I caught The Rural Alberta Advantage a couple years back at Backspace, and they genuinely captured my heart, channeling the homespun air that their name evokes. Hints of Jeff Mangum hide in the back of Nils Edenloff’s voice, not to be left alone by the sweet cooing of instrument-hopping Amy Cole. A booming cavern of sounds at times (think Arcade Fire, if they only had 3 members, but still sounded like they had at least 6), and a not more than a calm sing-song at others, The RAA lends an open field of sounds to their live performance. Their newest release, Departing, takes the next step away from Hometowns (doesn’t that seem perfect?) and blooms with a brighter energy while still hanging on to that storytelling swell that makes The RAA what they are. You’ll dance and sing along to "Stamp" as much as you’ll quietly take in the subtle call-and-response of "Goodnight". Playing the Doug Fir this time around with another one of my favorites, Aan, and a newer obsession, Lord Huron, the night is sure to be a deep breath of swelling notes. Peep their video on This Week’s Menu, go to the Doug Fir on Saturday. You’ll be a calmer and happier person for it. –Mike Harper
