every inch of my earth and sky/you can occupy/cover me entirely

I went down to the Pearl on Saturday to catch the first (hopefully of many) Girls to the Front Fest.

I showed up a little late, but your ticket got you back to back bands from 5:30pm to almost 1am, all of whom were fronted by women or non-binary folx.

Everyone I caught was great, but (now with much more limited knowledge than I had back in the day) have I mentioned that Piss is Vancouver's best band?

Album of the week

ELUCID and Sebb Bash - I Guess You Had To Be There

Apparently Sebb Bash is the Alchemist's favourite producer, which is a much better co-sign than anything I could write here. ELUCID remains one of the best working rappers and that all adds up to create his best solo effort to date.

Song of the week

Iceage - Star

One of my favourite tunes from last year, Neko Case's "Wreck," used space as the backdrop for a love song. 

Iceage's first new song in half a decade doesn't share the same sonic space--"Wreck" is giddy and bright with swirling orchestration, while "Star" is driven forward by a propulsive post-punk bassline--but they both use celestial bodies to explain just how powerful love can be. Elias Rønnenfelt's got a lot of lusty lyrics, but he's in full

 "Star" finds the--I always want to say "kids" with Iceage, because they were when they started releasing records--guys sounding the most dance-punk that they ever have. The guitars go from funky riff to jangle and back again, before breaking down into sheets of noise at the end that are kinda reminiscent of those early Rapture jams. With respect to all those 00s band (many of whom I loved!), Rønnenfelt's a much more powerful singer and he croons his way through this one.

More heat

Gouge Away - Figurine

Gouge Away recorded this live to tape and managed to capture all the fury of their shows. It's their first release since 2024, their first for new label Run For Cover, and their first with Ovlov/Pet Fox guitarist Theo Hartlett in the fold.

Catch 'em with Wednesday on April 24th where they'll play this at the proper volume (much louder than you are likely willing to play it in your home).

Kevin Morby - Die Young

I'm too old to die young and I'm going to at least try to survive until this record is out on May 15th.

Kacey Musgraves - Dry Spell

Kinda early to call it, but this is easily gonna be 2026's funniest song about not fucking.

Maria Taylor feat. Conor Oberst - Sorry I Was Yours

This one sounds straight off of a 2003 Saddle Creek comp (complimentary).

now playing: Gladie - I Want That For You