Saturday, 25 February 2023
Collins Brothers - You Never Get What You're Hoping For (1978), Hold On To Me (1981)
Thursday, 23 February 2023
Judy Reimer - A Promise Is A Prison (1977), Where Did It Go (1976); Reimer Sisters - Fly Over The Rockies,
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Mega - Running Blind/Make It (1980)
We imagine the members of Mega weren't thinking about the future of the internet and the ability to search for their name when they decided on their band name... but we wish it had been a consideration. We've been able to confirm that Mega played around town in the early 80's. These two songs are harder rocking and fun - they lack the theatrics of Aurora labelmates Mantra and are certainly more straight-ahead fare.
Get it here.
Tuesday, 21 February 2023
S.Q. - Alone At Night/One Love (1989)
We've got one last DWM-numbered release for now... this one from S.Q., the vehicle for songwriter Terry Siquera (who is still active as a music educator). The A side of this single is peppy and upbeat - but it's Side One (yes, one side is Side A, the other is Side One - cheeky, right?) that's the winner for us. "One Love" has a darker edge to it, and just enough Corey Hart-ish swagger.
Get it here.
Monday, 20 February 2023
Agatha - Called It Off/Meet You On The Other Side (1983)
We wish we could tell you more about Agatha beyond the names we've pulled from this single's label... but we're coming up blank. We're not being wise-assed this time - we really do wish we had more info on this band, because this single is pretty great. The A side is a great hard rocker, while the B side sounds kinda like Rush. AND their lead vocals are handled by Rik Anthony of heavy metal legends Breaker.
This one is a highly recommended download.
Sunday, 19 February 2023
Atrid Voll - Would You Love Me (1979), Kathy Miller - Make The World Go Away (1981), Ivan Daines - A Rodeo Is A Rodeo (1982)
Thursday, 16 February 2023
Voyeur's Market - Demo (2022)
Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Cold Water - Instead, I Am A Golden Oriole (2023)
We've proclaimed our love for Kevin Stebner's various projects over the years, so it shouldn't surprise you that we're really excited by this new Cold Water release. Making it all the more tantalizing are the exceptional rhythm section that's now powering this band (featuring the drums of Andrew Hume and bass of Connor HD) AND the fact that it was recorded by Lorrie Matheson. The result is a fantastic set of tunes that finds the band hitting the sweet spot of Stebner's full-stack folk vision.
Stebner's gruff voice balances the sweetness of guitarist John Hadley's soaring pedal guitar soars through the first three tracks, with the band opening up for the excellent "Wide-Eyed" before settling into the 10-minute psych-folk rock epic "Cosmic Offering." And towards the end of the album, "Lumber Dog" conjures up the power and ferocity of Stebner's punk outings with Prepared/Fulfilment. Is this our favourite Stebner release so far? Yes, yes it is.
Get it from the Cold Water bandcamp.
Tuesday, 14 February 2023
Stardells - The 400 Club, The Stardells (Black Album), The Stardells (Blue Album), The Stardells (1974), Encore
Monday, 13 February 2023
In Memoriam: Jim Lewis
We were very sad to hear of the passing of Jim Lewis at age 77 over the weekend. Lewis had previously cleared a long battle with cancer, only for it to return over the past few months.
Lewis was truly an icon in the Calgary music scene, and meant different things to each generation of our city. As a part of the city's later 60's/early 70's rock scene, he was known by many for his work playing with Barry Allen and in the Cheyenne Winter, and later in Cannonball, Black and White Affair, and Crackerjack, with his distinctive Ampeg Scroll bass guitar solidly holding down the low end.
In the late 70's and early 80's, Lewis ran Handlebar productions, a mobile recording facility that helped record the live bands for CJAY-92/CFCN's Home Cookin'. He was also engineer for LPs by lounge pop act the Stardells (featuring future Buckshot Show collaborator Ron Barge), pianist Doug Warren, and country singer Ron Paxton, and was the pre-production engineer Fosterchild's first LP.
For a lot of people my age, he was known as the voice of Benny the Bear on the long-running Buckshot Show, working alongside Ron Barge to bring delight to many of us (as well introducing us to "13 Chickens and a Tambourine"). When it came time to put out a record for the duo, Lewis capably held the reigns as engineer.
To say Lewis was an admired and loved part of our city's scene is an understatement. My thoughts go out to Casey and the rest of Jim's family and former bandmates.
- Arif
Tuesday, 7 February 2023
Poltergeist - Hallucinations in the Catacombs (2022)
Monday, 6 February 2023
Cheer - Time and Space (2018)
We're late to the party with Cheer, and we're kind of sad that it took us so long to get clued in. Fronted by Rus Rendell (also of Brain Bent), Cheer mine a pretty great nugget of rock that melds equal parts psychedelia and prog that we quite like. Time and Space is a four part journey that kicks off with the anthemic Part I, heads into Jeff Buckley-ish territory for Part II, gets sludgy for Part III, and emerges with a blistering rocket for Part IV. It's a great ride throughout.
Get it via the Cheer bandcamp.