Tonight's New Years Shows! There are a Ton!

There is a lot of fun going on tonight! Happy fucking new years eve!

At Verns there is a great show with many Alternative bands or Quote "Calgary's Bandliest bands" :D
more info here

At The Stetsons Pub The Calgary Beer Core is putting on Metal vs Punk with 10 bands! And this will be one hell of a show!!! info and band list is here

Dog and Duck has Craic the Lens ringing in the new year! info here

Nite Owl has a rockabilly show with Eve Hell and the Razors, Punch drunk cabaret, The high strung Downers and Sugar box burlesque , Info here

You ravers probably already know about Glitter and gold at the BMO center but if not you can find out here

Palomino has a two floor party with a ton of bands playing! including Mammoth Grove and The Nix Dixons + much more! - Info here

Most of you know that Black label Society is playing at Flames Central. info here

Republik is hosting Kid Koala with JHNN and our own Transit! - More info here

Jamesons Pub is hosting Big Shiny Dudes 90s show. info here

Dickens is having Hang The DJ once again! -info here

New years Eve party at Lord Nelsons pub will be hosted by DJ Hoss and DJ Tinman .. and the sexy door guy will be yours truly !!! :D info here

Steve McQueen band is taking over The Kings Head pub .. info here

Have fun you crazy fuckers! Happy New Years Eve to you all!!!

Brads Band of the week! - Cardinal Heights!

Cardinal Heights .. (Click on the link for some free tunage!) I just got a sneaky little peeky at their EP and I find it to be fucking awesome!
If you take Ten Second Epic and mix it with the drumming of Alexisonfire and Calgarianize it with heavy riffs and a nice production value you come up with the heavy hitting Alternative greatness that is Cardinal Heights! What some would see as punk or pop punk I see as an alternative band with that sound you can dance around the house to :D

BSK

TONIGHT!! - Altmare before Christmas!

Altmare Before Christmas  Tonight! Come and see us!!

Zeb's A Year in Review: 2014

Well it's that time of year where everyone is compiling their list of what was best in 2014 and to be honest I love making these lists and giving praise to the talent and hard work of my peers. I've decided to add in things rather than just music this year so here we go!

-Best Pub Food-

The Dog and Duck - 5340 2nd St. SW

A quiet little house converted into a restaurant where you feel more at home than anywhere else in this city. It's tucked out of the way but for those who know and love the Dog and Duck you feel like family and for those bands that play there, you know how well John treats his bands. My favourite dish I usually go for is The Shepherd's Pie.


-Best Venue-

Dickens Pub - 1000 9 Ave SW

Hosting a variety of both local bands and touring bands from all over the world. Dickens Pub has a great sound system and huge stage. I remember falling in love with the place the first time I stepped foot in the door well over 5 years ago and that feeling has never went away. With a large variety of beer on tap and a great kitchen in the back. This is the place you want to be for a show.

-Best New Venue-

Nite Owl - 213 10 Ave SW

Mixing both a dance club with a rock venue. This new venue hosts a variety of bands both local and touring. It has a great atmosphere and even better shows. This has become one of my favourite places to frequent.


- Best Place to Start or End the Night-

Vern's - 622 8th Ave SW

When you've gotten downtown too early for your plans, feel like you're just not ready to go home or just feel like being at home Vern's is the best place to pop in have a drink and say hi to Clint. Hosting a variety of bands 7 days a week, when you're a band starting out this is a good place to call home base. Take care of Clint and he'll take care of you.

-Best Patio-

The Ship and Anchor - 534 17 Ave SW

What better place to sit down in the sun and have a tasty beverage, there is even on occasion a punk rock sing a long to keep you going. Pretty much everyone loves the Ship.

-Best Place to Grab a Quick Bite-

Tubby Dog - 103 1022 17 Ave SW

Full fill your wildest hot dog dreams and get anything and everything you want on it. Great atmosphere and service.

-Best Local Aesthetic Shop -

Corbett's Rock and Roll Barber Shop - #102 735 12 ave SW

Looking for a stylish Men's haircut? Look no further than Calgary's Corbett Frasz. Sit down in his chair and shoot the shit with one of the nicest dudes while listening to some great tunes. His prices are affordable and if you feel parched he will also provide you with a tasty beverage.

-Best Local Record Shop-

Sloth Records - 736B 17th Avenue SW

Vinyl has made quite the comeback in the past few years and everyone is starting to build their collections of both new and used discs. One of the best selections of both new and used and most affordablely priced, for an expensive hobby. They also will sell local bands music so that's pretty cool.


-5 best local bands of 2014-

- 2014 XPOSURE winners Craic the Lens
- Long time Calgary heavyweights - The Evidence
- High Energy Charged Black Earth
- Folk Punk Heroes - Jenny
- Pop Punk Rockers - The Next Day Heroes

-5 Best local songs-

- Story Teller - The Paige Woodbury Band (Listen Here)
- Dirt Funky- The Next Day Heroes (Listen Here)
- Defeated - The Reckless Heroes (Listen Here)
- Thread - The Rumble (Listen Here)
-The Man at the Door - 36? (Listen Here)

- 5 Local Bands that Said Goodbye-
- Kingsland
- Cooper Collective
- Cease and Desist
- The Promethean Labyrinth
- Zackariah and The Prophets (RIP)


-Bands that made a Comeback-
-Black Pheonix Orchestra
-The Nix Dicksons
-Belvedere
-Hopethorns


-5 Best Albums-

- Where Do We Go From Here - 36?(Listen Here)
- Bad Notes and Antidotes - Coming Out Swinging (Listen Here)
- Outcasts - Why, Marilyn (Listen Here)
- Colour in The Clouds - Colour in the Clouds (Listen Here)
- Constellations - Black Earth (Listen Here)


- 5 Best Concert Photographers-

- Brandynn Pope - BrandynnLeigh Photography
- Keith Skrastins - Haus of Skrastins
- Ian Coburn - Ian Coburn Photography
- Philip Van Hooft -Trunk Studios
- Aaron Hamilton - Aaron Hamilton Photography

Throwback Thursday - 6 Dollar Cab Ride

Throwback Thursdays - 6 Dollar Cab Ride!!


Here is a Punk band that I met back when I was just in the adolescence of my first promotion project.

I met them online and soon found out later that I knew the bass player from a long time ago .. I spent some time hanging out with them when they would jam and fuck me was it ever a siick time! .. I had a second website release party at Voodoo lounge with them and a couple other killer punk bands and we packed that place! Inside and outside was fuckin rockin out!

They were very old school punk and stayed true to their punk roots in their sound! .. We even had a full on doggy pile scrap on the dance floor where people got bottled .. lol yeah I can laugh about it now haha .. what a night! Needless to say the cops showed up, The bar tried messing with our money, shit talk and shredding guitars .. Now that's a good punk show! And that is what I remember from them , A very fun fuckin time! Most of the members have moved on to other great projects so I doubt 6 dollar will be making a comeback but if somehow they do I will be there! -BSK

Our last show of the year!! Dec 27th @Verns!

Jet Entertainment and Us at AlTCiTY 

are joining up to have an after Xmas show to blow

off some steam!

with,

Scratch Buffalo,

                   MUDD. https://www.facebook.com/Muddtheband  

Conniving Cadavers

with 

JET burlesque featuring

Dani Spades

                          Come and out and end the new year in a seriously fuckin funky way! 

                                                                                                                                      -BSK

I talk to Mikey Valenz of The Jingles about Xmas and other fun chats! Oh yeah and a wicked video from them!

Interview with Mikey Valenz and I about Xmas and lots of other great things!



BSK- .. Can you let the readers  know what it you do and the projects you work with are ?

Mikey-Hey readers. I'm drum for Calgary's best, if not only, Christmas band The Jingles. I also have a solo project called Her Motives Are Silent. I am not in any fulltime bands at the moment but have been doing some drumming for recordings and have also been designing artwork for bands. My design portfolio is www.amvdesign.com

BSK-What got you into drumming at first?

Mikey-It just always felt like a part of me. I was always tapping along to songs. Drummers like Jose Pasillas II from Incubus and Dave Grohl were huge influences on me growing up. I've never had any formal lessons. Taught myself as I went along. I've always been drawn to music and I love creating it. Drumming just feels like an extension of myself and my creativity.

BSK-I didnt know about "Her Motives are Silent" till now what is that?

Mikey-Haha that's because I don't promote it that much. It's my solo project. Essentially, I write all the lyrics and music. I perform, record and produce it mostly by myself. Occasionally with some cameos from some friends. So far I have only released a 4 song EP called Such Sweet Sorrow but I have a full length album called Love Muse in the works. it's been a grueling process because I am learning as I go and really particular about how I want the album to sound.

BSK-That to me sounds like it will be pretty rad when it comes out ..  .. Lemme know when it does .. but back to The Jingles .. You have a video that I love ! How long did that take to put together? .. That must have taken some time to edit!

Mikey-For sure! I'll keep you posted! The Jingles never take ourselves too seriously. It's kind of an inside joke for us to always promote our shows with overly epic movie trailer style videos. I mean, we're a band that only plays once a year. We need all the hype we can get. I tried to continue that tradition this year. It took me quite a few hours to edit all the audio and visuals together. Most of it is stolen from the internet. However, I tried to customize it as much as possible and make it as Christmassy as possible.

If you go on our youtube page www.youtube.com/MEETTHEJINGLES  you'll find a lot of our older trailers are still on there haha... they are always ridiculous

BSK-Oh I have been there but I will make sure people catch the links  .. I am not a huge Xmas fan But I have a show coming up that the profits go to operation Xmas child.. if you are interested in coming and helping donate that would be rad!

Mikey-Cool. Keep me posted on the details. If I can attend, I will for sure. The Jingles is not just for people who like Christmas. To be honest, we hate most Christmas songs in their original renditions. We try our best to convert Christmas music into something that people will actually want to listen to. We really experiment with each song. We take our time to figure out which songs should be more dark and ominous ... or when to show off our musicianship...  or when to be funny or when rock out and melt peoples faces off!
You never really know what to expect at a Jingles show. It really is an experience.

BSK-Sounds like a blast to me! .. Now for the random round !
what is you fave food?
for xmas?

Mikey-Oh man... chocolate hahaha.. as much as i LOOVE turkey dinner with all the trimmings ... I never get sick of chocolate  ... and Who Hash

BSK-LOL .. What is you fave xmas drink . or xmas morning drink?

Mikey- love me some egg nog or coffee n bailey's on Christmas morning

BSK- If santa was to show up at your home drunk what would you say to him?

Mikey- need me to call you a cab? are you hungry? got some presents for me?

BSK-would you ask him if Rudolf is some kind of hybrid?

Mikey-Actually, I'd be more curious if we could channel some of that Christmas spirit flying sleigh technology towards the progression of hover board development.

BSK-LMAO!
.. For as you know is my favorite question .. What would you do in a zombie apocalypse .. but this one what what would you and the Jingles do in a zombie elf apocalypse?

Mikey- Haha well, a couple of years ago we had a show called THE JINGLES VS THE END OF THE WORLD ... we basically became super heroes and teamed up with Santa, Rudolf, Chuck Norris, Conan O'Brian, Captain Planet, Optimus Prime, The US Military and Jesus to fight off every threat you can think of ... including zombies
but in reality... i'd probably die haha

BSK- Well then this worked out quite well ..,I will share that too!  .. To be honest I might suffer a bad fate but I am curious .. I gotta thank you for the chat bro!

Mikey-you're welcome

BSK -Mickey Valenz Thanks for chattin with me!!