Two glowing letter “C’s” hung suspended high in the air behind Charley Crockett throughout the course of his nearly two-hour show at the Burton Cummings Theatre on May 27th. He let us know who the star was.
“A newly arrived punch to the ear, brought to you by a congregation of Real Hardcore Guys.”
Back in the arctic throws of January, I interviewed Nuclear Man, a recent addition to the local Hardcore punk music scene. The group played for the first time in October 2023, establishing an electrifying presence and releasing their debut EP shortly after. Since then, the group has supported local Hardcore punk acts and played with touring bands. Earlier in the spring, they were booked to play in Toronto and Montreal, demonstrating a devotion to leaving their mark- and maybe a few broken microphones.
The prairies have long been identified as fertile grounds for more than merely vegetation — music springs from our soil like so much sage and clover. Much has been said about the way our winters seem purpose-built for the intense woodshedding and creative hermitage which characterizes the habits of artists of legend. But there’s a flip to this that’s much less frequently considered. I feel that when you’re prairie-bound, inspiration can be hard to come by.
Black t-shirts peppered the landscape of South Osborne on the beautiful evening of May 10th as The Park Theatre hosted the latest edition of Manitoba Metalfest. The annual weekend gathering has been an eagerly-awaited occasion for Winnipeg’s metal community for many years — understandably, given its history of bringing in big-name bands to a city often overlooked on tour itineraries. It doesn’t take much to lure local headbangers to Metalfest — even if the lineup isn’t your scene, the festival’s raucous and jovial atmosphere is unparalleled. But this year’s iteration featured a few reasons for extra excitement.
Aside from my partner and a handful of friends with impeccable taste, one of my go-to sources for locating new music is Cam Scott’s UMFM program “Radio State.” In March, this was how I first encountered the ambient drone stylings of Hazel Fog. After some digging—which is what I like to call “doing a cursory Google search”—I found that they’d released a self-titled two-song EP on Bandcamp on February 6, 2024, uploaded to the page of local label Makade Star. I’m always on the lookout for things obscure, mysterious, dissonant, and unsettling, so I was hooked immediately.
A good reminder to support local music, local voices, and radio. — Stylus Editor
Photos by Veronica Blackhawk
Written by Bradi Breckman
The University of Winnipeg’s on-campus radio station celebrated 25 years of broadcasting on 95.9 FM radio on Friday, May 17th. The station specializes in local music, so it was only logical that they celebrated with a show at The Handsome Daughter, featuring three local rock bands. Cheap Heat, Bloc Parents, and Guilty Sleep all performed during the three-hour run-time of the show. Doors to the venue opened at 8:00, and concertgoers filed in to see the local talent, celebrate the station, and escape the stormy weather outside.
When does an explosive become a drug? Scientifically, this happened with nitroglycerin – that highly volatile chemical compound that is used to both produce dynamite and treat heart conditions. But I would also contend that a similar power and instability is found in emogaze, and I’m addicted. The latest release in this subgenre is the three-song EP Seeds by Winnipeg locals Guilty Sleep (a.k.a. Eric, Haise, Nic, Liam, Los), which is their follow-up to last year’s Passenger. And it’s equally heartbreaking and vicariously curative.
Lana Winterhalt released her third full-length album, Recovering Theatre Kid, a 31-and-a-half-minute emotional rollercoaster of genuine vulnerability, on March 22. In the lead-up to the full album, parts of it were released as EPs: Act I & II.
It’s not often that one is privileged to hear demo recordings as a band’s first release, as so much of the “music industry” remains built on making public only the most curated versions of an artist’s material. But there’s something alluring about being able to hear the earliest incarnation of a group – before the stratification, calcifying and polishing of fully-produced albums. It’s reminiscent of bygone days when musician friends would share cassettes with each other of the latest songs they wrote, asking: “What do you think of this?” As for this collection, I’d say: “Sounds bloody brilliant! Can’t wait to hear what’s next.”
Disclaimer: For transparency’s sake – I know and love members of the band in the below-mentioned show at the Good Will on Dec 16/2023. All opinions expressed in this article are my own and contain potential bias.