MUSIC PREVIEW: Fee Fie Foo Fum
Next Tuesday night the legendary Foo Fighters are in town – this time to promote their latest full-length Concrete and Gold, which was released last September. Like most of their albums, it reached No. 1 on charts around the world, from the United States and Canada to Norway and Ireland.
Though probably a little more mainstream rock than alternative rock these days, the Foos’ heyday certainly came near the peak of the latter. With hits such as the ‘90s’ This Is A Call and Learn To Fly, through the 2000s’ Stacked Actors, Times Like These, and The Pretender, the band has received every accolade imaginable, multiple times, in a number of decades. Their shows are always memorable and will undoubtedly be the talk of the city next week.
Opening for them is The Joy Formidable, a Welsh band that formed in 2007 then soared to the top of the charts in two years later with the single Whirring, from both their early EP and then their official first full-length, The Big Roar. Both were particularly notable for their stunning songs from start to finish, and were revered by a select few at the time. Truthfully, they’ve never done notably well on the official charts per se, but their fans are fanatical, and for good reason. With Rhiannon “Ritzy” Bryan’s incredible voice and equally powerful guitar prowess, the band’s live shows have just as much of a heralded legacy as the Foos.
Rogers Place, 7 pm, advance tickets $96.60 and up, BUY
Thursday 30
The Grapes Of Wrath – This Kelowna alternative band became a household name in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s with their albums Now And Again and These Days, respectively. Smart and emotional, yet catchy and singable, their music was the soundtrack to many Canadians of the day, with singles such as I Am Here and You May Be Right. Station On Jasper, 7 pm, $19. BUY
Beach Towels – This local psychedelic surf project, centered around singer Joel Cain, launches its second release, the five-track At the Shore, on this evening. Treasure, the release’s first single released in July, is a riveting escapade of guitar and drums, a lo-fi frenzy of audial sun and sand. Hunchback and Rough Gem open. Sewing Machine Factory, 8 pm, $10 at the door
Friday 31
The Dudes – This Calgary indie band was founded in 1996 by Dan Vacon, and have been a staple of their indie scene ever since. Their most recent album was from last year, titled East Side Good Times 5. Drummer Matt Doherty is from another well-known Calgary band as well, Raleigh. Station On Jasper, 7 pm, $14. BUY
Saturday Sept 1
Mastodon – This heavy metal band from Georgia formed in 2000, and except for replacing the early vocalist with two other band members, have remained steadfastly together, growing and maturing through seven full-lengths, including last year’s Emperor Of Sand, a concept album about a cursed man wandering through the desert. Jubilee Auditorium, 7:30 pm, $52 and up. BUY
Terror – This Los Angeles hardcore-metalcore quintet is touring to support their 2017 EP The Walls Will Fail, although their overall catalog is comprised of six full-lengths and five EP’s. Their 2015 release The 25th Hour followed their traditional sound, with a frenzied tempo punctuated by insanely loud drums and soaring guitar riffs. Starlite Room, 8 pm, $25. BUY
Sunday 2
April Wine – This Nova Scotia band was all over the Canadian charts in the ‘70s and early 80s as much as the Foo Fighters are today, starting it all off in 1972 with You Could Have Been A Lady, and continuing through You Won’t Dance With Me, Enough Is Enough, and Oowatanite. River Cree Casino, 8 pm, $53 and up. BUY
