I. Cox’s Sharona
Attendees might remember Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox getting a little snarky when they hit Sled Island in 2008 but nothing really compares to reports of his other band Atlas Sound’s recent Minneapolis appearance. After a heckler obnoxiously requested that the band play The Knack’s “My Sharona” Cox replied “I am a performance artist. I must play what you want to hear.” What followed was an hour-long interpretation of the song punctuated by Cox’s lunacy. As City Pages reports “He asked people to take their clothes off. He shouted seemingly intoxicated defences about his art. He simulated fellatio.” Fun!
II. 2012 = 2112
Say what you will about Rush’s dad-approved brand of proggy classic rock but anyone who can simultaneously play weird bass lines up top and synthesizers with their feet while delivering nasally sci-fi-themed vocals has my approval. The Governor General apparently agrees as the band was awarded a $25000 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award on March 6 here in Calgary. Along with the money which will surely go towards tinted sunglasses and a mountain of drum hardware the band also received a commemorative medallion from the Royal Canadian Mint.
III. Big Wreck indeed
Reunion fever has meant all kinds of ’90s American bands joining forces to cash in on their credibility from Pavement through At the Drive-In. Unfortunately the ’90s were a douchey time in Canada as demonstrated by the bands that are coming back. Treble Charger the Tea Party I Mother Earth and now Big Wreck (who just announced a Calgary show on May 5) are vying for you to reinsert your eyebrow ring and come out for some big shiny tunes.
IV. Coasting
I was really hoping that once the thrill wore off people would finally clue in to the steaming pile of mediocrity that is Best Coast. Apparently I was wrong and rhyming “boyfriend” with “boyfriend” in every song makes for an impressive career. The bafflingly shitty duo recently announced the details for their sophomore effort The Only Place which will be the soundtrack for many a teenage Tumblr session on May 15. There’s even a song called “Why I Cry” which suggests that Bethany Cosentino’s kindergarten-level rhyme schemes will remain intact.
V. Melvan
If you like the idea of filling your driveway with expensive probably immobile rock memorabilia listen up! Melvins’ 1972 Dodge Sportsman Royal Van best known as the Melvan is currently up for sale from eBay user taddoyal. The giant brown beast was one of the band’s first tour vehicles and boasts tons of graffiti by Kurt Cobain himself. As of press time the bid is sitting upwards of $70000 with the reserve not met.
