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

DEATH GRIPS Hustle Bones

For the last couple of weeks we have been selling tons of copies of the new Death Grips release and for a short window it looked like they had a tour date planned for Vancouver. This Sacramento crew has in a short time dropped a serious bomb on the music scene as people are drawn to the chaotic f**k shit up aesthetic of everything that they do. Indie rock, hip hop, electronics (whatever genre) has needed a shake up for a while and Death Grips have that reckless energy that makes music culture exciting, dangerous, and ultimately interesting. Yes, we are bummed that they cancelled their whole West Coast tour, but at least we can groove to the tunes, and the steady (weekly) stream of new lo-fi videos! And if you have ever wondered what drugs in a dryer looks like, then this footage is for you. Part hip-hop, part mix tape cut ups, part visceral noise, part old school Public Enemy attitude, complete annihilation… Now that Death Grips have everyone’s attention, what are they going to do with it?

BEAR IN HEAVEN Sinful Nature

Combining the best elements of electronic and rock, Bear in Heaven have created a blast of super loud groove music that should appeal to your sinful nature.

SIGUR ROS Ekki Mukk

Enjoy the lead off single from their absolutely gorgeous new release Valtari!! Finally a rock band that channels my deep deep love for Arvo Part and Phillip Glass. New music is elegant, pensive and meditative…in the hands of Sigur Ros, you can add immaculate to that description!

STEVIE JACKSON Feel The Morning

I would be lying to you if I told you that I stumbled across this video on a site devoted to Volvo V70 family wagons. Don’t believe everything you read… that said, I did meet Belle and Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson in front of the Cambie last year when he was in town mixing the album version of this track – recorded by the geniuses at JC/DC! Now, give us more Volvo shots.

BEST COAST The Only Place

Ladies and Gentlemen here they are once again! Making a sophomore album as good your first is always a hard thing to do, so L.A.’s Best Coast rip into the new material with post-grunge vigor.

FATHER JOHN MISTY This is Sally Hatchet

I know what you’re thinking – didn’t we just get some Father John Misty last week? Yes. Sub Pop and Tillman are really going out guns a-blazing on this release, and this video for one of the more serene numbers on the album definitely points towards music trending towards short films. Imagine what Tarantino would think of this?

RICHARD HAWLEY You Haunt Me

I imagine that many artists have wanted to make a simple video like this. Nothing fancy, just a record spinning around playing the song. I think the Replacements first did this, refocusing the listener’s attention back on the song. Hawley haunts us with a dark chilled out atmospheric number.

HOSPITALITY Tiny Desk Concert

Merge Records’ Hospitality takes their pop sound into the studios of NPR for a more intimate and stripped down version of the events.

THE GIG

Sat May 26 SPIRITUALIZED – RICKSHAW THEATRE

This date at the Rickshaw has been circled on the calendar for a couple months. Ex-Spacemen 3, Jason Pierce and his massive symphonic spacerock band Spirtualized don’t make it to North American shores very often, and based on his live spectacle of over 30 years as a pioneer creating loud psychedelic bliss rock, this gig is not one to miss out on! On the road in support of 2012’s dreamy Sweet Heart Sweet Light and in our neck of the woods thanks to a headlining slot at Sasquatch, Pierce and company turn experiencing loud rock music into a near-religious experience as they dial in a gospel vibe to their new material. The new record is on par with their classic 1997 Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space and employs much of the same elements – brass, strings, choirs and grandiose arrangements – to create a sound that is huge, wet and dizzying. Live, they have become masters of dynamics, and like their few sonic peers My Bloody Valentine, they manage to find more space in the sonic spectrum to cramp their fuzzed out melodies into. Honestly, get your ticket now as you don’t want to deal with the scalpers outside. Tune in and drop out. Spirtualized are living legends.

The Glance

Tue May 22 JULIA HOLTER – Media Club
Wed May 23 NEXT MUSIC FROM TOKYO – WALDORF
Wed May 23 BEST COAST – BILTMORE -
Wed May 23 SAVOY – CELEBRITIES
Thu May 24 COLIN BULLOCK – ST JAMES
Thu May 24 MADEON – CAPRICE
Fri May 25 + Sat May 26 TRUE SPOKES – Media Club
Fri May 25 THE FUGITIVES & DAN BERN – WALDORF
Fri May 25 ACTIVE CHILD & TYCHO – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri May 25 WOLFGANG GARTNER – CELEBRITIES
Fri May 25 BON IVER – DEER LAKE PARK -
Sat May 26 CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH – VENUE
Sat May 26 OPIUO – RED ROOM
Sat May 26 ZEUS – BILTMORE
Sat May 26 TRAMPLED BY TURTLES – VOGUE
Sat May 26 SPIRITUALIZED – RICKSHAW
Sat May 26 TRASH TALK – WALDORF
Sun May 27 JOHN REILLY – RIO
Sun May 27 COEUR DE PIRATE – VENUE
Mon May 28 XIU XIU – BILTMORE
Tue May 29 MOGWAI – COMMODORE
Tue May 29 GARY CLARK Jr. – VENUE
Tue May 29 CASS MCCOMBS – BILTMORE
Tue May 29 GARDENS & VILLA – WALDORF
Wed May 30 THERESA ANDERSSON – MEDIA
Wed May 30 12TH PLANET – CELEBRITIES
Wed May 30 DEER TICK – COMMODORE
Thu May 31 OMAR SOULEYMAN – BILTMORE
Thu May 31 CRYSTAL FIGHTERS – FORTUNE
Thu May 31 REPURCUSSION – SURREY ARTS CENTRE
Thu May 31 BOK BOK – WALDORF

JUNE

Fri Jun 01 DILLON FRANCIS – CELEBRITIES
Fri Jun 01 DANGER – BILTMORE
Fri Jun 01 ART DEPARTMENT – WALDORF
Sat Jun 02 BRASSTRONAUT – RIO
Sat Jun 02 DIESELBOY – RED ROOM
Sat Jun 02 SHACKLETON – WALDORF

Death Grips cover image via Mixtape Muse

Scout Magazine and Northern Transmissions are proud to present the fourth instalment of The Northern Zulu Sessions, a series of in-store concerts at West 4th’s Zulu Records that showcase local and international talent. The films are a collaboration by Warmland Films, Zulu Records, and Overgrowth Productions. This week, it’s Tennis!

THE TRACK

AESOP ROCK Zero Dark Thirty

Sonically this latest Aesop offering is really, really interesting. Ian Mattihas Bavitz (a.k.a. Aesop Rock) has always kept the lyrical side of his game super fresh but we at Zulu are absolutely blown away by the potent combo of beats, samples and overall production verve that accompanies his lyrical fury! Check this “Roving packs of elusive young, become choke-lore writers over boosted drums, in the terrifying face of a future tongue”… major throw down to those at his heels. Vancouver’s hip hop scene is super tight and has deep ties to the Rhymesayers crew, so we can only hope that when Rock takes to the road in support of July’s Skelethon from Fifth Element that he hooks it up at Fortune! Tight sounds.

The Playlist

BEASTIE BOYS Sabotage

I can’t really think of any corner of the music business that wasn’t deeply saddened this week by the passing of Adam Yauch (aka MCA) of Beastie Boys. Together with Mike D and Ad Rock, MCA and his crew started out as NYC punks influenced by Black Flag and skaterock, and as we all know the rest is sweet history! RIP Adam.

NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE Oh Susannah

Lock your doors! Neil has reached into his rolodex and dialed up the numbers of his Crazy Horse band! This means that after the cerebral guitar meditations of his Daniel Lanois produced solo effort Le Noize, Neil and Blackie (his axe) are ready to shake the paint off the barn again! Loose jams, killer tone, and stone cold epic anthems – there is a crazy horse loose again!

COLD SPECKS Blank Maps

Yes, we have officially jumped on the bandwagon heaping huge praise on the debut recording from this mysterious new Canadian band. I Predict A Graceful Expulsion is set to be released in a couple weeks and Cold Specks are already on the road in support of fellow Ontario folkies Great Lake Swimmers, but the buzz in the UK where lead singer Al Spx now resides is seriously building! We are excited.

HERE WE GO MAGIC How Do I Know

This video from Secretly Canadian’s best pure pop band gives us new meaning to the phrase Tilting At Windmills. A robot dances out in the desert near Palm Springs as we groove to this amazing bouncy song.

BLITZEN TRAPPER Stranger in a Strange Land

Do not watch this video if you suffer from agoraphobia. The beautiful vistas of Nome Alaska will cause you a great deal of uneasiness, which is a shame as the rugged landscape barren of vegetation is a nice visual accompaniment to Blitzen Trapper’s plaintive acoustic ode.

THE WAR ON DRUGS Come to the City

I know, I know… you are probably sick of us rambling on about how good this band from Philadelphia is – but when you see the footage of them in the famous Ed Sullivan theatre and when Dave asks Steve if he can buy his drums, you have to think that you are witnessing a young band turn the corner and head towards the big time!

SANTIGOLD Disparate Youth

Three rhythms – drum ‘n bass, dub, and some audience claps – jarringly blend before Santigold holds it down tight as she debuts her first single from the album many of you are already loving Master of My Make Believe. In fact, that would be the hottest album in the store – if there wasn’t a beast of a record by Jack White taking up all the rack space!

ZEUS Marching Through Your Head

Hallucinating in the woods is pretty common if you’re stuck at a logging camp or on an epic mountaineering trip to meet a god. Got to love a band that makes heavenly pop from the timeless basics – Wurlitzer, Bass, Drums and sizzling Guitar!

THE GIG

BEACH FOSSILS The Electric Owl May 11th

Based in Brooklyn, the Beach Fossils are one of the brightest bands on the super hip Captured Tracks label! Other up and coming names include Wild Nothings, Thieves like Us, and Soft Moon, but they also kickstarted the early careers of Dum Dum Girls, Thee Oh Sees and more. Well, as you know, seeing these young bands in the early days is awesome as it gives one a sense of witnessing something cool at the ground level. With that in mind, do yourself the favour of listening to a few Beach Fossils tracks in advance of next Friday’s show at the Electric Owl. If you like hazy jingle jangle guitar and hallucinatory reverberated singing then you’re in for one hell of a good time. Grab a pizza at Farina before and a few cold ones at the club later. Beach Fossils promise a magical night!

The Glance

Wed May 09 YANN TIERSEN – COMMODORE
Wed May 09 NADASTROM & SABO
Thu May 10 AMEN DUNES + Ilyas Ahmed – WALDORF
Thu May 10 SLEEPY SUN – BILTMORE
Thu May 10 ZOMBOY – FORTUNE
Fri May 11 SURFIRE SOUND TOUR – WALDORF
Fri May 11 NICKY ROMERO – CELEBRITIES
Fri May 11 SUB ANTIX – FIVESIXTY
Fri May 11 GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS – COMMODORE
Fri May 11 SYNTHCAKE w/WINTERMITTS & THEE AHS – INTERURBAN
Fri May 11 BEACH FOSSILS – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri May 11 THE EVERYTHING 80′S PARTY EXTRAVAGANZA feat. SYNTHSATION – JOSEPH RICHARD
Fri May 11 CURREN$Y – FORTUNE
Fri May 11 KATE SIMKO – W2 MEDIA CAFE
Fri May 11 FIVE ALARM FUNK – RICKSHAW
Sat May 12 DISTAL + HXDB – WALDORF
Sat May 12 BOXER REBELLION – BILTMORE
Sat May 12 NICKODEMUS – RED ROOM
.Sat May 12 THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS GINGER62-
Sat May 12 THE DUDES – VOGUE THEATRE -
Mon May 14 SUCKERS – MEDIA
Tue May 15 REVEREND HORTON HEAT – RED ROOM
Wed May 16 REVEREND HORTON HEAT – RED ROOM
Wed May 16 ALVIN RISK – CELEBRITIES
Thu May 17 GIGGAMESH – REPUBLIC
Fri May 18 KEITH WILLIAM MILLER – BILTMORE
Fri May 18 BUCK 65 – VENUE
Fri May 18 MAX GRAHAM – CELEBRITIES
Fri May 18 TOXIC HOLOCAUST – FUNKY WINKER BEANS
Sat May 19 GORDIE JOHNSON of Big Sugar – THE CELLAR
Sat May 19 MARGOT AND THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO’S – MEDIA CLUB
Sat May 19 RUSTIE – ELECTRIC OWL
Sun May 20 WE ARE SERENADES – MEDIA CLUB
Sun May 20 FELIX CARTAL – CELEBRITIES
Sun May 20 REBECCA & FIONA – VENUE
Tues May 22 JULIA HOLTER – MEDIA CLUB
Wed May 23 BEST COAST – COMMODORE
Wed May 23 NEXT MUSIC FROM TOKYO – WALDORF
Thu May 24 COLIN BULLOCK – ST. JAMES
Thu May 24 MADEON – CAPRICE
Fri May 25 BON IVER – DEER LAKE PARK -
Fri May 25 ACTIVE CHILD + TYCHO – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri May 25 KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS w/ DUM DUM GIRLS – BILTMORE
Fri May 25 TRUE SPOKES – MEDIA CLUB
Fri May 25 WOLFGANG GARTNER – CELEBRITIES
Sat May 26 TRUE SPOKES – MEDIA CLUB
Sat May 26 TRAMPLED BY TURTLES – VOGUE
Sat May 26 CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH – VENUE – VENUE CHANGE!!
Sat May 26 SPIRITUALIZED – RICKSHAW
Sat May 26 ZEUS – BILTMORE
Sat May 26 OPIUO – REDROOM

by Michelle Sproule | The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit. The Scout List is our carefully considered, first rate agenda of super awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours…

Watch | Doxa is on, and with 76 screenings, 5 venues and 6 world premieres on the books, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. We’re particularly stoked for West Coast Modernism. Directed by Vancouverites Michael Bernard and Gavin Froome, this documentary is made up of interviews with architects, home dwellers and people who love, live in, and obsess over Coast Modern style. Expect drool-worthy footage of some of the most stunning examples of modernist homes from Los Angeles to Vancouver (1922 to the present). Basically, we’re talking about an hour of Minimalist Architecture porn with compelling commentary. Can’t really go wrong there. For a full list of Doxa screenings and events, click here and get planning.
Now – May 13 | Various times, Various venues | Details

Get Involved | Local cool kids Dan Mangan, Aidan Knight, and Ivan Coyote are headed down to the Vogue Theatre on Tuesday night to lead a community-driven, idea-generating gig aimed at re-imagining the CBC as a public media outlet for the future. If you love (or hate) the CBC (we love it), this is the time to contribute to making it better and stronger.
Monday,  May 7 | 6:30 pm | Vogue Theatre (918 Granville) | $15 | Details 

Support | The Grandview-Woodland Area Council is getting together with Vancouver Farmers Markets’ Roberta LaQuaglia to talk about the opening of a new seasonal farmers market in the Grandview-Woodland area (right behind Antonio’s Catering on Venables and Commercial). There’ll also be some discussion about how to add density to neighbourhoods without adding towers. Win win.
Monday, May 7 | 7 pm | Learning Resources Centre (under the Library), Britannia Community Centre | Details

Celebrate | Wednesday night is a big night at the VAG. Head down to honour the 2012 recipient of the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts, Marian Penner Bancroft, and 2012 VIVA Award recipients Beau Dick and Ron Tran. Ceremony followed by reception.
Wednesday, May 9 | 7pm | Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby) | Free | Details

Indulge | Can’t wait to hit Marché St George on Thursday night for Con Leche, a pop-up gallery of works by Patricia, Klee and Janaki Larsen, Ronald T. Crawford and Seth Apter. This is going to be a great show. Janaki’s pottery is sublime, simple and comfortable. If I could, I’d happily fill every cupboard in my kitchen with her bowls, plates and cups. Klee takes amazing photographs – for this show she’s going to exhibit landscapes, which I’m really excited to check out. Patricia Larsen paints, and man, does she ever paint. So beautiful! I’m not yet familiar with the work of Ronald T. Crawford or Seth Apter, but they’re in good company and I’m confident they’re on the ticket because they’ll make the show even stronger. So stoked for this! See you there.
Thursday, May 10 | 6-9pm | Le Marché St George (4393 St. George at the corner of 28th.) | Free | Details 

Appreciate | There’s a jewelry trunk show at Inform Interiors in Gastown on Saturday. Normally, I don’t get crazy excited about truck shows, so this is an exception. The show will feature Scandinavian and Canadian jewelry pieces from the 1960s and 70s and it looks mind-blowingly beautiful. This is jewelry made for design lovers: uncommon and sculptural –  ”not your everyday arrow on a chain” stuff (have a look at Anton Michelsen’s Bark Bracelet). The show is part exhibition, part buying opportunity, and right before Mother’s Day. Check it out.
Thursday, May 11 – Saturday, May 13 | 10am – 6 pm |  Inform Interiors – 50 Water Street | Details  

Make Soup | The Stone Soup Festival is on this weekend. Celebrating food, art, the environment, and community, the festival includes a farmer’s market, food vendors, local artists, community groups, talks, workshops, live music, and free soup. Don’t miss the Sauerkraut Demonstration at 3pm. A strong and united community can do some amazing things. Get in the spirit!
May 12 | 12-5 pm | Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier) | Free | Details

Taste Sake | There is a sweet sounding Sake Social going on this week with tastings, food pairings, music and a silent auction in support of the Powell Street Festival. For only 25 beans you get three sake tastings (with the option to purchase additional sake for a small fee), a souvenir cup, and access to appetizers from Hapa Izakaya, Fujiya, Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie, Butter On The Endive and Freshpoint Produce. Bonus: attendees can bid on a number of silent auction items, including Hapa Izakaya gift certificates, Vij’s cookbooks, and Canucks club seats. All auction and ticket proceeds will benefit the Powell Street Festival Society.
Saturday, May 12 | 7-9:30pm | Bungalow (2152 Main) | $25 | Details

Gorge | It’s Spot Prawn season. Make your way to False Creek’s Fisherman’s Wharf (just west of Granville Island on the south side of False Creek) and grab yourself some fresh prawns for goodness sake. The season doesn’t last forever! Boil them, BBQ them, saute them, freeze them, or eat ‘em alive. We recommend zeroing in on Frank and Steve from the good ship Organic Ocean.
Now until mid-late June | Afternnons | False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf

Dig it | Purple Rain is playing at the Rio this Friday, and you don’t want to be missing that. Only $8, or $7 if you arrive in costume. Forget the fact that this is a classic 80′s film that defined an era, it would be worth the price of admission just to see the costumes for this one, amirite?
Friday, May 11 | 11:00pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | $8 | Details 

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended University in Australia and the University of Victoria before receiving her graduate degree in Library Sciences from The University of Toronto. She lives in beautiful Strathcona and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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Scout Magazine and Northern Transmissions are proud to present the third instalment of The Northern Zulu Sessions, a series of in-store concerts taking place at Kitsilano’s Zulu Records (the home of our weekly Zulu Report) to showcase local and international talent. The films are a collaboration by Warmland Films, Zulu Records, and Overgrowth Productions. This week, it’s Ontario’s phenomenal Great Lake Swimmers!