11 Questions With...The Fast Romantics

>> Wednesday, 26 August 2009

Hailing from Calgary, promising indie-rockers The Fast Romantics are rolling through town next week, primed and ready to showcase all the highly diverse, wonderfully melodic tunes off their eponymous debut at the Pyramid on September 6th. And I've got a pair of their cds to give away if you're interested. Simply shoot me an email (on the side bar) by Tuesday @ 3 p.m. with the subject line "The Fast Romantics CD Giveaway", your full name in the body, and I'll draw the winner randomly.

Plus, the band's vocalist Matthew Angust was nice enough to take part in my not-yet-but-maybe-one-day legendary "11 Questions", and below he reveals which artist he listens to in the shower, sheds a new perspective on 'desert island albums' criteria, and gives props to South Park. Enjoy!

1. Where are you right now?

We're all on our couches in Calgary, recovering from what was an incredibly successful CD release party on Saturday night. Packed house, amazing hard-partying crowd. Great way to kick off the tour!

2. Who is the best Calgary-based band (other than your own, of course)?

That would have to be our friends Secret Broadcast. We like them so much that we even decided to go on this Canadian tour with them.

3. What are your top three, all-time, desert-island records?

That is ridiculously hard, but we'll try. Ask us tomorrow and you'll get different answers. But if we had to board the plane to the desert island right this second, let's take... The Clash's "London Calling", Blur's "13", and David Bowie's "Low".
In case you're curious about tomorrow, it would probably be Radiohead's "OK Computer", The Beatles White Album (with double albums you get twice as many songs. When on a desert island, you have to think about quantity too, I think). And as for the third one, hmm, probably Spoon's "Gimme Fiction".

4. What’s one song you love, but regularly dismiss as a “guilty pleasure”?

Lead guitarist Matty K sometimes listens to Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" when he needs a good cry. As for me, sometimes I like to listen to Bjork in the shower. I can't really name a particular song, in most of her songs she sounds like a dying whale, but in some sick way it's nice.

5. What was the last great concert you saw?

Radiohead in Vancouver in the pouring rain with no raincoat.

6. Who is one producer, alive or dead, that you’d just love to work with?

I think we'd all agree that Nigel Goderich would be a great producer to work with. Or Danger Mouse. Or George Martin. You keep asking for one answer, and I keep giving you many. Us Fast Romantics have a habit of over-pleasuring.

7. PC or Mac?

Mac. I wouldn't even know how to use a PC, they're weird. Alan, our drummer, he still uses a PC, but he has special powers.

8. Simpsons, South Park, or Family Guy?

South Park.

9. Would you rather have invisibility or flight?

Flight. If I needed to be invisible, I could just fly up where no one could see me. Easy.

10. What book(s) are you currently reading?

While we're all really really avid readers, I'm not currently reading anything, which is sacrilegious. But this band is a full time gig, these days we only get the chance to eat, sleep, and rock.

11. And finally…who’s your favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, or Raphael?

My mum didn't let me watch the Ninja turtles because it was too violent, so I called Matty K to ask him. He says Leonardo.

Infinite Playlist: The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa

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Oh, You'd Better Believe That's A Paddlin'

>> Monday, 24 August 2009

Acclaimed West Coast alt-rockers Immaculate Machine swoop by the Lo Pub on September 6th.

The King Khan & BBQ show returns to the Peg - look for it at the Albert on November 28th.

The Park Theatre, which has emerged, imo, as a pretty fantastic live venue over these past years, is celebrating its 4th birthday over the second weekend of September. The festivities kick off Friday the 11th with local heroes Tele and Dime Store Macy's rockin' the joint; LeBeato and Royal Canoe the next night; and folkies Oh My Darling wrapping things up Sunday. Tix are a sawbuck each night.

Stratovarious is at the Garrick on September 27th.

The Creepshow
play the Albert on November 3rd w/ Hypnohonics & The Dreadnoughts.

Infinite Playlist: YACHT - See Mystery Lights

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She Had Wet Hair / Say What You Will

>> Thursday, 20 August 2009

Preeminent hip-hopper Lupe Fiasco will be at the U of M on September 18th as the headliner for the university’s "Party at the Parkade" event (What a score!). Tickets are 35 bones, but slashed to a paltry $20 if you’re a student. Not entirely sure if this deal is exclusive to U of M students, because this U of Wer would love the break in price. Show is all ages.

Resident rockers The Perms are at the Academy on September 4th w/ Floor 13. Tix are a mere fin.

Apostle of Hustle open for Gogol Bordello at the Burt on October 3rd.

The Harddrive Live Tour featuring All That Remains and Lacuna Coil rolls through these parts on October 30th, stopping in at the Garrick.

Dry Run are at the Pyramid on September 10th w/ No Other Way.

Minto will appear there on October 10th.

And finally, on October 16th, the Pyramid hosts a triple bill of vitaminsforyou, Circle Square and the google-proof Get Famous.

Infinite Playlist: Japandroids - Post-Nothing

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You Are So Beautiful To Us

>> Wednesday, 19 August 2009

I completely forgot to mention this last post: Pitchfork BNMers Japandroids have scheduled a make up date for their make up date which was a make up date for, actually, I'm not sure how many times they've bailed due to illness - there's been at least two - but anyway, they'll materialize at the Lo Pub on September 11. Expect this to sell out! I'm pretty keyed up for this!

Also, the good folks over at CBC Radio Two recorded Iron & Wine's enchanting set from this year's Folk Fest (well, most of it) and it can be found here if you're interested.

Infinite Playlist: Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

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Lioness, Grand Analog - Live At The Pyramid

>> Monday, 17 August 2009

Stopped in at the Pyramid on Saturday night and caught Toronto's dance-rockers Lioness. Their singer, Vanessa Fletcher, has this beautiful, soulful croon and her pipes welded perfectly onto the drummer's fluid rhythms and the bassist's throbbing lines, resulting in a contagious sound that almost everyone gleefully danced along to (except The Dudes who yelled "play something with guitar chords"). I suspected they're very insecure dancers.

I've mentioned my love of local hip hop/rock/funk/soul-mashuppers Grand Analog on here a couple times, so I was right irritated they didn't take the stage until 1:10 (Lioness didn't start until past midnight). By this time I was engaged in a fierce battle with the relentless Sandman, slugged him a few times (read: lasted several songs), then was TKOed around 1:35. A weeks' worth of intermittent, non-refreshing sleeps finally got the better of me. Next time I'll down a few Red Bulls. From what I heard though, Grand Analog were nothing short of great.

***

Not a lot new happenings these dreary days, but here's a few of note:

Classified is at the Pyramid on September 16th.

Collective Soul still exist! and are performing at the Burt on October 12th.

Infinite Playlist: melee of The Dirty Projectors - Bite Orca / Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix / Delorean - Ayrton Senna

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I Will Fight The Time, And I'll Bring You Back

>> Friday, 14 August 2009

Quick update before I head to the Lo Pub for Young Rival.

The Sheepdogs are at Times Change(d) on October 10th.

Dropkick Murphys play the Burt on November 16th.

The Fast Romantics
drop by the Pyramid on September 6th.

And finally, if you're looking for a cheap show ($10ish) with an impressive lineup, Lioness are at the Pyramid tomorrow night with one of my favourite hip-hop acts Grand Analog. It's worth $10 alone just to hear Lioness play this catchy-as-can-be dancy song (I've had it on repeat the past few days). I'll be there.

Infinite Playlist: M83 - Saturdays = Youth

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My Whole Life Is Like A Picture Of A Sunny Day

>> Saturday, 8 August 2009

Some shows to pass along:

Seasoned horror-punk outfit The Misfits swing by the Pyramid on November 6th.

The synth-pop-loving Dragonette play the WECC on October 12th.

Young Rival are at the Lo Pub on August 14th (I sampled some of their tunes via MySpace earlier; pretty solid, pretty solid indeed).

Kram Ran will release his next EP on September 11th at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church.

The Rock The Bells hip-hop showcase featuring Slaughterhouse, Slum Village, and Supernatural takes place at the Pyramid on August 21st.

Shiloh is at the Park Theatre on September 9th with Latency.

Infinite Playlist: Sleater-Kinney - The Woods

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