LIVE MUSIC: Metric system catching on
Metric brings their Art of Doubt tour to Edmonton this Sunday night at the Edmonton Convention Centre. The Toronto rockers, led by the incredible voice of Emily Haines, are no stranger to Edmonton of course, and it’s no surprise the itinerary for their newest release includes our fair city.
The band have been regulars on the Canadian alternative chart since the late 2000s, when it was first published, with track after track that are gritty, catchy, and poignant, with lyrics such as “who would you rather be The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?” (from Gimme Sympathy). Other notable tracks that have been on said chart include Help I’m Alive, and then three hits off their album Synthetica – the title track, Youth Without Youth, and Breathing Underwater. The newest album Art of Doubt, released last September, and bearing the same name as the tour, hasn’t achieved quite the fanfare one would expect from a Metric release, but it still received quite favorable reviews on the usual media sites.
July Talk will perform supporting duties. After their 2015 eponymous album earned them a Juno as Alternative Album Of the Year, the quintet released their sophomore album Touch in 2016. Its first single, Push + Pull, stayed atop that very same Canadian alternative chart for 13 weeks in a row. Their newest album should drop sometime this fall, which means they’ll have plenty of fresh new material for their fans to soak up too.
Show at 6:45 pm, $79. BUY.
Thursday 18
The Den – This local dream rock project has been hard at work preparing new songs in anticipation of this evening, as the band, led by vocalist-guitarist Mollie Wassenaar, hosts a release party for the EP Gold Hair. Selfish Bodies, MILQ, and MYLZ also perform. The Buckingham, 8 pm, $10. BUY
Friday 19
Wintersleep – Another band with a Juno award on their mantle, this Halifax alt-indie band has a total of seven albums to their credit, including In the Land Of, which was supposed to drop late last month. Unfortunately for loyal fans, it doesn’t seem to be available just quite yet, but “add to cart” buttons should be popping up very soon. In the meantime, they’ll undoubtedly cart out at least a few new tracks for this show, and include some of their better-known songs from past albums as well, like 2016’s Amerika. Starlite Room, 8 pm, $29.50 and up. BUY
Saturday 20
Whale and the Wolf and The Matinee – This double-bill packs a heavy punch, with two well-known and well-loved indie bands. Locals Whale and the Wolf were just announced as being a nominee for this year’s Edmonton Music Awards. The Matinee is a luscious, roots-rock project from the West Coast. Their most recent album – Dancing On Your Grave – was produced by Jamie Candiloro (REM, Ryan Adams), and coalesces a bevy of dramas ranging from marriages to breakups to children into a heartfelt escape from reality. Station On Jasper, 7 pm, $19. BUY
Mad Galaxy 2019 – The Aviary’s first annual Easter party includes four bands, led by the insanely good heavy-psych project The Radiation Flowers out of Saskatoon; they were previously known as Powder Blue, and their 2013 EP Dream In Black hit many best-of lists. They’re touring to support their second full-length as The Radiation Flowers, titled Summer Loop. Also performing are fellow psych-rockers Hot Garbage out of Toronto (who appeared at Sled Island last year), Ace Of Wands, and locals Pine Barrens. The Aviary, 7 pm, $15. BUY
Yelawolf – This American artist comes from the rip-roaring rap-hip-hop scene of Alabama. Michael Atha’s first big break came in 2005 on the reality show The Road To Stardom With Missy Elliott, and he released his debut album Creekwater in the same year. His fifth album – Trunk Muzik III – was released late last month. Union Hall, 9 pm, $39 and up. BUY
