Boats, Mac DeMarco, Genre-Crushing Rap and “Canada’s Duran Duran” Round Out This Month’s Music Roundup.
Gigs you gotta go see across the Prairies.
Winnipeg
Saturday, December 8
Boats
Old Folks Home
Ultra Mega
Windsor Hotel
Nearly three years has passed since Boats’ cartoon-y pop epic, Cannonballs Cannonballs. Now, the band’s getting set to release its third album, A Fairway Full of Miners, out February 5 on Kill Rock Stars. But before then, they’ll be unveiling a 3-song tape at the Windsor. The Marblemouth Cassette apparently includes “a 6 minute prog epic,” “a cover of a Cannon Bros. song that Mat doesn’t even sing on,” and “a normal song.”
Monday. December 17
Japandroids
Mac DeMarco
Pyramid Cabaret
As 2012’s year-end lists start to roll out, Japandroids’ face-melting Celebration Rock and Mac DeMarco’s druggy sophomore, 2, are two records you’re likely to find popping up all over the place. Both acts will be hitting the Pyramid to perform jams off those fine records in the coming weeks. You’ll be sorry if you miss this, Winnipeg. Pretend it’s a Friday.
Thursday December 20
Cannon Bros.
Federal Lights
Imaginary Cities
Pyramid Cabaret
Let’s just say this is a serious holiday trifecta of some of Winnipeg’s best bands right now. All three groups impressed with their debut efforts – Imaginary Cities for Temporary Resident, Cannon Bros. for Firecracker/Cloudglow and Federal Lights for Carbon. With much anticipated follow-ups on the horizon, this show might just be your sneak peek of what’s to come.
Friday, December 28
Royal Canoe
Tom Keenan
Animal Teeth
Pyramid Cabaret
Experimental pop act Royal Canoe has been refining its one-of-a-kind sound over the years and that hard work has been paying off in a big way. They killed it at this year’s CMJ Music Festival, landing on a Best of CMJ 2012 playlist compiled by the New York Times (no big deal). If you haven’t had a chance to check out this super talented 6-piece, here’s your chance.
Regina
Friday, December 7
Kreayshawn
Rye Rye
Honey Cocaine
Chippy Nonstop
The Exchange
The Group Hug Tour is making stops throughout the Prairies and Regina hasn’t been left out. Kreayshawn, one-time video director for Lil’ B and Soulja Boy and sometimes joke collaborator of Andy Milonakis, will be serving up tracks from her latest LP Somethin ‘Bout Kreay. Along for the trip are M.I.A. protégé Rye Rye and Honey Cocaine and Chippy Nonstop.
Saskatoon
Tuesday, December 4
The Deep Dark Woods
Ride ‘Til Dawn
Amigos
Saskatoon alt-country rockers The Deep Dark Woods are still racking up critical praise for last year’s The Place I Left Behind, a timeless folk masterpiece that’s nominated for a 2012 Americana Music Award and 2012 Maple Blues Award, among other accolades. The band plays Amigos with fellow hometown country act Ride ‘Til Dawn.
Calgary
Tuesday, December 4
Astronautalis
Busdriver
Jel
The Gateway
A triple rap bill of genre-crushing styles, Florida battle-rapper-cum-wayfaring-raconteur Astronautalis is rolling through Calgary with a few West Coast pals, Busdriver, known for his tongue-twisting verbal acrobatics, and Oakland producer/MC Jel. Just go to this.
Edmonton
Saturday, December 29
Platinum Blonde
Century Casino
The last time we heard from Toronto’s Platinum Blonde (aka “Canada’s Duran Duran”) was sometime around the tail end of the ‘80s. Fast forward to 201o and its 1985 hit “Not in Love” was getting an electro reworking courtesy of Crystal Castles and The Cure’s Robert Smith. Well, now the band is touring again and it’s amazing (in a completely non-ironic way).