Local rocker covers the Mountain Goats
The month of September starts off nicely with a performance by underrated local indie-folk singer-songwriter Jon Gant. Listeners will be bobbing and swinging to his deep croon September 11 at The Marquee Room featuring a special performance by ex-Dirty Dirty North front man Braden Funchner. Funchner has decided to forgo the playing of his delightfully quirky pop nuggets to perform a selection of the wonderfully tender yet driving acoustic punk rock of the Mountain Goats. Singing along is encouraged hugging and fist waving while singing is a must.
While there are fewer show opportunities September brings tough decisions as it will inevitably be difficult to choose between overlapping shows. Hot Little Rocket will fire up the engines all night for their 10th anniversary party at The Marquee Room on Saturday September 13 which their myspace page promises will feature special guests “fun” “prizes” and “all the hits.” In other words a guaranteed party.
Across the tracks Michael Bernard Fitzgerald will tear through his repertoire of playful alt-rock jams at the HiFi Club with the dramatic twisting and slinking of guests The Grim Beat to get the night started right.
The following Thursday September 18 features two more appearances by Calgary artists though the choices offer two entirely different musical experiences. At Broken City almost every Calgary-based working hip hop act will grace the stage throughout the night with the unshakeable Dragon Fli Empire to head the pack. Ricca Razor Sharp Jim Brown Cam the Wizard and Blist will get all the motors running for the Empire. And though their intriguing and excellent debut album In Flesh Tones is already available on Absolutely Kosher experimental electro-pop trio Azeda Booth will nevertheless celebrate its release at The Marquee Room with the commanding rock of Key to the City lending a hand.
As if to propel us like a slingshot into the flurry of activity that will hopefully envelop October Seven Story Redhead will close out the month with the release of their long-awaited debut album at the Palomino on September 26. And they’re not just bringing their moms — Winnipeg’s indie rock sensations Novillero and The Details will be there to double and triple the fun with local working-class rockers The Lions rounding out the bill.
