Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Pretty Beelzebub

Life is closing in on me, so I'll make this quick. It's ok though; you should be used to my neglect by now. I'm hijacking another Willsy discovery from NXNE. Iain, if you wanna fight about it, I've got a good 3 inches on you... plus I'm taller... so don't even think about it :-P

You Handsome Devil
supposedly put on an absolutely hilarious show. These guys are self-proclaimedly bad-ass. Hailing from Toronto, they have no desire to get signed to a label, and their modus-operandi just seems to be rocking out... which I can respect. They're giving away their EP at Sonicbids if you're interested too.

If you thinkg they have something of a Danko Jones feel at times, and with songs like Your Boyfriend's Band Sucks, it's easy to understand why. It's dirty, it's riffy, it's in your face, and it's fun.

Now I've got to go find a way to fit 20 hours of work into a 12 hour day.



-Why stop when you've lost so much?

Saturday, June 27, 2009

If I've gotta say something

Being a music blog, it's basically impossible to avoid making some sort of comment about Michael Jackson dying this week. However, that said, I don't particularily feel like getting caught up in all the hype, nor do I care to renounce all of MJ's sins on his deathbed, talk about how great he was, or generate conspiracy theories about him going to meet up with Elvis on Mars.

All I wanna do is watch 1000 Philippine inmates dance to Thriller



I wish I could make this shit up... but there's actually a number of these videos. They even take requests.

-Drink like no one's counting

Thursday, June 25, 2009

I picture 4 Lebowskis

I know what growing up in a shitty town is. In a strange way, it bonds people and gives one a sense of pride for your hometown, even if it is a crap place. Often, the shittier the town, the more proud you are to be from there, because it proves that you had the integrity to survive.

The Dudes are from Calgary, and they're proud... now that takes balls. With an already scant Alberta music scene, this foursome goes one further by not playing to the masses with country or hard rock, but pop-rock-a-la-Weezer; and they do it damned well.

They've well earned what little credence they've received. Having formed in 1996, The Dudes just released their fourth album, Blood Guts Bruises Cuts. I find it inspiring to see a group of friends who have been playing together for 13 years and even with minimal success, still enjoy playing together and take the time to make music, seemly simply for the fun of making music.

And their music is fun... so dance you scrawny white boy... dance.



-Here you'll find me black and green, played to death this fantastic machine

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

My finger itches

Iain, the annoying ass that he is, got to attend NXNE while back in Toronto. I meanwhile was stuck enjoying a sunny, beach-ridden vacation in Morocco. Honestly... some people get all the luck.

Whilst at NXNE, Iain stumbled across a band which intrigued me in name alone. Triggerfinger was enough to warrant a bit more research and upon searching, I found my knack for music taxonomy would pay off. One doesn't traditionally think of Belgium when they think of rock and roll, mind you one also doesn't think of peanut butter when they think of industrial sealant.

Think about it.

Right. I couldn't find much about these guys, but they're a 3 piece which looks 'well traveled' (read: old) and yet still knows how to churn it out. They seem to be getting a lot of notoriety throughout Europe, yet still have to break through the iron wall of rock that surrounds North America.

If you look at the video below, you'll see that they're not going to win any beauty contests, but their frontman does have a bit of a Nick Cave thing going on.



-Read me for what I'm almost worth

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Bring him back in chains

Just a quick one today. My latest project, the Prairie Pedal for Myeloma Canada has been consuming much of my time. I'm cycling across central Canada to raise money for Myelomic cancer research. If you're interested to learn more, please go check out the site.

Last year, I was blown away by the reunion of bands such as Blind Melon. However, apparently, reuniting a band with a former OD'd singer is just the 'in' thing to do this year. As such, Seattle grunge rockers Alice in Chains, are bringing it back. Joining forces with Willian DuVall of Comes with the Fall, the crew has been in the studio recording a new release which is due for the fall.

I won't even bother making jokes about pissing on Layne's grave, or saying how this unholy reunion is going to suck (after being proved wrong with Blind Melon). However, for the time being, I'll continue to enjoy Mr. Stanley on the mic.



I'm off to Morocco for a wedding, so the blog will be on vacation until I return, June 22.

-With friends like you, who needs benefits?

Thursday, June 4, 2009

UK Blues Week: That's just dirty

Today's post is brought to you by the numbers 7, 13, Madame Drohan and the letter Q. Jess stumbled across a band and said, "I think these guys might kind of be your style." Understatement ma'am... understatement.

Back door slam (I know... so many jokes) are a blues rock throwback from the Isle of Man led by virtuoso guitarist Davy Knowles. Formed back in 2001 when the boys were only teenagers, they recorded and released their first album, Roll Away in 2007. While it gained only a modicum of respect in the UK, music lovers across the Atlantic couldn't get enough of it. BDS quickly started touring the US and dropping jaws all across the states.

Unfortunately, rock stardom would hit the trio and early this year, they would decide to go their separate ways. However Knowles, the brains of the operation, would continue on using the name BDS, after gaining notoriety with some of the musical greats (Don McLean, Jeff Beck, Gov't Mule The Who). Knowles spent the early portion of this year recording a new album with Peter Frampton. Coming Up for Air was just released this past month and Knowles is now well on his way to guitar canonization (at the age of like 21).

So, assuming you can ignore the blatant reference to rough anal sex, I think you're going to simply love Back Door Slam.



-Can't stop becoming what you need to be

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

UK Blues Week: Phoenix of Rock

We're going to send things a little more traditional today, with a non-traditional background. I've spent an entire year complaining about how the UK has been producing almost no new blues/rock artists (after nearly redefining the genre with bands like Zeppelin and the Stones). As such, this week, I figured I'd dig a little deeper and try to save a bit of face for the old Brits.

When you take the guitarist from bands such as Carcass and Napalm Death, you do not expect his next project to be a blues out rock band (ok, with enough riffs to destroy the known universe). After playing metal and doom for over 10 years, Bill Steer got fed up and wanted to find something more pure. As such, he struck out on his own, took a few friends along and formed the band Firebird in 1999.

Firebird really became a fantastic premise for a band; take 3 artists who had been playing heavy, hard, technical metal their whole lives, and breathe some blues and soul into the equation. You get a hard rock blues band who still knows how to tear paint off the walls. Unfortunately, they were plagued with a rotating lineup of band members, primarily due to other band commitments. Even Steer, the mainstay, shelved the project for a while however has recently come back onto the scene and just released their latest, hardest effort yet, Grand Union.

Take a listen below, and if you have a chance, go to their myspace and listen to Silent Stranger. What a riff!



-Who told you what we were fighting for?

Monday, June 1, 2009

This is just inspiring

Sasquatch 2009... proof that 1 man can make a difference.



-Care to wager your love?