Head out this Cinco de Mayo to Cherry Colas and listen to the sweet swaying sounds of 1977. Bright keys, soft guitars that surf into rhythmic vocals that are sweet and sugary. We can’t get enough of “So is the Sea”, beachy vibes that make you want to forget your everyday, jump right in and soak up the sun. The entire EP is a modern take on some ol’school west coast vibes. Get a taste of what’s to come, 1977 is releasing a new album. So head out tonight and stay tuned for new tunes this summer.

League of Wolves are heading to Canadian Music Week from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. So of course those prairie boys have sweet beards. They just released a self titled album. I fired into it…starting at the top with "Runaway". Groovy beats and mean electric guitar will get your outta your seat and over to the bar…you’ll make it to the dance floor eventually. The next track "Ariella" had a more mellow vibe…could be reggae-sized if they really wanted to. Also showed off their harmonies. Nice variety in the top 2 tracks. They’re playin back to back nights for CMW first on Wednesday May 6th at Rancho Relaxo then at the Bier Market on Thursday May 7th.-Kris "Big City"Gies

 

Thrilling people with their 70’s style pop-rock tunes, The Taste is one those hidden gems that we were ever-so-happy to stumble across. Their EP Sea Legs, proves to be a great listen! It is filled with twinkling keys and old-school production elements; mixing a little new with a little old, a tight rhythm connection with smooth vocals and catchy chorus’. These guys are lacing up the dancing shoes for you, and all you’ve gotta do is groove. "The City" hits vocal heights with a toe tapping melody that takes off with soaring guitars and keys. We bet you can’t listen to just once! We can’t stop listening at all. Make sure to check out their Facebook for upcoming show dates. -Courtney Chalapenko

I’ve noticed the band name Brews Willis before and thought it was awesome. So of course I wasn’t surprised when their tunes were pretty sweet too. "Party’s Over" sounds like it came straight from the 90s. Props to the singer’s mustache too. The next track was "Great Energy" from their previous release of the same name. "Great Energy" started with some cool reverby surf guitar and would morph into a full on punk rock song that has…yup…great energy. The ooh wee ooh’s in the chorus added a nice touch. They’re playing Lee’s Palace on May 7th for Canadian Music Week. Killer gig for a deadly band. Go!-Kris “Big City” Gies

Bare Claws for a 4 piecer from Newmarket, cathcy pop rock to the max! "Beautiful" from their self titled record has a nice mix of guitar an keys in the verse and the chorus is a beautiful mess of all instruments involved. Try to isolate each instrument in your head…how does it all make sense? It just does. Pretty cool. I wonder if they planned that? Anyways its pretty fun to listen to. I look forward to listening to more of Bare Claws. I also dig their Chicago Cubs style logo. These fellas will be doing their thing on Saturday 5/2 @ The Smiling Buddha for Canadian Music Week. Find out their set time and add it to your itinerary before you laminate it. -Kris “Big City” Gies

Get some girlongirl action tonight @ the Cavern Bar. Keep your mind outta the gutter…Katie, Lauren and Paul will get you moving with some sweet sounds. This talented alternative trio will rock you steady with pretty vocals and harmonies that shift back and forth between guitars and drums. Take a listen to their live cover of Phil Spector’s "I Love How You Love Me", it will get you pumped for tonight’s show! Stay tuned on FB for info on their upcoming album. 

Alex Mason is a blues, folk-rock singer/songwriter with cleverly written and thought provoking lyrical content. His EP "Wistow Lows" is just a small taste of his talents; the entire EP is loaded with energy and punch, all-the-while showcasing his booming, gritty, stop-you-in-your-tracks voice! He’s playing solo 04/30 @ Junction City Music Hall w/ Emmy Rouge and Hierophant, you won’t want to miss it! So, make sure to take a listen to his EP and head on out to the show!-Courtney Chalapenko

ANAMAI is a murky mixture of ambient folk music, which proves to be calming and thought provoking. Layering airy vocals and spacious industrial sounding instruments is their stamp. Just recently they released their video for “Half” a song that lulls you, and still leaves room for you to imagine, and engulf yourself in the atmosphere they’ve created. This is definitely a tune to chill out to, maybe while laying on your floor looking at all your black light ceiling posters? Go Join them 04/24 at Cinecycle or they play in St.Catherines 04/25 for the In The Soil Festival! -Courtney Chalapenko

I found my way to a Soundcloud page for a band called Dutch. They’re from Toronto and they have the most honest bio I’ve ever read. "We have an album and we play shows. Nobody buys albums or goes to shows." I was hooked. They’d have to be really bad for me not to like them. So I fired up their album Rotoscope Down. The opening track "Dry Your Tears" was pure party punk rock…but kinda slacker punk rock too. It made me want to party and do nothing all at the same time. I get some Dinosaur Jr. vibes from it too which is extra bonus points from me. Either way these guys have fun shows to attend. See them tonight 4/23 @ The Cavern Bar with Big Frasier. For now have a listen to the album…-Kris “Big City” Gies

In the Soil Arts Festival is going on this weekend, April 24th to 26th taking place in downtown St. Catharines. With over 150 fantastic acts don’t miss our favorites The Wilderness of Manitoba, The Dinner Belles, Northern Primitive and Hooded Fang. Take a listen and head out this weekend to In the Soil Arts Festival, it will be an adventure of all sorts.

The Wilderness of Manitoba

The Dinner Belles

Northen Primitive

Hooded Fang

Give us some Steak n’ Eggs! Yummy, greasy, deliciousness! Flamingo Báy serves it up with their second album ‘Steak n’ Eggs’, giving us plate licking rock n’ roll goodness that has us asking for more. Keeping their raw rock n’ roll sound from their first album ‘Loco Pony’; Flamingo Bay adds a little more salt and pepper to Steak n’ Eggs. The single, “Killer Flamingo Báy”, opens with a raw vocal that rhythms its way to body swaying bass tones, hard hitting drum beats and guitar riffs that take you for a ride.The entire album shows Flamingo Báy’s creative diverse rock n’ roll energy. Don’t miss their cd release party Friday 4/24 @ This Ain’t Hollywood… come get your Steak n’ Eggs!

The Two Koreas call themselves glacial-garage. I call them pure rips! Their latest EP "LP Winner" kicks off with a straight rockin’ title track. You could rock the QEW from Hamilton to Toronto in about 15 minutes with this EP on. You could actually go straight through the Gardiner nonsense and not get caught. The organ that comes in hot near the end of the title track adds a whole different level to an already mind spinning track. The rest of the EP keeps the blood flowing. They’re at the Magpie Taproom on Friday. If you can handle some in your face rock n’ roll I suggest you go see what The Two Koreas are all about. –Kris “Big City” Gies