wolf Parade — At Mount Zoomer (Sub Pop)

Chad VanGaalen — Soft Airplane (Flemish Eye)

Volcano! — Paperwork (Leaf Label)

Destroyer — Trouble in Dreams (Rough Trade)

The Kills — Midnight Boom (Outside)

Mount Eerie — Lost Wisdom (Southern)

Jim Noir — Jim Noir (Barsuk)

Amadou & Mariam — Welcome to Mali (Because)

Fleet Foxes — Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)

Read More.

Top Ten Live Shows of 2007

2007-12-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Live Shows of 2007

Criteria:
- Must be concerts witnessed by me.
- Festivals count as one show. Otherwise, I think it's unfair for all the smaller shows that are deserving of praise. I didn't want to take festivals out of contention though, because they ended up being some of the most momentous occasions of the year.

1. Daft Punk - Arrow Centre (Toronto, ON)

This may have been the best show ever! I know everyone who saw them in the past couple years says that, but it's really true. It was part dance-a-thon, part robot fantasy, part frenzy, part musical theatre. It had all of the energy of a spectacular rock show - with no interruptions. The Rapture and Kavinsky primed the audience properly as openers, followed by a seamless set of catalogue-spanning mash-ups. It shed new light on the largely dismissed Human After All (2005) album. If you've only heard the Alive 2007 live disc, you only know the half of it.

2. Of Montreal/Björk/Cornelius/Andrew Bird/Richie Hawtin - Coachella (Indio, CA)

Although none of the shows peaked quite as high as #1, Coachella wins for best party of 2007. Remember the mayhem we reported back in May? Even if the lineup is half as good next year, I urge every hipster to check it out - at least once in their lifetime. Oh yeah, and make sure to camp. It's not worth the hassle of commuting each day to some nearby hotel. You certainly wouldn't want to miss campsite breakfast parties consisting of burritos and bloody marys.

3. Deerhoof - Richard's on Richards (Vancouver, BC)

A spontaneous road trip, coupled with a good crew, tripled with good music, and quadrupled with my first "major" music interview. This show was incredible. Especially on the heels of the stunning Friend Opportunity release. Greg Saunier and I spoke for about an hour in a dank room backstage at Richard's on Richards. His love of music, and his laugh, were equally infectious.

4. Les Savy Fav/Spoon/The Boredoms/Destroyer/C'Mon - Sled Island Festival (Calgary, AB)

No one, except the organizers involved of course, could have guessed how awesome this festival was going to be. Seeing any one of the dozen or so headliners on any given night would have been a treat. Seeing them all over the course of a four days was mind-boggling.

5. Frog Eyes/Himalayan Bear/Azeda Booth - Marquee Room (Calgary, AB)

Carey Mercer's on-stage persona has very little in common with his affable, off-stage self. Before the show we chatted about all sorts of things, including: his day job at a thrift store in Victoria, BC, his fascination with old Dairy Queen commercials, and how his latest album, Tears of the Valedictorian, owes a debt to old Neil Young records like Everybody Knows This is Nowhere. But, in truth, Himalayan Bear's cover of "Thunder Road" stole the show.

6. White Stripes - TCU Place (Saskatoon, SK)

There is no better way to celebrate Canada Day than to drive to a city in a province you've never visited before, to then watch a band play in patriotic red and white attire. They blew through tons of hits and new material off of Icky Thump. Definitely worth the drive. And, you know what? Saskatoon was a good city to party in. Believe me.

7. Caribou - The Warehouse (Calgary, AB)

Despite technical issues (due in no small part to Daylight Savings Time issues on Dan Snaith's computer's firmware, one must assume), the psychedelic pop band delivered. But, rumour has it, he's so upset with the quality of the performance that he's planning to come back very soon to make things right. Either way, it was a fun time.

8. Zappa Plays Zappa - Jubilee Auditorium (Calgary, AB)

Dweezil Zappa may not have inherited his dad's offbeat charisma, but he has been fortunate enough to get his pa's chops on the guitar. Dweezil can noodle like the best of them. Zappa Plays Zappa was undoubtedly the most technically accomplished band I saw this year. I'm still not sure how I feel about the pre-recorded video material that they splice in with the show - it was cool, but it pulled away from the spontaneity that we would've expected from a real Frank concert.

9. Ted Leo + Pharmacists - Liberty Lounge (Calgary, AB)

Rock solid rock show. No gimmicks. Raw energy. My favourite part was his solo encore.

10. Final Fantasy/Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings - Calgary Folk Music Festival (Calgary, AB)

Folk Fest frolicking with four Final Fantasy sets. Those were the most memorable for me. Especially his version of "Paris 1919" by John Cale. I had been hoping to see Sharon Jones and her band for a while now, and they did not disappoint. Lots of other great surprises too - like seeing PF Sloan. The weather and lighting was great for taking photos.

Strangest show of the year: The Robot Ate Me/Run Chico Run - Hifi Club (Calgary, AB)

Can you say trainwreck? Believe it or not, Ryland Bouchard ceased to perform as The Robot Ate Me a couple months after the show.

What a wonderful year for concerts!

Destroyer - "Foam Hands"

2007-09-06T16:17:00.000-06:00

Ever since Destroyer's brilliant show at Grace Presbyterian during Sled Island last June, I've been obsessed with the song "Foam Hands". Have you heard it?

I've gone one step further and figured out the chords. You can give it a try, but I assure you that you won't be able to capture all of Dan Bejar's subtle vocal nuances and rad guitar tone.

E G#m C#m A, or,
"C Em Am F" with capo on 4th fret

True love regrets to inform you
there are certain things you must do
to perceive his face
in the stains on the wall

A B E A, or,
"F G C F" with capo on 4th fret

I didn't know what time it was at all
I didn't know what time it was at all
foam hands

Since you've been gone
Since you've been gone
me and the king have been steadily growing apart
He lives down the hall

I didn't know what time it was at all
I didn't know what time it was at all
Foam Hands

I'm not the kind
to tell you what is true
and what is toh---
tally out of control

I didn't know what time it was at all
I didn't know what time it was at all
Foam Hands
Foam Hands
Foam Hands

♪♪♪

Folk Fest - Day 4: PHOTOS

2007-07-30T00:45:00.001-06:00

DSC_0100, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

Tons of music. Tons of photos.

Folk Fest - Day 2-3: PHOTOS

2007-07-29T13:25:00.001-06:00

DSC_0053, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

Lots of rad photos. Folk Fest Fotos

Folk Fest - Day 1: PHOTOS

2007-07-27T13:13:00.001-06:00

DSC_0080, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

Rufus + City and Colour

Folk Fest Frolicking

2007-07-26T15:20:00.000-06:00

I did some more CBC Radio 3 stuff. Here's a preview of the Folk Fest (which starts this afternoon).

http://radio3.cbc.ca/blogs/2007/07/Calgary-Folk-Fest-Frolicking-with-four-Final-Fantasy-sets

♪♫♪

Memoirs From Sled Island

2007-07-03T13:26:00.000-06:00

CBC Radio 3 asked me to write up a summary of my experience at Sled Island. They posted it moments ago:

http://radio3.cbc.ca/blogs/2007/07/Memoirs-From-Sled-Island

Awesome! ♪♫♪

Sled Island: Day 4 - Photos

2007-07-03T00:30:00.001-06:00

DSC_0317, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

INSANITY!!

Boredoms

Les Savy Fav

Thwomp! + The Ex-Boyfriends + The Neckers

What a festival! Long live Sled Island.

Sled Island: Day 3 - Photos

2007-06-30T14:01:00.001-06:00

DSC_0305, originally uploaded by Gunn.

The Spoon show was incredible! The gang (minus Britt) went to the Legion afterward to play some pool! How cool...

I got a few snaps from Mother Mother and Jay Crocker & The Electric Apes + The Adam Brown.

Sled Island: Day 2 - Photos

2007-06-29T12:35:00.000-06:00

DSC_0050-1, originally uploaded by Gunn.

Day #2 of Sled Island was even busier than the first. We couldn't take photos in Grace Presbyterian, but I put up a few from the Mates of State and Hylozoists + Miracle Fortress shows. Tonight: Spoon! Mother Mother! Jay Crocker! Joy!

Sled Island: Day 1 - Photos

2007-06-28T12:42:00.001-06:00

DSC_0129, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

I put some photos up:

Cat power was really dark.

C'mon turned out pretty good.

So much fun! More to come!

Les Savy Fav - Interview Questions

2007-05-22T10:04:00.000-06:00

Les Savy Fav have agreed to conduct an email interview with me prior to their headlining appearance at the Sled Island music festival in Calgary. I am writing an article about them in an upcoming issue of FFWD.

Here are the questions I have in mind. Let's hope I get a reply.

Q1)
Internet sources say that Les Savy Fav have a new album in the works. Possibly slated for late 2007. Can you tell us anything more about it?

Q2)
Many young and hip bands (Thunderbirds Are Now!, etc) cite Les Savy Fav as a huge influence on their sound. What is currently influencing Les Savy Fav's sound? What are you listening to at the moment?

Q3)
You are playing Calgary for the first time ever. Not only that, but you are one of the headliners for the first annual Sled Island festival. How did you hear about the Sled Island festival? How did this booking come about?

Q4)
Les Savy Fav's live show is infamous. There were crazy pictures of your show at SXSW online. What can Calgarians expect on June 30?

Q5)
Can I make a song request? I vividly remember the reaction I had as I listened to 'The Slip' playing on the radio late one night. That was my first exposure to your music. I remember how excited I was to hear the distinctively ebullient drum beat for the first time. Since then, I've listened to the album Go Forth regularly. Do you have any memorable encounters with fanatical fans you'd like to share? What other songs do people yell out for during your shows?

Q6)
There's a band called Jetplane Landing who wrote a song on their new album, Backlash Cop, called 'Why Do They Never Play Les Savy Fav On The Radio?' Is this a question you've ever asked yourself? What answers have you come up with?

Q7)
Has your songwriting style changed since your band's inception at Rhode Island School of Design twelve years ago? What creative process does LSF follow? Are your song arranged beforehand? Do ideas get fleshed out from jams? Are lyrics conceived first, or after the music?

Q8)
Are you spending any time in Calgary before or after the show? Do you need any help thinking of things to do while you're in the city? Many musicians have said that the collection of rare and unusual keyboards at Cantos Music Foundation is one of Calgary's more hip attractions. Here's a link with more information:
http://www.cantos.ca/collection/collection.html

Volta

2007-05-17T14:50:00.000-06:00

I wrote this article for FFWD Weekly, but it turns out they couldn't use it. It was going to be a double review in next week's issue, but they ended up having to cut one of them to save space. Here it is:

BJÖRK
Volta
One Little Indian

Self-proclaimed “Techno voodoo” without compromises or mainstream ambition

Since Björk Guðmundsdóttir’s 1992 Debut solo album, her music and public image have been daring and flamboyant - with each successive album being a vast departure from the previous. 2004’s Medúlla, was almost entirely vocal-based, taking critics and fans by surprise. In 2005 she collaborated with her husband, surreal multimedia artist Matthew Barney, by scoring his film, Drawing Restraint 9. Volta follows suit with a complete overhaul of Björk’s sound and projected image.

Although short, Volta tackles tough themes by pop music standards (i.e. motherhood, poverty, rootlessness, humanity). Nonetheless, the album sounds modern without ever relying on contemporary clichés. “Wanderlust” is, according to Björk, the album’s manifesto. Brave lyrics like “Lust for comfort/Suffocates the soul/Relentless restlessness/Liberates me” are coupled with a heroic horn section. Unfortunately, these interesting musical elements get muddled in the final mix-down with heavy bass and percussion capitalizing on the listener’s attention.

Unless listeners are well versed in the historical context of Iceland’s and Greenland’s independence from Denmark, “Declare Independence” sounds like angry slogans layered on angry digital hardcore techno. It is difficult to tell if this is a deliberate attempt to draw in new listeners who may not have the patience for Volta’s gentle pieces.

“The Dull Flame of Desire” is a tremulous duet with Antony Hegarty (of Antony and The Johnsons). Together the saccharine vocals can be difficult to stomach, since they both compete for the spotlight. The primal drumbeat crescendo backing this song is by Brian Chippendale who does not play with the abandon that one would expect as the leader of the noisy maelstrom known as Lightning Bolt.

Despite a staunch refusal to allow corporate sponsorship during her tours, there is a great deal of hype surrounding this album. Excitement is tangible in the mobs of people eager to hear her latest material on tour this summer. Is it warranted though? Volta will not save the dance floor, will not change the world, and will not elevate Björk’s status into the stratosphere. Volta will stimulate lots of controversy among fans. Björk will continue to engage audiences intelligently whether they welcome it or not.

(Björk performing at Coachella a few weeks ago)

Hype 5/5
Artistic Integrity 4/5
Pop appeal 3/5

Survived Coachella 2007

2007-05-08T11:17:00.000-06:00

Team Calgary survived an epic journey to Coachella 2007. We braved scorching heat for incredible music. It seems like a extremely favourable tradeoff. Over the next week or so, musical musings will be available on the cjsw blog.

Interpol Photo

2007-04-23T13:56:00.001-06:00

Interpol, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

Cameras were not allowed into the venue last night, but we managed to get one quick snap. The show, regrettably, was mediocre... and short. It was over before the Flames' playoff run had been fully doused.

Run Chico Run - Interview Topics

2007-04-10T12:15:00.001-06:00

care bears lost episode?!, originally uploaded by Kimblahg.

My next interview is going down tonight. Run Chico Run from Victoria, BC.

It's hard to find any useful information about RCR on the web. Their band website is sparse. Their myspace is silly. Their NMC page seems like it's been hacked by Care Bears. In short, this interview will hopefully shed some light on the band.

- Who are you guys? What's your background? How many years has RCR been around?
- Tell us about your latest album? Is it recent? What are you two up to?
- What are the pros and cons of being a two piece band?
- Can you tell me about the creative process that you guys follow? Jams vs. Composition? Equipment? Tone?
- Do you have day jobs?
- What's the summer looking like for you?

CJSW promo.
Talk about seeing them at the Multicultural Centre in Calgary back in 1999.

Do Make Say Think - Interview Topics

2007-02-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

Man, it's been a busy little while here with lots of bands accepting to do CJSW interviews. The next one is going down on Saturday with Do Make Say Think. So far, this is what I've come up with for interview topics:

Road stories

Songwriting process (Jams vs. Composition)

Field recording

Movie Scores (The Corporation/Syriana)

You, You're a History in Rust - new album

Album Art

Akron/Family vocals

What's in your CD player/on your playlist right now?

Upcoming shows (Bowery, Glass House, Neumo’s)

Cantos

Influences

Promo CJSW

To find out more about airing dates for the interview, check out CJSW.com

DEERHOOF: The Perfect Me, The Perfect Trip

2007-02-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Dudes, Dudettes, The gang and I are going to Vancouver tonight. Guess why? DEERHOOF is playing at Richard’s on Richards. Allow me to top that if I may: THEY HAVE AGREED TO AN INTERVIEW.

Bonus: You know what’s up on Saturday at Pat's Pub? The Pacific Northwest’s phenomena, Menomena!

Generic Deerhoof interview topics will include:

Road stories
Songwriting process
Custom Album Art
Internet Leakage (When is it accidental? Is it ever intentional?)
What’s in your CD player/on your playlist right now?
Upcoming shows
CMJ nostalgia
Promo CJSW ♪

Thrilling: Dance of the Week

2007-01-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows that a wedding reception wouldn’t be complete without a double dose of Michael Jackson. You know, at least Bille Jean and Thriller at some point during the evening. With that in mind, the Dance of the Week comes from Rob who is currently in the throes of his own wedding planning. Congratulations are in order!

From my experience, you also can’t escape these timeless nuptial dance floor favourites:

Boney M – Rasputin
Village People – YMCA
Led Zepplin – Misty Mountain Hop
Abba - Mamma Mia
Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy
Men Without Hats – Safety Dance
♪

CJSW's New Bloggernaut

2007-01-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

Looks like I'll be posting a little less frequently on the Hipster's Guide to Calgary for the next little while. Have no fear, hip quips and zanily trivial factoids will abound as I take on a new role as the CJSW blog-o-sphere chieftan. Check this link over the next little while as new posts emerge. ♪

Dance of the Week, with a Twist!

2007-01-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

This week's dance-a-thon just barely qualifies, because the dance lasts only about seven seconds out of a 66 second clip - or about 10.6% of the entire content. But, since Sunny D contains less that 5% real juice and is still considered a citrus drink, I think I'm off the hook. Again, I've picked something from the stop-motion wizards at Robot Chicken. This time, they spoof M. Night Shyamalan's Signs:

If stop-motion is your thing, you'd best check out Bruce Bickford's work in Baby Snakes. ♪

Dining Deliciously in Kensington

2007-01-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

If you are navigating through the happenin’ neighborhood of Kensington and are feeling a bit peckish, you might want to consider stopping in at a couple of restaurants I’ve recently become acquainted with. First, for a tasty pizza pie, I urge you to go to Pulcinella. It occupies the space that used to belong to Stromboli’s (and is still run by the younger generation of the Tudda dynasty). I must say, it’s the best pizza I’ve had since going to Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn.

On your next trip to the area, since you’ll be too stuffed with pizza and risotto balls the first time around, don’t skip the Indochine Bistro. To me, it seems like Vietnamese food done right. From my experience, most other places around town throw too much filler (noodles, sprouts) into their recipes, which distracts from the core nourishment of the meal. Sure, Indochine might be a buck or two more than you are used to paying, but the quality is much higher. Also, the service and cleanliness of the restaurant was impressive.

Don’t just take my word for it, check out what John Gilchrist, local food celebrity, has to say about each place: Pulcinella – Indochine Bistro. ♪

CJSW Best of 2006

2007-01-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

CJSW's Best of 2006 is now posted. Find out what other Calgarian hipsters think. Here's the link. ♪

Dance of the Week + Other Good Stuff

2007-01-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

Starting things off right, the Dance of the Week might be something you’ve already seen, since it is among the Pitchfork Top 25 Music Videos of 2006. In any case, here’s OK GO doing “Here It Goes Again”:

These guys love low budget choreography. Want to see more?

I spent a few hours on Saturday night trying out my new dance moves at Mojo, the weekly toga party hosted by the Bamboo Tiki Room. Local funky phenom, Rob Faust spins there. There was plenty of James Brown to get everyone on their Good Foot. I took photos, but they didn't turn out, I must have put a greasy finger on my camera lens. C'est la vie.

This just in: Looking for a new party pad? Calgary real estate prices out of your budget? Well, Dracula’s Castle may be going up for sale to the public very soon. In Transylvania. For real. ♪

Stax is back!

2007-01-04T12:05:00.001-07:00

Unlike Christmas Day, December 18, 2006, was a good day for the Funk! Legendary Southern-fried hit machine, Stax Records (a.k.a. Soulsville USA - in response to Motown’s Hitsville moniker), re-opened its studio after a long hiatus.

According to the official press release, Issac Hayes, among others, has been signed on to make/re-issue more material. From the article:

“Stax always has been and always will be Soul Music, I was a part of that,” said Hayes. “I am coming back to Stax because there is still so much to do. It’s like coming home.”

Then again, perhaps Mr. Hayes, or Chef, needed to find a way to keep busy, or cover legal expenses, as a result of the epic South Park/Scientology debacle.

In any case, this is the big news for Soul fans. If you need a funky fix, check out funky16corners. They encode and post rare 45s (in mp3 format) periodically for everyone’s benefit and euphonic enjoyment. They also did a stirring tribute to the late JB.

Credit where credit is due. I did check out the museum when I was in Memphis, TN a few years ago, but my photo of the old theatre pales in comparison to this one. ♪

Happy Flu Year

2007-01-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

Things didn’t start off as planned this year. Last night I fell violently ill, in a way that I don’t recall ever feeling. So, in isolation and quarantine, I got caught up with some videos. Dig this Sly concert. It’s probably the coolest soul I’ve ever heard. And, don’t get me started on the perfectly spherical ‘fro. Wow, I’m jealous.

Getting the flu totally sucks. Not only does it feel awful, it cuts in to the fun stuff. I was supposed to check out the Flames versus the Canucks tonight. I rarely go to NHL games, so it would’ve been a treat. ♪

Weekend Roundup

2006-12-31T02:23:00.000-07:00

Are you still sweating over your 2007 resolutions? Yeah, well, the usual grab bag includes:

1. Drinking Less Beer
2. Taking More Photos
3. Being More Awesome

I went to Lake Louise today and - the rumours are true - the snow is incredible. You wouldn't know it from looking outside in Calgary, but, we're talking deep pow pow gnar gnar. I can't wait to hit the slopes.

On the way to the mountains, I found a radio show that was playing a crazy hommage to CBC broadcaster Lister Sinclair, acting as a disco guru. Just check out the setlist. Do The Hustle!

Ever wonder what interpretive dancing to Deerhoof would look like? Look no further than the Dance of the Week:

I read about this here. There are a few more videos for your enjoyment. ♪

God Bless Your Soul Brother No. 1

2006-12-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

The world got a little less funky this Christmas. Here's a video to commemorate the passing of James Brown, The Hardest Working Man In Show Business, on December 25, 2006.

Thanks to everyone who sent me their condolences. Many of you knew how much I admired The Godfather of Soul. HOT PANTS! YEEEEOW! TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE!

It's probably time to send the Mr. Dynamite biographical docudrama manuscript that you've been working on to your nearest screenplay agent. Oscar season is right around the corner. ♪

Top 10 Concerts of 2006 (Revised for CJSW)

2006-12-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

My pals at CJSW have asked me to submit a Top 10 (only) list for their website. So, I had to mercilessly revise my picks from yesterday and also add a few explanations. Before it gets published there, I thought you might like to take a look:

1. Wilco – MacEwan Hall – Calgary, AB
For years, cold, hard reality had stoutly prevented me from seeing the phenom that is Wilco. Finally, in June, I witnessed them live. With talent comes hype. With hype comes expectations. Rarely does the experience live up to the thrill. Ladies and Gentlemen, the top concert spot for 2006 was earned by Wilco. They threw down amazing new material, they sounded fantastic, and they were truly awesome performers. For high-quality bootlegs, including the currently unreleased song "Impossible Germany", check out etree.org.

2. Brian Jonestown Massacre – Warehouse – Calgary, AB
Without BJM, there would be no psych-rock revival. Immediately after the show, I picked up Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request. I've been a far mellower individual ever since.

3. The Flaming Lips – Sasquatch Music Festival – The Gorge, WA
After a somewhat miserable afternoon (weather-wise), Wayne and Co. made sure everyone had a great time. The spectacle included Martians. balloons, fog machines, confetti, and lots of carefree fun. They played late into the night (much longer than their allotted 60-70 minute set) including selections from their new At War With The Mystics album.

4. Deerhoof – Hiro @ The Maritime Hotel – New York, NY
Deerhoof puts on an amazingly eclectic show. Seeing them in the Japanese-themed Hiro ballroom, in Manhattan's stylish West Side, really enhanced the experience. Oh, it was also during CMJ, or "Spring Break in November for Hipsters".

5. Islands – Warehouse – Calgary, AB
It was fun to go to a show where everyone knew the lyrics to all the songs. Islands let us in on a couple new songs they have been working on (which were absolutely jaw-dropping). Make sure to keep tabs on them in 2007. They are showing lots of potential.

6. Beck – Sasquatch Music Festival – The Gorge, WA
I think this was the first show that Beck unveiled his bizarre puppet show extravaganza. His affiliation with Scientology be damned, he is a brilliant showman.

7. Ladytron/John Acquaviva – Metro/Smart Bar – Chicago, IL
I went to this show after missing a flight home from O'Hare (and consequently missing my shift at the CJSW bingo). In retrospect, I think it was fate. Industrial and tech-house aren't really my thing anymore, but that night stands out as being among the most fun I've had this year. Metro/Smart Bar is an ideal place to party.

8. Wolf Parade/Frog Eyes/Sunset Rubdown – Various Locations – Calgary, AB
Every Spencer Krug performance I've seen this year has been rock-solid and memorable in an off-beat, off-key, odd-ball sort of way.

9. Final Fantasy – Liberty Lounge – Calgary, AB
SON YOU SHOULD (have been there). Wow, I hadn't heard anything by Final Fantasy (except for the lame title of his album - He Poos Clouds and his arrangements on the Arcade Fire albums) before the show. Man-o-man, is that guy talented though. Not only that, he finished with a rousing cover of Mariah Carey's "Fantasy".

10. Thunderbirds Are Now!/You Say Party! We Say Die! – Broken City – Calgary, AB
By the exclamation points alone, you knew what you were getting yourself into. Not only did I get busy on the dance floor, but both bands agreed to be interviewed for CJSW by yours truly. And, since they headed off to Vancouver immediately following the show, guess who scored a ridiculous number of drink tickets. Yeah, you guessed right. ♪

Top Performances of 2006

2006-12-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

It’s time to take a hard look at the shows I checked out this year. The full list was pretty extensive, but I think I’ve managed to pare and prune (not pear and prune) it down to a Top 20. My only criterion is that they must all be concerts or performances that I saw with mine own eyes. Therefore, they are not limited by geography, as you might expect from a Hipster’s Guide to Calgary.

Top 20 Performances of 2006

1. Wilco/Elliott Brood – MacEwan Hall – Calgary, AB
2. Brian Jonestown Massacre – Warehouse – Calgary, AB
3. The Flaming Lips – Sasquatch Music Festival – The Gorge, WA
4. Deerhoof – Hiro @ The Maritime Hotel – New York, NY
5. Islands – Warehouse – Calgary, AB
6. Beck – Sasquatch Music Festival – The Gorge, WA
7. Ladytron/John Acquaviva – Metro/Smart Bar – Chicago, IL
8. Wolf Parade/Frog Eyes/Sunset Rubdown – Various Locations – Calgary, AB
9. Final Fantasy – Liberty Lounge – Calgary, AB
10. Thunderbirds Are Now!/You Say Party! We Say Die! – Broken City – Calgary, AB
11. Noam Chomsky – Sun Room, ISU Campus – Ames, IA
12. Shout Out Out Out Out/Holy Fack – The Den – Calgary, AB
13. Blue Cheer – The Knitting Factory – New York, NY
14. Pink Mountaintops – Liberty Lounge – Calgary, AB
15. Enon – Broken City – Calgary, AB
16. The Grates/Tokyo Police Club – Broken City – Calgary, AB
17. Jaime Lidell – Hifi Club – Calgary, AB
18. London Elektricity – Hifi Club – Calgary, AB
19. Ladyhawk/Brother Coyote – Cat’s Eye Vintage – Calgary, AB
20. Forward Russia!/Archie Bronson Outfit – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY

Among the solid shows, I went to some terrible ones. This year, I am brave enough to acknowledge the Bottom 5.

Bottom 5 Performances of 2006

1. Tom Green – The Tequila – Calgary, AB
2. Matisyahu – Sasquatch Music Festival – The Gorge, WA
3. Bengy Ferree – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
4. Bright Eyes/Gruff Rhys – MacEwan Hall – Calgary, AB
5. Bo Diddley – The Back Alley – Calgary, AB

Other strong contenders or shows that didn’t make either list:

Tool, SIDS, The Incandescence, Strokes, Les Georges Leningrad, Duchess Says, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, The Shins, The Tragically Hip, Neko Case, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Gomez, Rogue Wave, Sam Roberts, Constantines, Band of Horses,Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, Death Cab For Cutie, Queens of the Stone Age, The Decemberists, Nada Surf, Arctic Monkeys, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, We Are Scientists, Chad Vangaalen, The OhSees, The Fall, Erase Errata, Malajube, Snowden, Album Leaf, Massey Lecture (U of C), Azeda Booth

Thanks to everyone who came to these shows with me. What a sweet year in music. ♪

Weekend Roundup

2006-12-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I took a trip on a tiny Cessna-type airplane with pilot extraordinaire, Javier. We flew over Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, and eventually over the Kananaskis Valley. It was such a blast. Despite some turbulence, we got some nice shots. Zulu Yankee Tango! If I ever buy an airplane, or win one in a Hold ‘Em match, I’ll insist on getting C-GYHF painted on the side, All you Wilco fans will know what I mean.

I didn’t go, but reliable sources indicated that the Suicide Girls burlesque show on Saturday night was a total gothic let down. I guess it wasn’t so much Moulin Rouge, and too much lame vampire go-go dancing.

With that in mind, you might think that the dance of the week would be sultry and scandalous. I hate to disappoint you on that front, but I think I’ve got something better. Check out this security camera footage of a man cutting the rug and creating a diversion in a department store. Just in time for Christmas.

I haven’t seen loose pop-and-lock moves like this since I went to the Kim Mitchell spectacle at the Back Alley, circa 2000. I think I found a review of that show. ♪

Geek out with me

2006-12-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

I decided to coin a new word today: gennuis (from a mash up of genius + ennui). It hasn’t been added to common vernacular yet, but maybe someday it’ll be legitimatized by a celebrity – like Mr. Colbert. Anyway, the term comes from a typo I made the other day. It doesn’t describe my current state of being or anything conceited like that, but has a punny ring to it. So, why let it go?

You may be shocked to find out that this isn’t the first expression I’ve submitted to urbandictionary. Check out love tetrahedron. I also know the guy who added sniffles. See first definition only. The rest are dumb.

Right, back on track, the flavour of the day is geeking out. I’ve got the perfect clip for audiophiles and nerds alike. Check this out:

My mate Paul, no relation to the David Holmes song, has decided to build a theremin. Not only that, he’s modeling it in PSPICE first. He scores major geek++ karma points for that. The last time I saw a theremin being used in a musical performance was during an ambitious showing of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. Complete with a live organist courtesy of the Cantos Music Foundation. As a matter of fact, Cantos has just released their schedule for Silent Movie Mondays for 2007. It makes for an unusual night out. I strongly recommend it.

If you want to start your own non-commercial MIDI-based music project, may I suggest this? I’ve seen the MIDIbox in action. It’s totally cool, and you can patch it in to professional software like Ableton Live. ♪

Weekend Roundup

2006-12-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Unusual Venue Alert: What's Up Café (325 - 17th Ave SW)
This is the hole-in-the-wall Caribbean bar where Beatroute decided to have their Christmas party on Friday night. They don't have a website. I can't easily locate a phone number. It's dodgy and mysterious. It's perfect for a hipster hangout. To get to the dancefloor, you need to follow a narrow hallway, inch past the kitchen, and go down a flight of stairs. It has a Prohibition-era fire trap charm about it. Kinda like the beatniq, but scuzzier.

This week's dance is from Robot Chicken's spoof of the 80s cartoon Voltron. I guess there's a movie remake of the show currently in pre-production. You got served. ♪

Love it and leave it

2006-12-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Love it:

I’ve been digging on the new Beatles album, Love. It’s a rework of the band’s most groundbreaking material. It’s also the soundtrack to a new Cirque du Soliel spectacle of the same name. All of these things would usually turn my stomach, because it is easily perceived as a mass-marketed, focus-grouped, generation-crossover gimmick. But, you know what? It’s highly listenable. The sound is very polished. The album feels like a musical trip - in the same vein as Smile, without the bad mojo.

Leave it:

This is starting to get out of hand. In the past couple weeks or so, there have been two big indie upsets. First, The Go! Team are forced to sell out. Now, I’ve been informed that Chan Marshall has followed suit (willingly or not, we don’t know yet). In any case, I’ve come up with a formula to lose your artistic credibility in three steps:

1. Write a sappy love song
2. License it out to an ethically questionable industry
3. Hang out and collect royalty cheques as the your grassroots, DIY, hipster fanbase becomes disillusioned

Bah! C'est la vie. I hate to leave you on a Friday afternoon without some levity. Here’s a music video that Andrew made me aware of. ♪

Weekend Roundup

2006-12-04T11:51:00.000-07:00

I did see Los Jorges Leningrad on Friday, but have no pictures to prove it. All I will say is that the openers, Duchess Says, received much warmer applause. Probably because they rocked more. Gotta love those zany Quebecers.

Overall, this weekend was light on the hipster and heavy on the socializing. I don’t know what it is about April, but there are tons of birthdays in late November and early December – including mine. Has anyone else noticed?

Before you toast your next Sagittarian, check out the Dance of the Week! ♪

Thunderbirds Are (going to be on the radio) Now! (well, no, tomorrow night at 8PM)

2006-12-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

I received word that the Thunderbirds Are Now! interview that I was involved with back in October will be aired again. This time, on a variety show called Reverb. Check it out at 8:00 PM (MST) on Monday, December 4, 2006. If you're not in the vicinity of Calgary, you can tune into CSJW's audio stream. How cool is that? ♪

Decemberists on Notice

2006-12-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

So, it’s well documented now that the Decemberists are in Stephen Colbert’s bad books. Heck, they’re even in mine after what they pulled in Vancouver a couple weeks ago. Dirty water be damned! The show must go on! I wasn’t there on Nov 18, 2006, but Patrick, from Beetroot, was.

Seriously though, these antics remind me of when I tried to see Radiohead in Toronto during the famous blackout of 2003. Oh yeah, there was a little thing called the SARS outbreak finishing up too. In that situation, I couldn’t make it back to T.O. for the rescheduled show. My brother had to refund the tickets and I went to Vancouver, ironically enough, to see them. Luckily for Patrick, another fellow named Patrick has come through and hooked him up with a buddy pass around the middle of December. Let’s hope that the show works out this time.

Allow me to have a green moment. Even Thom Yorke has discussed how big ticket live performances are extremely taxing to the environment. Well, I want to take it one step further and say that even shows that don’t happen are a huge waste of natural resources. Shame on Eco-terrorism! Shame on the Decemberists!

I don’t look forward to the day when major concerts are hosted exclusively online. Unfortunately, I too feel like the concept of big concerts is not sustainable. To find out about your own Carbon Footprint, click here. ♪

By George, Mark Your Calendar!

2006-11-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

Ok gang,

Drop everything. Open your gmail. Click on Calendar. Enter a reminder that you are scheduled to get down to Les Georges Leningrad this Friday, December 1, 2006. Pack your posse - your comrades, if you will.

Another important event to keep track of: Do Make Say Think! Yup, the nebulous, hermitical band has just announced a date (March 2007, no less!). I really want to see these guys, but they have a nasty habit of canceling their shows. This might be because they are violating Rule #1 of being hip: Don't book things too early. A hipster should not realistically be able to plan that far ahead. Let's just say I wont be getting my hopes up until at least mid-February.

What a coincidence. When I was States-side a couple weeks ago, I picked up Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn. It's a rock-solid album. By the way, if you're in the vicinity of Phila, check this place out.

SOCAN Alert? No, these just happen to be great musicians. Canadian music without the guilt. ♪

Weekend Roundup - The Greats? The Grates!

2006-11-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

Who? The Grates
What? Rocked
Where? Broken City
When? On Thursday, November 23, 2006
Why? As they came through town supporting Tokyo Police Club.
How? Using all the tricks in the ribbon twirlers' handbook.

All are in agreement that these Aussies know how to party. The band's ebullience took everyone by surprise. I can't understand why they were opening for TPC. In comparison, the Torontonians looked, well, boring and amateurish. I say amateurish because they tried to pull the old, "Nobody rocks like Calgary!" routine to curry some easy crowd approval.

In any case, it was nice to see these bands, since I missed them both during their CMJ showcases. ♪

Dance of the week: The Porpoise Song by the Monkees. This weekend, I finally saw Head. The movie doesn't make any sense and really isn't very good. But, it was 'written' by Jack Nicholson and features a Frank Zappa cameo. This sequence made the movie:

JFK, CMJ, A-OK, eventually PA.

2006-11-19T23:46:00.000-07:00

Part I (November 2, 2006)

Hey Gang,

I spent most of the flight over to New York debating over which bands to check out tonight. On one hand, there’s a huge party going down at the Bowery Ballroom (Shins, Thermals, CSS, Album Leaf, etc.). On the other, there are three killer shows going around Greenwich Village (The Sights @ R&R, Forward Russia @ The Mercury Lounge, and Blue Cheer @ The Knitting Factory). At least I'm guessing it’s around Greenwich Village. I don’t have my bearings yet. I’m thinking that ticket availability will ultimately determine what I do this evening.

The rest of the flight was spent geeking out with work stuff. Who knew that C/C++ programming was possible at 35000 feet? Oh yeah, and watching an Office episode. Have you seen the one where they go on a booze cruise? Epic! That brings us to the dance of the week:

Part II (November 3, 2006 - 2AM)

The Sights cancelled, the Bowery party was way sold out. People were paying 200$ for tickets on ebay to get in. So, anyway, I went to Forward Russia! and Blue Cheer. The band before FR! was called The Archie Bronson Outfit. They were pretty wild too. Oh man, the shows were all so crazy. A great time.

I didn’t have tons of time to mess around on the subway if I was to make it to all the shows, so I took taxis everywhere. Not the most financially sound decision, but I felt like a movie star.

Part III (November 4, 2006 - 12AM)

On Friday, I got up a little late, so I wandered around Midtown. Had some delicious bagels at Eli’s. Later, I found the Flatiron and took a walk across Brooklyn Bridge. I went to Grimaldi’s under the bridge. Best pizza in the borough, according to a few people I met.

Show of the night: Deerhoof and Erase Errata + others. Deerhoof was brilliant. The venue (Hiro @ The Maritime Hotel) was very swanky too.

Afterwards, I tried to make it back to the Mercury Lounge to check out Tokyo Police Club and Albert Hammond Jr. But, who knew that the drawing power of the Strokes guitarist would be so huge. There was no chance of getting in.

My backup plan was to head around the corner to see Thunderbirds Are Now! Outside Pianos, I did run into Scott Allen, who I interviewed for CJSW back in October. Despite his best efforts, I could not get into that show either. After talking for a bit, I found out that he managed to hear the interview when it aired a few weeks ago. Futhermore, he liked it! And with that, we parted ways.

A little miffed by the fact that I couldn't get into any other cool shows, I decided to stop in at a nearby Turkish diner for a late snack. In line, I noted the unmistakable aura of fellow surly hipsters. I struck up a conversation with one fellow - Amrit. We chatted for a while about the bands we'd seen and what shows were hoping to catch later. Turns out that he's a contributor for Stereogum (the original incorrigible hipster blog). He told me about a special party that was going on in Brooklyn the following day. Not only that, he put me on the guest list! What a champ.

Part IV (November 5, 2006 - 2AM)

When I got up this morning, I had a huge grin on my face. The day was looking sunny and crisp. I headed over to the MoMA for a dose of objets d'arts with an extra shot of hipster in the mix. There was lots to look at on and off the walls. This was a personal favourite:

After indulging my senses at the museum, I had to hurry to Northsix in Brooklyn for the AAM party that I was invited to. Luckily, I didn't get too lost. I've got to hand it to Amrit, he really came through with the guest list. Once inside, I caught most of Malajube. Lo and behold, I ran into fellow CJSWer, Gary Powers - a familiar face among the millions I've seen so far. He seemed to be having a pretty good time too. Back to the music: the other strong performance of the afternoon was The Album Leaf.

I migrated back to Manhattan in the early evening. There were too many neighborhoods I needed to wander and the weather was awesome (by Calgary standards), so I found Greenwich Village on the map and started there. By chance, I found the legendary Blue Note. It didn't look too hopin' yet, but it was still early. A few blocks south of Washington Square, I happened upon Generation Records. Let's just say that my wallet got lighter. I didn't think the selection was enormous, but they had lots of great records. It made me jealous of New Yorkers.

A good shopping trip makes even the most devout audiophile hungry. A few blocks further, I found a busy restaurant called Baluchi's. They served a delicious Lamb Korma with a friendly amount of naan. Recharged and refocused, I was ready for another trip to Hiro. This time for The Fall.

I thought the show was pretty cool. Especially when they did a cover of Hungry Freaks Daddy. The one reservation I had was the crowd. There were lots of weird, old, mal-nourished, 1970s punks-cum-genX-dorks. Fights were breaking out in front of the stage. Fights! Dudes, c'mon!? I laughed when these corportate-types behind me were arguing over which Television album was the best. I mean, everybody knows it's Marquee Moon.

The Ohsees, the openers, had a pretty cool psych-surf rock thing happening. Reminded me of Brian Jonestown Massacre or Jefferson Airplane.

Part V (November 5, 2006 - 8PM)

Fun's over. I just checked into my 'America' themed hotel in Breiningsville, PA, after a bus ride from Times Square to downtown Allentown. Not the most scenic ride I've ever taken, but it made for an interesting counterpoint to the last few days. For more CMJ pictures, click here. ♪

Weekend Roundup

2006-10-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

First things first, the Howler was a roaring success again this year. As you can see from the random party shot, which shows about 1% of the crowd in attendance, creative costumes and complete abandon were the flavour of the night. It’s hard to say whether it will be as reckless next year. Unfortunately, this was the last time that the party coincided with the end of Daylight Savings Time.

What am I looking forward to this week? Islands! I can’t wait to see the show on Wednesday. Return to the Sea has to be the album I’ve listened to the most this year. Hands down. The show is apparently at The Underground, the notorious punk/metal bar, located under The Warehouse. The venue doesn’t make sense, if you’ve heard the Graceland-esque album, but, heck, I’ll go anywhere to see this spectacle.

In other news, I’m supposed to head down to the East Coast this week. I’ll do my best to check out some of the sweet shows that are going on during the CMJ Music Marathon 2006.

Since we’ve got costumes on the brain, this week’s video has a breakdancing shark:

Dig it. ♪

Halloween Howler V

2006-10-25T16:51:00.000-06:00

Our hip friends down on 17th threw the (house) party of the year, last October. The Ridler expects this one to be even bigger. You are invited to the Halloween Howler 5. Costumes are mandatory. So far, I've heard of someone planning to go as Dog, someone else as Harvey Birdman. Who else will be among the list of pop-culture misfits? ♪

Weekend Roundup

2006-10-23T13:03:00.000-06:00

Wow, I'm totally wiped. Last night's Chit Chat Funding Drive show was pretty intense. I was at the station for six hours processing requests and preparing for the marathon that ensued. Thanks to everyone who called!

So yeah, the rest of the weekend was spent assembling ikea furnature. In the spirit of all things Scandanavian, here is a Finnish Disco Dancing Lesson:

Moscow! ♪

CJSW 90.9 FM: TAKE ME TO YOUR RADIO

2006-10-19T08:57:00.000-06:00

It's time for the annual CJSW funding drive. I co-host a show called The Chit Chat on Sunday nights at 9:00 PM (MST). I have so much fun doing it. Your contributions help ensure that we stay on the air.

If you are interested in making a pledge during my show, please let me know so I can get started on "The Friends of The Chit Chat" list. Last year, we made a group pledge, then called "The Friends of Funk Tank", which raised over 500$ for the station. It was awesome!

On Sunday, October 22, 2006, we will be hosting a special Funding Drive edition of The Chit Chat. That's only a few days away. Tune in for the fun!

In addtion to the on-air stuff, there are tons of events going on around town next week.

Lastly, Funding Drive pledge levels can be found here.

Thanks for your support! ♪

Weekend Roundup

2006-10-16T12:10:00.000-06:00

Hat FM. Nelson Mandela. Dostoevsky. What do these three things have in common? The Office - Series One, Episode Three. It’s an ingenious episode. This is the one that got me hooked on the series a few years ago. I watched it again last night. HA! If you've only seen the American version, please do yourself a favour and check it out.

In the spirit of The Office, the dance of the week features David Brent:

Other weekend highlights included an Arrested Development: Season Three viewing party. Complete with Chicken On The Way. Since we’re on the topic of chicken and Arrested Development, I can't resist including another dance video:

Yes, I admit, physical exercise did not rank highly on my list of activities, but it was nice to have a low-key weekend. ♪

Pink Mountaintops Erupt

2006-10-13T09:57:00.000-06:00

This Just In...

Last night, I was asked to take some photos of The Pink Mountaintops for the Beatroute dudes. I think they turned out pretty well. One of the shots may make it into an upcoming issue. O RLY? YA RLY. NO WAI! ♪

Steps

2006-10-12T12:27:00.000-06:00

I always make a point to hype up anything involving the disbanded KITH comedy crew. This weekend, Scott Thompson will be in town with guest Bob Wiseman. I'm not too sure what Scott's been up to for the past decade, except a host of bad made-for-TV movies, but I imagine he's had a long time to come up with new material. Bob's got a song about his tenuous relationship with David Geffen, My Cousin Dave. It's really funny. His website is good too.

Other than that, it's a slow wknd. ♪

Weekend Roundup - Gobble. Gobble.

2006-10-10T12:10:00.000-06:00

What a weekend! On Friday, the Thunderbirds Are Now! + You Say Party! We Say Die! show went off without a hitch. I interviewed the bands and rocked out like nobody's business. I'm sorry to say the recording is not yet ready. I'd like to make some edits and so forth before it is unleashed onto the world. In the mean time, I put up some pictures. I think they capture some of the madness of the evening.

The rest of the weekend was spent around various dinning room tables as I set forth on a journey through three Thanksgiving dinners. Three! I've decided to abstain from eating for the rest of the month, if not the rest of the year.

Dance video of the week: Kung-Fu Vs. Yoga.

It's a martial arts clip. Jaw-dropping and dubbed in French. It makes me wonder what would have happened if the Natural Law Party of Canada had ever taken off. ♪

Interview Questions for TAN!

2006-10-05T15:00:00.000-06:00

Looks like I will get to chat with Thunderbirds Are Now! before their show (see Oct 3, 2006 post).

I decided to whip up a few interview questions:

How was the drive today? Any road stories you want to share?

Make History has just been released. How's the response been? How was the CD release party in Detroit?

I read that Enon helped out a bit with this album, can you give us an idea of what their contribution was?

What's next for you guys?

I heard that you are making a major presence at the CMJ conference this year, what 4 shows!? Can you tell us a bit about that?

I always get a kick out of looking up bands and seeing what 'the internet' considers your influences to be. According to AllMusic.com your band is influenced by Les Savy Fav, Pixies, and Ween - among others. Care to agree or disagree or append to the list?

Do you follow what the press says about you? I'm talking about publications like Pitchforkmedia.com . Do you care if they hype you up or not?

What is in your CD player right now?

Recommend that they to the Cantos keyboard museum.

Anything else you want to share with your legion of Calgarian fans?

Promo for CJSW.

Can I bootleg the show?

No? Thanks anyway. Have a good show. ♪

M. Ward

2006-10-04T14:04:00.000-06:00

So far this year, no album has captivated me quite like M. Ward's new release: Post-War. Dusty guitars licks, strained vocals, tasteful harmonies, rich tones - it has everything I need in an alt-country, singer/songwriter album. The closest counterpart I can think of in my music collection would be Wilco's A Ghost Is Born. Yes, friends, that good.

Although presumably about the forgotten grandeur of the California Gold Rush or a derelict sideshow in New Mexico, I find that the title track, “Post-War”, and later on, “Rollercoaster”, embody the boomtown spirit of Calgary. Maybe not the Calgary that exists today, but the post-NEP Calgary that I grew up in.

I could probably analyse every song on the album, and may do so in the future, but for now I’ll focus on two more, “Poison Cup” and “Requiem”. “Poison Cup” is a hopeless, unlikely love song. At first it jarred me, but now I appreciate simplicity of the lyrics and the slow crescendo of the backing strings. “Requiem” has a solid blues-rock structure, and lyrically it has a macho, terse, Hemingway quality about it. I’m susceptible to this because I’m reading For Whom the Bell Tolls at the moment. Surprisingly though, it doesn’t sound political, despite the current musical trend (see Living with War, and "When The President talks to God").

Great Stuff! Don’t let it slip by. ♪

Get a TAN! then go Party!

2006-10-03T15:30:00.000-06:00

Concert de la semaine: Thunderbirds Are Now!, You Say Party! We Say Die!, and guests at Broken City on Friday October 6, 2006. Judging by the exclamation points alone, you know that this will be another indie-tastic dance-a-thon. Expect synths, quick tempos, and best of all - hipsters.

Also, it looks like I'll be able to line up an interview with TAN! before the show. I'll give you more details as they become available. ♪

Weekend Roundup

2006-10-02T13:16:00.000-06:00

Kudos go out to the bands (SOOO and HF - see last post) for the epic show they put on Saturday night. The Hipster Guide crew was definitely the rowdiest bunch on the dance floor. Everyone had a backbone slidin' good time. Unfortunately, we forgot to pack our camera, so if you took any pictures, bootlegs, video footage, or other memorabilia please let us know.

So, what is this week's new internobsession? Amateur or Low Budget Dance Videos. Courtesy of YouTube. I've been looking at so many of these lately, but I've isolated a few key ones that I want to share with you. I plan on unveiling them once a week or so until I run out. ♪

Bollywood Breakdancing:

What are you doing this Saturday?

2006-09-29T09:06:00.000-06:00

Oh man! Somehow this show passed under the radar for me until now. Edmonton's finest, Shout Out Out Out Out and Toronto's Holy F--- are playing at the Den (of all places) on Saturday September 30, 2006.

Dig the electro vibes. Be there. ♪