You could say Justin Karas’ career in music was predestined. He bought his first keyboard—one he still uses when performing with Fall Horsie—with money saved from his career as a child model for Zellers catalogues. “I don’t know why I even mentioned that,” he says with a laugh, reflecting on his past career sporting the […]
Andrew Robinson
Posted inArts + Music
Mall man
It’s hard to relive the thrill of witnessing the wild antics of born showman B.A. Johnston for the first time. He’s like James Brown on a shoestring budget, where the shoestring is re-used every gig. There are costume changes, funky aromas, pools of sweat, playful confrontations with the audience and spastic verging-on-rhythmic dance moves. And […]
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Climbing B.A. Johnston’s Stairway to Hamilton
It’s hard to relive the thrill of witnessing the wild antics of born showman B.A. Johnston for the first time. He’s like James Brown on a shoestring budget, where the shoestring is re-used every gig. There are costume changes, funky aromas, pools of sweat, playful confrontations with the audience and spastic verging-on-rhythmic dance moves. And […]
Posted inArts + Music
Raekwon w/Miles Jones, Joe Buck and Quake
While his albums haven’t sold huge numbers like fellow Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Raekwon has still earned major kudos within the hip-hop community. He was featured prominently on the Wu’s undisputed masterpiece, 1993’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), taking memorable verses on “Bring Da’ Ruckus,” “Shame On A […]
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Husband and Knife’s edge
Face it: most things come to an end. Relationships die, flowers wilt, cheese goes mouldy, milk goes sour and George W. Bush only serves two terms as America’s president. As KC Spidle sees it, an end doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. “An end is a new beginning, as cheesy as that sounds, […]
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The Stolen Minks
The Stolen MinksHigh Kicks (New Romance For Kids Records) Not a lot has changed with the latest release from Halifax’s premier garage rock foursome—and that’s wicked. The Minks still play a combination of sassy punk rock and fuzzed-out garage scorchers. Opener “Bring It” sets the scene on a slow groove with hipsters readying for the […]
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Oneida
OneidaPreteen Weaponry(Jagjaguwar/Brah Records)It’s highly unlikely this Brooklyn band’s newest album, Preteen Weaponry —Andrew Robinson
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Slim Twig
Slim TwigVernacular Violence(Paper Bag) The frustrating circumstances that inspired this recent Slim Twig EP should be worshipped. If failure and rejection always led to dark rockabilly meets wheezy keyboards wrapped in tasty lo-fi production, Webster’s would change the definition of failure to “unequivocal success.” Recorded in 2006 when Slim Twig (who’s just one guy from […]
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Sian Alice Group
Sian Alice GroupThe Dusk Line EP(the social registry)Known for playing guitar-based songs with a shimmering, expansive quality, as on their debut album 59.59, British band Sian Alice Group have really changed things up with this EP. The vocals of Sian Ahern, combined with the piano accompaniment of Rupert Clervaux, give these songs a firmly minimalist […]
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Minks kick out the fun
Gathered around food while shooting jokes and giggles back and forth, it’s obvious The Stolen Minks are a band that appreciates fun times. There are very few pauses in conversation as they talk about all that’s led to the release of their second full-length album, High Kicks. They wouldn’t seem out of place as kooky-yet-cool […]
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Teenage Bottlerocket w/The Varsity Weirdos and The Hemingways
This year has been a fine one for pop-punkers Teenage Bottlerocket. Besides releasing their second album Warning Device on Red Scare and getting to share bills with NOFX, All and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the band also found a new way to earn some extra dollars. At the request of the bride and groom, Teenage […]
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Deerhoof’s next opportunity
Expecting the unexpected is your best bet when taking in Deerhoof’s quirky and decidedly experimental brand of pop-rock. Considering the group’s influences requires a similar approach. Take Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier’s thoughts on the impact of Star Trek star William Shatner on the band’s music: “His strange sense of timing hits me in a really […]
