Beach House
Beach House
No the Peak Performance Project is not a scientific study for sexual enhancement drugs it’s actually a musical contest with a ton of money on the line. The first-place prize is $100000 with runners up getting $75000 and $50000 respectively. There are only 12 acts left in the contest meaning there are some sort of fractions odds and numbers at play here. I don’t know I’m terrible at math. Someone will get money soon is my point.
The second week of finals for the contest kicks off again with a show at the Republik on Thursday September 25. This one will feature performances from SAVK The Scenic Route to Alaska and The Royal Foundry.
If you feel like travelling to Banff to enjoy some Cancon in the mountains you could check out long-running Toronto indie-folk outfit The Wooden Sky who just recently released their latest album Let’s Be Ready. They’ll perform with High Ends (a.k.a. Yukon Blonde’s Jeffrey Innes) at The Banff Centre on Thursday night.
Whether you’re a fan of Celtic punk rock or you are bespectacled director Martin Scorsese himself you’ll surely want to make your way to MacEwan Hall on Friday September 26 when long-running Bostonian punk band Dropkick Murphys will make their triumphant return (every return is triumphant to someone). If you see kilts in the pit beware of dangling junk.
For a strange (and free!) event on Friday September 26 Festival Hall will host their second annual Doppelsingers party which is an evening of artists covering other artists. The acts signed up to perform include Axis of Conversation JJ Shiplett Wakefield Brewster Barnaby Bennett Kenna Burima the 6L6s Polyjesters Astral Swans and Michael Dunn. They’ll take on music from a wide variety of artists from singer-songwriters like Corb Lund and Feist to rock’n’roll bands like The Dudes and Nickelback.
On Saturday September 27 Tubby Dog will play host to a fascinating showcase of local pop experimenters. Darkwave performer Chalks will celebrate the release of her debut EP Unicorn Terror and she’ll be joined by like-minded local Tigerwing as well as the self-described “AGGRESSIVE DANCE QUEER REVOLUTION” of Conduit!
For something that goes down a little more easily you can’t go wrong with the pastel-hued indie-pop lite of Beach House. The long-running duo are currently bringing their sounds on a cross-Canada tour which includes a performance at the Republik on Saturday night.
Otherwise your best bet would be to check out Ought when they play at The Palomino on Saturday night. The first tried-and-true four-piece rock band to call experimental imprint Constellation home they manage to pack traditional song structures with enormous ideas that draw on a rich history of post-punk.
