“We certainly love a good melody,” says The Space Age’s Andy Patil. “But we really love the urgency and immediacy of heavier genres.” With Greg Fry (The Heavy Blinkers) and Roger Nelson, The Space Age celebrates a new vinyl seven-inch on Friday at Gus’ Pub, the band’s first release since 2011. Produced by AA Wallace […]
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Where we practice: Special Costello
WHO THEY ARE “We, Nick Dourado and Jeremy Costello, are two of the three people who are Special Costello. DB Influenza is not pictured.” WHAT THEY DO We have simultaneously been honing our ability to improvise and spontaneously compose as well as writing and practicing our more static pieces. I [Jeremy] write the lyrics and […]
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Hillsburn on fire
Still riding high in the wake of a well-received self-titled EP released last October, folk-pop group Hillsburn is, like many of us, looking forward to a spring and summer of festivals. Plus a full-length album in the fall. Made up of brother and sister Clayton and Rosanna Burrill, Jackson Fairfax-Perry and main songwriter Paul Aarntzen, […]
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Castle on a cloud
What makes a really sad song so wonderful? Why does it feel so fantastic to just bum yourself out sometimes? Toronto’s Jennifer Castle has apparently figured out how to channel the contently sorrowful spirit of Roy Orbison and puts it on full display in her latest release, Pink City. The record comes off as an […]
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Gimme Lisa Fischer
Talking with Lisa Fischer about singing is a spiritual experience. Both an accomplished backup singer and a solo artist, Fischer’s views on both types of performance veer close to Errol Morris-documentary-subject territory. Sure, she’s talking about singing, but she’s laying down some pretty heavy truths about life. You may recognize her from 2013’s Oscar-winning 20 […]
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Return of the PIG
There are very few eternal truths in this world. You shouldn’t be a dick to animals, shows don’t start at 10pm and the internet is the shittiest place to hang out (thanks Be Bad). But there’s maybe one more beyond those: Truro has housed some of the most wildly inspiring, chaotic and punishing music this […]
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Where we practice: Vulva Culture
WHO THEY ARE Last summer, Amy V (Scribbler) realized she needed more elements for her new solo experimental-pop project, Vulva Culture, so she recruited certain friends with special talents: Kayla Stevens brings harmonic and effects guitar, Evan Matthews drums with a classical background, Hannah Guinan (Old & Weird) owns unconventional basslines and Bianca Palmer locks […]
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Papillon soars
Gabrielle Papillon May 2, The Company House “I was reading the newspaper a lot and I was frigging mad,” says musician Gabrielle Papillon about her recent lyrical influences. “Newspapers are depressing.” Girl, you said it. Papillon’s latest album, the swirling and diverse The Tempest of Old, released last Tuesday, is darker than anything else she’s […]
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Experimental music
It’s time to check the freezing temperatures at the door and heat the hell up with The Experiment, a multi-act party experience at both The Marquee and The Seahorse on Friday night. Presented by Birchwood Entertainment, The Experiment promises a two-storey full-sensory experience from visual art installations by Wasako AV to appearances from Halifax Circus […]
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Rebecca Baxter: Omega woman
When Halifax intermedia artist Rebecca Baxter began designing and building sound machines, she had no idea that within a year, she’d be scoring Eraserhead with The Flaming Lips for a private David Lynch party. She also didn’t realize that bands and artists like Holy Fuck, Miley Cyrus, Buck 65, Mike O’Neill, Panos or Moby would […]
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J-Bru’s the King of Halifax
Saturday’s African Nova Scotian Music Awards ceremony celebrates some of the brightest and best talents in the city, and veteran Halifax hip-hop artist J-Bru is no exception. J-Bru (AKA Jason Bruce) is up for his second artist of the year award and will receive the ANSMA Development award for community service and working with youth. […]
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Q&A with 902 NonStop Records’ Ally Dee
Ally Dee and Ryszky Biz run 902 NonStop Records, intensely repping local hip-hop. With both a radio show and regular rap showcases, Dee puts in hard work for a scene he clearly loves. Friday, March 6, the Rap Therapy event (Jacob’s Lounge, 9pm, $5 in advance, $10 at the door) features a handful of some […]