AMID THE JUNOS EXCITEMENT, DON’T FORGET THESE SHOWS

As we creep inexorably toward the concerts that will kick off a (short) week of musical mayhem that fill out a packed Juno Week, there are still other things to talk about.

Namely, the new Tim Hortons Roll Up The Rim app. I am curious to see how the company handles a two-part, half-digital program rollout (or roll up?) in what has been a fun Canadian staple for decades.

But in all seriousness — we’ve been talking about the Junos for months now, all over the place. It is really thrilling that we’re going to have the awards here, but let’s appreciate the music that’s happening around the Juno Awards, too.

KING BULL

When: Friday

Where: Black Cat Tavern

What: King Bull revels in the old-school styles of 1980s rock. The Alberta-based trio has been picking up steam of late with a combination of fast-paced rhythms and harsh vocals that hearken back to bands like AC/ DC, even if these guys can’t match that power (but really, who can?). King Bull makes up for it with some clever lyrics and guitar licks that make their music catchy without being same-y

— you’re not going to hear anything along these lines on the radio today in terms of modern rock. Whether they’re your taste is up to you, but they’re most certainly a dose of something different.

NAT THE CAT FEATURING TIM TAMASHIRO

When: Saturday

Where: The Bassment

What: We’ve had the great pleasure of hosting Tim Tamashiro in Saskatoon before — but this time promises to be a little different. The show is the most recent iteration of Tamashiro’s Drinky Jazz Cabaret — a night of music, storytelling and fun focused on the life and times of jazz legend Nat King Cole. And Tamashiro is probably the perfect person to act as the linchpin for the event, with a stellar jazz voice and an equally stellar knowledge base to draw from. It’s not going to be your typical block of only music, but it promises to be a unique night devoted to the celebration of jazz music.

R GRUNWALD

When: Wednesday, March 11 Where: The Bassment

What: I had to take a second to talk about this pianist because he’s simply fascinating. Drawing inspiration from the modern minimalist stylings of earlier 20th-century composers and piano players like Erik Satie, R Grunwald’s music is unique for even that piano-playing niche. His piece Wood Meets Water, the first single from his upcoming record Oma — dedicated to his grandmother, a Holocaust survivor and piano player — is deeply evocative, with simple yet elegant melodies filling the empty spaces. If the rest of the album is going to be like this first song, anyone looking for a dash of elegance in a concert will be happily surprised by this.