So many Goings On you won’t know what to do with yourself
Let’s keep these brief because yeesh there’s a lot to get to. To start the soon-to-be-less-local Fast Romantics kick off a two-year tour with a set at the Marquee Room on Saturday May 1. The band’s keyboard-heavy jams hold some of the city’s best pop so be sure to join The Shagbots and Co-Pilots in giving a proper goodbye.
Things get noisier on Saturday May 1 at Dickens Pub. Anyone who’s been mourning the Warehouse and the goth-industrial bands it attracted will be pleased to see Left Spine Down Chemlab and 16 Volt together for a night of synth-and-guitar mayhem. Looks like former Warehouse booker Isaac Creasey is keeping his scene alive.
Earlier that day De La Soul put on a free show at Olympic Plaza as part of the third annual LiveStyle Urban Arts Festival. The bill is mostly local ( Ricca Razor Sharp Equazn Dragon Fli Empire and Blist are just a few of the artists performing) but the hugely influential trio is the main draw. Seriously if a free De La Soul set can’t pack Olympic Plaza on a Saturday afternoon something is seriously wrong.
If you prefer your folk-pop a bit more contemporary though hold off a day and head to Cori Brewster at the new Ironwood. The Canmore troubadour has been chronicling Alberta’s past culminating in last year’s Buffalo Street and the results are essential for folkies and history buffs alike. Edmonton’s Ben Sures will open the May 3 show adding his sharply observed character sketches to the mix.
Then on Tuesday May 4 Ontario rockers The Spades will hit the Palomino stage. The band is on the road flogging its Gord Sinclaire-produced album Subatomic so if the Tragically Hip’s seal of approval means anything to you well there it is.
And ending things on an essential note Bob Wiseman will be at Broken City next Thursday May 6. The one-time Blue Rodeo keyboardist has become one of Canada’s most essential musical weirdos through his collaborations with Wilco The Hidden Cameras and plenty more plus his solo efforts and his work with excellent Toronto label Blocks Recording Club. Don’t miss it.
Unless you’re missing it to see L.A. hip hop crew Living Legends at the Republik. The group’s biggest export MURS won’t be there but it’ll still be a hell of a show.
