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

DESTROYER Libby’s First Sunrise

Bejar and his Kaputt players have returned from what seems like an eternity on tour! After a month of North American shows including a sublime Jazz Fest night at The Vogue Theatre, as well as a 3 week stint over on the European festival circuit, the work supporting Kaputt is now finally reaching a close. Needless to say, Dan has come a long way since his early shows solo at the Sugar Refinery or with his classic band line-up at the Anza or Starfish Room 15 years ago. Now flanked with the biggest band he’s ever assembled, Destroyer is tearing through his back catalog with the same sort of ‘Quiet Storm’ groove that characterizes his Kaputt live sound. This dreamy track from Trouble in Dreams recalls the chilled vibe of Fleetwood Mac circa Rumours, as well as classic smooth vocals a la Bryan Ferry. Shot in a loft in Minneapolis, the band had no idea ladies blowing smoke rings would get dropped in!

The Playlist

PURITY RING Fineshrine

Canada’s latest band in the spotlight is none other than this tiny group from Montreal, who on the strength of their debut Shrines have caught the attention of 4AD records and the world! Yes, they just sold out their debut Vancouver performance.

BEND SINISTER The Road, Divided

The latest LP from our pals in Bend Sinister is so rad and their show at the Zulu curated rock fest on 4th avenue was massive! All these great things make us long for the special night with PLAYGROUND that they charmed the pants off of all these people in the store! Truly an amazing event!

MAC DEMARCO Rock and Roll Night Club

Another band that killed it at the Khatshalano festival was Mac DeMarco!! It is so cool to see this ex-Vancouverite now blowing away audiences across North America! His shows are ballsy party rock events… See you at the Rock and Roll Night Club.

THE XX Crystalized

Even with their new record more than two months away the buzz on their new record is starting to build meaning that there is something to really look forward to in September! The XX were just in Toronto doing a bit of pre-release press and even played a great live show. Vancouverites don’t get this sort of love, but we can still look back on their Zulu instore show and say – what an amazing band!

MOUNT EERIE The Place Lives

Perhaps you know that Phil Elverum lives year round in the sleepy town of Anacortes Washington. For the better part of the last 15 years he has been making meditative music as Mount Eerie and Microphones. we love the recent phase he is in – noise! This video is so West Coast!

BILL FAY Be At Peace With Yourself

Bill Fay is a bit of a man lost in time. He released a number of amazing albums in the UK during the 1970’s and then dropped out of the picture only to be rediscovered by the likes of Nick Cave and Jeff Tweedy nearly 30 years later. This is a new record of songs and it is simply one of the best folky releases you will hear all year.

MIREL WAGNER To The Bone

If you follow our past playlists you will know that we are down with the super sparse folk musings of one Mirel Wagner. Her acoustic finger style songs are straight up great! This video is haunting – so watch it with a spotter.

THE GIG

BLACK MOUNTAIN and Friends at THE WALDORF HOTEL Saturday August 25th

Ok… I know this gig seems a long way off, but trust me, tickets are flying out the door and therefore this is quickly becoming the defining rock event of the summer! Vancouver’s Black Mountain have been lying dormant for quite a while and for a band that usually lives out of their suitcases, they have been fixtures on the Commercial Drive coffee bar scene instead of on North America’s biggest rock rooms! All that changes very soon in a big way, as this super cool outdoor show in the parking lot of the Waldorf is the only local show of a quick West Coast tour designed to get the band hungry before going into the studio to work on their new album! Joined by long time pals Ladyhawk, Basketball, Quest for Fire and Von Bingem, this bill is stacked to say the lease! Guaranteed to sell out – we suggest you get your tickets immediately!

The Glance

Thu Aug 02 LANGHORNE SLIM & THE LAW – ELECTRIC OWL
Thu Aug 02 PHOSPHORESCENT – MEDIA
Thu Aug 02 SHANNON & THE CLAMS – WALDORF
Fri Aug 03 YELAWOLF – FORTUNE
Fri Aug 03 OMAR S. – WALDORF
Sat Aug 04 TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS – ELECTRIC OWL
Sat Aug 04 PRIDE PARTY – WALDORF
Sat Aug 04 ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN – RICKSHAW
Sun Aug 05 LEGENDARY LONGWEEKEND – WALDORF
Sun Aug 05 BIDINIBAND SELINA MARTIN – MEDIA
Mon Aug 06 WHITE DENIM – BILTMORE
Mon Aug 06 ACTION BRONSON – FORTUNE
Wed Aug 08 SONREAL – FORTUNE
Wed Aug 08 ELZHI – REPUBLIC
Thu Aug 09 ENGLISH BEAT – RICKSHAW
Thu Aug 09 MURDER BY DEATH – MEDIA
Thu Aug 09 BC/DC – VENUE
Fri Aug 10 ONRA – WALDORF
Fri Aug 10 COMEDY BANG BANG- BILTMORE –
Sat Aug 11 TWIN SHADOW – VENUE
Sat Aug 11 JUICE – WALDORF
Thu Aug 16 BOMBINO – RIO THEATRE
Thu Aug 16 POLICA – BILTMORE
Fri Aug 17 TEENGIRL FANTASY – WALDORF
Fri Aug 17 GUTTERMOUTH – RICKSHAW
Fri Aug 17 WYMOND MILES of Fresh and Onlys – BILTMORE
Sat Aug 18 JOHNNY FIASCO – ELECTRIC OWL
Sat Aug 18 SWINGIN UTTERS – BILTMORE
Sat Aug 18 CARPENTER – COBALT
Sat Aug 18 JOHNNY FIASCO – ELECTRIC OWL
Sun Aug 19 JEL & DJ ABILITIES- WALDORF
Tue Aug 21 BROWN BIRD- ELECTRIC OWL
Thu Aug 23 NARI & MILANI – FORTUNE
Fri Aug 24 ADVENTURE CLUB – CELEBRITIES
Fri Aug 24 LUMERIANS (S.F.) – WALDORF
Sat Aug 25 ONE LIFE ANIMAL – MEDIA CLUB
Sat Aug 25 BLACK MOUNTAIN – MEDIA CLUB
Aug 24 – 26 LIVE AT SQUAMISH – SQUAMISH
Sat Aug 25 DUB FX – COMMODORE
Sat Aug 25 ONE LIFE ANIMAL – MEDIA CLUB
Sat Aug 25 BLACK MOUNTAIN – WALDORF
Mon Aug 27 REFUSED – VOGUE –
Wed Aug 29 YEASAYER – MALKIN BOWL –
Wed Aug 29 THE PROTOMEN – BILTMORE
Wed Aug 29 YEASAYER – MALKIN BOWL
Thu Aug 30 M. WARD – COMMODORE
Thu Aug 30 ALELA DIANE CASE STUDIES – BILTMORE
Fri Aug 31 DAVID WARD – SHARK CLUB