TE OW CANADIANS!

 

 

Stephanie Or, OP Contributor

 

So, it’s almost time for the Junos. I
don’t think P’ve ever really sat through
a whole award show—let alone the
Junos. And to be honest, I’m not sure
I can sit through 60-plus minutes of
Avril-worship. I checked the official
site for the Junos, and Ms. Lavigne is
nominated in several categories. My
eyes nearly popped out of their sock-
ets when I saw her name under “Song

Writer of the Year.” I mean, sure, she
has improved from trying to rhyme
“Let’s talk about it” with “it’s not like
we're dead,’ to “I’m falling from
grace” with “I’m all over the place” —
but that hardly deserves merits. (Okay,
ending Avril-bashing now).

But I mean, the Junos this year isn’t
all about you-know-who. Indie-dar-
lings Arcade Fire, A.C Newman (of

Death From Above 1973

Mesa Luna April and

Iain W. Reeve, A&E Editor

hen I was in Toronto last
December, I was told that
the next time Death From

Above 1979 (DFA) came to my
hometown, I needed to go.

However, when I heard they were
coming to Vancouver I was lazy about
getting tickets and ended up having to
go to the 2pm all-ages show instead
of the wonderful (but sold-out)
licensed evening show. And while
there is a very good chance that I was
one of the oldest people there other
than the band members, I had fun
anyway, getting thrown around the
mosh pit by people six years my jun-
ior to speed-crazy bass riffs, crashing
drums, and the throaty vocals of
Sebastien Grainger. Amazing how
much fun you can have with just bass
and drums.

Opening bands Elizabeth and
Controller.Controller set the stage

14 | www.theotherpress.ca

very nicely with their own brands of
dance-punk, speed noise, and other
such crazy labels that only indie kids
know, or care, about.
Controller.Controller in particular laid
out a very impressive set, a band to
watch for sure.

DFA started their set by warning
the crowd to take care of each other
so no one would get hurt—something
I appreciate now that I’m a little older.
I must say, in spite of the fact that
there was no alcohol and the sunlight
was pouring in throughout the show,
it was still easy to get drawn into Mr.
Keeler’s hypnotic bass and synth riffs
and just thrash around and have a
good time.

Death From Above 1979’s most
recent album, Youre a Woman, I’m a
Machine, is easily available now. If you
like fast and hard music you can dance
to, then you should own this CD.

New Pornographers’ fame), Feist, and
Death From Above 1979 are all nom-
inated for
projects.

In light of all this Canadian-music
loving, here are a few personal
favourites that didn’t make it to the
Juno-nomination list.

various music-related

Wolf Parade (listen: “It’s A Curse”)
Montteal’s next “it” band! There has
been a lot of buzz surrounding Wolf
Parade and I don’t doubt why. I saw
these guys live in Toronto last sum-
mer...they opened for Modest
Mouse—that has to mean something.

Les Georges Leningrad (listen:
“Supa Doopa”)

“They ate so weird-sounding,” says my
friend. Honestly, I think they sound
like a more hyper-happy Yeah Yeah
Yeahs. They make me want to dance
around shamelessly.

Tegan and Sara (listen: “Take Me
Anywhere”)

Girl duos either make me cringe or
creep me out (think T.A.T.U) but T&S
are pop-darlings who can belt out oh-
too-catchy tunes!

The Unicorns (listen: “The Clap”)

This had-been duo, now turned trio,
sings songs of unicorns and child
stars! What’s not to like?

Pony Up! (listen: “Shut Up and
Kiss Me”)

These girls have been deemed the
Canadian Donnas. I don’t know about
that, but their cute little song, “Shut
Up and Kiss Me” totally won me over.

The WPP (listen: “I Think I Lost a
Country”)

These guys are crazy (in a good way)!
If you like this new punk-pop move-
ment, you'll adore them (plus, they’re a
local favourite).

Elizabeth
Beautiful”)
Another local favourite with quite the
following (and groupies, I might add).
They’re playing various shows around
town; catch them before they get ‘vo
big.

(listen: “War is

Oh, and on a side note, Low Millions
are getting a lot of main-stream radio
and television attention lately. They
may very well be the next Maroon 5
(but Canadian and minus the nasally-
vocals of Adam Levine).

 

April 6/2005