Painting Purple are calling it a day. The alt-pop four piece is playing their last show on Saturday, April 17th, at Governors Pub alongside Carleton Stone Drives the Big Wheel. The band recently recorded some tunes at Sound Park Studios, possibly with the intention of a posthumous release.
Speaking of CSDTBW, guitarist John Hatcher has added solo artist to his resume. Hatcher recently touched base to let me know he is looking to play more shows in the near future, both by himself and as a new band comprised of Kyle Varley (ex-Winston Wolf) with Donnie Calabrese and Colin Clarke (who together make up two piece blues rock act Buck & Kinch).
Matt Prince, ex-Violent Theory frontman and current head of progressive hardcore outfit Bonum Salvo, has announced the completion of the long awaited Bonum Salvo debut EP The Fallout. The band, one of the most intense new bands of the last couple of years, is again looking for a new bass player.
Got a chance to check out Brett Jerrett at Maxwell’s Lounge last Wednesday. Jerrett just turned 19 a while back and is still relatively new to playing live. What he’s lacking in experience, Jerrett compensates by being an endearing performer with a solid voice and interesting guitar skills. His originals shone through his set, while his selection of cover songs ranged from stunning (MGMT’s “Kids” was remarkable) to just okay. As Jerrett gains confidence and focuses more on his own material he will become a staple in the scene.
Last week’s column mentioned the juggernaut that is The Roots and Rhythm Remain. Roots make the scene again this week with a show at The Upstairs Club on Friday, April 16 alongside rockers Black Tooth Grinn and a solo performance from myself. The band is looking toward the summer to record a brand new album, as well as continuing to make waves both at home and abroad. If the band continues honing their craft as they have over the last six months, these guys could be getting a whole lot more attention by the end of the year.
New songs? Seek Out Ships have released even more material via their myspace. I took a hot tip from a friend and checked out some live tunes by local songwriter Breagh MacKinnon. A new voice on the scene, MacKinnon has depth of character both in her voice and her songwriting style. Finally, the songs I mentioned last week from myself are up on my Facebook page. I’ll spare you the sales pitch but add that if you get the chance to work with Harry Doyle at Small Studios, you should take it.
