BeatRoute Magazine AB Edition July 2019

SEBASTIAN BUZZALINO JESSE GILLETT
Saturday,
June 22
7Physical
Copies
Dickens Pub
Edmonton’s new-wave
maniacs stood at the
head of a packed Dickens
Pub and put on a
loveable, dancey show
that was equal parts
too-cool-for-school and
self-deprecating. The
long-time bandmates
were tight and had the
entire crowd hanging
from the ceiling — even
running over their set
length as everyone was
too wrapped up in the
moment to care about
the clock. (SB)
7Ian Blurton’s
Future Now
The Palomino
Heads were sent spinning
into the Strat-osphere
and guitar hero
worship ran unchecked
as renewable-resource
and Canadian legend
Ian Blurton, flanked by
his stellar new band Future
Now, displayed his
skills in pulling energy
from the atmosphere
to generate pure rock
and roll dynamite. Huge
riffs, huge amps and a
late-night show set the
tone for total wizardry.
SEBASTIAN BUZZALINO
Friday, June 21
7DRI HIEV
Performance Hall @ National
Music Centre
As part of Indigenous Resistance
In Music’s cross-programming
with Sled Island, DRI HIEV put on
a powerful set in the Performance
Hall at NMC. Their industrial noise
punk ground away at colonization
while the four moving bodies on
stage provided a warm touch of
humanity that felt like an act of
resistance in and of itself. (SB)
3Bully
The Palace Theatre
While Bully’s records may lean
towards Nirvana-style grunge, their
live performance is more Dinosaur
Jr 90s rock and roll histrionics. The
foursome were on point as they
barrelled through their set without
pause, leaving a capacity crowd
panting in their wake. Frontwoman
Alicia Bognano was unstoppable
and electric. (SB)
Sunday, June 23
Har Mar Superstar
The Palomino
For the final set of Sled
Island, the horseshoe basement
of the Palomino was
tropical and dense. Fronted
by singer Sean Tillmann,
who came out in a Sriracha
bottle costume, the band
ripped through an intense,
dance-fueled, beer-exploding
set, featuring hits such
as “Restless Leg,” “Lady
You Shot Me” and “We Don’t
Sleep.” By the end of the
set, Tillmann, stripped to his
underwear, announced, “My
name is Sean, I go by Har
Mar Superstar. We love Sled
Island and we love Calgary.”
A perfect way to end the
perfect festival. (TR)
(CL) JULY 2019 BEATROUTE 29
SEBASTIAN BUZZALINO
SEBASTIAN BUZZALINO