Okay, maybe Apollo Ghosts new album “Mount Benson” (Pigeon Row Records) has been out for a few months now but hey, old news is still very good news! For those of you who haven’t heard the free download “Coka Cola Admen” you can find it around the internet at different locations. Or, better yet, you can help fund their touring ways by heading on down to your local record shop and buying a copy of your very own.

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…if by “mellowing out” you mean “continuing to blow speakers and minds with a more vicious punk rock frenzy than was heard even six months ago.”

Part of getting a back on the horse with a site like this is tracking down old favourites and seeing what everyone has been up to. White Lung, as it turns out, are still running this town. Check out their video for “Loose Heels” from their just-released LP It’s the Evil on Deranged Records.

In a nasty little piece of deja vu, Vancouver’s by-law dogs have decided to pick on yet another independent music venue. Here’s a quick run-down on the venue in question Little Mountain Studios.

Little Mountain Gallery was established April 7th, 2006. Built in 1930, 195 east 26th Avenue was home to Curly’s Garage. In the decades to follow it has been a sheet metal shop, a plumbing and heating outlet, a soda pop bottle depot, and lastly, South Seas Meats Ltd. Over the past nine years however it has been home to the Arts. Located just west off of Main Street, Little Mountain Gallery is dedicated to its neighborhood, and to keeping the dream alive.

Here’s a recent press release on the recent developments and, more importantly, a fast and easy way for you to help throw a wrench in the works.

Hi friends,

Love,
SASS

So there you have it! Let’s get on it kids!

Well, as you may have noticed the site’s been a little slow in dragging itself out of a late-spring / early summer hibernation. Hey, what can I say? We missed you guys and it’s great to finally get back on the horse after being away for so long!

Luckily for us our good friend Adam from Needles//Pins came along at just the right time to help us out of our bleary-eyed stupor. So how did he do it? By graciously sending us a folder stuffed full of demos they’ve been working on and HOLY SWEET LORD are they good! Macey’s drumming on “Drop It” alone made me remember why I started this site in the first place. Hopefully they’ll get some of these little gems posted on their MySpace page very soon.

No one is really sure when the new material be released, but while we’re waiting, why not head on over to the Needles//Pins site where they’re still giving away their first full-length LP as a free download.

Hey everybody! Remember back in November when we wrote our review on The Belle Game’s first EP Inventing Letters? Well those kids have been super busy lately and one of their newest projects is a wonderful little video for Shoulders & Turns, directed by Jeffrey Zablotny. So have a look!

As we prepare to take over the world again, check THIS out!

Holy crackers! Remember the Aural Kinetic Song of the Week column? It’s kinda been a while huh? Well let’s do one for old time’s sake!

This week’s Song of the Week is called Buried in the Sun and was written and recorded by a local band called Spoon River. A newly transplanted group of fellas originally hailing from Montreal, they ruled the country in their former incarnation The Royal Mountain Band. There’s no shortage of things that can be said about the astounding Spoon River, but we’ll save it for the full album review later this week. So check it out! We’ve even got a fancy-pants media player for your clickin’ goodness.

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Well kids, my adventure in the three-month full-time brain smasher that is ELECTRICAL TRADE SCHOOL is coming to a close. That means I’ll have a lot more time to listen to new bands, go to shows, write reviews and conduct interviews! People, believe me when I tell you that good times are IMMINENT! Also, a great big thank you to everyone who’s been checking the site regularly despite my almost complete absence. You guys are the best!

Ian Explosivo

P.S. Look for an all-new interview with Jarrett Evan Samson of Geographing Records and Shipyards fame! Coming SOON!

P.P.S. Spoon River, you’re first on the dock as far as record reviews go. Get ready for SHAMELESS ADORATION.

Have you been by the Zoo Zhop (233 Main Street)? You should go! They have a great selection of records and they’re super inexpensive. They’re also the nicest kids on the block. And did you know they’re also a great little venue for local shows? Swing on by and check ‘em out!

Last night Chez Explosivo/Toshiba hosted Nachopalooza 2010 where one of our lovely guests hipped me to a local band I had never heard before! Well here they are, Aunts and Uncles, and gosh are they great! Formed in 2009 and comprised of members from SSRIs, Like Animals Again, The Barcelona Chair and Friends From School, Aunts and Uncles are definitely one of our bands to watch in 2010. Head on over to their MySpace page to hear a handful of songs and watch more videos!

Aunts and Uncles play Little Mountain Studios on February 27th and The Purple Crab on March 6th.