• outtacontroller

Something is in the air, because all this new music is coming out all of a sudden. Pretty neat. Some of these tunes are free and some of them will be on sale at various shows and the like shortly. Have a listen, have a taste, get in the Chrizzy spirit and buy something.

Make No Gains — End of History 7”

Brand-spanking new pop-punk buns, fresh out of the oven, ready to be buttered and jammed. I’ve been waiting a long, long time for someone to write a song called “First World Problems” and this trio went ahead and did it. If you want to order a physical release, it’s only $5.

Nap Eyes — Nap Eyes

Merry early Christmas, and here are some dreamy grooves and literate whim-poems sung in a beautifully somnolent voice, made by members of Quivers, the Mighty Northumberland and Bird World. If you’re a fan of Lou Reed and/or smiling, go forth and grip.

Dance Movie — Ladycops EP

Have you downloaded this yet? Really, you should. This is a tasty little treat before the band’s next album comes out. These songs are finely-wrought and a little gritty, like sand running through your fingers. Cop Ladycops. Now.

Bloodhouse 7"

You can listen, but you'll have to wait to get your own copy of this little morsel until Saturday, when the band releases this on vinyl at No Reason for the Season III.

Outtacontroller - Graveyard Kid

Young guns makin' good. Listen and buy the full album "Don't Play Dumb" in January. Believe me, you will.

Rich Aucoin's soaring new video for "It" (directed by Noah Pink) puts our favorite rock n 'roll evangelist into a series of movie clips, creating a piece that is a "time-traveling homage to film." How many movies can you pick out?

A song from Mike O'Neill's upcoming album Wild Lines has been posted at his website. "This is Who I Am" is pretty, honest and ruminative in the way that only O'Neill can be, bolstered by Laura Peek on piano, Mike Clattenberg on drums and Charles Austin on guitar. It's an upbeat song that will haunt you, not unpleasantly. Go check it out here and save some coin over the New Year so you can pre-order the album on Zunior beginning January 1, 2012. The album will be released digitally and on vinyl February 28.

• Cursed Arrows

In these economically fraught times, it’s always nice when a band elects to share its music for free. It’s even nicer when the music is local and great. If you have a free release that you would like to share, please email me about it at scene@thecoast.cascene@thecoast.ca. Here’s some new free local music that has found its way to my iTunes, and also, my heart.

Fat Stupids — Self Titled EP (fatstupids.bandcamp.com)

This is a band that you should trust: they are makers of wicked-fast power-punk. For a band called the Fat Stupids, their music actually has very little fat to it — it’s all tendons and gristle. Hot tip: if you are feeling groggy in the morning, put this on and it feels like the actual Fat Stupids are in your kitchen, throwing coffee in your face and smashing you into dutiful wakefulness. A must-have.

Cursed Arrows — Skin Behind the Shroud (cursedarrows.bandcamp.com/album/skin-behind-the-shroud)

Toronto transplants Cursed Arrows continue their thoughtful grunganaut explorations with this five-song cassette. The marriage of sounds sometimes recalls Nirvana, sometimes the Breeders, with pleasing and surprising departure on the jangly “Carefree Chemicals,” which sounds a bit like a hippie anthem if it were penned by the Who.

Each Other — Taking Trips (eachotherssongs.bandcamp.com)

This is technically a pay-what-you can release, in case you are feeling generous. This group of former Long Long Long-ers has regrouped to Montreal and created this tiny six-song album laden with irresistible twangs and oddities. The edges are smoothed with a haunting quality that you will love. Grip it!

• Poster by Yorodeo

Local pop-punkers Make No Gains are celebrating the release of their first 7” End of History with an all-ages whizbanger at Shake It Dance Studio (5523 Cornwallis) this Saturday. The band — a newly pared-down threesome featuring Daren Arthur, Cole Francis and Vince Macdonald - enlisted the talents of recording dynamo James O’Toole, who recorded the six-song EP at the Echo Chamber this past spring. After the Harbour Water Fest was held at Shake It this past May, the group felt it was a good site for their own all-ages show. “The owner agreed to rent to us because Cole is an executive with mob ties,” the band writes. They will be joined by The Hemingways, Truro’s fRAME and Moncton’s Thalidomy Kids. 7pm, $5.

• kestrels

My favorite band in Yarmouth last weekend was Kestrels, who played a roaring set at 1am in a hotel ballroom that ended with Chad Peck throwing his guitar across the stage. That poor guitar. You can witness the essence of Chadmania (TM) for yourself tonight at Tribeca when the band plays with The North Lakes and Motherhood at 9pm for $6.

• YER NOT DEAD, LIARS!

Be thankful for this video from your favorite insouciant long-distance punkers Cold Warps. The video for "Stupid Tattoos" was filmed about a year ago and features the band - Paul Hammond, Ryan Allen, Dominique Taylor and Lance Purcell - getting, well, stupid tattoos. (My favorite is the one that reads "Tatoo.") It was directed by the talented Evan Elliot.

Cold Warps are re-releasing their first two EPs as a full LP on Noyes Records. They should be ready by the time you go see them open for Jeff the Brotherhood at Reflections on Thursday October 20 as part of the Halifax Pop Explosion. Whoa-whoaas!

• bad vibrations

The always-weird-and-wonderful Heather Rappard has created a uncomfortable new video for my favorite nightmare rock n rollers Bad Vibrations. The video for "What Now"- from their upcoming album Black Train - features punks, grody basements, syringes with glowing mutagen-like substances, seizures and wild times. The album drops October 14 and the band kicks off a Quebec/Ontario tour that evening with a show at the Seahorse. Can't wait.

What Now? Bad Vibrations from heather rappard on Vimeo.

In the new Dog Day video for "Mr. Freeze,", directed by Andrew Hines and Mike Clattenburg, a chicken that might be named "Crumples" takes a nap in the backseat of a car and Seth Smith goes swimming with a shark. Does he survive, and what will be left of him?

That freezing video lake looks good. I want to swim in it, or wrap my arms around an animal in the woods. I think I'm going to go do both of those things. Happy Long Weekend.

DOG DAY - MR FREEZE from Andrew Hines on Vimeo.

Divorce Records is currently running a series called Freewave, where you can download free EPs from various artists for a limited time. Donations are encouraged and will be shared among the artists.

The most recent additions include J Fm, Double Vision Quest (Evan Cardwell from Secret Colours and Bad Vibrations) and Transfixed, featuring former PIG man Matt Samways and Ian Philips. Those dudes have also released an enchanting new video by Heather Rappard. Exploding roses, neon static and hollowed-out voices make for an experience that is alien, but also strangely warm. Check the talented Ms Rappard's other videos here.

• Vixens

Some nice-lookin' shows this weekend, and you don't need an ID to get into 'em. Let's take a closer look, shall we? Yes.

Tonight - punk house show! Head over to the Purple House (5426 North St.) and check out Tied Down, Polina (both from St. John's NFLD), Burnt Church, Vixens (home from tour, yayaya!) and Make No Gains. Meaty beaty grindy! There is a suggested donation of $5 (to support the out-of-towners) and the show starts at 6:30pm sharp.

Also tonight: Dog Day is playing tonight on the first floor of the Khyber tonight along with YAMS (a one-time only deal featuring members of Long Long Long) and Monomyth. It starts EARLY - like 7:30pm, and I am told advance tickets are selling briskly over at Obsolete Records. You should probably go down early if you want to get a seat. $7.

Round off your weekend with some crust n' metal at a Sunday Pro Skates show (yes! Pro Skates has shows now.) Napalm Raid and Hellacaust will be present and like a couple of noise-leeches, they will bleed out any residual weekend booze from your system. It's $5, begins at 5pm and the entrance is around the back. Pro Skates shows are really fun. We went to an early show on a rainy Saturday night about a month ago and it was an excellent time.

Whatever you do, have fun and be careful out there.

In an article on the Deadly Heart's EP release on Sunday August 28 at Gus' Pub, I said the start time was at 2pm. This is incorrect - it's actually at 4pm.

Sorry! I'm a dumbass. Carry on.

A little heads-up for you on a sad day. Go check out established darlings Quaker Parents, Dream Friends and up-and-comer favorites Nap Eyes at your local fashion emporium and live music space, Lost & Found (2383 Agricola St) on Thursday August 25 from 6:30pm (sharp) - 9:30pm. All ages, no cover.
What a nice way to spend an evening.

In Scientology, a thetan refers to the concept of a soul as represented in other belief systems. In Halifax, The Thetans are a group of like-minded musical nutters who make theatrical punk music that’s deadlier than Xenu. If you like haunted vocals and freaked-out spacey noises and songs that sound like groovy nightmares, you will like this. The band (Isaac Hansen, Neil Peacock, Michelle Skelding and Nicole Anaka) sent me a song from their first album The Ocean and the Sea, which will be released TWO TIMES this weekend with a free show at Jacob’s on Friday August 19 and a $5 show at Gus’ on Sunday August 21. (These shows are a dual album release with the dirtiest birds in Halifax, Slumlord.)

Guitarist/vocalist Hansen says the song, titled "Elvis' Hips," is about the devil "and the way he traditionally steals souls." I was going to play the song for a friend of mine who used to be a Scientologist and print her review, but she has left the province to see about a boy. So it goes. Instead, I'll share a video of famous Scientologist John Travolta and the bewildering song he recorded with his daughter, Ella Bleu, called "Every Little Step," for the Old Dogs soundtrack.

I'm sorry.

You can listen to Elvis' Hips below and stream/buy the entire album here.

The Thetans - Elvis' Hips

Here's a secret - I don't really like music videos, in the traditional sense. I'm usually of the view that unless Chris Cunningham has directed it, it's boring.

But sometimes a video comes along that ideally reflects the personality of the musician, their general vibe, and kind of alludes to the meaning of the song all at once. And it doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's cute, and it also looks kinda slick. And it has a cameo by Julie Doiron.

Here's the video for Shotgun Jimmie's song "Suzy." Great job!