MUSIC JAY ARNER VANCOUVER, BC Fri 6:00pm - Commonwealth (Upstairs) Sat 4:00pm - Palomino (Upstairs) Mint Records’ shy savant of DIY pop-rock ditties, Jay Arner knows his way around an infectious synth line. Accordingly, Arner has earned a rep for both his solo output and his oozier duo Energy Slime. The latest track off his anticipated sophomore Jay II, “Crystal Ball,” is a testament to his love for bass fuzz, glam-y ‘80s sounds and analog electronics. JESSE AND THE DANDELIONS EDMONTON, AB Fri 4:15pm - Palomino (Upstairs) Sat 4:00pm - Central Memorial Park A Mutual Understanding is a spry and classic take on indie rock that lingers in the grey area between platonic and romantic. Soft and subtle, Jesse and the Dandelions use soothing vocals and well-paced songs to make their work tender on the ears. They will inspire you to slow dance with your honey. JO PASSED MONTREAL, QC Thu 6:30pm - Tub<strong>by</strong> Dog Sat 2:00pm - Broken City Out of the ashes of celebrated Vancouver psychprog mayflies Sprïng, frontman Joseph Hirabayashi has drawn his new outfit Jo Passed. The familiar vocals and charmingly aimless melodies remain, but the new balance of psych and grunge-pop is what really shines through. JOHNNY DE COURCY MONTREAL, QC Thu 11:00pm - #1 Legion (Downstairs) Fri 8:00pm - Broken City (Patio) Born metal but learned to love baroque, pop and grunge? You might have a lot in common with Johnny de Courcy. Leaving metal titans Black Wizard in 2011, de Courcy lives in the Venn diagram at the centre of Kurt Cobain, PJ Harvey and Louis XIV. JOM COMYN EDMONTON, AB Wed 9:00pm - Ship & Anchor Thu 5:00pm - Palomino (Upstairs) There’s a warm, yet haunted tone in singer-songwriter Jom Comyn’s sound. His evocative lyrics enhanced <strong>by</strong> the subtlety of his delivery, Comyn’s sound ranges from breezy, acoustic songs to moodier electric numbers, with an understated dissonance always heightening the dynamic tension. 26 ESG BRONX, NY Wed 12:30am - #1 Legion (Downstairs) You know ESG even if you don’t know you know ESG. Early track “UFO” is one of the most sampled songs in history, with credits in liner notes on releases <strong>by</strong> artists like 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., J. Dilla, Liars and at least 400 others. Formed at the end of the ‘70s <strong>by</strong> three sisters and a few friends, ESG has gone on to release five studio albums in the decades since. The first of which, Come Away With ESG, was an irresistible debut of minimalist, funk-inspired post-punk. Pitchfork Media has called it one of the best albums of the ‘80s, and past <strong>Sled</strong> <strong>Island</strong> guest curator Kathleen Hanna cited it as a major influence on her band Le Tigre. It’s easy to relay a long list of admirers of the band, given their perplexing ability to fit in at the Paradise Garage as easily as they did in the studio with Factory Records’ Martin Hannett. ESG grew up with James Brown in the household and Latin rhythms spilling into the windows from the street. This helped inspire them to make languid bass rideouts anchored <strong>by</strong> overlapping polyrhythms. It worked as well on the dancefloor as it did in the cheeky no wave scene of the time. Over 30 years later, ESG are still an underlooked influencer of everything from punk and art rock to funk and hip-hop. <strong>Sled</strong> <strong>Island</strong> is proud to host them at their first Canadian show in eight years. <strong>Sled</strong> <strong>Island</strong> <strong>2016</strong>
<strong>Sled</strong> <strong>Island</strong> <strong>2016</strong> 27