The Hour Has 22 Minutes
The Canadian front 2007
By Darcie Stevens, Fri., Feb. 23, 2007
Mercer had governors, Ivy League professors, and presidential candidates – we'll let you guess who – congratulating Canada on joining North America, counting its number of states, and signing petitions to stop the slaughter of polar bears. Ask any American to name a handful of Canadian musicians, however, and we'll start spouting. At least we have our priorities straight.
This year's South by Southwest Canadian roster reaches even higher numbers than last year, with more than 100 acts making the trek. Perhaps it's due to the Canada Council for the Arts and its support of working musicians, or maybe it's the increased attention given to the homeland of indie darlings Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene. It doesn't matter why. We're just glad they're here.
While Broken Social Scene relishes a much-deserved touring hiatus, various indie rock side and solo projects carry on. BSS and Stars chanteuse Amy Millan roots last year's Honey From the Tombs, BSS guitarist Andrew Whiteman travelogues in Apostle of Hustle, and BSS contributor Ohad Benchetrit spaces out with his instrumental post-rock outfit, Do Make Say Think. Add epic Montreal Arts & Crafts labelmates the Dears and Young Galaxy, and things really start getting incestuous.
And there's more indie rock where that came from: Vancouver's drunken Castle Project, the New Pornography Immaculate Machine, and Paper Bag labelmates Uncut and Tokyo Police Club, whose bouncy, rhythmic debut EP buzzed last year. All-French boppers Malajube tout 2006's Trompe-l'Oeil, and all industry eyes are on Jagjaguwar baby Ladyhawk, led by Black Mountain's Duffy Driedriger, who trends toward the popular bar rock and is no stranger to a Pitchfork promise.
Jagjag cousins the Besnard Lakes slip the Beach Boys a hit on new release The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, but Fat Possum trio We Are Wolves still holds the noisiest band in Canada trophy. Montreal metalheads Priestess roll in the sludge, but these kids can't touch Canadian supergroup the Tragically Hip when it comes to longevity. Twenty years later, the Hip's alt-rock arena is Transistor 66 Record Co.'s garage with Winnipeg, Manitoba, buddies Hot Live Guys (be careful on that Web site) and American Flamewhip, whose guitarist, Damon Mitchell, moonlights in ...
... Haunted folk-rock quartet Nathan, Keri Latimer and Shelley Marshall's Nettwerking tool. Patrick Watson plays the creepier Jeff Buckley to Dan Mangan's Damien Rice, but Watson can't touch Mangan's live ode to MySpace. Torontonian Luke Doucet hits the mark between indie pop and country with his "country vérité" and honey-dipped voice, and he credits Melissa McClelland, with whom he helps out on slinger duty, with opening the door. Her old-timey Thumbelina's One Night Stand redefines the folk genre. Jill Barber was fortunate enough to tour with seminal Torontonian Ron Sexsmith last year, and here he drops his latest, Time Being (V2). The biggest acoustic surprise comes from Yep Roc folk jubilee Rock Plaza Central: Trombone, banjo, guitar, trumpet, violin, mandolin, bass, drums, and accordion make for one joyous sound.
If RPC doesn't sound familiar, 10-year-old power-pop labelmates Sloan surely will. Their eighth album, Never Hear the End of It, hit shelves last year. On the other end of the spectrum, the young brothers Erickson (not that Erickson) summon the Kinks in Winnipeg's unsigned Inward Eye. Victorian psych-poppers Jets Overhead leave the kitsch to more made-up troupes, and the female contingent holds its own with Vancouver's Asthmatic Kitty experimental-pop troupe Shapes & Sizes, led by Caila Thompson-Hannant's guttural strength, and Montreal all-girl poppers Pony Up. Hamilton, Ontario, chamber-pop sixpiece A Northern Chorus hits climactic, and Think About Life's Graham Van Pelt finishes out the pop category with his solo go, Miracle Fortress, an indie/electro amalgam that presents Five Roses this month.
Van Pelt's slow, layered textures are no match for the dance floor. Electro is coming in strong this year with everything from Absolutely Kosher mainstays Frog Eyes and their experimentations to Montreal's highly regarded found-sound guru Amon Tobin. Along with some of the more interesting party people (see "Crazy Canucks," above), "the only successful Arab/Jew partnership since the dawn of human culture," Chromeo, gets down on the funky dance floor with May Vice release Fancy Footwork, the sophomore LP from childhood friends Dave 1 and Pee Thug.
While Dave 1, aka Dave Macklovitch, sticks to the clubs, his blood brother and master turntablist A-Trak travels the world as Kanye West's touring DJ. Must be rough. Fellow craftsman Kid Koala brings Your Mom's Favorite DJ (Ninja Tune) to town, but these two are holding down a lost art. Old-schoolers like Buck 65, who returns this year, had words against hip-hop, and acts like Josh Martinez and experimental hip-hop quintet Pawa Up First are leaning on technology more and more. Experience comes from MCs like Winnipeg's Grand Analog, whose Calligraffiti drops soon, and Nova Scotia's Classified, who suffers from a geography problem. The new blood is in indie hopper Cadence Weapon, Rollie Pemberton's alter ego, and Somalian political rapper K'Naan, who'll blow your mind if you give him a minute. It's the new generation. These are the kids who can and will change the world.
And now for today's lesson. The capital of Canada is Ottawa, in the province of Ontario, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper was sworn in on Feb. 6, 2006. Don't worry. We didn't know either. 
Crazy Canucks
We'll start the name game here before Vice picks it up.
My!Gay!Husband, Vancouver: House-music remix DJ
Lesbians on Ecstasy, Montreal: Taking back the dance floor
Les Breastfeeders, Montreal: French Sixties garage rock
CPC Gangbangs, Montreal: Razor-shredded punk rock
Shout Out Out Out Out, Edmonton, Alberta: Infectious dance music
Call Me Poupée, Montreal: When two worlds collide
Fucked Up, Toronto: Good, old-fashioned punk rock
Holy Fuck, Toronto: Electronica without hard drives
North Americana
The best roots rock coming out of the Great White North for SXSW 07.
Lynn Miles, Ottawa: Alanis Morissette's vocal teacher.
Serena Ryder, Peterborough, Ontario: Huge voice, little girl.
AA Sound System, Edmonton, Alberta: Electronic roots hit Wilco.
The Mohawk Lodge, Vancouver: Coldplay meets Ron Sexsmith.
Ray Bonneville, Montreal: Part-time Bostonian roots veteran.
Krista L.L. Muir, Montreal: Lederhosen Lucil hoards the ukulele.
Leeroy Stagger, Lethbridge, Alberta: Contemporary Springsteen.
Kim Beggs, Whitehorse, Northwest Territories: Yukon carpenter loves Lucinda.
Cara Luft, Winnipeg, Manitoba: The Wailin' Jenny's solo now.
Carolyn Mark, Victoria, British Columbia: Mint's folk-pop diva.
CANADA
AA Sound System (Edmonton, Alberta) Rio, Wed., TBA; www.aasoundsystem.comCadence Weapon (Edmonton, Alberta) Copa, Thu., 12:15am; www.cadenceweaponmusic.com
The Cape May (Calgary, Alberta) Lamberts, Fri., 10pm; www.flemisheye.com/thecapemay.php
Shout Out Out Out Out (Edmonton, Alberta) Beauty Bar Patio, Thu., 10:30pm; www.shoutoutoutoutout.com
Smalltown DJs (Calgary, Alberta) Karma Lounge, Sat., 10pm; www.myspace.com/smalltowndjs
Leeroy Stagger (Lethbridge, Alberta) Light Bar, Sat., 1am; www.leeroystagger.com
Chad VanGaalen (Calgary, Alberta) Lamberts, Fri., 11pm; www.flemisheye.com/chad.php
The Awkward Stage (Vancouver, British Columbia) Light Bar, Thu., 11pm; www.mintrecs.com
Castle Project (Vancouver, British Columbia) Lamberts, Fri., 9pm; www.myspace.com/castleproject
Frog Eyes (Victoria, British Columbia) Habana Calle 6 Patio, Sat., 1am; www.absolutelykosher.com/frogeyes.htm
Gown (Nanaimo, British Columbia) Mohawk, Fri., 9pm; www.yod.com/gown.html
Immaculate Machine (Victoria, British Columbia) Light Bar, Thu., 1am; www.immaculatemachine.com
Jets Overhead (Victoria, British Columbia) Molotov Lounge, Sat., 8pm; www.jetsoverhead.com
Ladyhawk (Vancouver, British Columbia) Mohawk, Thu., 12mid; www.ladyhawkladyhawk.com
Lions in the Street (Vancouver, British Columbia) Club de Ville, Sat., 12mid; www.lionsinthestreet.com
Dan Mangan (Vancouver, British Columbia) Tap Room @ Six, Sat., 9pm; www.danmanganmusic.com
Carolyn Mark (Victoria, British Columbia) Light Bar, Thu., 10pm; www.carolynmark.com
Josh Martinez (Vancouver, British Columbia) Copa, Thu., 10pm; www.frontside.ca
Melissa McClelland (Toronto, British Columbia) Light Bar, Fri., 11pm; www.melissamcclelland.com
The Mohawk Lodge (Vancouver, British Columbia) Lamberts, Fri., 8pm; www.myspace.com/mohawklodge
Mother Mother (Vancouver, British Columbia) Momo's, Sat., 11:30pm; www.mothermothersite.com
my!gay!husband! (Vancouver, British Columbia) Elysium, Thu., 1am; www.mygayhusband.com
Ox (Canada) (Vancouver, British Columbia) Ale House, Sat., 8pm; www.oxmusic.ws
Adrienne Pierce (Vancouver, British Columbia) Light Bar, Fri., 9pm; www.adriennepierce.com
The Yoko Casionos (Vancouver, British Columbia) Molotov Lounge, Sat., 9pm; www.yokocasionos.com
Roger Dean Young & the Tin Cup (Vancouver, British Columbia) Lava Lounge Patio, Thu., 8pm; www.tincupmusic.com
American Flamewhip (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Mohawk, Sat., 1am; www.myspace.com/americanflamewhip
Grand Analog (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Copa, Thu., 9:15pm; www.myspace.com/grandanalog
Hot Live Guys (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Friends, Fri., 9pm; www.hotliveguys.ca
Inward Eye (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Momo's, Sat., 8:30pm; www.inwardeye.com
Cara Luft (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Creekside @ Hilton Garden, Wed., 10pm; www.caraluft.com
Nathan (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Light Bar, Fri., 10pm; www.nathanmusic.ca
Scott Nolan (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Jovita's, Sat., 8pm; www.scottnolan.ca
Novillero (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Light Bar, Thu., 12mid; www.novillero.net
Paper Moon (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Co-op Bar, Wed., 12mid; www.papermoon.ca
Chris Colepaugh & the Cosmic Crew (Moncton, New Brunswick) Ale House, Sat., 1am; www.colepaugh.com
Mark Bragg Band (St. John's, Newfoundland) Co-op Bar, Sat., 8pm; www.markbragg.com
Jill Barber (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Creekside @ Hilton Garden, Fri., 9pm; www.jillbarber.com
Buck 65 (Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia) Spiro's Amphitheatre, Thu., 11pm; www.buck65.com
Classified (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Zero Degrees, Wed., 10pm; www.classifiedlive.net
The Grass (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) Copa, Wed., 10pm; www.thegrass.ca
Ruth Minnikin (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Creekside @ Hilton Garden, Thu., 11pm; www.ruthminnikin.ca
Windom Earle (Halifax, Nova Scotia) B.D. Riley's, Fri., 12mid; www.windomearle.com
Wintersleep (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Ale House, Sat., 11pm; www.wintersleep.com
Kim Beggs (Whitehorse, Northwest Territories) Creekside @ Hilton Garden, Sat., 10pm; www.kimbeggs.com
A Northern Chorus (Hamilton, Ontario) Buffalo Billiards, Wed., 10pm; www.anorthernchorus.com
Apostle of Hustle (Toronto, Ontario) Habana Calle 6 Annex, Fri., 12mid; www.arts-crafts.ca/apostleofhustle
Howie Beck (Toronto, Ontario) Ale House, Wed., 1am; www.howiebeck.com
Blackie & the Rodeo Kings (Toronto, Ontario) B.D. Riley's, Wed., 9pm; www.rodeokings.com
Jim Bryson (Ottawa, Ontario) Creekside @ Hilton Garden, Fri., 10pm; www.jimbryson.org
The Cliks (Toronto, Ontario) Momo's, Sat., 10:30pm; www.myspace.com/thecliks
Crystal Castles (Toronto, Ontario) Beauty Bar, Wed., 1am; www.myspace.com/crystalcastles
The Diableros (Toronto, Ontario) Molotov Lounge, Sat., 11pm; www.thediableros.tv
Die Mannequin (Toronto, Ontario) Molotov Lounge, Sat., 12mid; www.myspace.com/diemannequin
Luke Doucet (Toronto, Ontario) Light Bar, Fri., 12mid; www.lukedoucet.com
Peter Elkas (Toronto, Ontario) Whisky Bar, Wed., 10pm; www.peterelkas.com
Fucked Up (Toronto, Ontario) Lamberts, Thu., 12mid; www.lookingforgold.blogspot.com
The Golden Dogs (Toronto, Ontario) Molotov Lounge, Sat., 10pm; www.thegoldendogs.com
Holy Fuck (Toronto, Ontario) Beauty Bar, Wed., 12mid; www.holyfuckmusic.com
K'naan (Toronto, Ontario) Momo's, Sat., 12:45am; www.thedustyfoot.com
Lynn Miles (Ottawa, Ontario) 18th Floor @ Hilton Garden, Thu., 9pm; www.lynnmilesmusic.com
Amy Millan (Toronto, Ontario) Habana Calle 6 Annex, Fri., 11pm; www.arts-crafts.ca/amymillan
The Old Soul (Toronto, Ontario) Parish II, Thu., 8pm; www.theoldsoul.com
Picastro (Toronto, Ontario) Red 7, Fri., 8pm; www.picastro.net
Raising the Fawn (Toronto, Ontario) Momo's, Sat., 9:30pm; www.raisingthefawn.com
Rock Plaza Central (Toronto, Ontario) Dirty Dog Bar, Fri., 9pm; www.rockplazacentral.com
Justin Rutledge (Toronto, Ontario) Light Bar, Fri., 1am; www.justinrutledge.com
Serena Ryder (Peterborough, Ontario) Cedar Street Courtyard, Fri., 9:30pm; www.serenaryder.com
Ron Sexsmith (Toronto, Ontario) Bourbon Rocks, Fri., 12mid; www.ronsexsmith.com
Sloan (Toronto, Ontario) Dirty Dog Bar, Fri., 12mid; www.sloanmusic.com
Small Sins (Toronto, Ontario) Antone's, Thu., 9:30pm; www.smallsinsmusic.com
Tokyo Police Club (Newmarket, Ontario) Beauty Bar Patio, Sat., 12mid; www.tokyopoliceclub.net
The Tragically Hip (Kingston, Ontario) Antone's, Sat., 12:45am; www.thehip.com
Uncut (Toronto, Ontario) Ale House, Sat., 12mid; www.thenewviolence.com
Nathan Wiley (Summerside, Prince Edward Island) Creekside @ Hilton Garden, Fri., 1am; www.nathanwiley.com
A-Trak (Montreal, Quebec) Beauty Bar, Fri., 12mid; www.djatrak.com
The Besnard Lakes (Montreal, Quebec) Mohawk Patio, Thu., 8:30pm; www.thebesnardlakes.com
Bionic (Montreal, Quebec) Dirty Dog Bar, Sat., 10pm; www.bionicland.com
Ray Bonneville (Montreal, Quebec) 18th Floor @ Hilton Garden, Thu., 10pm; www.raybonneville.com
Call Me Poupée (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's Rooftop, Thu., 9pm; www.callmepoupee.ca
Champion (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's Rooftop, Thu., 11pm; www.djchampion.net
Chromeo (Montreal, Quebec) Flamingo Cantina, Thu., 1am; www.chromeo.net
CPC Gangbangs (Montreal, Quebec) Lava Lounge Patio, Wed., 10pm; www.cpcgangbangs.com
Creature (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's Rooftop, Thu., 10pm; www.thereisacreature.com
Dandi Wind (Montreal, Quebec) Beauty Bar, Sat., 9pm; www.dandiwind.com
The Dears (Montreal, Quebec) Stubb's, Thu., 11pm; www.thedears.org
Do Make Say Think (Montreal, Quebec) Soho Lounge, Thu., 1am; www.cstrecords.com/bands_domakesaythink.html
Grimskunk (Montreal, Quebec) Molotov Lounge, Sat., 1am; www.grimskunk.com
The High Dials (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's, Thu., 8:30pm; www.thehighdials.com
Karkwa (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's, Thu., 9:30pm; www.karkwa.com
Kid Koala (Montreal, Quebec) Parish, Sat., 10:45pm; www.kidkoala.com
Land of Talk (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's, Thu., 11:30pm; www.landoftalk.com
Lesbians on Ecstasy (Montreal, Quebec) Exodus, Sat., 11:10pm; www.lezziesonx.com
Les Breastfeeders (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's Rooftop, Thu., 1am; www.lesbreastfeeders.ca
Malajube (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's Rooftop, Thu., 12mid; www.malajube.com
Miracle Fortress (Montreal, Quebec) Hideout, Wed., 8pm; www.myspace.com/miraclefortress
Mobile (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's, Thu., 10:30pm; www.mobiletheband.com
Krista L.L. Muir (Montreal, Quebec) Ale House, Wed., 9pm; www.myspace.com/kristallmuir
Pawa Up First (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's, Thu., 7:30pm; www.pawaupfirst.com
Plaster (Montreal, Quebec) Parish, Sat., 8:45pm; www.plasterband.com
Pony Up (Montreal, Quebec) Flamingo Cantina, Wed., 10pm; www.ponyup.ca
Priestess (Montreal, Quebec) Town Lake Stage @ Auditorium Shores, Sat., 4pm; www.priestessband.com
Shapes & Sizes (Montreal, Quebec) Emo's Lounge, Thu., 11:30pm; www.shapesandsizes.ca
Skratch Bastid (Montreal, Quebec) Zero Degrees, Wed., 8pm; www.skratchbastid.com
Amon Tobin (Montreal, Quebec) Parish, Sat., 12:15am; www.amontobin.com
Patrick Watson (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's, Thu., 12:30am; www.patrickwatson.net
We Are Wolves (Montreal, Quebec) Maggie Mae's, Thu., 1:15am; www.wearewolves.net
Young Galaxy (Montreal, Quebec) Habana Calle 6 Annex, Fri., 10pm; www.younggalaxy.com
