Since yesterday afternoon, Regina’s downtown, like the Dog Blog, has been abuzz with BreakOut West action. Sadly, the festivities end Saturday evening. So here are three acts you should check out tonight, all of whom I picked before realizing they were all from Saskatoon. Really earning my blog privileges with my attention to detail here.
SMOKEKILLER, or John Antoniuk as his driver’s license would say, namechecks Teenage Fanclub, Neil Young, and Weezer in his BOW2012 bio, which is enough to warrant your interest right there. What’s more, Smokekiller has been awarded a Rawlco 10k20 grant and been selected as a finalist in the Radiostar Songwriting Competition, which reflects how nicely he packages those sounds together. Check him out at 8:00 at O’Hanlons.
JEANS BOOTS, or Jeanette Stewart, writes for Bridges in Saskatoon and QC in Regina. Which is like saying she’s from alt-paper Shelbyville. Inherent rivalry aside, her Jeans Boots project is too good to pass over, if you’re into sludgey, Moncton-style rock n’ roll. They’ll be playing at 10:00 at O’Hanlon’s.
SLOW DOWN, MOLASSES really do the “Canadian collective” thing right. They’re a six-piece at the moment, one member being Jeans Boots herself, but nothing in their sound feels bloated or redundant. Right before their (excellent) My Bloody Valentine cover last night, they set out an up-for-grabs pile of their new flexi-disc single. You can probably grab one tonight, too, during their 1 a.m. set at McNally’s. Remember, if your flexi keeps slipping on your turntable, place a toonie on it to weigh it down.
I wonder why those things ever fell out of favour and became the butt of jokes.
