Streetlight Manifesto - "Everything Goes Numb"

As far as third wave ska goes, it doesnt get much better then Streetlight Manifesto.
Taking the manic energy of punk and putting an extremly talented brass line behind it while playing in what sounds like fast forward, its hard not to get up and start skanking whenever I hear these guys. I saw them live not to long ago and I dont think I'll ever forget it, the bearded sax player doing scissor kicks, the doc martin boots I kept getting to the face, the massive sing alongs. Formed from the remains of Catch 22 and in my opinion, far better.... Streetlight Manifesto isn't a band you should miss! Enjoy!

01- Everything Went Numb
02- That'll be the Day
03- Point/Counterpoint
04- If and When We Rise Again
05- A Better Place, A Better Time
06- We are The Few
07- Falling, Falling
08- Here's To Life
09- A Moment of Silence
10- A Moment of Violence
11- The Saddest Song
12- The Big Sleep

Download it Here!

The Max Levine Ensemble - OK Smartypants

I find it hard to believe I haven't talked about these guys before on this blog; they only happen to be one of my favorite bands currently active. Oh well, better late then never.
I have posted before about the wonderful D.I.Y collective known as Plan-It X Records. In case you didn't read it way back when, they are a do-it-yourself record label rub by Chris Clavin. A diverse nucleus of bands, ranging from indie to folk (including some of my favorite bands, like Defiance Ohio and This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb) operate out of it, often sharing members with one another. The Max Levine Ensemble is one of them.
A classic three piece pop punk band in the spirit of Screeching Weasel and Blink 182, The Max Levine Ensemble was actually once a fast paced third wave ska band. They were fantastic back then, and they are fantastic now. Always love it when a band can evolve without sucking. Please also understand that when I say pop punk, I mean a punk band that plays poppy, catchy riffs. I don't mean Warped Tour style, basketball jersey clad "Pop Punk" (which has its place, dont get me wrong.)
They play bratty, irresistable pop riffs with surprisingly complex structures and deep lyrics that touch on concepts like hometowns, loss, terrible radio stations, and that girl you once loved who changes with the seasons. Its all done up tempo with the kind of energy that only comes with youth. Don't miss this band while they are still young, everything they have done is amazing. This just happens to be my favorite album.
For a D.I.Y album, the production is surprisingly slick and each song fades into the next... this only add's to it. Alot of "punk" bands shy away from nice production, but The Max Levine Ensemble embraces and loves it.
Track highlights are "Nuclearadio" and "Summer, Like The Season." Enjoy this album like you enjoy the summer!

1. One Click.
2. Thrash Mt. Towson.
3. Firetoowwweerrr.
4. Aren't All Songs Political? Are’nt All Songs Vaguely Self Referential?
5. Nuclearadio.
6. The Accident.
7. Small Talk. ( Blah, Blah, Blah )
8. Love, Capital L
9. You’re Bitter.
10. Franny And Hooey.
11. Complex Machines.
12. The Loss.
13. Summer, Like The Season.
14. I Loved To Watch Them…

The Max Levine Ensemble, in true D.I.Y fashion, post all of there music online for free download. Go to their official website, scroll to the album, and download it for free Here!

startabandstartabandstartaband

I'm sitting here waiting for some guys to come over and play music with me and I just thought I would share a bit of what I am up to currently, as far as bands go and whatnot. I've been posting on this blog for about a year predominantly on music, so it would seem kinda funny if I wasn't an active musician myself.

First of all, and this won't be huge news to many people, my old band is getting back together. We are called Spineless.



Spineless was/is an experimental punk band with crust, grind, and progressive elements. I played guitar in it. Its pretty dark stuff in terms of song writing; alot of harsh walls of noise, screaming, blast beats. It started off about 2 years ago now as three buddies and myself fucking around on our intruments, trying to sound like Municipal Waste and Disrupt. It was rough and kinda goofy at first... we had two guitarists, no bassist, and a song about a Lava Lamp. We played one show through the extortionists known as Supernova, which went awfully. We had a chance to play a show with the phenomenal band Sigil, but it didn't pan out.
We all had super chemistry, it just needed more time to flush out. I was stupid and didn't see it as a work in progress. I thought the song and lyric writing was kind of shallow at the time (which it was) and the bad first show we did discouraged me. Arrogantly, I thought I was above it. So I kinda disbanded it and moved on to other things, like acting in plays and busking.
Our singer moved to Vancouver a year later, but not before we played music together twice more, minus one guitarist. We realized we had enormous potential to do some actual song writing... but then he left. He's coming back now, and hopefully, Spineless will actually get off the ground.
I'm really excited. The three of us have all grown so much, and the new material we DID write before he moved has some real emotion behind it. So look out for Spineless in the near future, we'll be spilling Lava Lamps Of Doom everywhere.

On another note, I'm currently waiting for some friends to come over so we can get a musical project off the ground that has been in the works for quite some time. This one is a bit less defined then Spineless, as were not quite sure who is gonna play what and who will be in it. We've already done a few basement cover shows with a revolving lineup but I'm thinking I will probably be playing either guitar or bass and singing. Tentatively, we are calling ourselves The Detractions (its a play on Elvis Costello and the Attractions) and its gonna be fuzzy, poppy garage punk. Alot more conventional, light hearted, and goofy then Spineless. But again, there is real chemistry between us all and I am a sucker for catchy riffs. Keep an eye out for that as well!

Beyond that, I am a regular busker downtown during the summer. Try and spot my terrible voice and rudimentry guitar work anywhere near 10th avenue during the summer.

So thats about it for now... I think. Until next time!

- Nate

Flying Saucer Attack - "Distance"

Yesterday, my buddy Richard (who will hopefully be doing some writing for this blog!) picked up a CD I hadn't heard for awhile, and showed it to me with excitement he couldn't contain. He was broke due to buying the CD and he didn't care. It was Flying Saucer Attack and suddenly, I remembered.
Hearing Flying Saucer Attack for the first time was like getting hit in the head with a pile of laser beam shooting bricks. My jaw hit the ground and stayed there for awhile, while my mind shut down and just went with it. It was the first time in awhile that I heard something new and didn't instantly analyze it; my mind got wiped and all that was left was giddy, senseless joy. For the first time in awhile, I couldn't find a single element I didn't enjoy, not a single flaw. I was a FSA junkie from that point on and I remain so to this day.
Its just.... noisey, spacey, shoegazy fucking brilliance. Its like white noise making love to mopey folk while trying to conjure magic. Agh. Words fail me. You really gotta listen to get it. So ambient and beautiful, it takes you to some seriously rad places. This band had serious DIY ethic too, recording almost entirely from home and collaborating with a large variety of others. They were AWESOME. If I could only bring 10 albums with me to a desert island somewhere, 4 of them would be Flying Saucer Attack CD's.
Enjoy!

1. Oceans
2. Standing Stone
3. Crystal Shade
4. Instrumental Wish
5. Distance
6. November Mist
7. Soaring High
8. Oceans 2


Download here!

Artspot Calgary; Calgary's Alternative Art Community

Today, I want to talk about Artspot Calgary.



I'm rather tired and hungover, so I'm just gonna copy and paste a description from the "About Us" section;

"ART SPOT is a non profit organization that was created in 2008, to encourage emerging and alternative style artists. Located downtown, ART SPOT is a second “home” to many artists and art lovers. ART SPOT is a members only, artist/volunteer run alternative art space that provides all artists a chance to be seen and heard. ART SPOT is commission free and operates on donations. Please contact us to become a member! ART SPOT caters to an alternative art community, but welcomes everyone to get involved in this growing underground art scene.

ART SPOT holds monthly pARTies, showcasing the works of multiple local visual artists, as well as performance artists, djs and musicians. pARTies are intended to promote local talent, and in appreciation of all ART SPOT’s members and supporters. ART SPOT also hosts private shows for individual artists or collectives. For more information on upcoming shows, workshops, or to inquire about holding your own show, please contact us! With many future projects on the go at ART SPOT and other locations, we are always looking for more artists and volunteers."

As you can tell, an organization like this is right up my alley. Its a for the people, by the people type grassroots community that does for art what the all ages house show does for local music. It increases awareness and provides an outlet. Also, its focus is more so on the sharing of art rather then the ownership and thats a big deal for me. Its so rad to that they focus more on alternative and underground stuff, the kind of art you wont see at a typical gallery. I discovered these guys recently while wandering downtown near 17th Avenue, and I am so stoked to get more involved with them.

Membership is only 25 bones a year, and it includes (once again, copy and pasted from the site;)

"•Coming to all of ART SPOT’s private art events for one year!
•Access to exclusive information on participation in art events through ART SPOT, other art organizations and underground art collectives.
•Free monthly workshops for all of our members. (sign up required)
•Paid gigs for artists! (for facilitating workshops, performing, helping with shows and more!)
•An artist profile on our website (after participation in 5 or more shows, or holding a solo show)
•Most importantly, your 25$ membership is an investment in ART SPOT. All donations and membership fees go into the ART SPOT fund. This fund is not only used by ART SPOT to facilitate shows, but as it grows, we intend to make it accessible for artists to use for their own projects."

If you are a visual artist (or a supporter of visual artists, such as myself,) I highly recomend getting a membership. I'm all about not throwing my money around, but this is one of the few organizations that will put your money to good, constructive use that is not for profit. Please check out the link at the begining of this post for more info, and hopefully I'll be seeing you at the next pARTy!

- Nathan

Sigur Ros - Ágætis byrjun

Sigur Ros is an Iclandic post rock band with minimalist, orchestrated elements and a very peaceful vibe. With such a unique sound, they manage to capture the haunting beauty of a snow covered wasteland; its sweeping and delicate, with an edge of mystery provided by the language barrier. This album is almost entirely sung in Icelandic, but that just adds to it... and makes it all the more impressive that they are able to communicate their meaning to you, even if you don't understand what exactly they are saying. There's clever usage of palindromes, backmasking, and even some slightly shoegaze-y elements to be found. If you have some soul searching to do, this band will be your soundtrack. Please enjoy!

1. Intro
2. Svefn-g-englar
3. Starálfur
4. Flugufrelsarinn
5. Ný batterí
6. Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm)
7. Viðrar vel til loftárása
8. Olsen Olsen
9. Ágætis byrjun
10. Avalon

Download here!

Mump & Smoot; Clowning for Coulrophobic's

For my first non music related post on this site, I thought I would share my thoughts on what is perhaps the biggest (yet most low key) artistic event in Calgary right now, one of the most heart warming and stomach churning, hilarious things ever to grace a stage. I'm talking, of course, about Mump & Smoot, the clown duo from hell who are currently closing their latest show, Cracked, at Alberta Theatre Projects this weekend.



I'll spare you a history lesson on these two, as I am not really the one to ask. I experianced the wack world of Ummo and the two brothers who inhabit it for the first time a little under a month ago, at the Martha Cohen Theatre; an odd place to be introduced to Mike Kennard (Mump) and John Turner's(Smoot) creations, since it is hinted at being one of their final shows as the clowns. But hey, at least I got to see the two onstage. And my young mind and heart just wont be the same.

It's always lovely to see masters of a craft at work, but it's even more lovely when you, the audience, can be brought in to it so easily and remarkable, getting sucked into the world created to the point where you don't want to leave. Such is the great thing about Mump and Smoot; rather then detach you and make you feel like an audience in the literal sense, you feel as if you are right there in the moment with them. Its the difference between watching two parents fight onstage in a play, and watching two parents fight one another at the local Wal Mart; for better or worse, you connect to these people.




Yes, Mump and Smoot are "people." They have emotions, they have doubts, they have hopes. Clowning in general may be about the vulnerability we all have and hide, but what sets Mump and Smoot apart is that they do not rely simply on gags and disturbing imagery to affect you. They're objective isn't just to make you laugh; it is to touch your heart, and connect with you in a way that high minded, artsy fartsy "theatre" cannot. If you hate clowns in the general sense, you will love Mump and Smoot. And this, I believe, is there greatest triumph.

Its a little late in the game, but if you can catch Mump and Smoot this weekend, please do. You might not get the chance again. They will be playing at the Martha Cohen Theatre until this Sunday.

- Nathan