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June 15th, 2009
A trip home last week reminded me of something that’s easy to forget when you live in the big, busy world of Toronto - there’s great music coming out of Calgary these days, and leading the charge are two acts with talent to spare.
The first is Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, a soulful singer-songwriter whose ambition is perhaps the only asset greater than his heart. On June 5, Fitzgerald assembled 120 (!!!) artists to perform alongside him at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. The spectacle served as a CD release (for the upcoming MBF Love LP) and symbolic coming out party for the 23-year-old. In just a few short years, Fitzgerald has opened for major acts (Hedley, Jully Black, the Wallflowers) and landed a spot at last year’s Virgin Festival. But the massive feat he accomplished that weekend (nearly selling out a 2,000-seat venue) sets ‘MBF’ apart from his peers; he’s more than just a boy with a guitar. The new album is proof of this, fusing pop gems with lush instrumentation - including drumlines, string arrangements, horns, and even a glockenspiel. The standout track ‘Movie Life’ is a 4-minute trip through Fitzgerald’s imagination, with the refrain, “And you’ll see my name in lights.” Appropriate, given the bright future in front of him.
Web:
mybestfriendmbf.com
myspace.com/michaelbernardfitzgerald
Next up is the rock ‘n’ soul quartet known simply as the Dudes. Their latest, Blood Guts Bruises Cuts, packs a powerful punch. FFWD Magazine readers have voted the Dudes their “Favourite Band” four years running, and it’s time for the rest of the country to take notice. Frontman Dan Vacon has taken clever songwriting to a new level (from ‘Girl Police’: “The cold, long arm of the law has got ruby, glitter-painted claws”) and his smooth, sultry vocals have never sounded better than on the ode to his grandfather, ‘Ghosts We’re Buried On.’
The band delivers the goods live, thanks in large part to drummer Scott Ross, who is far from your typical beat-keeper. Dubbed the “MVP of Junofest” by the Vancouver Sun, Ross’ larger-than-life onstage energy is not to be missed. He’s the driving force behind one of the most entertaining rock acts in the country, and clearly enjoys his job more than you do.
If you don’t believe me, you can catch the Dudes in Toronto during NXNE at these venues:
Wednesday, June 17th - Lee’s Palace
Saturday, June 20th - Reverb
Web:
thedudes.ca
myspace.com/wearethedudes
So there you have it. A couple great Calgary acts to check out…but certainly not the only ones! Who are some of your favourites?
Tags: calgary
Posted on Monday, June 15th, 2009 at 3:34 pm by Dan Carruthers and is filed under The New Music.
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Possibly the most overlooked but best band Calgary has to offer is Beija Flor. They are a 6 piece indie group that outpaces all of Calgary’s established bands in originality, soul and talent. They will undoubtedly be the next big thing from Calgary. Don’t take my word for it, check for yourself!