The Beaches "Blame My Ex Tour" Show Review - November 5th, 2023 (Winnipeg, Manitoba @ The Burton Cummings Theatre)

 

The Beaches w/ special guests Beach Weather show review (November 5th, 2023) (poster courtesy of The Burton Cummings Theatre website)

Toronto indie/alt-pop four-piece The Beaches took the stage alongside Beach Weather on Sunday night at the Burton Cummings Theatre, as part of the 2023 Blame My Ex tour, in support of their album of the same name, which came out in September on AWAL Recordings.

The night opened promptly at 8pm, with Beach Weather from Massachusetts, USA. They play a brand of jangly indie and pop rock similar to most of The Beaches recent stuff, however I would more accurately compare them to a band such as The Neighborhood, The Wallows or Hotel Ugly; something more in that laidback indie feel.

Beach Weather played about 40 minutes of their material, which is great for a highlight reel of what they offer in terms of their tunes. They played a handful of their popular songs from their two 2016 EP's, 'Chit Chat' and 'What a Drag', and some from their most recent album, 'Pineapple Sunrise', including their viral-on-the-internet hit, Sex, Drugs, Etc. (which was first released on their debut EP, but rereleased years later). The bands' live stage presence and vibe oozes sunny day beach vibes, and frontman Nick Santino (of A Rocket to the Moon fame) oozes sexual attitude with a great voice. What I enjoyed about these guys live presence the most, is their dynamics; a tendency to go from a great power pop tune to an emotional, rock 'n roll destruction fest with their instruments in mere minutes. 

The Beaches came on stage at 9:10pm, and delivered a set of both new and old hits and album cuts, including their latest album being played in full. Other favorites that aren't found on Blame My Ex include Grow Up Tomorrow, T-Shirt and Money. The only song that I noticed that was notably missing from any of their setlists (including this one) was Lame, but I'm not complaining. A major highlight of their set included Nick from Beach Weather coming on stage to sing with Jordan for My Body ft. Your Lips. Other notable moments included the crowd chanting enthusiastically during the song that changed The Beaches lives', 'Blame Brett', which went viral on TikTok this year, as well as the acoustic performance of If A Tree Falls - a personal favorite track of mine from this album.

The sold-out Beaches show at the Burton Cummings Theatre lived up to my expectations, and even smashed some. I've been looking into going to more indie/pop-centered shows, and this one was an extremely fun one, and a band I'll be looking more into as well as attending more shows in the future. I think the only thing that hindered my excitement a little bit was just how big the sold-out crowd was, and being pushed back slowly (I was on the floor for reference). Overall, I'll give this experience a 4/5 stars. Much love to The Beaches and Beach Weather, and I wish them well on the rest of their tour, where they go out to western Canada, then Europe later this month and USA (again) next year!

-Fish 

The Beaches 'Blame My Ex' now available on streaming services and thebeachesband.com

Blame My Ex Streaming

The Beaches Music, Merch + More

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Viridians

 

Viridians. Picture credit: ?

Viridians were an emo/progressive/post-rock band based out of my home city of Winnipeg, Canada. As far as I can tell, they were active until 2013 and issued an album (Dangerous Visions, Again) and an EP ([sp]arrows). Members were Zach Allard, Shane Patience, Neil Exell and Joseph Peloquin-Hopfner.

As they aren't together anymore, info is sparse on this band, however, what interested me is the current active projects of this band's members. Zach Allard is currently in a handful of my favorite bands in the city, which include Storyteller (with Dylan of Distances/Clipwing) and Fox Lake. Neil Exell and Shane Patience also happen to be in Fox Lake, with Shane also being an audio engineer and a former member of Distances with... Zach Allard! The local connections with this group of guys are insane and they continue to make great music in all of their projects.

Below are some links you can use if you'd like to listen to the Viridians' releases, and some of the guys' other projects which would be up your alley if you enjoy this style.

Viridians bandcamp 

Fox Lake Spotify (Zach/Neil/Shane) 

Distances Spotify (Zach/Shane) - INACTIVE

Storyteller Spotify (Zach)

 

 

 

 

Failstate

 

Photo credit: Tom Damsell

The YouTube advertising algorithm wins again. While listening to some music while doing things around the house the other day, I was advertised this awesome band called Failstate from South Wales, UK. They are a 4-piece emo and post-hardcore band who have been making a name for themselves over the past bit that they've been active, with their recent single "Another Ghost" being aired exclusively on BBC Radio 1 a month ago. Their new EP was released just under a month ago and is incredible, I would highly recommend it for any fans of heavy alternative bands such as Citizen, Holding Absence and even Movements. They have that "heavy-with-a-side-of-atmosphere" that some of these bands like Title Fight and Hundred Reasons do, and that's a sound that's really been taking off over the past handful of years. What Failstate are doing is incredible and I hope it leads them to much success and more music.

Below are some links for their music

Failstate Spotify 

Failstate Bandcamp

Generals of Monrovia

 

Generals of Monrovia

Generals of Monrovia are an Israeli-Guyanese pop punk trio originally from British Columbia, Canada, but relocated to Austin, Texas some years back. As far as I can tell, they aren't very active anymore, however released 2 great EP's in 2015 and 2017, a self titled release and Immigrant Punk respectively.

The lineup includes General Sokah on guitar and vocals, General 55 on bass and General Motors on drums, and lyrical themes battle immigration and racial comments from politicians, among many other political themes. Generals of Monrovia had a bit of coverage in a publication from Okayafrica, talking about AfroPunk and their letter of rejection to the band. I will link that article down below, as it's an interesting read.

Musically, this band kind of leans on the verge of alternative rock and pop-punk rock, with some comparisons to The OBGM's, early Seaway, Elder Abuse, and Dangercat among others in that general sound-sphere. I really do hope you check out this band and enjoy them, because they perked my ear almost immediately. 

Below are some links, including the article I mentioned early, which you can use to support and listen to the band.

OkayAfrica Article 

Spotify

Bandcamp

 

 

 

 

Courage My Love

 

Photo credit: Anthony Chung

Ontario is no stranger to great pop rock and punk bands, both past and present. Like Pacific, Seaway, Bearings, Sum 41 and The Dirty Nil all come to mind. Courage My Love is no exception. If the name doesn't familiar, it's possible that you might know Phoenix and Mercedes' new band, Softcult. More about that in a minute. Courage My Love formed in Kitchener, Ontario, in 2009 as a pretty heavy pop punk and rock band featuring twin sisters, Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn on drums/keys/backing vocals and guitar/vocals respectively. Joining them on bass was David Blake-Dickson on bass, who contributed to the recording of their first EP in 2011, For Now. He was replaced by Brandon Lockwood in 2012.

Sonically, in their early days, their material is for fans of bands who were up and coming at that time, such as Tonight Alive, Crystalyne (more Canadian music), Against the Current (they were a bit later. but worth the mention) and VersaEmerge, and even some of the big players in the game who came up earlier, such as Hey Monday and Paramore. They would later transition to a synthpop/alternative pop sound which has callbacks and influences from all kinds of artists, including Pale Waves, Cocteau Twins and HAIM. In total, the band would release 6 EPs and 2 albums, and received a JUNO nomination (the Canadian Grammy's) in 2014 for their Becoming EP. They appeared at Vans Warped Tour 2017, and toured with As It Is, Trash Boat and Holding Absence in 2018, also appearing at 2000 Trees fest that same year.

The sisters felt cast down by their label, which led to their disbandment in 2020. Very soon, their new band, Softcult would be formed. Softcult is more of a indie/dream pop and shoegaze sounding-band, in the same vein as bands such as Loathe, Teenage Wrist and Lush. Please check out Softcult as well, as they are gaining serious heat, as of these past couple years. They will also be going on tour in the US with Movements and Mannequin Pussy, which is a stacked bill adding Softcult on it.

Here are some links which you can use to support the artist(s) music

Courage My Love Spotify

Softcult Spotify

Softcult Instagram

Courage My Love Bandcamp

 

 

 

 

Swallowing Shit

 

Photographer: Unknown

I'm from Winnipeg, and haven't done an entry of a band such as Propagandhi or Weakerthans. What the hell?! Those will all come soon, most likely, but I would always like to focus on the more obscure ones. Which is why I'd probably sooner choose an Agassiz or a Sixty Stories over the aforementioned bands. With that being said, here's Swallowing Shit from Regina, Saskatchewan. SS were a grindcore band formed in 1994 and lasting to 1997, and featured MANY members in it's ever changing lineup, with vocalist Mike Alexander being the only permanent member (although drummer Cory Koss was the second longest lasting, joining immediately after the release of their first demo.) Probably the bands' 2 most popular members were guitarist Todd Kowalski, who would go onto join Propagandhi (and was also in I-Spy around this time), and Jahmeel Russell who has played with KEN Mode and Kittens, among others. This band was, as most Kowalski projects have been, very left-wing/anarcho-punk lyrically.

Swallowing Shit released a rare demo in 1995, a few 7 inches and a compliation which included some songs that never appeared on those past releases. The band disbanded in 1997 and played their last show with J Church and The Weakerthans.

Here are some links to some places where you catch their music. 

Spotify

Discogs

Soundcloud

I sincerely wish you luck if you are trying to look for physicals of this band.

North of America

Pic credit: Unknown

North Of America is a Canadian post-hardcore band formed in 1997 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Though only lasting until 2003 in their initial run, the band toured around much of North America and Europe, and even after their initial breakup, reunited to play around Canada many times, including with Ted Leo and The Pharmacists. Past and current members now currently live in Halifax and Vancouver, and included in it's initial lineup, Michael Catano, Mark Mullane, J. La Pointe and Mark Colavecchia. Jim MacAlpine would replace LaPointe in 2003 after the release of Brothers, Sisters.

If you're a fan of much of late 90s/2000s indie-emo and post-hardcore, with bands such as The Van Pelt, Modest Mouse, Milemarker and Q And Not U (and yes, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists). Halifax (and the general New England/Atlantic Canada area) had such a booming music scene for this kind of music back in this era, and some of these bands deserve a little more love. North of America's full discography was uploaded a few years back so you can look for that, here's some links to their Bandcamp page and more, if you'd like to support them:

North of America Spotify

North of America Bandcamp

North of America Discogs

Pic credit: from Exclaim! Please tell me who the photographer is; author of article is Josiah Hughes.