Evening Headlines: Ox/Forest City Lovers @ The Lo; Tom Wilson @ The WECC

First up, on November 16th, Sudbury artists Ox drop by the Lo Pub alongside erstwhile 11 questions participants Forest City Lovers.

Wednesday, November 9th sees Tom Wilson (of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings/Junkhouse/ LeE HARVeY OsMOND) play the WECC.

Montreal-rooted indie rocker Mark Sultan is scheduled to play the Royal Albert on October 29th. Highly doubtful, though, considering this recent bit of Albert-related news in yesterday's FreeP.

Mark Berube & The Patriotic Few return to town for a gig at the WECC on October 19th.

PEI pop-rockers Paper Lions also return to Peg City for a show at The Lo on October 20th.

Celebrate Halloween at the Pyramid on October 28th with DJs Hunnicut & Co-op and Ric Hard.

Add Acres of Lions to the Ten Second Epic bill going down at the WECC on November 19th.

Finally, the NHL has answered the prayers of many a Winnipeger: Nickelback aren't playing the NHL Face-Off Festival happening at the Forks this Thursday. Instead, the city'll be treated to the musical sounds of, ummm, Three Days Grace, Inward Eye, and Bachman and Turner. On the plus side, the event'll be hosting by George Stroumboulopoulos, and with any luck we'll finally learn whether his surname actually fits on the back of a hockey jersey.

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Evening Headlines: Young Galaxy Opening for Austra, The Low Anthem for City and Colour

For the second time in three months, dream-pop makers Young Galaxy are assuming the opening spot at the West End Cultural Centre, this time lending support for white-hot Polaris short-lister Austra on November 24th. Also on the bill is Tasseomancy.

Meanwhile...City and Colour have invited along Providence-based indie-folk quartet The Low Anthem for their cross canada trek, which includes a date at the Burt on February 3rd.

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Evening Headlines: The Pains of Being The Albert

The concert stub from my first concert...fifteen years to date. 

Just a couple quick notes this evening...

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's show originally scheduled to take place this Wednesday at the Royal Albert has officially been moved to the Lo Pub. Also on the bill are Suuns and Big Troubles. 

Rise Against have moved their October 6th show at the MTS Centre up a day to the 5th. Reason: the Jets. 

According to the press release, "the decision to move the show comes as a result of the recent announcement of the special event planned on October 6 at the Forks to welcome back the city's newly restored Jets NHL team. The band respects and appreciates the passion Winnipeg has for hockey  -  this rescheduling will allow Rise fans to celebrate the return of the team, as well as allow Jets fans to attend the concert!"

Go Jets Go!

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Album Review: The Weather Station - All of It Was Mine

Rating 4/5

All of It Was Mine — the second outing from The Weather Station (aka Tamara Lindeman) — is a succinct, 28-minute-long set of 10 unpretentious and wonderfully realized folk songs. Working alongside producer Daniel Romano, Lindeman works on a sparse canvas that she unaffectedly fills in with earnest finger-picking (banjo and guitar) and her understated, oft-whispered vocals. Stellar album opener Everything I Saw is lively and immediately engaging; Traveller is quietly devastating in its treatment of loss. While tempos slow down considerably after the initial few tracks, the rest of this strong release is equally thoughtful and engrossing, and it's safe to say Lindeman is no longer one to watch. She is one to hear.


-Mykael Sopher


Republished with permission from Uptown Magazine

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Album Review - The Pack A.D. Unpersons

Rating: 3.5/5


Consisting of guitarist/vocalist Becky Black and drummer Maya Miller, The Pack A.D. further venture into incendiary, menacing, and memorable garage rock territory on its latest release, Unpersons. Thematically a break-up album, the performances here are raw, angry, and honest with the female twosome wisely injecting elements of blues and punk into their fiery sound. Album opener Sirens is an undeniable fist pumper while gritty album standout Take is all about Black's wounded vocal performance. While some of the fuzzed-out, unadorned numbers on Unpersons certainly sound done before, The Pack A.D. has never been so focused, so assured of its abilities, that it’s hard to resist the irrepressible spirit haunting this record. 


-Mykael Sopher


Republished with permission from Uptown Magazine

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Evening Headlines: We Are The City @ The Park; Nomeansno @ The WECC

Some new show listings to pass along...

Toronto-via-Calgary-via-Montreal Singer songwriter Greg Cockerill brings his band to the Times Changed High and Lonesome Club on October 28th.

Localites TroubleshoT is throwing a CD release launch for their debut EP, “One”, on September 30th at Ozzy's.

Rising indie rockers We Are The City play the Park Theatre on October 5th.

Vancouver's Ninjaspy are at the Park Theatre on September 29th.

Add Hamilton rockers San Sebastian to the AWOLNATION bill happening at the WECC on September 28th.

And finally, for a good time try seasoned punk vets Nomeansno at the WECC on October 15th.

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PS I Love You, Bob Log III moved to the Albert; Japandroids Cancelled

As per the Winnipeg Free Press, The Albert will remain closed indefinitely, so a pair of weekend concerts are moving a half dozen or so blocks over to the friendly neighborhood Lo Pub: PS I Love You will be there on Saturday and Bob Log III on Sunday.

Japandroids' September 27th show, however, has been axed.

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Contest: Enter to win two tickets to see The Besnard Lakes and Malajube @ The WECC

Malajube photo by Joseph Yarmush

Courtesy of our friends and supporters at the West End Cultural Centre, I've got a pair of tickets to giveaway for the killer Besnard Lakes/Malajube double bill going down there on Friday, September 30th.

If you're interested in checking out this sure-to-be-awesome show, fire me off an email (on the right hand side) by Friday, September 23rd @ noon CST with the subject line "Besnard Lakes/Malajube Giveaway" and your name in the email's body. Winning name will be drawn randomly sometime that afternoon and contacted shortly thereafter. As always, one entry per person please!

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Evening Headlines: Boats return home; Hooded Fang added to Cuff The Duke's show

First up, Hamilton indie-rock exports The Arkells are at the Pyramid on November 19th w/ San Sebastian.

Boats dock at the Lo Pub on November 5th. Zoppa opens (thanks to Dave for the info).

Shout out to my two-slurpees-a-day, much-music-video-flow-watching teenage years: Big Sugar are evidently still active and will rock the Burt on November 10th, alongside, wow, Wide Mouth Mason.

Toronto-situated singer-songwriter Lou Canon performs an in-store set at the Winnipeg Folk Festival shop on October 18th at 2:30 p.m.

Vancouver’s The Current Swell drop by the Pyramid on November 13th.

The Weber Brothers and Attica Riots are at the Park Theatre on November 11th.

And finally, add Hooded Fang to the Cuff the Duke bill at the Park Theatre on October 21st.

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Evening Headlines: Sarah Slean @ The WECC; Keith Price Trio/Quintet CD Release

First up, Sarah Slean brings her new record, Land & Sea, to the WECC on November 10th.

Tireless troubadour Peter Katz pops by the WECC on November 16th.

Violent Kin rock the Pyramid on September 28th.

Montreal/Halifax-based singer-songwriter Gabrielle Papillon performs at the Winnipeg Free Press cafe on October 12th.

Winnipeg's own Keith Price (aided by his trio/quintet) is releasing his sophomore album, Gaia/Goya, at Aqua Books on Saturday, September 24th. Yes, Aqua Books is still open. But for a finite time.

Dr. Zoo is at the Park Theatre on September 17th.

Finally, the Sumner Brothers and Steve Brockley are touring together, an extensive itinerary which includes at September 17th date at Times Change(d).

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Contest: Enter to win two tickets to see Royal Wood @ The WECC

Courtesy of our ol' pals at the West End Cultural Centre, I've got a pair of tickets to giveaway for Royal Wood's concert there on Sunday, September 18th, part of his interactive Sneak Peek Tour. Danielle Duval opens.

According to Royal's website:  "Each night on the Sneak Peek Tour Royal will be performing songs that are under consideration for his 2012 new album. Fans are encouraged to hit the world wide web (Facebook and twitter) and give their opinion on what songs they think should make the cut."

So make sure to bring your phone if you win!

And speaking of that, if you're interested in checking out the celebrated songsmith's performance and helping him cobble together his new record, fire me off an email (on the right hand side) by Tuesday, September 13th @ noon CST with the subject line "Royal Wood Ticket Giveaway" and your name in the email's body. Winning name will be drawn randomly sometime that afternoon and contacted shortly thereafter. As always, one entry per person please!

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