By Will McGuirk
Skatethrashies The Anti-Queens’ have a new track out, “Worse Than Death”. Its from their upcoming debut album due Sept 13 on Stomp. The band will be touring to Europe with The Creepshow but have an October 19 date at the Atria in Oshawa.
André Ethier, photo by Colin Medley
By Will McGuirk
Ride on, its almost September, the mystical beginnings of Fall when the funds for the Ontario Stereo Acquisition Program will be deftly pocketed and bands shower the season with songs. But don’t rush it, don’t jog, or gallop, just saunter, one slow foot in front o the other, the Fall will still be there when you get there.
Lia, photo by Xavier Cyr
“This isn’t easy but thats how its supposed to be/ Looking up and I see I’m closer than I’ve ever been”
Birds of Bellwoods will be landing in Oshawa at the TCC Nov. 9 2019 for the Rock the Rink tour. They will be performing at the figure skating event which features Tess Virtue, Scott Moir and Patrick Chan plus others. They have released a new track, its called “Easy” and I hear a song about a band which gets up every morning and pushes through the doubt and the aggravation of following a dream. Being in the arts ain’t easy, but we have seen these guys evolve as performers and artists over the past few years and we see a band closer than they’ve ever been.
By Will McGuirk
We became pals with these Montreal kats when they came thru Oshawa in April, they played a pretty great show with Mary + Adelaide and then they played Springtide in Uxbridge. They have a new album, ‘Periscope.’ Happy to hear them again, happy to share. Like a Julie Doiron with a some great bright surf tones. Hopefully another local gig will be happening.
Grace Potter, photo by Pamela Neal
By Will McGuirk
I took a stroll to the lake today, the water is high, the waves were loud, the lake seemed more like an ocean but I thought Yr Not The Ocean, the sun was low and there was the feeling of summer’s end. But it is not an end, it is a beginning, it is always a beginning.
By Will McGuirk
Beams branch out, taking their banjo-based sonic musings into wide-eyed instrumentation and sweeping vistas of harmonies, all snuggled into the backseat of the single “Sweet Tea.” This is a journey with home as destination, where home is where the heart wraps yearning fingers around a warm cup of sweet tea
Photo by Brandynn Pope
By Will McGuirk
Social commentary is not normally the initial go-to subject when writing up the riff-ready rock songs but thankfully someone is taking it back to the days of The Clash, Fugazi and Rage Against The Machine. Royal Tusk from Edmonton, are using their stage to take on economic disparity, opioid crisis, gun control but they do so in tandem with grungy riffs and a searing delivery. They will be delivering to Oshawa at the Music Hall Thursday Aug 22 2019. Texas King and Outshined will open. They are touring their latest release Tusk II.
Its not the easiest of roads, choosing self expression over pandering to the masses but someone’s gotta do it and Royal Tusk have taken on the mantle. Slowcity.ca asked why?
“As musicians, I feel like we have a platform where we get to say our thoughts and how we are feeling. We have the ability to speak our minds and hopefully people can see and hear that. This is not to say that every musician has to address every issue so literally, by performing your art, and bringing people together in a safe and peaceful environment, that in my opinion is just as effective,” says bassist Sandy MacKinnon.
He says he has been in bands with singer/guitarist Daniel Carriere for almost two decades so when Carriere had a new project he was first in line. Calen Stuckel came in on drums and Quinn Cyrankiewicz on guitar. Their intention was to write from the heart rock ‘n roll, but not necessarily to write of the heart lyrics.
“People in today’s society are totally immersed in everything that is going on. Lately it has become next to impossible to turn on the TV or even log onto social media without being bombarded with the awful travesties that are going on all over the world, hell, sometimes even in our backyard. It wasn’t a conscious decision to address these matters, it came through an idea that it was time to speak up. If these matters are on our mind and are forming the way a song sounds, then we naturally should say how we feel and what we are thinking,” says MacKinnon.
What they were thinking and what they are saying could get drowned out in the loudness of the metal but MacKinnon says the way they feel is the way they play. Its the passion which creates a deeper, longer-lasting connection he says.
“The beauty of music is that the listener has the freedom to feel and interpret how the music/art makes them feel,” says MacKinnon, “Some people might focus and get too literal with lyrics that an artist is portraying and might miss the actual message that’s underlying. By bringing attention to the awful events that are going on, yea, it can sound grim, but underneath it all, the real message should be about unity, about coming together to make a change, and that we are not alone. Heavy metal, like all music, has the ability to bring us together, feel accepted and be among like minded individuals.”
Hat Fitz & Cara are coming up from Down Under for a string of dates including a stop in Ajax, ON. The husband wife duo currently on a North American tour will be performing at a benefit for Anthony Lue Thursday Aug. 22 2019.
Growing up the one-time multi-discipline athlete had hoped to compete for Canada at the Olympics but ten years ago Lue was involved in an accident which left him a paraplegic. His desire to compete never diminished and a concert has been arranged featuring the Australian star act to help Lue’s dream come true.
The award winning roots duo are Hat Fitz, a veteran blues player and the Irish born, Cara Robinson on drums. Both sing but Cara also adds in washboard, flute and tin whistle. They are touring their latest album, ‘Hold On’, an apt title and apt advice for for Lue and his Canadian dream, for the rest of us too.
Mappe Of (right) with Connory Ballantyne at Candle Recording.
By Will McGuirk
Mappe Of has been working. A new album is due soon. Its a concept, apt for the prog-folkie at the core of it. This track, the second after “Ladybird” is a touch of Bon Iver, albeit by way of Protest The Hero, its as jaunty as The Acorn and its a beaut. I look forward to having all of ‘The Isle of Ailynn’ available in November.
Little Scream, photo by Zach Hertzman
By Will McGuirk
Funny how recently many of us are learning the various names the moon has. Funny how recently the moon is becoming more prominent in our conversation, funny how many are curious about the mythology of the moon, funny how the moon has become a topic. Can’t say it is more frequent, just can say it is for me. Interesting in a way; are we looking up more? I hope so. As much as we are finding common cause inside our phones, both good and bad, looking up too allows us to find common cause.
Rae Spoon, photo by Dave Todon
By Will McGuirk
Its around about this time most years, when after a month of weekends at music festivals that the optimism creeps in for me. The cooler evenings induce contemplation. The good vibes from festivals continue to resonate and ideas percolate. August is the plateau, the new year is weeks away but still its weeks away. These are the days to accept as reward for those night drives in freezing rain, relax, wonder, and let your mind wander.
By Will McGuirk
The neighbours must think it strange to hear such a variety of sounds emanating from my front porch. But there’s listening to be done and it is a lovely night, another one, how lucky are we to have such days, and to have such music and its the least we can do, to listen, perhaps like, perhaps share but to at least care. The job at hand now is to care. Its important and necessary.
By Will McGuirk
Our pals, Chastity, recently released another track from the upcoming album, ‘Home Made Satan'.’ The single is “The Girls I know Don’t Think So” and you can read what you need here on this cool interview - sounds like a cop-out I know but seriously good interview. Link -> As for me it reminds me of the Sonic Youth snarlfest, “Kool Thing,” but you may not think sooooooooo!!!
Also Chastity will be appearing at Matty-Fest in Toronto.
