Hailing from Winnipeg, Imaginary Cities has started to make a name for themselves on the Canadian scene in a very short time. The band is comprised of the musical duo of Marti Sarbit and Rusty Matyas; Marti was previously playing in a cover band and Rusty is a multi-instrumentalist with the Weakerthans. Their debut, Temporary Resident which was released on February 22nd, 2011 has given them the opportunity to tour several countries and share their music.
Aidan Knight, who has been posted several times on the Sloth has just recently announced a tour through Wild Rose Country... That's Alberta for those of you who do not know. There will also be a show or two in BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Aidan said that this tour will put his Versicolour album to bed for a while. I expect he is gearing up towards the release of a new album within the next year or so.
Anyways, check out the dates below and the video for Jasper.
Tour:
9/25 - Lethbridge AB - The Slice - Solo Show*
9/26 - Medicine Hat AB - Riverside Park - Solo Show*
9/27 - Edmonton AB - The Haven - Solo Show*
10/1 - Canmore AB - Communitea - Solo Show*
*with guests Boreal Sons
9/20 - Vancouver BC - Biltmore Cabaret w Karkwa
9/23 - Nelson BC - Hume Hotel w Karkwa
9/24 - Calgary AB - The Gateway (On SAIT campus) w Karkwa
9/28 - Saskatoon SK - Roxy Theatre w Karkwa
9/29 - Winnipeg MB - WECC w Karkwa
Calgary homebody, Chad VanGaalen is set to tour in support of his most recent release Diaper Island. He will be conducting his tour throughout the U.S. and Canada this fall. Here is the list of dates. Make sure to support this guy if he is playing near you.
Tour Dates:
Chad VanGaalen
October 6 :: Portland, OR :: Holocene
October 8 :: Santa Cruz, CA :: Crepe Place
October 9 :: Los Angeles, CA :: Culture Collide :: FILTER Magazine’s Culture Collide festival
October 10 :: San Diego , CA :: Soda Bar
October 11 :: San Francisco, CA :: Café du Nord
October 13 :: Eugene , OR :: Sam Bond`s
October 14 :: Seattle, WA :: Sunset :: Details
October 15 :: Vancouver, BC :: The Rio :: More info here
October 22 :: Halifax, NS :: St. Antonios Community Hall
October 23 :: Fredericton, NB :: The Capital Complex
October 25 :: Montreal, QC :: La Sala Rossa
October 26 :: Kingston, ON :: Chalmers United Church
October 27 :: Ottawa, ON :: Ritual Nightclub
October 28 :: Toronto, ON :: The Mod Club Theatre
November 4 :: Edmonton, AB :: Myer Horowitz Theatre
November 5 :: Calgary, AB :: Central United Church
November 16 :: Regina, SK :: The Exchange
November 17 :: Saskatoon, SK :: Roxy Theatre
November 18 :: Winnipeg, MB :: West End Cultural Centre
Below you can check out some tracks from his newest album (Sara, Peace on the Rise) as well as one of my favorites from his 2008 release Soft Airplane (Willow Tree).
Well summer is coming to end, the weather is changing, we head back to school, to work and etc. But I hope this post will bring you some listening joy over the month of September and while the good weather lasts. This post will feature the return of the "Is's and Ought to Be's" segment that fell to way side during Bryce's adventures in France and my general busyness of the summer. Therefore this week long edition will feature the albums that profoundly impacted us here at Blue Sloth and then those disappointing albums that were anticipated more then the crisp taste of Miller Highlife and glistening waters of Lake Koocanusa. Day 1 will feature April, Day 2 May and so forth. Enjoy!
April - Is's
TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light
April was a very light month in term of alternative and indie releases, but what April did include was TV on the Radio's Nine Types of Light LP. To this day this album remains one of my most listened to albums of 2011. What I feel TVOTR did with this record was enjoy it, where as there previous effort Dear Science is a very emotional album with tracks like "Family Tree" and "Lover's Day". Don't get me wrong, those are excellent songs and I still enjoy that album. However, Nine Types of Light fills me with a sense of optimism and positivity with tracks like "Killer Crane". Featuring lyrics such as "sunshine I saw you through the hanging vine, a memory of what is mine fading away, but this night heals the ground, and the moonlight steals the sound, I could leave suddenly unafraid." I can't help but feel like I should be out in the summer sun when listen to this album and with songs like "Will do", "Keep Your Heart" and "Repetition" you can't help but enjoy this album.
Augustana have made a name for themselves with their piano and melody driven love songs such as "Fire" and "Hey Now" from there previous album Can't Hurt, Can't Love. With their April release of their self-titled album they worked with KOL producer Jacquire King, which has been famed for helping bands create stadium worthy, bigger sounds. Yet, this is not what Augustana is, nor should be, it feels like a want-to-be Killers album with Augustana trying to force the emotion of Can't Hurt, Cant Love into it. It just doesn't work and they should realize not every band can have what happened to Kings of Leon happen to them, just return to what works for them and experiment within your own limitations.
Past Polaris Prize winner Patrick Watson teamed up with the Montreal duo Esmerine to create this song for Lhasa de Sela who was a great Canadian artist. Lhasa died on January 1, 2010 at the age of 37 from breast cancer. Her death sent waves through the Montreal music community.
The following song was a tribute to her. It is called Snow Day For Lhasa because after her death Watson said that it snowed for 4 days straight.
Courtesy of CBC Radio 2 I came across Whitehorse recently. Hailing from Winnipeg, this music duo is comprised of Canadian music veterans Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland who have married their talents (they're married in real life too). The self-titled was just released on August 30th... Check out some tour dates below.
Tour:
09.20.11 - MONTREAL QC - Le Petit Campus w/ Frazey Ford
09.21.11 - TORONTO ON - The Glenn Gould Studio w/ Frazey Ford
09.23.11 - OTTAWA ON - Mavericks
09.17.11 - NEW YORK NY - The Living Room w/ Frazey Ford
09.18.11 - PHILADELPHIA PA - Tin Angel 7:30pm w/ Frazey Ford
09.19.11 - BOSTON MA - Club Passim 8pm w/ Frazey Ford
09.30.11 - HAMILTON ON - The Studio at Hamilton Place
Check out a couple tracks below and one of my favorite songs by them Emerald Isle is the iTunes free single... so go get it!
Ever since I heard Lana Del Ray on Sirius XMU last week, her song "Video Games" is on repeat in my head. I can't help to get a sense of Lykke Li influence in Del Rey's styling, however she makes the song all her own. Check out the video for "Video Games" above and check into Blue Sloth for more updates on her upcoming album. But for now you can look forward to a "Video Games" 7" with a B-side titled "Blue Jeans" due out October 9 digitally, and on limited edition vinyl October 10.
Happy Tuesday internet world, I thought you could start your day off with new a single from Florida dorm room rockers, Surfer Blood. "Miranda" is the first single from the Tarot Classics EP, the follow up to the widely received Astro Coast LP. Tarot Classics is due out October 25 via Kanine, but for now head over to Pitchfork to hear "Miranda" and check out a couple convincing tracks from Astro Coast below.
This Saturday, August 27th the local independent radio station CJSW is hosting the third portion of their summer concert series. The concert is taking place down at Olympic Plaza and runs from 7:00 to 10:00pm! The weather is supposed to be beautiful this Saturday in Calgary and the local music talent will be great.
Indie super producer James Blake has teamed up with Justin Vernon from Bon Iver for a new track. It features a mostly auto-tuned Vernon, sounding more circa For Emma, Forever ago than his new self-titled Bon Iver effort. In this case, I think it's a good thing. Nonetheless, it is definitely growing on me and James Blake sure does know how to make a track. Check out the song below.
