by Mykhailo Vil’yamson
The unknown is intimidating because, by definition, it’s unfamiliar. This can express itself as fear — either unfounded or rational — or alternatively, as fascination. Regardless, uncharted territory is worth exploring when there’s a choice, as one never knows what one might find. It’s easy to surround oneself with the recognizable and “safe.” But isn’t life more exciting when deliberately leaving room for surprise?
This is where I was at when learning that Dinner Club was “trumpet-infused punk rock” (as they describe it). Seemed to me like a replacement expression for “ska punk” (which isn’t really my jam). However, while some of the sound is at times not unlike The Mighty Mighty BossToneS or Rancid, their latest release Brave Faces definitely leans more punk, and I like what I hear … even with the horns.
The ten-song LP by and large deals with the interplay of certainty and uncertainty, whether it’s reminiscing about how things used to be (as opposed to how things are now), ruminating about relationships that are only half under our control, or wondering how things will turn out in the future (when the present feels like an unaided drifting). There’s definitely also a particular emphasis on place, with allusions to small town fairs in “Untouchable,” an ode to Winnipeg itself in “Stomping Grounds” (with references to Garbage Hill, the Manitoba Legislative Building, and the Forks), and their upbeat cover of “One Great City” by The Weakerthans with a few modified lyrics.
All in all, it’s an energetic sophomore album with a good balance between the back-and-forth of the brother/sister vocalists, pacing, strategic stops/starts, sing-along-ability, and sci-fi references. Combine this with a blend of trumpet, pedal steel and references to this city we hate/love, and that’s Brave Faces (which the band says you can stream, buy, or — in good punk rock fashion — steal).