Riff Raff’s back
If you missed neon-clad rap exhibitionist Riff Raff when he was here last summer (and may or may not have shared a joint with a crowd-surfing hardcore kid) fret not. The brightly clothed colourful character will return to Commonwealth on Thursday February 27 as part of a cross-Canada tour.
His long-awaited debut album Neon Icon has been delayed yet again but that doesn’t mean he’s not touring in support of some fancy merch. Over on his website you can buy some ridiculously garish slide-on sandals. They’ll run you $100 but they’ll also get you front-of-line access and a meet-and-greet with the artist himself. Apparently the sandals will get you VIP access to Riff Raff shows for life. So if you feel like wearing some comically goofy sandals to a Calgary show in February get yourself some Riff Raff sandals.
A different sandal-clad set recently converged on Festival Hall for the Birkenstock Ball. Whether you still feel like wearing Jesus shoes or not the venue’s hosting another folk happening on Thursday night as Montreal’s Mark Berube shares the stage with The Bros. Landreth .
A few blocks away the Ironwood will host a folk show of their own with Ottawa singer-songwriter Kalle Mattson and local pop outfit Boreal Sons .
For something a little more challenging that night the local Bug Incision record label and booking concern will host another stacked bill at Emmedia. Experimental drone guitarist Bitter Fictions (the project of Fast Forward Weekly contributor and known grump Devin Friesen) will headline the show. He’ll be joined by a three-way collaboration between Chris Dadge Dicey Parks and Scott Munro plus sets from Jonathon Wilcke and Moss Harvest .
It’s still funny that the name “Regina” rhymes with that other word isn’t it? Be sure to ask the members of Regina indie rock group Rah Rah if you happen to check them out when they play The Gateway on Thursday night. Otherwise we’ll just assume that it’s definitely still a great and funny thing. Regina — that’s hilarious!
On Saturday March 1 the Hifi Club will celebrate nine years of existence with an anniversary party. The club’s excellent diverse programming is well represented with some rock acts including locals The Night Committee and Edmonton’s The Wet Secrets and in-demand American DJs like Christian Martin and DJ Sabo . Club owners and renowned performers Smalltown DJs will also host the party. Here’s to nine more years guys.
That’s not the only option for a Saturday night party however as life-affirming Montreal punk duo Solids will bring the jams from their recent Blame Confusion LP to the Palomino. That’s not the only reason for a trip to the merch table however as locals Star City Lights will celebrate the release of a new 7-inch.
