On The Scene – metal heads, punks, sensitive songwriters, DJs and fashionistas hit the stage this weekend

Last time around, Caper Radio put on an A-1 comedy showcase at The Upstairs Club with Dylan Rhymer as headliner. You forgot? Check my review here.

 

Lest we forget, this was not their first attempt at such a show. Show #1 was set for late January but was canceled due to bad weather. Now, with bluer skies and greener grasses attempting to put an end to the winter months, Caper Radio is making reparations for the cancellation with the original headliner Peter White coming to The Upstairs Club this Thursday.

White, a Halifax based comedian, has been touring the country for a number of years and has appeared in many comedy festivals including Montreal’s ‘Just for Laughs’. He has written for and appeared on CBC’s ‘This Hour has 22 Minutes’ and also hosts an internet late night show, ‘Late, Live, and Peter White’, which takes place each Saturday night at Joker’s Comedy Club in Halifax. CBC Radio’s ‘So, You Think You’re Funny?’ named him one of the top five up and coming comedian in Canada and, with a CTV Comedy Now! special under his belt, White was chosen to open for Bob Saget for his show at Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax.

The show promises to be a laugh fest with a substantial undercard. It’s always a good time (even when someone bombs!) and supports the great work that Caper Radio has put in this year. Remember it is an early show and will start shortly after 8pm.

Also on Thursday night, Governor’s Pub has a night of songwriters with Alicia Penney and Brett Jerrett along with newcomer Blair Lucas. A student of the McKenzie College Music Arts program, Lucas has been filling YouTube with some quirky songs the last while. Even if you head to the comedy show, stop by Governor’s for a night cap and catch some primo songs from this trio.

Friday night is a busy night in town with shows happening at both The Upstairs Club and Governor’s Pub. At the little bar in the North End, Halifax’s Ear to Ear makes their island debut and brings local metal stalwarts Stygian Sky with them. This show promises to be loud, so bring your earplugs and be ready to bang your head.

Over at Governor’s, Moncton’s The Nuclear hits town for the first time since heading to Newfoundland for ECMA 2009. The trio, a great mix of punk rock and power pop, is one of my absolute favorite bands on the East Coast. Led by Marco Rocca (of Hope and The Monoxides), the band features members of other seminal Moncton acts such as Purple Knight and Billy Ray Cyborg. Also on the bill are locals Static in Action and my own band, Joe Costello & the High Tide, hitting the stage for the first time since last August and debuting our newest member, drummer Dale Landry (formerly of Unbidden).

Saturday night features two very different shows with The Upstairs Club hosting a fundraiser presented by Revive Hair Studio and Spa while Governor’s plays host to some grimey rock and DJs presented by Caper Radio.

I spoke with the ladies from Revive a few weeks ago and they were quite excited for the event. The show will feature some fashion and live presentations of what the crew does best: making people look good. Also, live music from Alicia Penney, Morgan Currie, and Justin Vallis will set a backdrop for 50/50 draws, silent auctions, and many other elements to raise money for the Nova Scotia Nature Trust.

Governor’s Pub will mix the grimey blues of Black Tooth Grinn with the electronic styles of (a.s.a) and DJs Wobblefish and D-Tox. The two floor event, one of many fundraisers by the capable folk at Caper Radio, is a great mix of music that will keep you moving, whatever your personal taste.

Track of the Week: ‘Two Blue Eyes’ by Andrew Gillis. Perhaps one of the most unknown, and thus underappreciated, songwriters in our community, Andrew Gillis recently hit Caper Radio for a live songwriters’ circle alongside Alicia Penney, Brett Jerrett, and Colette Deveaux. This song, a gem from that session found on YouTube, is easily some of the most relevant music to ever leave a New Waterford bedroom. Gillis has an air of confidence that is both naive and assuring, his shows sparatic at best. His newest work, Rebecca’s Room ‘Burned CD II’, is ready to go and has eleven new tracks of psychedelic, genre bending music. More on this when my copy hits my mail box.