BeatRoute Magazine Alberta print e-edition - February 2017

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CALGARY BEAT This is Colin the music editor filling in for Willow Grier. This month’s theme: lightning round! THE NORTHERN COAST folk-rock and juicy blues by Alex Meyer FEB. 4 – DICKENS: The “Choose Life” Trainspotting Party with Dead Pretty. Free screening of Trainspotting at 7 p.m., Dead Pretty play tunes (including covers from the soundtrack), London Calling dance party after. $5 unless you get there before 9 p.m.. FEB. 5 – Home & Away: Super Bowl Party with dirt cheap beer and plenty of games. MVP of the event is the Tecmo Super Bowl Nintendo game tournament! FEB. 8 – Commonwealth: OK Social’s Valentine-themed get together for arts workers. Free entry, proceeds (thanks in part to Big Rock) go to the Calgary Sexual Health Centre. FEB. 11 – Palomino: Palentine’s Day with Mark Mills (THE Mark Mills), Citysleep and Woohoo. Sexiest/Cepsiest party all month. FEB. 15 – Shelf Life Books: Presented by Woolf’s Voices, this’ll be a night of all kinds of art, all focused on celebrating the feminine in all of us. FEB. 15 – Broken City: Rockin’ 4 Dollar$ bday #2. Another year older, another year shyster! Sign-up is easy on the R4$ Facebook page. Get to it. FEB. 16 – A.K.A. THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF ALL – Local 510: BeatRoute’s third issue release party with sitstill, Andrew’s Pale Horses (read about ‘em right here in Calgary Beat), Craving Ways and one guest we’re keeping under wraps. Please come! FEB. 17 – Vern’s: Feed the People Fundraiser supporting the Calgary Inter-faith Food Bank. Tons of bands and art, with our boy Tom Bagley (illustrator of many a BeatRoute cover, you may remember him best from the last few Sled Island issues) playing in Forbidden Dimension and donating his art for auction! FEB. 19 – BATL Calgary: Major Minor presents Punk Rock Axe Throwing: four hours of music, beer, axe throwing, and appropriate safety measures in place. All ages, as always, but under-agers yet to turn 16 can’t throw axes for very sensible legal reasons. They can still enjoy the music, though! $35 with axes, $10 for minors who are legally prohibited. FEB. 19 – Sunalta Community Centre: The Polliwog Prom is a fundraiser for grassroots summer event Frog Fest. Not much has been revealed about the festivities, but most of us have a story – or at least a friend with a story – about the shenanigans that go on at Frog Fest. Let’s support it, yeah? FEB. 25 – Tubby Dog: A show that’s free, all-ages, and filled with weird meat/ fake-meat products? C’mon already: Go see The Foul English, The Pagans of Northumberland and After the Disaster! • Colin Gallant The Northern Coast follow up on packing out the house at BIG with a release party at Nite Owl. photo: Paige Woodbury Arron Cook always knew he had a lot of songs to sing. A little serendipity brought him together with guitarist Hunter Hansen and, over beers at the Ship & Anchor, they planted the seeds of what would be The Northern Coast. “We talked to each other about what we wanted with our music and we immediately clicked,” Cook explains. From there they began to jam and right away came up with first single, “Georgia Moon,” a song propelled by thick bluesy guitar tones and Cook’s charming and powerful voice. “We got together to jam and our first session together we made a song and a vision of what we wanted to do,” Hansen agreed. Acting as each other’s muses and equipped with a voice and a guitar, they fleshed out their ideas and began painting a grand musical vision of life in the north in all its raw beauty. And while that may be construed as something cold and unforgiving, there is a warmth borne from a well of deep passion found in Cook’s rustic yet resonant voice and Hansen’s smooth and melodious guitar. These songs were initially acoustic, folksy skeletons. Both Hansen and Cook heard the blasting blues rock that dwelt at each song’s heart. And It wasn’t until drums, bass and a load of amps were added that they blossomed into what they had envisioned from the beginning. On February 17th The Northern Coast release their debut EP Revelry, a six-song voyage through the heart of the prairie sea. It’s an EP that celebrates life and all it gives you, from heartbreak to euphoria. “You can’t know what life will do but, this EP is just about revelling in all of it, we went through a lot while writing and recording this and it’s about really embracing it all,” Cook smiles. It’s with that heart-on-your-sleeve bravado The Northern Coast has sailed its way through the burgeoning Calgary music scene. It’s been nearly two years in the making, and the time spent forming their sound and honing their vision was well spent. They understand there is no half-assing, that what is given is earned. With that in mind they went out recorded with Kirill Telichev, who had previously worked with Calgary staples The Dudes and HighKicks. Their February release is merely the first stepping-stone to what they wish to achieve. Already they’re working with Josh G Williams at OCL Studios for their first full-length production. They also have extensive touring planned later in 2017 after performing at Calgary’s BIG Winter Classic. Along with their single “Georgia Moon,” Revelry is stacked with a varied collection of folk-rock tracks steeped in a juicy blues. The punchy and pounding “Fickle” flows into a heartfelt portrait of loss in “Rusted Love,” a song that ripples with intensity. Bounding from that emotional high it moves into “Just Rattle,” a track with a driving throb that courses its way down an empty prairie highway. It finishes with the swaying, playful “Animal,” that is both relatable and self-effacing. All of these tracks are propelled by Cook’s sonorous voice and Hansen’s slick and crisp guitar notes. “I think it’s a good representation of what we like to think of as The Northern Coast sound,” Hansen conveys. It’s a tight, complete bundle of songs that comes in just under 20 minutes. They’ve been sitting on the release for quite some time and are excited to share it with Calgary and beyond. In the meantime, they intend on perfecting their already emotional and bombastic live show that thrums with energy. The Northern Coast release Revelry with a party at Nite Owl on February 17th. 26 | FEBRUARY 2017 • BEATROUTE ROCKPILE
FAKE JAMES keeping the accidents by Jonathan Crane GRIFFEST my brother’s never-ending birthday party by Jackie Klapak photo: Johnathan Crane Calgary act Fake James draws his name from Chet Faker and James Blake; an indication of the auditory space his music inhabits. It was artists like these (who rode in on the U.K.’s wave of electronica-driven noir R&B) that initially drove Taylor Odishaw-Dyck, the artist behind Fake James, to begin experimenting with electronic music production two years ago. “I started making these demos on my dad’s iPad on GarageBand, and by the end of those two years I had over 100 demos to choose from. I started to realize that I could actually define my own sound based on just my experimentation,” says Odishaw-Dyck. Although the iPad was the only equipment at his disposal, Odishaw-Dyck also wanted to incorporate the influences of live-music artists like Ben Howard, Alt-J, and Sublime. “I’d never had a real microphone when I was making these demos, so I would record vocals and acoustic guitars just using Apple headphones in my front coat closet,” says Odishaw-Dyck. ANDREW’S PALE HORSES debut EP comes to the stage this month Andrew Ellergodt is a Calgarian musician who not only writes all his own lyrics, but also all of the musical components for his band, Andrew’s Pale Horses. “I recorded everything myself, but I have a band that plays on stage,” says Ellergodt. A self-taught musician, Ellergodt says he was never a very “technical guy when it comes to playing music. I usually just learn by ear.” The band consists of Scott Steneker on drums, Ethan Harder on the bass, Graham Fox on the electric guitar and keyboards, and Ellergodt, lead vocals and composer. They’re all “good high school friends,” says Ellergodt. Andrew’s Pale Horses has formally been playing together since November 2014, with their first live performance only a few months later in March 2015. Since then, Ellergodt has been writing and recording tracks, the band has massed somewhat of a local following, and they are now releasing their first hardcover, a five-track EP, titled Early Medicine. “When it comes to the stuff I’m doing right now,” says Ellergodt, “I don’t really enjoy writing it with (other) people.” He laughs that the process behind this EP was a lot of “locking myself in a room.” Ellergodt is a multi-talented musician, and his system for making music is quite a unique one. “Sometimes I’ll start with the drums; I’ll make a two- or three-minute track, then go over that with the guitar, the bass, and the keys. I build the songs off one particular jam.” This sort of building-block style of writing music is not one seen very often, and Ellergodt has become adept at all the instruments needed for his particular sound: A sound that he describes as having “no central theme, or any coloration between themes in songs.” ROCKPILE “So when you listen to these demos you hear a little bit of extra static every time a vocal comes in, you hear a little bit of the odd foley sounds of you tapping your foot on the wall by accident because you’re in a closet.” Odishaw-Dyck also had very little experience with singing, something that ended up working in his favour by giving his voice a distinct airiness and an unexpected signature vibrato. “The vibrato actually just came out of nowhere one day,” says Odishaw-Dyck. “I heard it happening, and a couple days later I decided to start really taking care of my voice, and so it’s been like a year or so since I first realized I could do that.” The result of these diverse influences, like the rudimentary recording techniques and Odishaw-Dyck’s ongoing discovery of his own abilities, created a sound that resided in a grey-area in terms of genre. This is precisely where many of his icons like James Blake lie, and so he takes it as a sign that he’s headed in the right direction. “I would like to have more of a vague sub-genre,” says Odishaw-Dyck. “One time, I posted a demo of ‘Slak,’ this was one of the early demos, and somebody commented ‘nice hypnotic folk vibes,’ and as soon as they said that I figured that that had to be something that stuck.” The 2016 release Spirit World Filler was a collection of some of these demos that began on his iPad, with each one representing a different avenue of genre experimentation. Although he’s enlisted local electronic artist Vanilla Sun as a collaborator, Odishaw-Dyck vows that future releases will still stem from productions that began on his iPad. Creating music that mirrors real life is central to his ethos, and so his goal moving forward is to be able to replicate many of the imperfections that his rudimentary tools instilled in the music. Stay tuned for news on Fake James releases. We’ve been assured there will be some soon. words and photo by Foster Modesette Simply a manifestation of all the emotion he was “feeling this last year.” Originally a screamo, and emo lover, Ellergodt says his new interest in singer-songwriter folk has given his music more of a “full rock band arrangement.” “My influences are pretty eclectic,” says Ellergodt. “A far as the tones, I really do like the psychedelic tones, with lots of modulation on the guitar.” Though the lyrics aren’t as psychedelic, as one would expect. At the time of this interview, the music available on Sound- Cloud and Bandcamp is sparse, but there is a definite jazzy feel to it. Most of it is calm, and easily grooveable music. Early songs such as “Sseeeedd” and “Pawn” are incredibly catchy, and one expects the EP to be filled with much of the same. The Early Medicine EP release party takes place later this month, and the band has plans for a possible Alberta and B.C. tour later this summer. Early Medicine is out on February 24th with a party at Nite Owl Editor’s note: One of our most promising new contributors, one Jackie Klapak, gives an op-ed on Calgary’s best rock-a-thon-meets-fundraiser, Griffest. The event supports mental illness and arts initiatives open to all ages, with her brother Griffin playing the enigmatic star. Read on for her inside account of what’s become a philanthropic, family-oriented institution in the city. You can also read Jackie’s words on Napalmpom, right here in Calgary Beat. What started off as a special 13th birthday party for a young music enthusiast with autism has become a yearly fundraiser show to benefit youth of all ages who experience mental illness. Despite the work involved to put it together each year, the day the event comes and the impact afterward make all efforts worthwhile. For the past three years I’ve watched my dad and brother, Griffin, befriend musicians and gain connections with some of Calgary’s finest. Upon looking back, it all seems a bit surreal. Though sometimes surprised at how far Griffin’s name has excelled, along with the festival, I’m mainly just proud to be a part of a family doing rad things. Originally the plan was to hold it once and give donations to The Behaviour Therapy and Learning Centre, as well as Griffin’s school program, which helps kids like him. It then grew into a yearly event, with proceeds again going to Behaviour Therapy Centre. Starting last year, part of the proceeds went to Autism Aspergers Friendship Society (AAFS), who will also get full donations this year. With having a hard time making friends and connecting with others, it was decided we donate to an association dedicated to helping out kids around Griffin’s age group who are also going through the same struggles and stages of life as he is. The money donated to AAFS goes toward to the many music and art programs available, and the remainder is distributed among the rest of the programs. “It helps with kids of all ages, and all angles of the spectrum,” says Dean Svoboda, executive director at AAFS. “Kids will see a value or learn passion. They’ll take part in things they might have not before, and learn something about themselves they didn’t know before.” The music and arts programs given to these kids let’s them express themselves in a creative and healthy way, getting them involved in much more. Growing up I’ve watched my brother go from isolation to being the one in the spotlight. Without opportunities for expression and self-realization we’re not sure where Griffin would be. It’s deeply important for kids to receive these opportunities and achieve their potential, just as we feel Griffin has. After receiving a micro-grant from OutloudYYC last year, the bar has been set high for this Griffest. With rumoured acts to play such as Pretty Ugly, yearly returners Napalmpom, and No More Moments, alongside Griffin’s own band, Chained by Mind, the possibilities for the upcoming Griffest lineup are incredible. With a variety of bands of different ages and genres, Griffest will continue to rock and give back. Griffest takes place early (2 p.m. doors) on March 5th at Broken City with all ages invited to attend. Lineup TBA, with the above article offering a hint or two on what you can expect. $10 donations for those over 12 years of age, $5 for those under, support AAFS and The Behaviour Therapy and Learning Centre of Calgary. photo: Kalley Newel BEATROUTE • FEBRUARY 2017 | 27
Page 1 and 2: Billy Talent • Rural AB Advantage
Page 3 and 4: FIXED Editor’s Note/Pulse 4 Bedro
Page 7 and 8: MADE YOU BLUSH... an extravagant Va
Page 9 and 10: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC MUSIC TRANSISTOR C
Page 11: CABARET CONTEMPORAIN giving techno
Page 14 and 15: FLASHBACK FILM FESTIVAL by Jonathan
Page 16 and 17: BLOCK HEATER 2017 round two brings
Page 18 and 19: NQ ARBUCKLE taking the long road to
Page 20 and 21: THE CAVE Sat. Feb. 4 COWPUNCHER ALE
Page 22 and 23: THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE ashes t
Page 24: TOURING ROUNDUP W ell folks, in a t
Page 29 and 30: DOUG HOYER a stepping stone on his
Page 31: letters from winnipeg SATISFIED LIF
Page 34: SMALLTOWN DJS Almost 20 years in, n
Page 37 and 38: MUSIC FOR LOVERS Keep it locked on
Page 39 and 40: WITCHSTONE ballad of the Sludgeland
Page 41 and 42: musicreviews Japandroids Near to th
Page 43: Bonobo Ryan Adams Prisoner Pax Am/B
Page 46 and 47: Kehlani rock excitement that Foxyge
Page 48 and 49: 48 | FEBRUARY 2017 • BEATROUTE fr
Page 50: SAVAGE LOVE three little kinks... I

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