clouds of sounds on nan-town

so, I've been told that hank pine and lily fawn will be opening for the uncas, an alt-country band from alberta, at the queens this sunday. I will finally be able to witness the spectacle of lily, dressed as a fawn, doing her dance as she drums and playing the saw? and hank, who wears a mask, and presumably performs unprecedented feats of showmanship? I don't know, I've heard such rumours.

DOWNLOAD: hank and lily - the junkie shuffle

the scout hut proved an adorable little rock and roll venue last weekend. I wasn't as blown away by bend sinister as I'd expected based on the song I couldn't stop listening to last week, but maybe it was just that I was really tired. they were heavier than I expected, but still pretty catchy. the dirt on rocked pretty hard, though it annoyed me when they got screamy. I kept wishing they would be more like wolf parade, because it seemed like they could be if they tried, but clearly that's not what they're going for. I personally like more vocally driven music and less jamming around. the paper cranes were enjoyable as always, though maybe not as good as the last time I saw them. the cora wounded did their share of jamming about and screaming, which of course is not really my thing. I found the opening band, hot fuck, particularly charming, and look forward to seeing more of them.

I also just found out that the grates, an australian band I just fell in love with, are playing in vancouver with we are scientists on march 29th, the same day I was planning to see metric and islands (featuring former members of the unicorns) in victoria. dilemma.
to hear these bands, tune in to indiecontextual thursday (tomorrow/today) at 4pm (101.7 fm in nanaimo, or www.chly.ca). what should I do?

now playing: the magnetic fields - born on a train

have you been punched in the gut by jesus lately?

exciting news this week. wintersleep and akron/family will both be visiting our fine town in march.

wintersleep is one of my favourite bands. I saw them twice last year, once in victoria with my roommate/partner in rock, jamie, and once in vancouver. we talked to the guys in the band in victoria, and they were about the nicest guys in the universe. jamie couldn't make the vancouver show so she made some cookies for me to take to the band instead. take note, bands like cookies. they pulled out a vinyl copy of their latest album and all wrote thank yous to jamie on it. and now once again they are leaving halifax to visit us on this side, and this time coming right to nanaimo (maybe because of the cookies). the venue has yet to be announced but they will be in town on march 30th with the contrived and jill barber.

DOWNLOAD: wintersleep - danse macabre

akron/family is a foursome based in new york. they have their own religion. it's called ak. my brother called me a couple weeks ago from montreal and told me about an incredibly moving show that he recently attended and told me that I must witness it for myself if at all possible. I checked out their music and it reminded me a lot of the most serene republic, a bit of animal collective, and at times of hawksley workman, wintersleep and iron and wine. it's pretty much everything I love. a blog I was reading today said seeing akron/family was like a punch in the gut from jesus. and lucky me, and lucky you, akron/family will be bringing the ak to the cambie on march 2nd. don't miss it!

DOWNLOAD: akron/family - running, returning

but before all that happens, the show I'm looking forward to this month (besides my band, old phoebe's second show at the cambie feb 17th) is the all ages show february 18th at the scout hut. looks like a great lineup of five bands from van/vic/nan including victoria's paper cranes, who I first saw opening for wolf parade, the greatest band in the universe, and who totally rock, and vancouver's bend sinister, who I don't know anything about except that the songs on their myspace sound pretty damn good. there is also a band called hot fuck (aka we're action aka grrr....badger).

DOWNLOAD: bend sinister - fool to love

now playing: akron/family - shoes