This Sunday’s Grammy Awards have the usual mix of treats (Springsteen performing) and tricks (having to watch the three-hour live stream of the pre-telecast awards to see if Wilco or Death Cab take home a trophy); the show has become the perfect way to transition from football Sundays to seven months of civilian life on weekends. From a local perspective, an intriguing story is the nomination of Sum 41 ‘s tune “Blood In My Eyes” in the Best Hard Rock/Metal category . Taken from the band’s fifth LP, Screaming Bloody Murder , the tune is a ferocious assault that seems to find pleasure in the dealing with pain. It is by far the heaviest track on the album and the sincerity of the playing and Deryck Whibley’s singing cuts through loud and clear. Also nominated in the category are Dream Theater, Foo Fighters, Mastodon and Megadeth. And while winning would be nice, the nomination itself is a shot in the arm for Sum 41, who continue to be sidelined from touring due to Whibley’s ongoing issues with his back. The band recently had to postpone a U.K. tour, where the album has enjoyed great success, reaching the top five in the charts.
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CONE CAN
With Sum 41 off the road, band bassist Cone McCaslin has been busy producing the debut LP from Toronto band The Strumbellas . The septet mixes a variety of electric and acoustic instruments into a rustic yet contemporary sound that shakes the ground a la Dexy’s Midnight Runners. The band will host and hoist a few in honour of their new release, The Father and The Hunter , next Friday night (Feb. 17) at The Rivoli.
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FESTIVE SPECIAL
Check out the debut disc from Vancouver quartet Rococode —Guns, Sex And Glory comes out this week on spirited Winnipeg-based indie label Head in the Sand . The 11-song set was co-produced by Mother Mother frontman Ryan Guldemond and Rococode’s own Andrew Braun. Their well-crafted pop is full of wit, charm and personality, and you can see for yourself when they hit town for some Canadian Music Fest shows, starting off with a perfect pairing with The Inbreds’ Mike O’Neill on March 20 at a special Nu Music Nite at the Horseshoe. O’Neill—whose upcoming solo record, Wild Lines (out Feb. 28), features his trademark Beatles-influenced melodies, magical vocals and arrangements, and a sonic experiment or two—will be doing double duty that week as The Inbreds return for a rare show March 24 at midnight at Lee’s Palace.
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