GIG ALERT: THE FAMINES / IMPULSE ITEMS @ Plan B Moncton

Who: The Famines (Montreal), Impulse Items (local urchins)
When: Sunday April 27th, 2014
Where: Plan B Lounge, 212 St. George Street
What: noise, garage, punk, KBD
Cost: $6
Why: I'm on vacation. Haven't seen the Impulse Items in a while. The Famines always put on a great performance and apparently have a new drummer.

Record Reviews: EX HEX / SIMPLY SAUCER /

Ex Hex - Hot And Cold  7"  (Merge)
 Catchy infectious garage glam punk and roll from this all-female trio featuring Mary Timony from Wild Flag. The hooks are plenty, vocals have swagger and the impact is immediate. The b-side has two rocking numbers that also stand up to the task. Perfect music for a teenage sleepover. The recording is lo-fi which still seems to be en vogue these days. A full length recording is reportedly in the works.  Recommended. (RA)

Simply Saucer - Bullet Proof Nothing  7"  (Mammoth Cave)
This mid 1970's Hamilton, Ontario protopunk band has been mythologized in recent times and is certainly worthy of such praise. In the years just before punk, any North American band drawing influence from Syd Barrett, the Velvet Underground and krautrock would have cooler than cool. Sadly, very few recordings exist and this track taken from their posthumous Cyborgs Revisited album (first released in 1989) would have been the obvious choice for a single if this world was a fair place. Boutique label Mammoth Cave has now come to the rescue of record collectors of discerning tastes and has given this song the seven inch wax treatment it so rightly deserves. Guitarist/vocalist Edgar Breau delivers this nice ditty about a sadomasochistic relationship and sings it with such casualness that even Lou Reed would be impressed. The b-side offers up a live version recorded at a local YWCA in 1978.  (RA)   

GIG ALERT: BLOOD STAINS ACROSS THE CAVEAU

Who: Outtacontroller (Halifax), Feral Trash (local gits), Kappa Chow (Sackville)
When: Friday April 18th, 2014  10PM
Where: Le Caveau, 700 Main Street, basement
What: KDB Punk, Dark Punk, Artsy Garage Punk
Cost: $6

BEER REVIEW : TROOPER (Robinson's Brewery, UK)

Trooper Premium British Beer
500 mL bottle
4.7% ABV
$4.99 Canadian Dollars

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this on the shelf this evening at my local New Brunswick Liquor Corporation outlet. I had read the press release some time ago and, being a lover of English Ale, was rather curious. It seems that Iron Maiden's vocalist Bruce Dickinson is a real ale enthusiast and wanted to develop a signature ale. He teamed up with Robinson's Brewery, a regional UK brewery based in Stockport and came up with this offering. Copper colour with an earthy aroma. Pours quite nicely with a beige/white head. Taste is medium bittersweet with hints of citrus. With its medium body, it certainly qualifies as a session beer. I was hoping for a bit more considering the price, but overall, it's not bad at all. (RA)

DOUBLE GIG ALERT: SINTAX ERROR at Plan B / Varsity Weirdos at Le Caveau

Who: Sintax Error, Deco
Where: Plan B Lounge, 212 St. George Street
What: Danceable Punk, New Wave & Alternative
When: Friday April 11, 2014
Cost:????

Who: Varsity Weirdos, Fat Stupids (Halifax), Los Pollos Hermanos
Where: Le Caveau, 700 Main Street, downstairs
What: Mutant Beach Punk Party
When: Friday April 11, 2014
Cost: $5