Dark knights
The latest Arts & Crafts’ find, Reuben and the Dark, have confirmed a major North American tour this fall to promote their upcoming debut album due out in 2014. The Calgary band, fronted by Reuben Bullock, will be in Toronto next month for a show at the Horseshoe Tavern on Nov. 7. Check out the band’s debut single, “Rolling Stone,” here.
Geriatric punk
Billed as “Canada’s favourite geriatric punk band,” SFH are back with a new song and video, “Mayor On Crack?” Not surprisingly, the animated character in the video seems to resemble our own Toronto mayor Rob Ford. Political strategist and lawyer Warren Kinsella fronts the band for this high-energy, catchy tune. He’s not going to win any singing contests, but there is no denying the song’s appeal.
Back in the saddle
Legendary Canadian band Blue Rodeo are at it again this month with the yet another new album and an upcoming 50th tour of Canada. That’s right, 50! The album In Our Nature, the band’s 13th, is set for release on Tuesday, Oct. 29. “Doing a lot of touring while making this record helped a lot,” says Blue Rodeo co-founder Greg Keelor. “Everybody was getting along and the band was playing well together. It’s a good crop of songs and everyone just playing it right and they played it beautifully.” The band has two nights at Massey Hall scheduled for Feb. 19 and 20.
Oh Danny boy
The fine folks over at Massey Hall have just announced another addition to their popular Canadian Songbook series. Three-time Juno award nominee Danny Michel will play at The Great Hall on Friday, Dec. 20. Danny Michel has 10 albums to his credit, the latest being the Belize-inspired Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me with The Garifuna Collective.
Something spooky
Spookey Ruben, a musician with a penchant for eclectic musical meanderings, has announced a new release as a member of the trio AAA Battery. The album Year of the Woman is slated to hit shelves Dec. 3 on Rescord Records. According to an article at Exclaim, the long-distance project combines the talents of Ruben, San Francisco-based bassist Joe Maydak and guitarist/drummer Fred Jeske from the Chicago area. Check out the first single, “Tea Time,” below.