Consequence of Sound » You Say Party! We Say Die!

You Say Party announces split

Chris Coplan — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:39:39 +0000

Despite the death of drummer Devon Clifford in April 2010, it appeared that Canadian dance-punk band You Say Party was going to soldier on with a new name and new members. However, in a recent announcement, bassist Stephen O’Shea confirmed that the band is no more:

“Becky (Ninkovic, vocals), Derek (Adam, guitar), and I are announcing the immediate cease to activity as YSP,” O’Shea said. “Call it a hiatus. Call it a break. Call it whatever you want. It’s been a hard year for us. Not a bad year. We’ve experienced wonderful support from people. But you gotta listen to your body and your mind when it begins to revolt against what you think it is you have to do. We’re gonna stop for a while, and we’re gonna work on who we are as people. We know that everyone understands exactly why and where we’re coming from.”

The decision comes just days after the one-year anniversary of Clifford’s death on April 18th.

Formed in 2004, the band released one EP, four albums, and a collection of singles before Clifford’s passing. After the name change, keyboardist Krista Loewen left the band in June 2010 and was replaced by Robert Andow and Bobby Siadat of Gang Violence. Since then, the band have released a remix album and split 7″ with The Duloks.

You Say Party! We Say Die! announces new members, name change

Chris Coplan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:35:40 +0000

Canadian dance-punk outfit You Say Party! We Say Die! puts on a fun, high-energy show that often involves tons of dancing and copious liters of sweat. But even they’re not immune to tragedy, as in April the band’s drummer, Devon Clifford, died after collapsing on stage due to brain hemorrhage. Now, just a couple months later, the band has responded by announcing a couple new members and a brand new (sort of) name.

The band, which had “taken some time out of the spotlight these last few months to heal, process, reflect and re-evaluate the future of this band,” will now be known simply known as You Say Party. In addition to the tragic loss of Clifford, keyboardist Krista Loewen departed the band to pursue educational opportunities. Replacing them will be Robert Andow and Bobby Siadat of Vancouver band Gang Violence.

More resolved than ever before, the band promises “a renewed commitment to music and touring.” That promise will first come in the form of a rescheduled European tour, which the band had postponed in the wake of Clifford’s death. Stay tuned for those dates and more You Say Party news.

2010 Polaris Prize nominees announced

Chris Coplan — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:00:11 +0000

A lot of jokes involve Canada (and we’ve perpetuated a lot of those stereotypes here at CoS). But if there’s one thing our neighbors to the north do well, it’s honor their best and brightest musicians with the Polaris Prize. And that they’ll do come September 20th in Toronto. As of now, however, 40 acts and their must-hear albums have been announced, but that list will get leaner by next month.

According to the Montreal Gazette, the 2010 award honors albums released from June 1st, 2009 to May 31st, 2010. The prize, whose potential winners are chosen by 200 Canadian music critics, went to Fucked Up last year. But it’s not just a fancy, schmancy award. Along with bragging rights, the winners receive a big fat check for $20,000. (Probably more money they’d make otherwise on the actual album.) Pretty sweet deal, all in all.

You can take a peek at the 40 nominees below. Just from a quick glance, stand outs include: The Besnard Lakes, Broken Social Scene, Caribou (who won in 2008), Frog Eyes, Owen Pallet (who won in 2006), The New Pornographers, Tegan & Sara, You Say Party! We Say Die!, and Zeus.

As always, stay tuned to for the shortlist and the eventual winner.

2010 Polaris Prize Nominees:
01. Apollo Ghosts – Mount Benson
02. Bahamas – Pink Strat
03. The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night
04. Blue Rodeo – The Things We Left Behind
05. Brasstronaut – Mt. Chimaera
06. Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
07. Basia Bulat – Heart Of My Own
08. By Divine Right – Mutant Message
09. Caribou – Swim
10. Jason Collett – Rat A Tat Tat
11. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles (II)
12. Amelia Curran – Hunter, Hunter
13. Fred Fortin – Plastrer La Lune
14. Frog Eyes – Paul’s Tomb: A Triumph
15. Hannah Georgas – This Is Good
16. Ghostkeeper - Ghostkeeper
17. Holy Fuck – Latin
18. Karkwa – Les Chemins De Verre
19. LeE HARVeY OsMOND – A Quiet Evil
20. Greg MacPherson – Mr. Invitation
21. Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice
22. Misteur Valaire – Golden Bombay
23. The New Pornographers – Together
24. Owen Pallett – Heartland
25. Plants And Animals – La La Land
26. Radio Radio - Belmundo Regal
27. Justin Rutledge – The Early Widows
28. The Sadies – Darker Circles
29. Shad – TSOL
30. Elizabeth Shepherd – Heavy Falls The Night
31. The Slew – 100%
32. Meaghan Smith – The Cricket’s Orchestra
33. South Rakkas Crew – The Stimulus Package
34. Tegan And Sara - Sainthood
35. The Wooden Sky – If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone
36. Hawksley Workman – Meat
37. You Say Party! We Say Die! – XXXX
38. Young Galaxy- Invisible Republic
39.Yukon Blonde – Yukon Blonde
40. Zeus – Say Us

The post-Coachella/Record Store Day/Soundgarden recap!

Alex Young — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:15:11 +0000

You’d think a weekend featuring the Coachella Music Festival, Record Store Day, and a Soundgarden reunion would mean few other headlines. I mean, could you ask for any better distractions?

Well, it turns out that notion was entirely inaccurate. This weekend was super insane, so much so in fact that trying to catch up might be as overwhelming as attending Coachella itself. (Minus the 75,000 strong crowds). That’s why we figured it would be a good idea to post together a post-Coachella/Record Store Day/Soundgarden recap. So, without further adieu…

Jay-Z will followup his Coachella duet with Beyonce by teaming up with Betty White for the May 8th episode of Saturday Night Live.

Members of The Strokes and The Black Keys and Norah Jones are among those taking part in this year’s Dylan Fest 2010.

Tapes N’ Tapes sat down exclusively with Consequence of Sound to talk about their forthcoming third studio album.

Kanye West’s music is now available in lullaby form. No joke.

The Flaming Lips covered the Dark Side of the Moon track “Breathe” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Blur released its first new single in seven years, “Fool’s Day”, as a free digitial download.

LCD Soundsystem debuted a pretty awesome video for This Is Happening‘s first single, “Drunk Girls”.

CoS Staff Writer Philip Cosores reviewed the first U.S. show of Pavement’s currently ongoing reunion.

Finally, You Say Party! We Say Die! drummer Devon Clifford passed away early Sunday morning after collapsing onstage during a Friday night concert in Vancouver.

R.I.P. Devon Clifford (of You Say Party! We Say Die!)

Alex Young — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:38:49 +0000

Devon Clifford, the drummer of the Canadian dance-punk outfit You Say Party! We Say Die! died early Sunday morning after collapsing onstage during a Friday night concert in Vancouver.

The band was performing at an all-ages show Friday at the Rickshaw Theatre when Clifford collapsed on stage. According to Spinner, lead singer Becky Ninkovic asked audience members to call 911, and soon after midnight paramedics arrived and Clifford was rushed to the emergency room.

Though the cause of death has not yet been disclosed, reports suggest that Clifford suffered a sudden brain hemmorhage and, after having emergency neurosurgery, he was put full life support. Unfortunately, he ultimately passed away on early Sunday.

Paper Bag Records, the band’s label, released the following statement regarding Clifford’s death:

It is with absolute sadness to report that our dear friend Devon Clifford, the drummer of You Say Party We Say Die, passed away last night in a Vancouver hospital surrounded by his family and friends. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.

Clifford joined You Say Party! We Say Die! in 2004 following the release of its debut EP, Danskwad. He would go on to record three full-length albums with the group, most recently XXXX late last year.

CoS is heading to South by Southwest!

CoS Staff — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:02 +0000

Well, as you know, via the constant news posts, our Twitter bombardment, and the 6,432 emails sent from the 6,432 bands scheduled to play this week asking to CHECK THEM OUT! — perhaps you haven’t experienced the last part, but trust us, our inbox is suffocating! — this week, the entire music industry will descend on Austin, Texas for the 2010 edition of South by Southwest. Consequence of Sound will be heading down there as well, as Mr. Young, Mr. Roffman, Mr. Coplan, and Mr. Blackard will be playing both journalists and party hosts throughout the week.

On Wednesday, we’ll team up with our internet buddies Elbo.ws and The Music Slut and the awesome Austin promoters Knuckle Rumbler to help kick off South by Southwest with a bang!

What: Body Parts
Where: Peckerhead’s (402 E. 6th St)
When: Wednesday, March 17th, 1 – 8pm CST
Who: Theophilus London, Broken Social Scene’s Jason Collett, The Death Set, Drink Up Buttercup, Acrylics, Gemni Club, Maps & Atlases, The Depreciation Guild, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, and Dignan
Extras: Free So-Co + tacos!
How: Free, but please RSVP

We’re particuarly proud of our Thursday event, and for good reason. We teamed up with one of our favorite music festivals, Calgary’s Sled Island Music Festival, and put together a lineup that rivals all. At least, we and some 4,700 others seem to think so.

What: CoS + Sled Island’s 1st Annual SXSW Day Party
Where: Republic Live (301 W. 5th St)
When: Thursday, March 18th, 12 – 7pm CST
Who: Titus Andronicus, Surfer Blood, Rural Alberta Advantage, Of Montreal’s James Husband, Jukebox the Ghost, Garotas Sueces, Brasstronaut, and Royal Bangs + a ???.
How: Free, but please RSVP. Please note that this event will likely be at-capacity, so we suggest you get there early to ensure entry (First come, first serve).

Then, on Friday, we’ll look to cap it all off with a rather intimate event, personally curated by CoS’ Michael Roffman. “Lo-Fi Friday” presented by CoS and the Rock it Out! Blog, features music that lives up to the events name and lots of cool goods. Plus, we’ll have pizza!

What: CoS + Rock It Out! Blog present: 1st Annual “Lo-Fi Friday”
Where: Republic Live (301 W. 5th St)
When: Friday, March 19th, 12 – 7pm CST
Who: The Protomen, Sweet Apple, Hurricane Bells, Light Pollution, Surf City, Look Mexico, You Say Party! We Say Die!, The Happy Hollows, Male Bonding, and Chaperone
Extras: Blu Energy Drink + 8-bit gaming station + Pizza!
How: Free, but please RSVP.

We hope you can join us! Also, be sure to follow CoS on Twitter for all the latest SXSW updates as well as opportunities to score guest list access to all three of these events.

We should also note that because of our travels, regular programming on the actual website will be limited this week. Please check back next week for a complete recap of both our travels and any news we might have missed. In the meantime, whether you’ll be joining us in Austin or sitting at home in envy, please enjoy your week!

Update: CoS + Rock It Out! Blog’s “Lo-Fi Friday” SXSW Day Party

Michael Roffman — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:25:46 +0000

We’re about a week away from SXSW and we couldn’t be more stressed excited. Nothing screams “spectacular” than sunshine, free drinks, a plethora of indie-rock, and thousands of drunk hipsters and PR reps. With that in mind, we also think “spectacular” pretty much sums up our exciting three-day party extravaganza. While the fun starts Wednesday and peaks on Thursday, it all comes to one pretty laid back conclusion come Friday. And since we’re all going to be exhausted by then, a break sounds both a.) inviting and b.) much needed.

That’s why Consequence of Sound + Rock It Out! Blog put together the “Lo-Fi Friday” lineup! But since its announcement two weeks ago, we’ve beefed it up some. Don’t get us wrong… we want to relax and just enjoy our time, but we also want to go out with a bang. So, in addition to a line up you won’t get anywhere else — The Protomen, You Say Party! We Say Die!, Sweet Apple, Hurricane Bells, The Happy Hollows, Surf City, Look Mexico, Male Bonding, Light Pollution, and Chaperone — we’ve added some party favors.

For one, Blu Energy Drink has been gracious enough to supply the event with cases of liquid adrenaline, which should make survival all the more realistic! And for those who arrive early enough, you’ll be able to share a few slices of pizza with the CoS crew while we watch a raucous performance by Chaperone and Sweet Apple. Throughout the day, we’ll also have a full service bar and a vintage 8-bit gaming station, provided by the wonderful folks at Game Over Videogames. C’mon, who doesn’t want to escape the hard hitting sun and play some Mega Man while refueling and listening to hard-hitting, lo-fi, alt rock?

If you look closely at the lineup, you’ll notice a change, too. We’re now at a 10 band bill, as we’ve added Chicago’s hot up and coming act, Light Pollution! You might not have heard of them yet, but you will over the next few months, especially when their debut surfaces in June via Carpark Records. They not only have an extraordinary and hip sound, but promise to be a spectacle on-stage, too.

Last, but most important of all, the venue is now at Republic Live. This does wonders for us, considering it’s a larger venue and also in a greater location — it’s across the street from Antone’s! We anticipate lots of day traffic and we’re hoping you’re a part of it!

So, if you can pry yourself away from the 129,323,299 other parties and events going down, come give us a holler and see what will undoubtedly be the most unique lineup of the day. Just keep in mind, you haven’t seen anything ’til you’ve seen The Protomen.

Anyhow, here are the details, including the official schedule and RSVP info.

Official Schedule:

12:00: Chaperone
12:30: Sweet Apple
01:00: Male Bonding
01:45: The Happy Hollows
02:30: You Say Party! We Say Die!
03:20: Look Mexico
04:05: Surf City
04:50: Light Pollution
05:35: Hurricane Bells
06:20: The Protomen

RSVP:

Let us know you’re coming and RSVP here (via Facebook).

About the Bands:

The Protomen: An event not to be missed, The Protomen are less a band and more an engaging rock opera. As they insist, “They are messengers, riding atop an Iron Stallion on their way to deliver the most vicious rock ‘n’ roll fable that the world has even known.” Quite the statement, right? Their message has caught on, however. After last year’s electrifying performances at both Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and New York’s CMJ, where they supported their latest effort Act II: The Father of Death, the Nashville natives plan to take on 2010 with a vengeance. Not only will they be appearing at SXSW, but The Protomen will support their own tour that will take them to the better parts of the midwest. Do not miss what Wired Magazine calls, “unequivocally unique” and “positively inspired.”

You Say Party! We Say Die!: British Columbia has a lot of things going for it these days: The Olympics, actress Cobie Smulder, and of course, indie sensation You Say Party! We Say Die! (aka YSP!WSD!). Having reinvented themselves with their spirited style of New-Wave, and a new depth of material, the band returned recently with their much-anticipated third release, XXXX, which Pitchfork Media calls, “unexpectedly tender.” With sounds that trace back to 80′s favorites The Psychedelic Furs, The Go Gos, and ‘Til Tuesday, YSP!WSD! are an easy favorite on the dance floor, and this year they’ll be putting Americans back there as they tour the States for the first time in several years.

Sweet Apple: Side projects are one thing, but when a band forms out of love, you just gotta respect that. Sweet Apple is the new unit comprised of J. Mascis (of Dinosaur Jr.), Tim Parnin and John Petkovic (both of Cobra Verde), and Dave Sweetapple (of Witch). This is not a supergroup, however, nor is it a little side project. It’s a labor of love that worked together as a close pocket of friends, all to create something emotionally-charged and downright honest. The result is their forthcoming debut, Love & Desperation, and while it’s not out ’til April 20th, the band plans to make one hell of a breakthrough at SXSW, which includes a performance at Waterloo Records on March 19th.

“Do You Remember”

Hurricane Bells: After touring the better part of last year around Longwave’s fourth effort, Secrets Are Sinister, Steve Schiltz set up shop to create a new project with little else than his MacBook and an Mbox. He wrote, played, recorded, and mixed every note himself, arranging what would become Tonight Is The Ghost, the debut album of his now new act, Hurricane Bells. It’s taken off tremendously. While a soundtrack inclusion (“Monsters”) to last year’s Twilight: New Moon soundtrack didn’t hurt, the band’s been stirring up a storm for itself, finishing up a tour in India and returning for a spring run of dates, where they’ll be supporting Blue October on a nation-wide tour.

The Happy Hollows: Los Angeles has a good reason to smile lately. In the past, they’ve delivered us some hip-as-hell rock ‘n’ roll (The Doors, Guns N’ Roses), and now they bring us The Happy Hollows. If the band’s current single “High Wire” sounds familiar, there’s a good reason. It’s the ultimately catchy song from the latest Samsung Mobile commercials. The best part? There’s more! The group’s debut, last year’s Spells, gushes of 14 flavorful indie-rock tunes that demand to be heard again and again. It only gets better live, too! That’s why we can’t argue with The Huffington Post, who calls The Happy Hollows, “A Band You’ve Got to See.”

Look Mexico: It’s been a strange and interesting journey for Tallahassee-turned-Austin’s own Look Mexico. After signing with Lujo Records, the band collected a small, but dedicated fan base across the nation that turned them from your favorite local band from another town to your favorite local band in your country. The band’s seen its share of line up changes, but that’s hardly hurt their music. From their debut, This Is Animal Music, to their critically acclaimed EP, Gasp Asp, the band’s swatted away enough drama that would sink the average mainstream act, and their music excels from this. New sounds and new faces make up a brilliant new unit that should make new label Suburban Home very, very proud. And with a highly anticipated sophomore follow up on the way, April’s To Bed To Battle, a recommendation from Alternative Press, and a second appearance at the Harvest of Hope Festival, it’s safe to say these Florida-turned-Texas folk have little to worry.

Surf City: New Zealand’s made some fine exports in the past few years. While we won’t throw any Tolkien references around, we are apt to say it’s a pretty magical place. Surf City is just one great example of its majestic powers. Birthed from a deep influence of The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Beach Boys, and The Zombies, this quartet is exactly what happens when distortion takes a vacation. It’s fast, it’s catchy, and it’s highly addictive. Their EP “broke waves” back in ’08 — Pitchfork Media found it “absolutely charming” — and since then they’ve been hitting the live scene hard, including a tight run through last year’s CMJ. They’re primed to continue this success down in Austin.

Male Bonding: It’s a pretty good day when Sub-Pop calls to pick you up. How do you think Male Bonding felt? The UK trio signed to the legendary Seattle label last year and since then they’ve been turning heads left and right. They’ve taken a traditional garage rock sound and just splintered it into several directions. Everything from grunge to surf-pop riddle their songs, and what’s more, they’re sloppy in all the right ways. It’s lo-fi at its finest and it should come as no surprise that the band’s been opening for the likes of Vivian Girls, Japandroids, Abe Vigoda, and The Soft Pack. Delectable? You’ll be asking for seconds before their set’s even finished.

“Pumpkin”

Light Pollution: While attending Northern Illinois University, Jim Cicero and drummer Matt Evertt shut themselves off from society in a rickety old warehouse. It was there that they tinkered around with enough reverb and distortion to create the hypnotic, psychedelic trance that is now Light Pollution. Since then, the band has expanded into a quartet, adding Nick Sherman and Jed Robertson, and although they’ve only hit the Chicago circuit, they’ve wretched enough eyes to land a label (Carpark Records) and great attention from The Windish Agency. Their first full length, Apparitions, is due out June 15th, and those lucky enough to be in Austin during SXSW would be wise to check out what will inevitably become the next indie sensation.

“Good Feelings”

Chaperone: After disbanding Chicago garage-blues fiesta Blueblood, Thomas Des Enfants swept up the ashes and carved something anew. Tighter, friendlier, and more intimate, Chaperone introduces new faces and an assured sound that draws influences from several eras, though you’re likely to recall The Avett Brothers. Sing-along harmonies and bucket-toting percussion do-see-do over finger licking bass lines that result in irresistable folk-rock. It’s caught on, too. Their unique songs and impassioned live act have generated a growing buzz in the Midwest with each performance, and while Chaperone spent much of 2009 recording, writing, and fine-tuning their set, 2010 will see the release of their EP and the road ahead.

“Witches & Sailors”

About the Venue:

Republic Live is located in Austin, TX at 301 W 5th St. (5th & Lavaca St.). It’s less than a ten minute walk from the Austin Convention Center.

About The Presenters:

Consequence of Sound is a global music publication averaging 50,000 daily page impressions. Now in its third year, CoS sports over 50 contributors, recognition from countless premiere media outlets, and a readership that proves to be one of the most active and dedicated in all of the online music blogosphere. The SXSW day party will also coincide with the launch of a brand new, professionally designed CoS website.

Rock It Out! Blog is a fresh face in the online music community, delivering rock music news from the fan’s perspective. Site owner Sami Jarroush (of Fuse TV fame) has hosted several rock shows on television and radio and with Rock It Out! Blog he brings his talents into the dawning age of video blogging. In its short existence, however, the site has already become a new internet sensation, landing interviews with highly respected talent and partnering up with several online publications. Rock It Out! Blog‘s co-sponsorship with Consequence of Sound marks the first live event for the site and kicks off an exciting year full of things to come.

Game Over Videogames is Austin’s go-to spot for everything vintage video gaming. This store’s aim is to bring classic video games back into the city, and give gamers a top quality, one stop shop for classic video games, systems, accessories, plus the coolest collectibles, t-shirts, etc and more. Game Over Videogames is a true example of how an independent video game store can compete and win against enormous competition and huge obstacles in today’s fragile business climate. The franchise will be heavily involved throughout SXSW, with several in-store promotions and events, including a performance by Descendants of Erdrick on Thursday, March 18th.

The Nerdy Show is a weekly podcast dedicated to nerd culture, nerd news, and nerd music. It’s a celebration of the multifaceted d20 that is the modern nerd presented in a weekly melding of talk radio and music. From comics and video games to science and technology — if it’s geeky they’ve got it covered!

Blu Energy Drink is the best and only choice in energy drinks today, namely because that’s what they set out to do. They strive for quality and with its variety of flavors, they set the bar high for anyone looking to keep the world awake.

CoS + Rock It Out Blog! reveal 2010 SXSW day party lineup!

Michael Roffman — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:00:19 +0000

Update: Venue change! The party will now be located at Republic Live — details below, including updated poster!

We’re pretty jazzed about SXSW — as if you couldn’t tell — and this year we’re really making the best of it. Since we’re not throwing our own showcase, we decided to “go all out” and take advantage of every day we’re down in Austin, TX. As promised last week, we have three events planned, and while you’re all well aware of Thursday’s festivities, we thought we’d splurge about our “relaxing” Friday plans.

Teaming up with the ever popular Rock It Out! Blog, we’re proud to present the line up for our first annual joint day party, which all goes down Friday, March 19th at Republic Live. This year’s festivities will feature a lineup made of some of the hottest up-and-coming outfits in music, including — second drum roll, please — The Protomen, You Say Party! We Say Die!, Sweet Apple, Hurricane Bells, The Happy Hollows, Look Mexico, Surf City, Male Bonding, Light Pollution, and Chaperone!

And as usual, the entire event will be free!

That said, the capacity for the event will be limited to 500 or so lucky individuals, so it’s probably a good idea to get there early in order to guarantee admission for this very, very intimate affair. Doors will open at 12pm and the party will run until roughly 5:30pm.

If that weren’t enough, the event will also be sponsored by The Nerdy Show and Game Over Videogames, who will be handing out exclusive coupons and setting up a vintage gaming station, where attendees can play classic 8-bit NES games — especially each Mega Man installment, in keeping with The Protomen theme.

Additional details, including set times, accommodations (Liquor! Red Bull! Waffles!), will be announced in the weeks ahead. We may also provide a few opportunities to get on the guest list. So, stay tuned!

Scroll down for band bios and venue information! How sweet of us, huh?

About the Bands:

“Do You Remember”

“Pumpkin”

“Hand Crushes the Wheel”

Chaperone: After disbanding Chicago garage-blues fiesta Blueblood, Thomas Des Enfants swept up the ashes and carved something anew. Tighter, friendlier, and more intimate, Chaperone introduces new faces and an assured sound that draws influences from several eras, though you’re likely to recall The Avett Brothers. Sing-along harmonies and bucket-toting percussion do-see-do over finger licking bass lines that result in irresistable folk-rock. It’s caught on, too. Their unique songs and impassioned live act have generated a growing buzz in the Midwest with each performance, and while Chaperone spent much of 2009 recording, writing, and fine-tuning their set, 2010 will see the release of their EP and the road ahead.

“Witches & Sailors”

About the Venue:

Republic Live is located in Austin, TX at 301 W 5th St. (5th & Lavaca St.). It’s less than a ten minute walk from the Austin Convention Center.

About The Presenters:

Album Review: You Say Party! We Say Die! – XXXX

Ted Maider — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:00:32 +0000

For the better half of the past decade, we’ve been in some sort of 1980′s pop renaissance. Logic would dictate this to be somewhat true, since the generation that grew up in the 1980′s are turning into the people who are old enough to make the big, crucial artistic decisions that make up the modern world. Comedian Nick Swardson references America’s love for 80′s parties in his new stand-up special, television stations like VH1 Classic are virtually devoted to that era, and synth-electro-pop bands like MGMT and Phoenix plague the airwaves. The new album from Canadian new-wavers, You Say Party! We say Die!, simply titled XXXX, falls right into this realm of new millennium pop culture. Their extremely catchy keyboard hooks, combined with raw guitars and vocals filled with a sort of hypnotic angst, pays homage to the era when MTV played nothing but music videos.

Nothing sets the mood more than the dark opener track “There is XXXX (In My Heart),” lead singer Becky Ninkovic sings a tune of heartbreak so sad over a vibraphone keyboard setting that sends chills down your spine. She swears there’s love in her heart, though (I assume, naturally, that XXXX is supposed to be LOVE), and quite suddenly, over a much friendlier pop riff that could be played in the club somewhere. The drums kick everything up for sure with a rhythmic sort of intensity that you can just imagine people in out-of-style clothes jumping to strobe lights. If John Hughes hears this track, he’ll wish he was still making movies about teenagers dealing with hormones and identity crises.

The album kicks it up even further on the next track that sounds like YSP!WSD!’s answer to the Go-Gos. The song is called “Glory” and contains an opening guitar riff so raw and awesome, one can’t help but feel two things: a) the compulsive urge to rock out and b) the sudden need to try surfing. “Glory” is just a little punk number with a great sounding synth hook, but with the pep in the rhythm, it’s enough to get you stoked. “Make XXXX” (further hinting to LOVE) kicks off with a bass line that thumps hard enough to make your ears ring. The vocals shriek while counting down numbers until the band is telling people to shut up over the bass line, which eventually turns into a muted guitar riff, which then turns into a full fledged rock tune…and eventually back to the bass. It’s like an electo-indie rock puzzle which comes together at the end in a bit of raw intensity.

“Laura Palmer’s Prom” contains one of the most heavenly openings of modern music, putting delightful thoughts in your head. It indeed sounds like what walking into a prom would sound like if you had a soundtrack playing throughout your life. The lyrics speak of needing love while dancing up a storm at the hypothetical prom of the fictional dead girl from the show Twin Peaks. The album concludes with “Heart of Gold” (not to be confused with the Neil Young classic), a heartfelt finale with vocals that take you straight to paradise. Two female voices sing over an elegant keyboards and guitar which create this sense of pure beauty over a band called You Say Party! We Say Die! The song leads up to a jaw-dropping crescendo that stops so suddenly, you’ll wonder if your stereo just broke.

Canada keeps delivering wonderful things to the American culture. They’ve given us Trailer Park Boys, Tim Horton’s, and plenty of half-decent beers, but now they’re sharing a unique synth-rock experience with the musical community. You Say Party! We Say Die! truly exhibit a unique and interesting brand of music on the new and provocative XXXX. Whether you’re at the club to dance, crying in your room, or just looking to listen to something enjoyable, XXXX can easily satisfy these needs. If the music feels right, then rock it, no matter how the hell you feel, even if it feels like you’re about 25 years younger again.

Buy:
XXXX

Paper Bag Records have Seven Year Itch

Joe Marvilli — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:15:13 +0000

To celebrate its seventh birthday, Paper Bag Records has combined two of our favorite things in music: covers and free stuff. The Seven Year Itch, as Stereogum reports, is a new compilation of cover songs performed by twelve of label’s artists, and can be obtained right this very second for free. Just click here.

Launched in 2002, Paper Bag Records has emerged as one of he premier indie labels, and for good reason. In its first year, the label released the critically acclaimed You Forgot It In People by Broken Social Scene and has since added names like You Say Party! We Say Die!, Sally Shapiro, Tokyo Police Club, and Little Girls to its roster. NOW magazine was so pleased with its work that it recently crowned Paper Bag as the best Toronto label.

Getting back to the compilation, the 12-track effort includes covers of Nirvana, Dylan, OutKast, and Beck from the likes of Winter Gloves, Rock Plaza Central, The Acorn, and CFCF. Talk about an awesome birthday present!

The Seven Year Itch Tracklist
01 CFCF – “How Bizarre” (OMC cover)
02 Winter Gloves – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana cover)
03 Woodhands – “Electric Avenue” (Eddy Grant cover)
04 Sally Shapiro – “Dying In Africa” (Nicolas Makelberge cover)
05 You Say Party! We Say Die! – “Falling Out” (Rick Agnew cover)
06 Josh Reichmann – “Daniel” (Bat For Lashes cover)
07 Laura Barrett – “Gamma Ray” (Beck cover)
08 Rock Plaza Central – “I Want You” (Bob Dylan cover)
09 The Acorn – “Strange Animal” (Gowan cover)
10 Little Girls – “Heinz” (Artery cover)
11 Slim Twig – “Behold A Lady” (OutKast cover)
12 Under Byen – “Du er min øjesten” (Peter Malberg cover)

You Say Party! We Say Die! announces new record

Joshua Kloke — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:15:22 +0000

For a bunch of folks with a seemingly intimidating name, You Say Party! We Say Die! has sure shown the world of indie rock how to have a good time. After the release of two critically acclaimed records, Hit The Floor! and Lose All Time, British Columbia’s favourite new-wavers are back with XXXX (That extra X is no typo) on September 29th.

According to a press release, XXXX (via on Paper Bag Records) finds the pride of Abbotsford embracing soul, rhythm and feeling. And anyone who’s spent some time in Abbotsford knows what an accomplishment this is. Recorded with producer Howard Redekop (The New Pornographers, Tegan and Sara), it appears as if the band came dangeriously close to falling victim to the very name that’s made them famous. Altercations with German punk-rockers in Berlin after years in the road led to bouts of soul-searching. Various do-gooding and volunteering ensued, before the band returned to the studio for eight months in 2009 to record XXXX. Emphasis was placed on “Doing whatever it takes” and that “The loving was the everything.” No word on whether Ron Jeremy dropped by the set to remind them what a good time life can be.

YSP!WSD! will embark on a North American tour in support of XXXX, including a long-awaited return to the US.

A Weekend In The City: Rifflandia Music Festival 2008

Colin Coulter — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:56:20 +0000

Last weekend, Victoria, British Columbia played host to the first annual Rifflandia Music Festival. While not quite reaching the same echelon as some of the summer’s other major festivals, Rifflandia’s jam-packed, indie-friendly lineup combined with its unique presentation certainly served for one hell of a weekend. Thankfully, Colin Coulter was there to take it in for us…

Victoria is a city of only 330,000 people, and has a reputation as a haven for the “newly wed” and “nearly dead.” So when word came that Canada’s Garden City would be the latest Pacific Northwest location to offer a summer music festival, one couldn’t help but question the decision.

But by weekend’s end, the inaugural Rifflandia Music Festival not only proved to be a success, but also another example as to why 2008 has truly been the year of the music festival.

Day One – Friday, August 29th

For anyone who has been to a music festival before, you know that there is typically some preparation that must take place before those first chords are strummed. You have to examine the schedule and handpick all of your “must-see” acts. You have to make room on your camera by deleting those drunken pictures from last weekend. You have to toss your favourite concert Tee in the wash. But most importantly, you have to let the excitement of what you are about to experience overtake you. Before this festival I did none of those things…

In fact, I had very little expectations coming into Rifflandia. My weekend began with a short 25-minute walk from my house to downtown Victoria. The festival offered six venues, each within a 5-10 minute walk. Festival organizers opted to schedule acts into a number of “showcases” a la SXSW. So really it felt more like I was going to a bunch of shows rather than a music festival.

There were a number of innovative ideas for Rifflandia that certainly added to the experience. Since it was located in the city, many local stores offered discounts to festival attendees. It was a nice incentive, and we were able to go out for lunch, do some shopping, and then hit a show. Perhaps the most revolutionary idea of all: Rifflandia Festival had its very own limited edition beer! Local brew masters Phillips Brewery formulated a magical concoction affectionately titled “Rifflandabru.” I can tell you that festival goers absolutely annihilated the entire supply by Sunday night.

5:00pm – Cobras Cobras Cobras

Cobras Cobras Cobras are a local band who could best be described as spaz rock. They brought the energy big time, and really set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Many of the songs were percussion driven, with the rhythm guitarist often switching to a single snare drum and wailing away along with the full-time drummer. Cobras X3 were a fantastic choice to open up for Man Man. A short 30-minute set definitely left me wanting more. It was also great to see the fellas checking out other shows all weekend long.

6:00pm – Man Man

I decided to attend the first of two Man Man shows on that evening because the late show conflicted with The Walkmen. The anticipation of watching the Philadelphia five-piece set up is comparable to a 6-year-old gawking at a giant sundae being assembled right before his/her eyes. I knew I was in for a big treat. I watched and wondered how the band could possibly navigate through the massive clusterf*ck of whistles, cymbals, cowbells, and other gadgets that decorated the stage. After an understandably long wait, Man Man the members of the band emerged dressed completely in white and sporting war paint on their faces.

To continue my horrible analogy, if the setup is like watching that ice creamy treat being made, then listening to the band is like eating up every last mouth-watering bite. They began with a ferocious rendition of “Mister Jung Stuffed.” The set relied heavily on material from their most recent album, Rabbit Habits. Lead singer Honus Honus led the charge with vocals that ranged from raspy to yelping and yodelling. Let me tell you, the dude also gets his exercise on stage while jumping around sporadically. While it may look like complete, avant garde chaos, Man Man are a surprisingly tight live band. Another highlight was “The Ballad of Butter Beans,” which features a xylophone part that recalls the orchestral piece, “The Flight of the Bumblebee.” To add to the fun, a wide-eyed Honus Honus had everyone in the audience grab the keys from their pockets and shake them along to the song. Other weird and wonderful sound effects included: throwing a handful of cutlery across the stage and pouring a glass of water into a metal bowl beside the microphone. My only complaint was that they only played for about 45 minutes. But it was reasonable given that they were set to play again in another six hours. Man Man played a one song encore of “Doo Right,” which was really the cherry on top of that oh-so-delicious sundae.

7:00pm – The Whigs

The Whigs played at a venue called Alix Goolden Hall, which is a former church. Frontman Parker Gispert commented that it was the first time the band had ever played to a seated audience. It did seem a little blasphemous to have an audience seated in pews for a garage-rock show. On the plus side, Alix Goolden has amazing acoustics, and that could not have been lost on the acts that performed there.

The Whigs also commented that they were a long way from home (Athens, GA.), but that their parents were in the crowd for their first ever show in Victoria. The announcement garnered a big cheer from the audience. The set began with a slew of pop songs. I was expecting the band to rock way harder and began to wonder if the venue was the issue. After all, the atmosphere in a massive domed church with stained-glass windows is much different than in a dark, smoky bar. Just as I was beginning to jot down notes about their disappointing wimpy sound, the first notes of “Right Hand On My Heart” rang out across the hall. By the time the song ended I had crossed out everything I’d just written. The Whigs are unquestionably at their best when they are rocking out. The opening pop songs received a warm response from the “polite” crowd, as Gispert put it. But by the end of the set people were screaming and shouting for the band. Overall, The Whigs put on a very enjoyable show, but you can bet they don’t plan on playing to any more seated crowds in the near future.

8:00pm – Johnny and the Moon

Johnny and the Moon were one of the more renowned Victoria bands at the festival. They are fronted by Dante DeCaro (formerly of Hot Hot Heat, and sometimes Wolf Parade). Playing a mix of folk rock and alt-country, the band managed to incorporate harmonica, music box, and saxophone into the tunes. To be blunt, most of the songs were flat-out boring. Often channelling 60’s nostalgia with twangy guitars and lyrics about heartbreak, Johnny and the Moon seemed hardly excited to be playing. However, the apparent lack of interest may have been mistaken for frustration, as DeCaro pleaded with the sound guy to turn monitors up or down between almost every song. Things didn’t pick up until the end of the show, when the band broke into a number of banjo-infused toe-tappers including standout track “The Ballad of Scarlet Town.” While the band cranked up the energy, it wasn’t quite enough to save what turned out to be a bit of a disappointing show.

9:00pm – Black Mountain

Black Mountain drew in a huge crowd for its Friday headlining set. Things kicked off with a great introduction from a festival organizer who got everyone fired up and cheering. For the first time it really felt like Victoria had a festival to call its own.

The Vancouver-based band wasted no time getting started. The band embarked on a drawn-out, synth-heavy intro to “Stormy High” from their Polaris Prize-nominated album In The Future. As lead-guitarist Stephen McBean ripped into the Zeppelin-esque riff, the crowd decided they’d sat down long enough and the entire audience rushed towards the stage. Up next was the psychedelic ballad “Angels” which got the crowd swaying back and forth. Amber Webber’s quivering vocals on “Night Walks” were haunting enough to put the audience into a borderline coma. While the venue was not ideal for a band like The Whigs, seeing Black Mountain in a church was quite surreal. Their sweeping keyboards and guitar fuzz threatened to blow through the ceiling (and everyone’s ear drums).

But as wonderful as the first few songs were, things began to get dull quickly as the show progressed. I was surprised to read Matt Melis’ unfavourable review of the band’s appearance at New American Music Union a few weeks ago. However, after seeing Black Mountain for myself I completely understand Matt’s apparent disconnection with the live show. I’ve always had the personal opinion that Black Mountain is sort of like Wolfmother for the advanced listener. There is no doubt that the band has crafted some fascinating and complex songs, however they could also use a lesson in showmanship from Mr. Andrew Stockdale himself. I’m sure he’s got some free time on his hands…

After about 40 minutes of Black Mountain, I decided to bounce in favour of checking out my all-time favourite local band (yes, even more than Nelly Furtado).

9:45pm – The Paper Cranes

The Paper Cranes were supposed to be Victoria’s next big thing. Their first official release came in 2006 with the Veins EP. With encouraging reviews from Pitchfork and Exclaim!, and considerable buzz circulating around the net, the band was poised to take the next steps to indie rock stardom. But things don’t always work out the way they should. It’s now almost three years later, and after releasing their first full length album, Halcyon Days, in 2007, the band appears to be right back where they began.

With only two of the original members remaining (frontman Ryan McCullagh and keyboardist Miranda Roach, who also happen to be husband and wife), the band is primed for a “comeback” of sorts. Playing infectious indie pop full of hand-claps, harmonica, and tambourine, it’s a challenge not to nod your head along to the beat. Halcyon Days standouts “Middle-Class Guilt” and “I’ll Love You Till My Veins Explode” are two of the catchiest songs you’ve never heard. While I may be slightly biased, I absolutely loved every second of their live show, and encourage everyone to give The Paper Cranes a listen.

10:30pm – The Upsidedown

Up next were Portland, Oregon natives (and Dandy Warhols buddies), The Upsidedown. The band single handedly thwarted my attempt to escape from psych-rock music for the day. In the first (and only) major scheduling hiccup of the festival, organizers billed The Upsidedown directly after Black Mountain, and their sounds were annoyingly similar. They even shared vocals between a man and a woman. I won’t elaborate much on the show. After all, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all, right?

11:30pm – You Say Party! We Say Die!

The acronym-friendly Vancouver outfit, You Say Party! We Say Die!, brought the sexy to Sugar nightclub big time on Friday night. Frontwoman Becky Ninkovic is up there with the likes of Karen O and Jemina Pearl when it comes to pure energy and sex appeal. While I’ll admit I’ve never been a huge fan of the band’s dance punk anthems, I’ve got to give them a ton of credit for putting on one of the most fun shows of the weekend and getting everyone dancing and sweating.

12:30am – The Walkmen

One of the biggest perks of a small festival like Rifflandia is that you can easily see your favourite bands up close and personal. For the night’s grand finale, New York’s The Walkmen graced the stage to a packed house. I opted to put away the notebook, and had no problem getting to the front row about 15 minutes before the start of the show. Good luck doing that at Bonnaroo or Coachella!

The set was dominated by material from their extraordinary new album You & Me. First up was minimalist guitar track “New Country”, a great showcase of Hamilton Leithauser’s amazing vocals for those who might have been unfamiliar with the band. The Walkmen have always been known for their unique sound and use of vintage instruments. These characteristics are even more prevalent during their live shows. New song “Canadian Girl”, which surprisingly didn’t garner much of a cheer when announced, was a perfect example of how the band have fine-tuned their sound, perhaps towards the style of music their vintage instruments were designed to play. Leithauser channeled his inner 1950s crooner as he sang, “only I still call you mine, only I’m still hangin’ on.” Another welcome change was the addition of a two-man horn section to the band. This added yet another layer to The Walkmen’s already multifaceted sound. The trumpet player seemed to agree, as he appeared to have consumed a few too many Rifflandabrus before the show. The rest of the band shot glances in his direction before each horn part, but he managed to hold it together. Other highlights from You & Me included “Four Provinces” and its thunderous hook, first single “In The New Year”, and “On The Water“, which chugs along slowly like a locomotive until it is derailed by an explosion of reverb, synths, and melodic whistling.

Toward the end of the set, The Walkmen returned to the rest of their catalogue, including barnburner “The Rat”, which nearly took the house down. An encore of Bows + Arrows favourites “What‘s In It For Me“ and “Little House of Savages” left the crowd salivating. After nearly 90 minutes of bliss, fatigue began to kick in as I braved the now seemingly not-so-short walk home.

Day Two – Saturday, August 30th

After a day overflowing with goodness, the second day of Rifflandia not boast nearly the same kind of depth as the first, however there was certainly a wide array of musical genres and talents to be had.

5:30pm – The Blakes

The Blakes are a garage-rock trio from Seattle. They are raw. They are loud. But most of all, they rock hard. Much like The Whigs on Day One, it took a few songs for the crowd to warm up to the band. While the relatively small crowd seemed reluctant to hit the dance floor, there were plenty of good times and Rifflandabru to go around. By the end of The Blakes show, I had a strange urge to crack a bottle of JD and snort a line of coke (but seriously kids, don’t do drugs).

7:30pm – Blitzen Trapper

It was a night of firsts for Blitzen Trapper. It was the Portland band’s first time playing in Victoria. It was their first show in “quite a long time.” And it was the first time they played material from their highly-anticipated new album Furr. Unfortunately, all of these firsts resulted in a pretty rough show.

Blitzen Trapper began with a couple of new songs, which I must say sounded extremely different from anything on the critically acclaimed Wild Mountain Nation. The songs were louder, more experimental, and very messy. The beginning of the set was plagued by sound issues, the worst of which included frontman Eric Earley’s guitar, which completely stopped working. He had to temporarily borrow Dan Boekner’s axe (of Handsome Furs). A few songs later, after reminding the crowd that they hadn’t played in a while, Earley had to run backstage because he forgot his capo.

Thankfully, they managed to work out the kinks by the second half of the set. The title tracks of Wild Mountain Nation and Furr steered the band back in the right direction. The latter song was reminiscent of classic Bob Dylan, featuring finger-picked guitars, wailing harmonica, and tell-tale lyrics, to boot. Interestingly, for the second time in as many days a band (the other being The Whigs) commented on the polite nature of the crowd. I wasn’t sure whether to take that as a compliment or not…

Next came the toughest decision of the festival. Whether to stick around for Handsome Furs (who were spotted hanging out with Hot Hot Heat frontman Steve Bays during Blitzen Trapper), or to head back to the church for Owen Pallett’s Final Fantasy. Ultimately the decision was made to go to Final Fantasy, mainly because my legs were aching like crazy after two days of standing and those pews were looking awfully comfy. Little did I know that not only my legs, but also my eyes and ears would be thanking me later for the decision.

9:00pm – Final Fantasy

For anyone who is unfamiliar with Owen Pallett, aka Final Fantasy, he is a violinist, pianist, and composer from Toronto. He is also essentially the coolest one-man-band you will ever see, and his compositions can only be described as amazing musicianship. Each time Owen plays a song live, he records individual parts of the song then plays and loops the recordings back simultaneously as the song continues to build and evolve. It is truly a sight to behold and a feast for the ears.

The set was mainly comprised of new material, for which Owen unnecessarily apologized. Mr. Pallett was alone on stage for the first few songs, which really put the focus on his incredible talent. But then he brought out a woman named Stephanie, and the concert transformed into more of a spectacle. Not only was the music awe inspiring, but the visuals were as compelling and innovative as a Radiohead show. So what kind of crazy video screens, lasers and lights did Final Fantasy have? Well, actually there was only an overhead projector, just like the one from your Grade 8 Math class. Paper stencils were layered and shifted around to create pictures and stories, often related to the songs. The projections were occasionally cast toward the ceiling to create an eerie light show while everyone in the audience gazed skyward. From start to finish, the Final Fantasy experience left me with a serious case of goosebumps and a huge smile.

12:00am – Brother Ali

The first major hip-hop act of the festival came in the form of a late-night show from Minneapolis-native Brother Ali. After a legendary show last year, Ali’s second appearance in Victoria was highly anticipated. The crowd was respectable (although not quite as large as the crowd for The Walkmen about 24 hours earlier). Brother Ali was joined on stage by long-time collaborator DJ BK-One who took control of the decks, and also right-hand-man Mr. Wright (pun intended). The politically charged lyrics and sing-along choruses were welcomed by all in attendance. My only complaint (and it is a common one at hip-hop shows), was that the bass was pounding so heavily that most of the songs’ fascinatingly complex instrumentation was virtually inaudible. Unlike the night before, severe fatigue started to become an issue for me before the end of Day Two. We opted to leave Brother Ali after a few songs, and headed home in preparation for tomorrow’s fun, which would inevitably require every last ounce of energy we had left.

Day Three – Sunday, August 31st

If Days One and Two were all about the music, then Day Three was unquestionably about the party. After a few local DJs performed earlier in the day, the third and final day of the festival really kicked off with DJ Z-Trip (who I mistakenly referred to as “Zed”-Trip all weekend. Lost in translation indeed).

8:30pm – DJ Z-Trip

After a lazy day, I arrived at the Strathcona Rooftop (a freakin’ bar on the roof, complete with beach volleyball courts!), about 15 minutes into Z-Trip’s set. We were welcomed by a sizable line, and word that the venue was already at capacity, which can’t be much more than 150 people (a far cry from the 500,000 person crowd he performed to at the Rolling Stones‘ SARS concert a few years ago in Toronto). One agonizing hour later, I finally made it onto the roof. Luckily, Z-Trip was set to play for a total of two hours.

Yes it’s true, Gregg Gillis (aka Girl Talk) may be the flavour of the week when it comes to mash-up DJs, but there is no doubt that Z-Trip is the original maestro. With cuts that included everything from Nirvana to Beastie Boys to Led Zeppelin, not only was the nearly 2.5 hour-long set a full-out dance party, but also a lesson in music history. At one point Z-Trip proclaimed, “you know what sets me apart? I play Fleetwood Mac”, before firing up a track featuring the aforementioned band. Not only is Z-Trip the king of the mash-up, but he also spins and scratches masterfully. He seemed genuinely happy to be playing to the modest crowd and thanked everyone numerous times for “getting him so drunk” as he urged them to let loose. The show ended in epic fashion with the ultimate sing-a-long song, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

11:30pm – The Beatnuts

First, I want to quickly give props to Sweatshop Union, who opened up for The Beatnuts. They are a hip-hop collective from Vancouver, who have had some commercial success in Canada. I’ve never been a fan, but they put on an entertaining show while trading verses and rhymes between six different MCs. Between sets a few local b-boys hit the dance floor to showcase their skills. It was an entertaining way to pass the time while waiting.

Up next were New York-rap veterans The Beatnuts. Surprisingly, the duo of JuJu and Psycho Les did double duty by acting as their own DJ and rapping. The crowd pleasers came early and often with tracks such as “No Escapin’ This” and, of course, “Watch Out Now.” Rap fans and non-rap fans alike seemed to enjoy the ‘Nuts, as they extended the party started by Z-Trip a couple hours earlier. As was often the case over the weekend, things ended with a bang as two ladies from the crowd hopped on stage and shook it along with JuJu.

12:30pm – Guns n’ Bombs

Just when I thought the party couldn’t go any longer, I met Guns n’ Bombs. The L.A. electronic duo brought the dirty techno big time and kept everyone dancing into the wee hours. However, I was unsure why Turbotito (Filip Nikolic), was the only member on stage for about 90% of the set. While he hardly acknowledged the crowd, the music certainly did the talking.

Guns n’ Bombs are signed to French-label Kitsune Records, which is known predominately for its European acts (Bloc Party, Klaxons, Hot Chip). These guys, while clearly influenced by their label mates across the pond, appear poised to bring the spotlight back to the L.A. dance music scene. I must admit it’s difficult to give a detailed critique of the Guns n’ Bombs show, simply because I was too busy dancing the entire time. But really, I guess that’s all you need to know.

Rifflandia – The Verdict:

After all was said and done, the first ever Rifflandia Music Festival was a great success. Organizers did a fantastic job realizing that the only way the event would flourish was if they offered something unique. The city festival experience is drastically different then an outdoor festival. The best things about outdoor festivals include the opportunity to travel somewhere new, meet new people, and participate in unruly shenanigans along with thousands of other campers. However, there are often may restrictions within the confines of a festival site. At Rifflandia the options were limitless. I could go anywhere to eat, meet up with friends who weren’t at the festival, and go to sleep in my own bed at night. While I didn’t travel to the desert or a giant farm, I still discovered many new things about my city and met lots of new people.

And, true, the festival’s lineup did not feature many household names, but it did possess excellent diversity and amazing musical talent. It was also great to see the inclusion of some 40 local acts, many of which I’m sure made some new fans. Ticket prices were also very reasonable at $66 for a weekend wristband. Wristbands were also sold for single days, and single ticket sales for individual shows allowed concert goers to see as much or as little music as they liked.

With the apparent over-saturation of the music festival market, promoters should really take a close look at small-scale fests like Rifflandia. It was created by locals, for locals. Keeping everything so simple kept costs low for organizers and attendees alike, and helped everything run smoothly. There was a real sense of community among festival-goers and artists. Performers were spotted taking in the sights and sounds throughout the weekend. And seriously folks…they had their own beer! What more could you ask for?

To answer my original question: it turns out that Victoria was the perfect place to launch another music festival. But that’s not to say it was a better location then your city, or any other city for that matter. It simply illustrates that any city, big or small, has the ability to host its own festival, as long as it is tailored for that specific locale. Who knows? Maybe your city could be next…