Juno award-winners start weekend off on right foot
Who turned down the global thermostat so quickly this fall? It seems like we were enjoying an unseasonably hot summer before getting hit with a bit of that frigid September weather. But that’s all right — we’re getting close to the best time of the year, when leaves change colour and you can wear a sweater without actually sweating. And pretty much all the music venues are in full swing for the last third of 2018, so let’s get to it.
WENCHES AND ROGUES When: Friday
Where: Amigos Cantina
What: This is officially the best name for a band in Saskatoon until someone else proves me otherwise. It makes me think a little bit of that fantasy Lord of the Rings-esque genre, and it’s just incredibly fitting for a Celtic rock band. Taking a look at their social media, it is somewhat saddening to see that their bagpipe player is listed as a “past member,” but otherwise this band is tons of fun. Fiddle? Check. Oboe? Check. Vocalist who can do the heavy metal growl? One big Scottish sounding check. This is the kind of group that can start a fun party night for you — or end it in style. And it can’t be stressed enough: Wenches and Rogues is currently the reigning best band name for a hometown Saskatoon group.
SWOLLEN MEMBERS When: Friday
Where: Capitol Music Club What: OK, OK: You all have at the very least heard of Swollen Members. One of the best Canadian hip-hop groups of the last 30 years, the group is making a comeback after dealing with some personal issues. It’s really great to see this group back in action — you probably know a lot more of their music than you might think. Fuel Injected is a great song that I listened to all the time when I was younger and only learned the real name for in the last couple years. Madchild and Prevail are both underrated as rappers, and this tour feels like a big win after some time out of the spotlight for the Juno Award-winning team.
BIG DAVE MCLEAN When: Friday
Where: The Bassment
What: So, the three concerts I’m recommending this week are all on Friday night. On the plus side, you have no excuse to stay home on Friday night when there’s so much awesome music reigning supreme in venues across the city. Big Dave Mclean is a brilliant prairie-born blues performer — and yet another Juno Award winner to grace this week’s list. Born in Yorkton, Mclean is arguably the best blues player to ever come out of Saskatchewan, even if he’s mostly based out of Manitoba. He’s got the guitar-playing chops, an old-school deep-south blues sound and the perfect raspy voice for this style. And you know anyone who goes around with a name as great as Big Dave Mclean in the professional music world has earned it.