Hands Like Houses @ Trixies Entertainment Complex, Louisville, KY
With support from Emarosa, Devour The Day and Arlington
Photos and review courtesy of Emily May | November 18 2018
Australian alternative rock band Hands Like Houses is currently in the midst of their US tour in support of their latest album -ANON, performing recently in Louisville, KY to a packed house. Having been a band now for 10 years, they have amassed a devoted fanbase, with many fans this evening excited to see their favorite band.
Starting things off with "New Romantics", the band performed a nice variety of songs including "Colourblind", "Monster", "Perspectives", "Tilt", "No Parallels", and "I Am". The band was having a great time on stage, interacting often with each other, as well as with the crowd. Singer Trenton Woodley and guitarist Alex Pearson chatted periodically throughout the set, thanking the crowd for being there this evening and telling funny stories. It is apparent that the band love performing and love their fans and were having a great time promoting their new album.
KY alternative rock band Emarosa, Memphis rock band Devour The Day and Southern CA rock band Arlington opened the show.
Emarosa
Devour The Day
Arlington
Advance Base @ Surface Noise Records, Louisville, KY
Photos and review courtesy of Emily May | November 11 2018
Owen Ashworth, better known by his stage name Advance Base, is a musician out of Chicago, IL. Having opened in the past for The Postal Service, Pedro The Lion, The Mountain Goats, Stephin Merritt and Mark Kozelek, he brought his electronic solo project to Louisville, KY.
His performance this evening was at a local record store, Surface Noise, which provided a cozy and intimate setting for the Ashworth's performance. With an impressive array of gear set up, including electric pianos, autoharps, loops, pedals, and a drum machine, he performed his minimalist and nostalgic songs for the small crowd that had gathered. With folding chairs set up on the floor in front of the "stage", many of the guests sat with a few standing amongst the stacks of records.
The crowd was quiet and respectful as he played, their rapt attention fueling his performance. Record store performances are always a great way to check out different artists that you may not otherwise see and provide an intimate and fun atmosphere in which to listen!
Deep Dark Woods @ West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
With Support from Kacy & Clayton
Photos and review courtesy of Jenny Ramone | November 21 2018
The Deep Dark Woods brought their prairie influenced take on Americana music to the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 21, 2018.
The band, lead by smooth velvety voiced Ryan Boldt, showed no sign of being on the tail end of a ten day tour that took them through western Canada via Spokane and Seattle. From the second the Deep Dark Woods took the stage, the audience was held captive by songs of life, death and trying to survive life on the Canadian Prairies. The band was loose and tastefully jammy, bringing to mind notes of Canadian folk legends the Band or Neil Young.
As a live band, the Deep Dark Woods feels very much like a collaborative effort, with each musician showing respect to their band mates during a guitar or organ solo. The band was joined on harmonies by Kacy Anderson, of opening act Kacy & Clayton, whose sweet breathy voice was the perfect compliment to Boldt’s near baritone. Haunting harmonies, mournful lyrics, twangy guitar, and swelling waves of organ wove together to form a blanket of sound to keep the soul warm through a tough Winnipeg winter.
Saskatchewan based folk duo Kacy & Clayton, who happen to list the Deep Dark Woods as one of their musical influences, warmed up the room for the band they had accompanied on the whole tour. With perfect harmonies and easy picking guitar stylings, Kacy & Clayton’s music sounds and feels like it’s from a time and place in the not so distant past, making one nostalgic for a simpler time.
Reignwolf @ The Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Photos & review courtesy of Jenny Ramone | November 15 2018
As a music fan there is no greater feeling than walking out of a venue wondering what the hell you just witnessed! Seeing rowdy blues rocker Reignwolf is bound to leave even the harshest critic buzzing with excitement after their captivating live show.
Reignwolf, also known as Jordan Cook, wrapped up his fall tour November 15 at the Pyramid Cabaret in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Having been on the road since mid September, the three piece band were on fire, tearing through a ninety minute set to a sea adoring fans. One such fan was local Blues legend Big Dave McLean, obviously an influence for Cook, who was invited on stage to join Cook for a couple of tunes. Not one to shy away from flirting with danger (as a friend of mine said before the show “there’s an element of safety in there somewhere”) Cook thrashed around the stage, stood atop his signature kickdrum, wrapped the mic cord around his neck and filled the room with a thick layer of fog, all while ripping fierce guitar solos. At a certain point Cook exclaimed he’d had enough of not being able to see drummer Joseph Braley through the fog so he brought Braley, the drum kit and bass player S.J. Kardash down onto the floor for the remainder of the set, much to the delight of the ravenous crowd.
Reignwolf’s live show isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s loud, raucous, grungy and and in-your-face, but it’s also a hell of a lot of fun! With bands like Reignwolf around, we can be sure that rock and roll isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Stick To Your Guns with Emmure @ The Orpheum, Tampa, FL
The Vaccines @ Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Machuca | October 11 2018
The Dirty Nil with Dead Soft and Eamon McGrath @ Goodwill Social Club, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Photos and words courtesy of Jenn Kostesky | October 30 2018
Hamilton, Ontario based party rock trio The Dirty Nil played a pre-Halloween show October 30 at Winnipeg’s Good Will Social Club. From the second the band walked on stage, their rowdy, playful energy whipped the packed room into a sweaty, fist pumping frenzy. The Dirty Nil are a whirlwind of raucous vocals, shredding guitar, pounding drums and groovy bass. The trio hot off the release of their second album “Master Volume” back in September are trekking from one end of North America to the other and back again over the better part of the next month. The Dirty Nil’s live show is a no holds barred, sweat drenched, power stanced, bubble gum chewing hell of a good time that is not to be missed when they roll through a city near you!
Toronto singer-songwriter Eamon McGrath and his band kicked the evening off with a set of twang infused punk rock. McGrath’s gravelly voice is oddly comforting amidst the distorted guitar and heavy rhythm section of his band, wrapping around your eardrums like a warm blanket.
Vancouver based Dead Soft, who are accompanying The Dirty Nil on their entire run, rounded out the night. Dead Soft are anything but dead or soft, they play hard and they play fast. The band was perfect step between Eamon McGrath’s more more mellow take on punk rock and The Dirty Nil’s off the wall party vibes.
Wolf Parade with The Pinc Lincolns @ The Garrick // Winnipeg, Manitoba
Photos courtesy of Jenny Ramone - Jenny Ramone Photo | October 10th 2018
Canadian indie-rock veterans Wolf Parade stopped by the Garrick in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba October 10, 2018.
The recently reunited Sub Pop recording artists have been touring their latest release “Cry, Cry, Cry” since late last year, including several dates at festivals in Canada and the US this summer. After a four night stint in Montreal in late September, Wolf Parade headed west through the Prairies to British Columbia. On this snowy evening in Winnipeg, the band pulled from their entire catalogue much to the delight of the flannel and beanie clad crowd. With video projections swirling and flashing behind them, Wolf Parade, who were clearly enjoying playing together, gave an energetic performance that won’t quick be forgotten.
The Pinc Lincolns delivered a slow burning, mellow set to kick off the evening.
