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

BLACK MOUNTAIN Old Fangs from the forthcoming Wilderness Heart release.

My momma told me never to hitchhike and even if I was stranded in the desert hills above L.A. and got picked up by the guys in Black Mountain, I know better than to get into their badass car. Seriously, look what happens — you get mixed up in some pretty crazy shit!! You meet strange sirens that ensnare, entice and beguile casting god knows what spells. You start seeing things and for sure the owls are not what they seem. Then you sleep in some pretty dank hotels and have absinthe dream of even more skull loving vixens!! Whoa! What a minute, if I wanted adventures like that I would just stay in Friday nights and play D’n’D with the guys over a few Pilsners. That said, what we would definitely do is check out the new Black Mountain as it slays. Wilderness Heart is their third full length and they have taken it to a whole new level of deadliness as finally the band as got the big time production on their side making the drums and guitars sound like bolts from a layer of intense evil. Shucks, Old Fangs has more hit points than a sixty-side dice!

The Playlist

WOLF PARADE What Did My Lover Say? (Sub Pop)
Their new record is called Expo 86. I can’t believe that title was still free – does it mean more or less ironic t-shirts?

THE STARS The Five Ghosts (Soft Revolution)
There is a certain heady quality to this track. It makes me think of serene celebrations and every scene in a Won Kar Wai film with a couple driving around in the rain.

THE BESNARD LAKES Are the Roaring Night (Outside Music)
Montreal’s best kept secret is all about dynamics and textures – their sinuous songs are sure to catch you in their web.

THE ACORN No Ghost (Paperbag)
Ottawa’s folk-rockers have fallen from the tree and gone to seed! After this mellow new record they should be sprouting up everywhere soon.

HOT HOT HEAT Future Breeds (Dine Alone Records)
This feels like a concept record about a futuristic dance party at factory where everyone including you is a robot.

GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS The Legion Sessions (Nettwerk)
Finally a record that captures the intimate beauty of this amazing Canuck act… recorded in the cavernous Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Toronto!

FROG EYES Paul’s Tomb: A Triumph (Dead Oceans)
Bombastic drums, crunked distortion guitars, and the finest olive oil drinking vocalist Victoria has ever known.

ONWARD VOYAGEUR s/t (Onward Voyager Records)
After last weekend’s CD release party at Chapel Arts, these seasoned Vancouver performers should be nursing some big-time interest as well as a massive hangover!

THE SADIES Darker Circles (Outside Music)
Once again these four guys prove they are the ultimate house band as they rip through another batch of rebellious rocking tunes.

THE PACK A.D. We Kill Computers (Mint Records)
Bluesy swamp voodoo rock from right here… since when did Vancouver resemble a cryptic bayou?

The Gig

THE POINTED STICKS and THE DISHRAGS at UKRAINIAN HALL Wednesday July 14th

Rub your eyes! No, this is not your version of Groundhog Day. No, it is not 1977 all over again. It is in fact the warm up show for these two legendary Vancouver punk bands before they jet set to a series of sold out shows this summer in Japan. You see, in Japan neither band really fell from the public eye as loyal old-school punk-pop lovers always kept these sweetheart acts in their minds. Well, finally the two bands, that have always had close ties together here in Vancouver, have accepted the rabid invitations to travel over to the land of the rising sun and play the classics one more time! Their show here at Ukrainian Hall will be just like old times as the classics like ‘Past Is Past’ and ‘Real Thing’ will surely be trotted out – but also it is the new times as tons of young Vancouver punks still look up to these awesome players. Not to be missed.

The Glance

Thu JULY 01
NOMEANSNO w/ Slim Cessna & Hermetic – BILTMORE
DAS EFX – BAR NONE

Fri JULY 02
TY SEGAL + CHAIN AND THE GANG – MEDIA CLUB

Sat JUL 03
HARLEM – COBALT
SLEEPY SUN – BILTMORE
VAN BUREN/ BENASSI – VCC

Mon JUL 05
MELVINS – RICKSHAW
TURBO FRUITS – BILTMORE

Tue JUL 06
CHARLIE WINSTON – VENUE
SIGNALS – MEDIA CLUB
MINI MANSIONS – BILTMORE

Wed JUL 07
E-40 – POP OPERA
KATCHAFIRE – VENUE

Thu JUL 08
KATCHFIRE – VICTORIA
AGGROLITES – VENUE
SHWAYZE + Dirt Nasty – FORTUNE SOUND CLUB
HIGH ON FIRE – RICKSHAW

Fri JUL 09
NARCOTANGO – WISE HALL
YUCA / COLUMBIA / SONS OF KAIN – SHARK CLUB
AGGROLITES – VICTORIA
THE COUP – BILTMORE

Sat JUL 10
NEIL HAMBURGER – BILTMORE
FISHBONE – VICTORIA

Sun JUL 11
VICTORIA SKA FEST – KATCHAFIRE – SHIP POINT(Victoria)
SOULS OF MISCHIEF – FORTUNE SOUND CLUB
FOL CHEN – MEDIA CLUB
Mon JUL 12
QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT – BILTMORE

Wed JUL 14
POINTED STICKS + DISHRAGS – UKRANIAN HALL
ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI – BILTMORE