Song of the Day: September 16, 2015 - "A Simple Song" by Stars

Sweet eye of Odin, does Stars know how to craft a song that is simultaneously fucking gorgeous and utterly heartbreaking. A couple days ago they announced a new EP called Lost & Found and hit is with this, "A Simple Song". 

In the press release, Torquil Campbell said "The Lost & Found EP features a couple of very sad songs by us and quite a sad song by someone else, covered by us: "Long Hot Summer" by Style Council.” He goes on to say “When I was 16, I listened to that song 30 times a day until I didn't know where it ended and I began.”

But seriously. This song. 

Song of the Day: September 15, 2015 - "Turn Your Love" by Half Moon Run

Just over a month now until the new album by Half Moon Run is released (Oct 23), and we've got a new single and video to tide us over.

"Turn Your Love" sounds more like classic Half Moon Run, but with a bit of the new vibe that the first single "Trust" brought. So what I'm really saying is, I'm pretty damn excited for the release of Sun Leads Me On.

The band also put out a big list of tour dates - including this one in Vancouver on December 8th at the Imperial.

(Watch the video for the song by clicking here.)

Song of the Day: September 14, 2015 - "Neighbour" by Language Arts

Language Arts are back and getting ready to release a brand new album! 

Able Island was recorded last year on what the band calls their "floating studio", during a Trans-Canada tour in basements, hotel rooms, alleyways, and the back of their van, using homemade microphones, capturing the sounds of wind blowing down a stove pipe, the crackling of a fireplace, the voices of their audience, making reverb chambers out of large soup pots, and mixing as they drove through the Rocky Mountains. 

This resulted in an interesting blend of modern music with a warmth to it that is sometimes missing from a lot of synth-driven pop-rock. And this song, "Neighbour", is a great example of that. 

The album is out on the 9th of October, and they'll be here at the Media Club a couple days later, on the 13th. 

Song of the Day: September 13, 2015 - "Molotov Girls" by The Zolas

I'm gonna be honest here, the first time I heard the new track from The Zolas, "Molotov Girls", I wasn't sold. It sounded like Zach and Tom had really joined the pop movement and put their dance pants on. 

But the more I listened, the more I warmed to it. It's as catchy and clever as The Zolas ever were, and especially if you consider their single from last year, "Invisible", seems to be following their natural progression. (Though I still prefer piano over synth)

I'm looking forward to hearing more new stuff from them, hopefully even TODAY at Queen Elizabeth Park, where they are taking part in a free show to celebrate the park's birthday, because we definitely need to celebrate parks' birthdays, right?!

Song of the Day: September 12, 2015 - "Other Spooky Is" by Hot Panda

I have been waiting for this for a while now. My sources have told me that Hot Panda has a new album ready to go for some time, but they were just waiting until the time was right. (My sources also continually teased me with how great it sounded). 

Well, it looks like the time is now, as the Vancouver art-rock trio has released their first song off the album, "Other Spooky Is". It's a nearly-six-minute long wild ride that careens from bouncy indie-rock to explosive grunge, with a dash of sinister robotic vocals. A lesser band, and this song would have collapsed into a jumbled mess, but Hot Panda nails it. 

I'm also looking forward to hearing this song live this weekend, as they play a free show at Queen Elizabeth Park on Sunday. They're on at 1:45pm, with The Zolas and Deli 2 Dublin later in the day. I'm hoping if I ask real nice-like, we can all get our faces painted and hop in the photobooth after. 

The song is, for some reason, not enabled to embed, so check it out over on their soundcloud. 

Song of the Day: September 11, 2015 - "Handsome Man" by Highs

Since the first time I heard their song "Summer Dress", I was enamoured by HIGHS. They put out a stellar self-titled EP last year, fulls of bouncy hooks and songs that got stuck in your head for days.

But now they are getting ready to release their full-length debut Dazzle Camouflage, early next year. The first single, "Handsome Man" is a slow-burner that starts a bit darker than usual, building to a chorus that erupts in anthemic harmonies. 

3am Playlist #12: Saturday Night Fever

Okay, I'm not sure what is going on in Vancouver, but Saturday September 12th is a VERY popular night for shows, I currently have SEVEN in my schedule. Now, I think my record for attending shows in one night is four, but that was when I was younger and had more time and energy.

So I'm going to lay out what is up this Saturday, and you click that image above to listen to some of the tunes by the artists performing. We're all over the map genre wise, so you have your pick!

1) Unbuckled in Stanley Park - The Matinee, Robyn & Ryleigh, and The Tishomingo String Band - 2:30 - 7:00pm

2) Michael J Fox Foundation Fundraiser at Vancouver Lookout - ft Bend Sinister - 6:30 - 9:30

3) Teen Daze @ Fortune - Early Show: 7:00 - 10:00

4) Nat Jay Album Release @ The Rickshaw - with Jasper Sloan Yip - 7:00 - 12:00

5) Fringe Bar at Granville Island - ft JP Maurice, SAVVIE - FREE show - 8:00 - 11:00

6) Jenny Ritter Album Release @ The Biltmore - Early Show: 8:00 - 11:00

7) Red Truck Parking Lot Series - ft Logan Mize, Me and Mae, Rod Black, Cash Crawford- 4:00 - 10:00

Have an awesome weekend!

[While Saturday is busy, so is the entire week coming up: Free concert in Queen Elizabeth Park on Sunday, Free Fringe Festival shows on Granville Island all week, the return of David Newberry on Tues, Zach Lucky is back in town too on Weds, and THEN it's Rifflandia and the touring artists perfoming here as well - check out our concert calendar for all the details.]

Song of the Day: September 10, 2015 - "Steel Sharpens Steel" by k-os

Just last week, k-os released his sixth studio album Can't Fly Without Gravity on Dine Alone Records. The album is a collision of genres, and one of the best songs to highlight that is today's song of the day "Steel Sharpens Steel (Still In Love)". It actually reminded me a little of The Stills, even before I found out that was exactly what k-os had in mind (which also explains the song's subtitle). The song is his love letter to Montreal's indie rock scene, with bands like The Stills and The Dears. 

k-os also announced a spat of tour dates, including December 9 right here at the legendary Commodore Ballroom.

(Also, I just need to take a moment to point out how much I love that poster/album art)