Our friends over at Kitsilano’s Zulu Records once again present their weekly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, staff from the West 4th music store provide The Track, the song that is on heavy rotation that week; The Playlist, which is pretty self-explanatory; The Gig, the must see show of the week; and The Glance, a view ahead to music on the horizon. From their ears to yours, enjoy…

The Track

REAL ESTATE Easy

Best Show host Tom Sharpling picks up right where he left off after directing the hilarious New Pornographers’ Moves video. Featuring a similar a-list of indie comedy stars and a manic, plot driven approach to Real Estate’s infectious pop ode, this smart video really speaks volumes about the music biz. Young bands who want the quick route to the top need only watch the first couple minutes as the parody cuts pretty close to the actual mean streets of America’s indie-rock parthenon. Hire a street team, plaster the city, graphic wrap your tour van, pay off radio, and conquer social media – the guys in Real Estate show you just how ‘easy’ it all can be. and if all else fails pack your rifle for a trip in the woods.

THE PLAYLIST

M. WARD The First Time I Ran Away

Run away with our favourite monster of folk and Merge Records troubadour! You will enter a realm of hazy guitar licks, soupy reverb vocals, and murky melodies.

THE DARKNESS Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us

There is something incredible that happens when you plug a Gibson Les Paul into a Marshall stack turned up to 11. Hair rocker Brian Banks is back with another over the top jolt of Queen-meets-Lizzy riffage.

JOHN K. SAMSON Longitudinal Centre

John K. Samson’s name should be old hat to any fans of Winnipeg’s awesome The Weakerthans. With the arrival of his first proper solo release and a national tour, he seems poised to ride a wave of CBC and Globe and Mail praise and gain a much deserved higher profile. Love this footage of rural Manitoba roads.

BRADFORD COX Seems so long ago, Nancy

This is kind of a cool idea. Leonard Cohen is currently killing it with his latest masterpiece Old Ideas. Cohen’s cool never goes out of style and the new record really is quintessential Leo; a sexy poetic collection of ballads. To commemorate the release, Sony Records invited the best new faces in the scene to perform their faves from Cohen’s back catalog.

MIREL WAGNER No Death

Unless you have been reading the fine print of UK’s esteemed Mojo Magazine, you probably haven’t discovered the stark talents of Mirel Wagner. A sensation of the underground European folk-blues scene, Wagner’s 9 song acoustic eponymous debut is about to hit our own shores. Inspired by the sound of dusty old 78s, these songs have a haunting timeless quality.

SHABAZZ PALACES Are You? Can you?… Were You?

You have to hand it to Sub Pop. They have consistently been putting out adventurous albums and made sure to move away from the strictly grunge tag that they are synonymous with. Shabazz are one of Seattle’s best groups – how could any collective with Butterfly from Digable Planets not be?

The Gig Pick

COLD CAVE Saturday February 11th ELECTRIC OWL

Vintage Synthesizers, an old analog drum machine, and a nicely fitted leather jacket – all things that you wish you never got rid of when you came out of your Depeche Mode phase. New York’s stylish goth rockers Cold Cave return to Vancouver’s super cool Electric Owl for what promises to be more than just a time warp back to the 80’s. Touring in support of 2011’s critically acclaimed Cherish The Light Years, Cold Cave have reached a point where their post-punk meets electro-pop aesthetic is actually miles ahead of the other retro bands. They offer a show that pleasantly packs in a bit more substance to the genre. Yes, it feels like there are tons of bands grooving on the old school Power Corruption and Lies New Order vibe right now, but there is only one fronted by the ever-charismatic Wesley Eisold. Moving beyond the standard Ian Curtis deadpan vocals, Eisold understands the detached vibe that made Bowie and Scott Walker able to dabble in the goth sound so well and channel much of the alienation that the electronic sounds embodied. Eisold and his mates are now actually making something that is timeless rather than just pure throwback. Hurry up. this will sell out.

The Glance

Fri Feb 10 SECRET CHIEFS 3 & DENGUE FEVER – RICKSHAW –
Fri Feb 10 JAYHAWKS – COMMODORE
Fri Feb 10 ALESSO – CELEBRITIES –
Fri Feb 10 3D – SHARK CLUB
Fri Feb 10 TANYA STEPHENS – HUNGARIAN CULTURAL CENTRE
Fri Feb 10 YACHT – MEDIA
Fri Feb 10 HEART THROB – CHAPEL
Fri Feb 10 HEY OCEAN! – VENUE
Sat Feb 11 D-BRIDGE – W2
Sat Feb 11 COLD CAVE – ELECTRIC OWL
Sat Feb 11 KO – VENUE
Sat Feb 11 MIDNIGHT CITY / OMAR S – WALDORF
Sat Feb 11 DOGGIE WOGGIEZ! POOCHIE WOOCHIEZ! – BILTMORE
Sat Feb 11 BENNY BENASSI – CONVENTION CENTRE –
Sat Feb 11 THE BE GOOD TANYAS – VOGUE
Sat Feb 11 D-BRIDGE – W2
Sat Feb 11 DJ HEATHER – FORTUNE
Mon Feb 13 THE WHITE BUFFALO – MEDIA CLUB
Tue Feb 14 TOTAL CHINESE BUFFET – KENTIZEN CHINESE
Wed Feb 15 RAE SPOON – BILTMORE
Fri Feb 17 JORDAN KLASSEN – MEDIA CLUB
Fri Feb 17 GABRIEL & DRESDEN – CELEBRITIES
Fri Feb 17 CARL CRAIG – 560
Sat Feb 18 CHALI2NA – RIO –
Sat Feb 18 THE FRESH AND ONLYS + DISAPPEARS – BILTMORE
Sat Feb 18 THE MATINEE – VENUE
Sat Feb 18 GRIMES – FORTUNE –
Sat Feb 18 CURSIVE – MEDIA CLUB –
Sun Feb 19 DIE ANTWOORD – COMMODORE –
Sun Feb 19 THE ASTEROIDS GALAXY TOUR – VENUE –
Sun Feb 19 ZEDS DEAD – GOSSIP