A little while ago we heard the first single from Matt and Sam's Brother, the solo project of JPNSGRLS Charlie Kerr. Now we all get another taste of the album -- titled My Brain Hurts A Lot and out April 21, 2017 on Light Organ Records -- with "Chloe".
Toned way down from the frantic rock of JPNSGRLS, "Chloe" is a slower and a bit of a heartwrenching tune. Check it out below!
I think 2017 shaping up to be one of those years where artists we haven't heard from in a long time give us new music.
In this case, it's been 7 long years since we've had a release from Land Of Talk (I did see a performance in Toronto during NXNE last year), but that's all changing now.
The first single, "Inner Lover" from the recently announced album Life After Youth, is out, and you can hear it below. The album drops on May 19th, so I suspect we'll hear more new stuff between now and then, and on top of that we have a Vancouver tour date - June 26th at the Imperial!
Another new song from Hollerado, ahead of the release of their new album (Born Yesterday) on April 14. "Grief Money" is a political anthem that the band wrote before Trump became a candidate, but is obviously even more appropriate now.
I don't think it's a typical Hollerado song in sound (I would never have picked it out, like I usually could), but it's a great one, especially if you're angry about the world.
Check out the band's statement on the song below!
"We wrote this song before trump was even a candidate. It’s sad that it’s an age-old problem; people who are stronger, wealthier, or more powerful trying to impose their will on others.
It is wrong that rich white men have the power to decide what women can do with their bodies, or who is welcome in a country, or that billions of dollars a year are spent to fight a war on drugs that only serves to further institutionalize racism and further marginalize the poorest segments of our society. There is so much wrong with how the world is being run right now, I don’t know where to begin.
The way our band sees it is that if you want to shoot ecstasy into your eyeballs and pay another consenting adult to ride around on a unicycle while you fuck a jar of mayonnaise, then good for you! As long as you are not hurting anyone then you should be allowed to do and say whatever you want. And also if you are a mayo banger you are not allowed to criticize those folks who prefer to be dead sober and suck off bottles of ketchup while watching Coronation Street. Those two things should be able to co-exist.
It’s easy to feel helpless and frustrated. I feel like rappers are the only ones who are writing protest music these days, almost as if it’s an uncool topic for rock bands. Maybe that’s because it’s futile or maybe because we don’t want to sound like our parents in the sixties. Maybe because if someone has the means to be in a touring band, they probably have mainly first world problems they have to face on a daily basis. But we are now way past the point of worrying about being cheesy in a song. We have to say something whenever we have the chance. It doesn’t even have to be articulate, as long as the intention is true, the message will send. And we have to do the right thing whenever we can. Small acts of kindness and protest WILL make a difference.
This world is a beautiful place and full of perfect creatures of all shapes and sizes. We don’t need to all be best friends but we have to find a way exist on the same planet. For now, it’s the best one we have.
In the words of Bill S. Preston Esq. – “Be Excellent to Each Other”
P.S. If you are extremely wealthy, good for you! Hopefully you did or are doing something to earn it. All you have to do now is show empathy and compassion toward your fellow humans and once in a while do something with your money that benefits people less fortunate. If that’s the case, then, CONGRATULATIONS! This song is no longer about you!"
Photo: Matt Barnes
If you're looking for a little country twang on your Friday morning (or, you know, whatever day it is when you read this) look no further than the debut EP from Nice Horse. Their bio says "It’s the Zac Brown Band in miniskirts; the Runaways at a hoedown; the Spice Girls on a whiskey bender." and I couldn't put it better myself.
You might recognise a few members from other bands, and their EP A Little Unstable (pun appreciated, if intended) came out today. It can be found in all the usual places, included below on youtube.
Love Versus is the eleventh(!!) studio album from Alberta's Leeroy Stagger, and the anthemic "I Want It All" gives us a taste of what it'll sound like.
Love Versus was recorded in his home studio in southern Alberta, and is out April 7, 2017 on True North Records. You can also catch him at the Commodore April 22nd, with The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer!
NEW DANKO JONES!
I was definitely super into this band (though somehow have still never seen them live) when I started university while living in Toronto, so I'm excited to see new music again.
There's a new album called Wild Cat out next week, on March 3rd, and the new single (and video) "My Little RnR" is below. It's super catchy and I may have just had a mini dance party in my living room.
Now we just need a Vancouver tour date!
photo by Caroline Desilets
Timber Timbre just keeps giving us new music!
Another new single "Velvet Gloves & Spit" has been released, as well as an accompanying video, ahead of their new album Sincerely, Future Pollution, which comes out on April 7th.
As a reminder, the band will be performing live in Vancouver on May 5th at the Vogue Theatre - click here for more info.
photo by Ronnie Lee Hill
Ben Rogers released a heartbreaking song, "The Highway Of Tears" yesterday to coincide with the Annual Downtown Eastside Women's Memorial March that took place in Vancouver yesterday.
Read Ben's words/statement on the song below to learn more, but first, take a listen, and then purchase the song to support the Battered Women's Support Services (www.bwss.org) in Vancouver (specifically to Indigenous Women's Programs).
"I am releasing 'The Highway of Tears' single in hopes of raising awareness about the ongoing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women throughout Turtle Island.
My hope is that the song will inspire listeners and fans to take action. Through sales of the song we hope to provide financial support to Battered Women's Support Services (www.bwss.org) in Vancouver and specifically to Indigenous Women's Programs.
"The Indigenous Women’s support workers use traditional healing practices while working with women survivors of trauma and colonization.
"Indigenous Women’s Program offers direct services through drum groups, counselling, Elder’s and support groups and different ceremonies such as full moon and sweat lodge ceremonies. We are healing from the trauma of colonization, the effects and inter-generational effects of residential school, the loss of our children, and living life in a patriarchal society. By using holistic practices through traditional medicines and ceremonies, we are reclaiming our rightful roles as strong Indigenous women in our community, finding our voices and standing strong in our power."
The apartheid, ethnocide, and subjugation perpetrated by the federal government must end. The assault on native life continues and we settlers must not assert ourselves as saviours but as allies to native communities. Administering outside solutions in indigenous communities is only a continuation of colonialism and its destructive power.
We must listen to what indigenous communities affected by these crimes need in order to heal from them and prevent them from happening again.
I have been fortunate enough to witness the beauty and strength of native culture through my wife's Swampy Cree family. They are survivors, all of them. They are the bravest people I know and I admire their courage greatly.
The time for autonomy, sovereignty, acknowledgement of ancestral land claims, treaty rights, human rights, and equality for Indigenous people must be attained. The lives of the women affected by these acts of violence must not be forgotten. Their families and friends must have answers. We must stand with them. I plan to do just that with my life and my music so long as I have breath in me and a song to sing. Or as some have said: "As long as the sun shines, the river flows and the grass grows."
The Highway of Tears single will be released online on Valentine's Day 2017, the day of the Annual Downtown Eastside Women’s Memorial March. I hope you will all be there at the march. There is strength in numbers, especially when we are unified as one.
“Like the grasses showing tender faces to each other, thus we should do, for this was the wish of the Grandfathers of the World.” - Black Elk (from Black Elk Speaks)
In Solidarity,
Ben Rogers"