For those that didn’t catch the good news last week, what follows my meandering and verbose prologue is the second instalment in a series of local music reviews covering the last year in Peterborough. Is this useful? I have no damn idea.
The terrible reality that the (or at least, this) arts journalist has to face when looking at his ragged composure across the bathroom sink is that words like “authentic” and “tour de force” don’t really mean a damn thing. The only way for me to communicate what a piece of art is to you (the reader), is to imagine that the language I have constructed is common enough in the arts world for you to make the connection between my selections and other pieces that other writers may have written about. But you know what? Damn the Man! In that spirit, this week I will be reinventing arts journalism by dragging you viscerally into these bands using completely new and exciting vocabulary! Wait, that’s not really that exciting (and not even true). You know what is exciting? These bands’ albums; buy them. Your well spent money is the fuel that keeps our local troubadours skinny jeaned and Ray-Ban’ed.
Charming Ruins
“Reckless Abandon”
The “power duo” seems unnecessary enough to be abandoned into the bottomless armpit of rock and roll marketing gimmicks.And yet, the form consistently produces roundhouse kick ass albums (White Stripes, Death From
Above 1969, Japanther, Lightning Bolt, Hella, Sleigh Bells, etc).While thinking this through, I had a revelation.The “power duo” is rock and roll at its most basic, stripped down to ONLY the necessary components: melody and rhythm.This is why I like Charming Ruins. Rob Viscardis and Steve Kerslakeuse their limitation to its fullest advantage on their debut EP so that, despite the obvious single “Can’t Stop Loving You” lyrically revolving around the most central song trope, they get me. Blues inflected guitar and falsetto backups, there is strong inspiration from the American desert rock phenomenon of the early-mid 2000’s.Fans of Queens of the Stone Age and especially Eagles of Death Metal will dig Charming Ruins.
Listen to “Can’t Stop Loving You” at charmingruins.bandcamp.com
Nick Ferrio & his Feelings
“Self Titled”
I have known, or at least known of, Nick Ferrio for a number of years now.The first time I met him was in Toronto, I was completely wasted with his completely wasted roommate.We woke him up at 3:00am on a workday and rather than scream at us (which is what I would have done), he proceeded to skip introductions, pick up a 3/4 guitar and play us a song in a clear falsetto, mournfully projecting how we (or some unknown subject) put the “cunt, cunt, cunt in country”.I’m not sure how he’ll feel about me sharing that.Nick is a solid dude best known for his bass work in “The Burning Hell”, sporting sweet moustache, and the occasional cowboy hat.His latest 3 song EP wastes no time on production, leaving space to appreciate Nicks practiced and mature song writing. Simple melodies on guitar, backed by local couple Jill Staveley and Matt Watson on vocals and mandolin, this is country music I can get into.Reminiscent of the more serious tracks from Ween’s “12 Golden Country Greats”, folks wanting a quick breather in a busy day would be wise to take a trip with Nick Ferrio & his Feelings.
Listen to “When We Sang Together” at nickferrio.bandcamp.com
Tin Vespers
“A Song For Evermor”
There is a realization that some are destined to experience while listening to front woman Meaghan Culkeen sing in any of her past and present projects, that in another life she prepares us coffee. That is both humbling and terrifying. Her voice is force, sometimes a slap, sometimes a grip. Such a woman should overshadow any project she participates in, right? Wrong. Tin Vespers are a brilliant fusion of genre consisting of Meaghan, Derek Bell, Katie Adamson, Charity Justrabo, and Brandon Munro.Each stands on their own and together creates a project that is arguably Peterborough’s most interesting.On this (too short) EP I hear guitars, piano, accordion, cello, drums, bass mixed into something beautiful but not to be taken lightly.The orchestral quality to this music is not to be understated; the complexity of harmony is refreshing in a world dominated by aggressive hooks. Hints of Sigur Ros and early Hawksley Workman, I highly recommend Tin Vespers
Listen to “Snow” at www.youtube.com/MichaelMorrittFilms
