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

ICEAGE – “White Rune” – New Brigade (What’s Your Rupture?)

When I read the description of this VERY YOUNG band from Denmark, my first thought was “I’ll probably like this.” I was right. Loud little dudes bring the heat to every track on their debut LP. His voice swings low and reminds me of some kinda Robert Smith type of thing. I’ll be honest, I still don’t quite understand what formula the blogosphere hype machine uses to calculate which bands are gonna blow up—I wouldn’t have pegged Iceage, but the tunes are solid and loud and aggressive and that’s about all I ask from my rock bands!

The Playlist

THEIVERY CORPORATION Culture of Fear (Eighteenth Street Lounge Music)

If I’m reading this right, the security camera on the cover of the record and the title of the record are about Big Brother’s watchful eye on modern society. Not sure what that has to do with the trip-hop duo from DC that I first heard on the Garden State soundtrack—chill out, guys!

SLAM DUNK Shivers [LP] (Self-Release)

Loved ‘em at Khatsalano Fest; thank Jesus Christ they brought some of their new LPs into the store from Victoria for us – it’s like Man Man if they weren’t so annoying meets Architecture in Helsinki if they weren’t so tame. Hyper-energetic, rad melodies.

BODIES OF WATER Twist Again (Thousand Tongues)

Diggin the glammy guitars!! Sleek and very transparent vocals from a sexy girl, this record is just cool. First effort on a new label = reinvention.

BARN OWL AND THE INFINITE STRINGS ENSEMBLE The Headlands (Important)

Anyone else pissed at themselves for missing their show at the Anza the other night? I had surgery a few days before—what’s your excuse? Anyway… awesome heavy drone doom from San Francisco. Spin this and stare into space for an hour.

COLD CAVE Cherish the Light Years (Matador)

Band names these days. I’m not gonna say this type of music is always my cup of tea—it reminds me of The Faint, who I never really dug, but Cold Cave does it better I think. Gothy, synthy, dancey stuff from New York.

FOSTER THE PEOPLE Torches (Sony/Columbia)

Cool band! For some reason before I listened to them I got them confused with Jeff The Brotherhood, and I think the two bands are polar opposites from a genre standpoint. This is a jumpy, poppy indie band from LA.

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA Simple Math (Sony/Columbia)

Faithful readers of the Zulu Report know that I have a very large spot in my heart for all things pop-punk. As these dudes just got slotted to open for blink-182 and My Chemical Romance, I’ll obviously be following their every move. This album is dramatic, borderline theatrtical indie rock. Maybe a bit more mainstream version of Band of Horses or My Morning Jacket. It’s good!

The Gig

Tuesday AUG 9 – Califone @ Biltmore

Super underrated band. I can’t wait to see this show at the Biltmore. This is about the only freak-folk music I like, because it’s so much more than freak-folk. Their live shows have been bending minds and mending spirits for years and I’ve never had the chance to experience it for myself. Do yr self a favor here people.

The Glance

Tue AUG 2 DIGITALISM – GOSSIP
Tue AUG 2 VANCOUVER FOR KIGALIUP – BILTMORE
Thu AUG 4 NEKROMANTIX – RICKSHAW
Thu AUG 4 GANGA GIRI – BILTMORE
Fri AUG 5 CONGOROCK – CELEBRITIES
Sat AUG 6 ADAM K – GINGER 62
Sat AUG 6 IVORY SKY / THE CARRIBEAN – BILTMORE
Sat AUG 6 THE INSIDERS – CHAPEL
Sun AUG 7 WEST FEST – SHARK CLUB
Tue AUG 09 CALIFONE – BILTMORE
Thu AUG 11 NOISIA – VENUE
Thu AUG 11 MICHAEL MOODS – GINGER 62
Thu AUG 11 PUBLIC RECORDS PARTY FT. GUILTY ABOUT GIRLS – WALDORF
Fri AUG 12 MORGAN CAMERA ROSS – MEDIA CLUB
Sat AUG 13 WORLD OF DRUM & BASS – MARITIME LABOUR CENTRE
Mon AUG 15 ALL TIME LOW – VOGUE
Thu AUG 18 OBITS w/ DISAPPEARS + HARD FEELINGS – BILTMORE
Thu AUG 18 CALVERTON – FORTUNE
Fri AUG 19 SOUND CLASH OF THE TITANS – SQUAMISH
Fri AUG 19 SIA – COMMODORE
Fri AUG 19 SILLKIE – W2
Fri AUG 19 MISTER HEAVENLY – BILTMORE
Fri AUG 19 100 MONKEYS – VENUE
Sat AUG 20 YOUNG PACIFIC – BILTMORE
Sat AUG 20 ART VS. SCIENCE – FORTUNE
Tue AUG 23 THE DECEMBERISTS – MALKIN BOWL
Tue AUG 23 M.O.P – FORTUNE
Fri AUG 26 ZED’S DEAD – GOSSIP
Sat AUG 27 JAPANDROIDS – WALDORF
Sun AUG 28 BEN HARPER – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT
Sun AUG 28 KREAYSHAWN – FORTUNE
Wed AUG 31 REV. HORTON HEAT – COMMODORE