OLD-FASHIONED SHOWS ON TAP
It’s officially Christmas music time, my friends. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, ’tis the season for carols and extremely sentimental holiday tunes. But before you gear up too tightly for all the Bells (of both the Jingle and Silver variety) or go Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, let’s remember that there are some great — really and truly entertaining — bands playing good old-fashioned concerts in Saskatoon. And they’re worth your time during the holiday season as well.
RANDY WOODS BAND
When: Saturday, Dec. 15
Where: The Bassment
What: Perhaps better known as the frontman for the band Absofunkinlutely (which is another stellar name for a musical group), Randy Woods has branched out into some of his own music. His style is a jazz/r&b/funk sort of music with a grittier edge to it. If you go to this concert and don’t feel compelled to start dancing at some point, you’re doing something wrong. It’s hard to put a precise label on this particular cup of tea, but it’s hot stuff nonetheless. Sometimes you find out more about a group and then feel immediately compelled to get some of their music for yourself. That’s where I’m at with the Randy Woods Band.
TUNIC
When: Friday, Dec. 14
Where: Amigos Cantina
What: When you describe yourself as “nothing but feedback laden filth,” colour me intrigued. Tunic is a Winnipeg-based noise punk band with scream-style vocals — you’d be forgiven at first listen for thinking you’d stumbled into some kind of alternative heavy-metal group — and long guitar dissonances that hearken back to some of the punk music of the early 2000s. These guys are powerful and raw, so don’t expect a quiet sit-down dinner date if you’re going to see this show. Every once in a while you need a band to hit you right in the jaw, and that’s what Tunic does with their mix of high-energy instrumentation and harsh lyrics.
OSCAR’S HOLLOW
When: Friday, Dec. 14
Where: The Bassment
What: The Whiskey Jerks are the headline performers in this particular concert, but I wanted to take a minute to talk about the excellent band that’s opening for them. Oscar’s Hollow is a five-piece band from right here in Saskatoon that absolutely nails the laid-back folk/country style of music. Formed in 2016, the band has slowly but surely been gaining more traction as a top-shelf performer in their own right. And it’s well-deserved: Their music is a steady and guitar-filled joy to behold. It’s going to be exciting to see how much more this band can do as they continue play and record together.