MUSIC PREVIEW: Attack of The Pack!
Vancouver noise duo The Pack a.d. doesn’t need any introduction to local music fans. The grinding guitars of Becky Black, and the barely-reigned-in-chaos drumming of Maya Miller have caught the attention of media and public alike throughout the nation, with songs like “Sirens” and in particular “Haunt You”, which was a radio behemoth. The duo was a big hit during its appearance at the 2012 Sonic Boom rock festival.
The pair just released their newest album “Do Not Engage”, and have embarked on a massive tour to support it, with stops in Europe, United States, and throughout Canada, including Friday night here in Edmonton at the Starlite room. The two singles from the album so far, “Animal” and “Big Shot”, continue in the same vein of previous work for the duo, with pounding guitars and pummeling drums laying waste to all who bear witness. If you’ve never seen them live before, you definitely should make your way down. Fou’re in for a treat. Maybe bring some earplugs if you’d like to be able to talk to a human being the next day. For two, they are very loud. Tickets to the 8 pm show are $15.
Thursday 27
Carlines – This Victoria-based folk act just released a new three-track EP this week called “Still the Sun Will Rise”. No better phrase could be applied to their music, which is like a shining light bathing their audience in brilliant warmth. Sjoerd Meyer is an incredible songwriter, knowing exactly when to change pace, drawing the listener closer and closer to the raw emotion of his work. The illustrious blues-folk artist Lindsey Walker also performs. The Artery, 7:30 pm, $10.
Friday 28
Solids – This Montreal act released its newest album, “Blame Confusion,” on Valentine’s Day, and is now in the early stages of an epic tour that will take the band across Canada and the United States, reaching its zenith at South-By-Southwest (SXSW) in mid-March. The band masterfully mixes grunge, punk, and the odd synth to create a sound that’s just beginning to earn them serious notice on both sides of the border. Book Of Caverns and Still Creek Murder also perform. Wunderbar, 9 pm, $12.
Slates – This eclectic local punk act is hosting a release party for its newest effort, “Taiga” – a word that refers to the boreal forest – along with their friends Ben Disaster, Catgut, Distances, and The Paper Moons. Nothing like a good old punk rock hall party. Grovenor Community League, 14325 104 Avenue, 6:30 pm, $12.
Tupelo Honey – Sonic’s Band Of the Month for February is this popular local modern rock act that has actually been around since 2004. Hard to believe how time flies. Pawn Shop, 8 pm, $10.
The Wet Secrets – This campy fuzz rock act is hosting a release party for its newest album “Free Candy”. The band’s most recent video, “Nightlife”, features Joe Flaherty of SCTV fame revisiting his legendary character Count Floyd. Cosmopolitan Music Society, 9 pm, $15.
Saturday March 1
Goo Goo Dolls – Led by the charismatic Johnny Rzeznik and his faithful sidekick Robby Takac, here is yet another popular pop-rock band that continues to tour and record new music despite not having had a hit in quite some time. The last of note was probably “Iris” back in 1998, but the New York band is probably best known for their single “Name” from the 1995 “A Boy Named Goo” album. Regardless, the new slick and life-affirming material has found its audience, and their live dates always sell quite well, including here in Edmonton where only second balcony seats remain at the Jubilee Auditorium (7:30 pm, $39 and up).
