by Nic Bragg | From Kitsilano’s Zulu Records, we once again present our weekly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, we provide The Track - the song that is on heavy rotation in the shop this week; The Playlist - which is pretty self-explanatory; The Gig - the ‘must see’ show of the week; and The Glance - which details the best live acts that are on the immediate horizon. From our ears to yours, enjoy…
THE TRACK
METZ Wasted
Toronto’s Metz are blowing up it right now. The Sub Pop band has a ‘can do no wrong’ swagger to them and based on the buzz following their last noise blast at The Biltmore they are officially a band to watch in 2013. Wasted is our favourite track from their self-titled debut album. From the opening din, the incessant hum, and harsh white noise that accompanies their lo-fi guitar rock, Metz are all about drilling into your head and making beautiful chaos whilst there. Signing to Seattle’s Sub Pop was the best thing these guys could have done…that’s why they are currently blowing eardrums in Berlin instead of Hamilton. Ouch!
THE PLAYLIST
DAVID BOWIE The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
Bowie is 2 for 2 so far on his new record. Both singles are killer. For Bowie to be killer it means he has to be comfortable just being himself. Being something else is always bad advice, especially if you are Bowie.
JUNIP Line of Fire
Cold nights in Sweden. Everything is slightly over-designed. What do you expect? The tension in this video is unnerving. Jose Gonzales’ soft-rock band Junip give us a very Sade-esque lead-off single from their exquisite full length due April 22nd. Growing old has never felt this strange.
ATOMS FOR PEACE Ingenue
Thom Yorke in a three piece suit. Quick edits. Modern dance. A stylized mis-en-scene that recalls the video precision of Rodney Graham. Being flexible. Ingenue is definitely one of the more glitchy songs on Yorke’s collaboration with Godrich and Flea. Everyone should experiment, have fun, etc.
DIIV Wait
Beach Fossils are a good band. They get all the right hashtags. Their guitarist Zachary Cole Smith records solo as DIIV. He’s got a thing for 60’s nudism. Are you working from home? Or a coffee shop? The guitars employed here are all twangy Fenders.
KATHLEEN EDWARDS Chameleon/Comedian
Shot on location in Kathleen’s Toronto neighbourhood. Knives fly through the air. Things get gruesome. The axe part is extremely realistic. Is this any way to treat one of the best singer-songwriters our country has? How did they blow out those windows? Why is she smiling in the face of unimaginable pain?
DANIEL ROMANO Old Canal
This name is one to put in your head and store for later. He’s a young buck with an impressive resume producing big namers out east. He also was in town recently opening at the Commodore and headling a party above Eugene Choo. Those suits are real. Those songs are realer.
CHELSEA LIGHT MOVING Empires of Time
It’s not every day that Thurston Moore shows up at someone’s birthday party and plays some songs. C.L.M. is his new rock band. Not his mellow acoustic solo ballads stuff. This song is dedicated to Roky Erikson of 13th Floor Elevators. That is cool. Blow candles out buddy – you rule.
THE GIG
CHRISTOPHER OWENS – BILTMORE CABARET Friday Mar 29th
We were sad when San Francisco’s Girls broke up. The two records they made for True Panther Sounds were consistently on our year end lists and the first thing we turned to when folks wanted a refresher on their old Costello and Nick Lowe albums. Of course the band was also not without its fair share of controversy. The press had a field day with frontman Chris Owen’s interesting upbringing as a member of a cult. He also confessed to battling with drug addiction and other demons. Regardless, Chris has always been one of the more captivating performers out there and now as a solo artist he has a new found confidence on stage. Sonically, Owens’ songs are a bit more varied – engaging soul, folk, as well as his trademark complex melodious pop. The Biltmore is the place to be on the 29th!
THE GLANCE
Thu Mar 07 AUTRE NE VEUT – ELECTRIC OWL
Thu Mar 07 HEROES X VILLAINS – FORTUNE
Fri Mar 08 ROSKA – ELECTRIC OWL
Sat Mar 09 MATTHIAS MEYER – UNDER G STUDIO
Sat Mar 09 VIC RUGGIERO – PAT’S PUB
Sat Mar 09 MASON JENNINGS – ELECTRIC OWL
Sat Mar 09 THE FUGITIVES – BILTMORE
Sat Mar 09 ELECTRIC SIX – VENUE
Sat Mar 09 MARCUS FOSTER – MEDIA
Fri Mar 10 SHABAZZ PALACES – FORTUNE
Wed Mar 13 AEROPLANE – 560
Thu Mar 14 EFTERKLANG – BILTMORE
Sat Mar 16 BUMP IT UP – ANZA
Sat Mar 16 DREADNAUGHTS – RICKSHAW
Sat Mar 16 FIGURE – BLVD22
Sat Mar 16 NEVERLAND BURLESQUE – RUSSIAN HALL
Sat Mar 16 PETUNIA AND THE VIPERS – UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX HALL
Sat Mar 16 MILK MUSIC w/ GUN OUTFIT – BILTMORE
Sat Mar 16 HARRY MANX – RIO THEATER
Sat Mar 16 NAWROZ CELEBRATION: CANADIAN WOMEN FOR WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN – ROYAL PALACE BANQUET HALL
Tue Mar 19 WISHBONE ASH – VENUE
Wed Mar 20 ICEAGE – BILTMORE
Thu Mar 21 BEAR MOUNTAIN – BILTMORE
Thu Mar 21 DEATHFIX – MEDIA
Fri Mar 22 VERONICA FALLS – MEDIA
Fri Mar 22 BONDAX (UK) – 560
Sat Mar 23 KITTY (PRIDE) – FORTUNE
Sat Mar 23 JOEY BADA$$ & PRO ERA – VOGUE
Sat Mar 23 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA – MEDIA – WE’RE SOLD OUT
Sun Mar 24 THE LAST BISON – MEDIA
Mon Mar 25 WIDOWSPEAK – MEDIA – New tix on sale Friday Mar 8th
Mon Mar 25 AMOR DE DIAS – MEDIA – CANCELLED Refunds at P.O.P.
Tue Mar 26 BREAKBOT (ED BANGER) – FORTUNE
Tue Mar 26 CITIZENS! – MEDIA
Tue Mar 26 JOY FORMIDABLE – VENUE
Wed Mar 27 PURE X – MEDIA CLUB
Thu Mar 28 THE STANFIELDS – VENUE
Fri Mar 29 FLUME – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri Mar 29 MERCHANDISE – MEDIA
Fri Mar 29 SONNY FODERA – OPEN STUDIOS
Fri Mar 29 CHRISTOPHER OWENS – BILTMORE
Sun Mar 31 SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM & DINKA – FORTUNE
Sun Mar 31 ESBEN & THE WITCH – MEDIA
Sun Mar 31 TALIB KWELI – BAR NONE
APRIL
Tue Apr 02 JAMIE LIDELL – FORTUNE
Thu Apr 04 AU 4 – VENUE
Thu Apr 04 LUCERO – BILTMORE
Fri Apr 05 DAEDELUS – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri Apr 05 SKY FERREIRA & HOW TO DRESS WELL – BILTMORE
Sat Apr 06 FIELDS OF GREEN – RICKSHAW
Sun Apr 07 THE HARPOONIST & THE AXE MURDERER – BILTMORE
Sun Apr 07 POLICA – FORTUNE
Sun Apr 07 LITTLE GREEN CARS – MEDIA
Sat Apr 13 JAYMAY – MEDIA
Tue Apr 16 ANUHEA – MEDIA
Sat Apr 20 TERA MELOS – MEDIA
Sun Apr 21 ANGEL OLSEN – MEDIA
Mon Apr 22 MAPS & ATLASES – MEDIA CLUB
Wed Apr 24 ABSU – BILTMORE
Wed Apr 24 FAMILY OF THE YEAR – ELECTRIC OWL
Thu Apr 25 MARNIE STERN – MEDIA CLUB
Thu Apr 25 JAMES BLAKE – COMMODORE – WE’RE SOLD OUT
Thu Apr 25 PURITY RING – VOGUE
Thu Apr 25 NIGHT SEEKER: DEANER OF FUBAR – BILTMORE
Fri Apr 26 GOLDROOM – 560
Fri Apr 26 RODRIGUEZ – COMMODORE – CANCELED REFUNDS P.O.P.
Sat Apr 27 LOCAL NATIVES – COMMODORE – WE’RE SOLD OUT