by Nic Bragg | From Kitsilano’s Zulu Records, we once again present our weekly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, we provide The Track – the song that is on heavy rotation in the shop this week; The Playlist – which is pretty self-explanatory; The Gig – the ‘must see’ show of the week; and The Glance – which details the best live acts that are on the immediate horizon. From our ears to yours, enjoy…

THE TRACK

ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER – Stare At The Sun

Around here we consider Eleanor a Zulu Records alumni. A year or two ago she stopped by the store and enthralled the audience with a special instore performance of her songs. Eleanor’s catalog of work is highlighted by countless amazing records with her brother Matt as The Fiery Furnaces, but now with two superb solo releases under her belt we are getting the straight up goods on why Eleanor rocks. The new record is called Personal Best and our pals at Merge Records have bet the house that this one is the one that vault her over the top. Pressure? Yes, she’s cool under pressure.

THE PLAYLIST

YOUNG GALAXY Pretty Boy

Masks are interesting to think about. Luigi Pirandello is a great old Italian play write. He was interested in masks, social identity and characters assuming various faces. I wonder if Montreal’s (ex-Vancouver) Young Galaxy dwelled upon this when making this absorbing new video? Nice shots.

PHOENIX Entertainment

Phoenix’s new album is called Bankrupt! I would dare to suggest that this great French pop group are anything but Bankrupt. They are not devoid of ideas, substance or cash. Is the title a rumination of the general state of things? Maybe. Here they are ‘rocking out’ on the Jimmy Kimmel show. Music never sounds good on TV, but Phoenix do manage to evoke something.

LOW If I Could Just Make It Stop

Tight focus and extreme close-ups… smart moves to convey the sense of immediacy associated with the exquisite music of Low. Normally known for their ultra-sparse jams that fuse Codeine with Neil Young, Low have now brought Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy into the mix and as a result have crafted their most folky release to date. Recommended.

PALMA VIOLETS We Found Love

The buzz on this band is definitely on. Really though, who doesn’t enjoy the jingle-jangle pop sound, good tunes, and a reverbery blur of music for a night out at the mash. Booze, drugs and your friends. These are Palma’s priorities as they recreate the grimy scenes from 24Hour Party People.

SAVAGES Shut Up

“The world used to be silent, now it has too many voices”… London’s strobe light enhanced noise rockers SAVAGES are definitely using the medium to get their message across. Is youtube the ultimate distraction? Start writing your post-doc grant now baby!

JON HOPKINS Open Eye Signal

This guy’ beats work really well with this epic skateboard journey video. California is the ultimate burned out landscape and as Hopkin’s hypnotic beats drift into atmospherics burning trash starts feeling surreal.

THE NATIONAL Mistaken For Strangers

The National’s new release Trouble Will Find Me out May 21st will probably be the most anticipated rock record of this year. In the meantime, here is a look into the life of 5 guys who would each fit the mold for most reluctant rockstar on the planet. When are they coming to Vancouver?

THE GIG

APOLLO GHOSTS Final Show Friday May 10th at The Rickshaw Theatre

Vancouver has a long list of bands that called it quits right at the height of their creative powers. Who wants external validation at the hands of the rest of Canada? Who needs the trappings of fame beyond being the kings of the Hastings Sunrise strip? Is quitting a meaningful live as a real contributor to culture in favour of forwarding the new pornography (rock music) really a goal? These and many more questions are the things the above average talented members of Vancouver’s own indie rock darlings will take to the grave with them. Sure, you can tweet the shit out of anything today… Being a band has always been more fun than everything else, and with this in mind Apollo Ghosts will one last time convene and kick out the jams. Be there.

THE GLANCE

Thu May 02 BLEACHED – FORTUNE
Thu May 02 LEE LINDSAY – MEDIA
Thu May 02 T.NILES & FIELDS OF GREEN – BILTMORE
Fri May 03 JOHN FULLBRIGHT – MEDIA
Fri May 03 METZ – BILTMORE
Fri May 03 THE LONELY FOREST – ELECTRIC OWL
Sat May 04 QUATTRO DE MAYO – WALDORF
Sat May 04 THE BOOM BOOMS + MARIA IN THE SHOWER – ELECTRIC OWL
Sun May 05 MASAKI BATOHS + VON BINGEN – ELECTRIC OWL
Wed May 08 PAPER DIAMOND – CELEBRITIES
Thu May 09 GOOD FOR GRAPES + PONDEROSAS – VENUE
Thu May 09 FACTS W/ THEE OH WELLS – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri May 10 APOLLO GHOSTS FINAL SHOW!! – RICKSHAW
Fri May 10 SHABAZZ PALACES – FORTUNE
Fri May 10 BEAT CONNECTION – ELECTRIC OWL EARLY SHOW
Fri May 10 FUN FUN FUN -ELECTRIC OWL
Fri May 10 ARTY -CELEBRITIES
Fri May 10 BIG JOHN BATES – FAIRVIEW PUB
Sat May 11 KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS – BILTMORE – WE’RE SOLD OUT
Sat May 11 MARK FARINA – 560
Sat May 11 SIMON BAKER – ELECTRIC OWL
Mon May 13 THE TECHNICOLORS -MEDIA
Wed May 15 MAN OR ASTROMAN – BILTMORE
Wed May 15 KILL PARIS – CELEBRITIES
Thu May 16 THE BRAINS – UKRANIAN HALL
Thu May 16 BC/DC – VENUE
Thu May 16 POKEY LAFARGE – RIO
Thu May 16 ROCOCODE – MEDIA CLUB
Thu May 16 FUNKHUNTERS – FORTUNE
Fri May 17 COLD WAR KIDS – VOGUE
Fri May 17 BILL BAIRD – COBALT
Fri May 17 THE MILK CARTON KIDS – MEDIA
Fri May 17 PIERCED ARROWS W/ THE JOLTS – ELECTRIC OWL
Sat May 18 YO LA TENGO – COMMODORE – 4 TICKETS LEFT!!
Sat May 18 STORNOWAY – ELECTRIC OWL – VENUE CHANGE / EARLY SHOW
Sat May 18 SHOTGUN JIMMY – BILTMORE
Sat May 18 ROCK 4 CHILD BENEFIT – RICKSHAW
Sun May 19 SIR SLY – ELECTRIC OWL
Sun May 19 KASTLE & KAYTRANADA – FORTUNE
Sun May 19 NICOLE MOUDABER – SHINE
Wed May 22 SKREAM – CELEBRITIES
Wed May 22 NEXT MUSIC FROM TOKYO – RICKSHAW
Thu May 23 FLYING LOTUS – VOGUE
Thu May 23 SUUNS – MEDIA
Fri May 24 SUPERSUCKERS – WISE HALL
Fri May 24 VICEROY – 560
Fri May 24 LAIDBACK LUKE – CELEBRITIES
Fri May 24 BISON BC w/ EROSION & RADIOACTIVE VOMIT – BILTMORE
Fri May 24 THE XX – QUEEN ELIZABETH – WE’RE SOLD OUT
Fri May 24 ALL-AGER HALL-RAGER: THE REBEL SPELL, UNFUN & MURMURS – RUSSIAN HALL
Sat May 25 BATHS – ELECTRIC OWL – NEW VENUE! no longer an early show
Sat May 25 ARIEL PINK – BILTMORE
Sun May 26 HOLY GHOST! – FORTUNE
Mon May 27 RADICAL FACE – MEDIA
Mon May 27 CHECKMATE, CONCISE & GUESTS – OLYMPIA PIZZA – ALL AGES!
Tue May 28 TWIN SHADOW – COMMODORE
Tue May 28 SWEATSHOP UNION – FORTUNE
Wed May 29 KYLESA – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri May 31 THE BOXER REBELLION – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri May 31 JOHN DIGWEED – CELEBRITIES