The Black Keys @ The Corral in Calgary, Alberta

(Credit to the Calgary Herald for this picture from last nights show)

Myself and my good friend Davey were two of the very fortunate people that were able to attend the sold out Black Keys show last night at the Corral. Hear is a quick synopsis of the show for those of you that couldn't make the show. The Corral as a venue is questionable at best, and little small for The Black Keys but it did create a pretty awesome atmosphere. Anyway, Cage the Elephant opened the show at about 8:15 pm with six song set. We enjoyed "Shake Me Down", "Around My Head", and "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" and they gave it 110% but the sound quality just wasn't there. But with clean audio, I would definitely check them out again.

The Black Keys, not only did what Cage the Elephant couldn't do with the venue, they made The Corral their Bitch. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney understand what live music is and adapted to concrete tomb that is The Corral. They opened their set with four songs from albums including Attack & Release ranging to Rubber Factory. The show had pretty simple set up with Auerbach on the right of the stage, Carney perched up on the left and some average lighting until it revolutionized with bright light lettering of "THE BLACK KEYS" and some art house style video. This for all intents and purposes made it feel like a damn good rock concert. This continued as they crushed performances of Brothers tunes including "Howlin' for You", "Next Girl", "Everlasting Light", "She's Long Gone" and of course "Tighten Up". They finished up the show with encore performances of "Sinister Kid" and "Your Touch" from Magic Potion which was an epic closer. The one and only criticism of the Keys was their set was a little under an hour and half which could have been longer, offering maybe some tunes from Chulahoma and little more from the other albums. Or is this me asking for to much of good thing? Nonetheless, The Black Keys were one of the best live acts I have ever seen and if you ever get a chance to see them, there is no excuse worthy of missing The Black Keys.

- Spence

Video: Coldplay - "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall"

Coldplay, what to say, arguably one of the most influential bands of the young millennium and in 2011 they are back with a new (yet to be titled) album. The first single is "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall", which most of you have probably heard a few times. However, Coldplay released the video for the new single today. It features the edgy, cleaned up looking Chris Martin and his band-mates in a grungy abandoned building with a time lapse of the song and a bright neon flood throughout. As you might remember from Viva la Vida, everything had an almost Civil War theme to it, especially Chris Martin jacket. It's looking like the new album will have this neon-ravy feel to it, I like it and I am continually impressed with how Coldplay finds new motivation and inspiration for each new album. Check out the video below!



- Spence

Frightened Rabbit Live @ Rockness

I recently came across the footage of one of my favorite bands, Scotland's Frightened Rabbit playing live at Rockness Music Festival. I fell in love with this band after their album Midnight Organ Fight which is a must have and more recently, their 2010 effort Winter of Mixed Drinks. So if you haven't given these guys a listen I suggest you do starting with the their Rockness performance of "Swim Till You Can't See Land" and what appears to be a new song "Scottish Wind".



- Spence

Blue Sloth Returns ... with three new songs from Dan Mangan

Hello internet world, I have been slacking astronomically here on Blue Sloth since summer has began but I promise to get back on the horse and posting great indie and Canadian indie rock news, events and new material. Starting with three new songs from Bryce and I's favorite west coast Canadian indie artist Dan Mangan. The three tunes, available off Lecargo.org are acoustic versions of songs from the upcoming album due to be released this fall. I love the new tracks and I think you will to. Keep tuning for more info on the new album as I come across it but for now, here are "Leaves, Trees, Forest", "Oh Fortune", and "Post-War Blues".

This post is dedicated to the Blue Sloth co-creator Bryce, he is currently biking his way across France! Keep it up man!







- Spence

MTV Unplugged: Lykke Li

Hello internet friends, sorry for the long hiatus on blogging over the last two weeks. In finishing up school, starting work and my partner in crime Bryce heading off to France it's been a little crazy. So I would like to wish Bryce the best of luck over the next three months in France and he will be missed, if any of our followers are in France, send him a message through the blog and maybe you can meet up.

Anyway I was very excited to see that MTV has finally released the video to Canada for MTV Unplugged: Lykke Li. The performance includes stripped down, passionate renditions of Wounded Rhymes highlights "Sadness is a Blessing", "I Follow Rivers" and the only good thing to come from the Twilight movies and one of my favorite song of 2010, "Possibility". Click HERE to head over to MTV Canada to check out the performance, you won't be disappointed.

- Spence

Bon Iver Album Details

As promised, here are more details on the upcoming Bon Iver album. The extremely anticipated follow up to For Emma, Forever is self titled (artwork above) and will be released June 21st via Jagjaguwar. Check out the track list below, which includes a track called "Calgary" (for you that don't know, Calgary is the city that Bryce and I are from). I'm very interested to hear what it is about and if means Calgary may be seeing a tour date. Anyway, here the tracks and stay tuned for more details such as singles and tour dates as they become available.

01 Perth
02 Minnesota, WI
03 Holocene
04 Towers
05 Michicant
06 Hinnom, TX
07 Wash.
08 Calgary
09 Lisbon, OH
10 Beth/Rest

- Spence

Some New Tunes on a Tuesday

Here are a couple new singles from upcoming ablums of Cass McCombs' Wit's End and My Morning Jacket's Circuital . Cass is an amazing, well respected songwriter that will just get you hooked and My Morning Jacket are Southern indie rock veterans who have inspired bands such as Fleet Foxes. Anyway check out the tracks.

Cass McCombs - "The Lonely Doll" (Free Download from Soundcloud)



Cass McCombs - The Lonely Doll

My Morning Jacket - "Circuital" (Free Download from MMJ's WEBSITE)



My Morning Jacket - Circuital

Must Watch: New Bon Iver Album Teaser

Justin Vernon and the boys behind Bon Iver are gearing up to release their new album this summer, and after their debut effort For Emma, Forever Ago, this is definitely out most anticipated album of the year here a Blue Sloth. Released today was a 50 second teaser video for the new album, check it out and see what you think. It's not much to go off of but so far, sounds good!

Untitled from Bon Iver on Vimeo.

- Spence

Yellow Bird Project

Thanks to Dan Mangan's tweet the other day I came across the Yellow Bird Project. The project was started by a couple university grads that, like Bryce and myself wanted to spread the word about indie music but also wanted to give something back. The Yellow Bird Project is a non-profit organization out of Montreal that commissions indie artist such as Bon Iver, Hayden, The National and Broken Social Scene to design t-shirts (American Apparel to!) that will be sold via Yellow Bird Project with proceeding going to various charities. I bought a couple t-shirts and a hoodie yesterday and I already want to buy some more. Head on over to Yellow Bird Project to get the full story and buy some shirts!

- Spence

New Dan Mangan Album Teasers

Dan Mangan is undoubtedly one of our favorite Canadian artist here on Blue Sloth and we are highly, highly anticipating his follow up to Nice, Nice, Very Nice. But for now you can check out a couple teasers for the new album which is due out in September or October of this year. They don't give much a way in terms the sound of the new album, but it looks like Dan and the boy will be really exploring their vocal range and instrumentals this time around. See for yourself!





- Spence