Most Anticipated Of 2019
2019 is shaping up to be a damn good year for music in Canada. Here are some confirmed releases that we here at the Cups N Cakes Network are anticipating with the giddiness of a five year old on Christmas morning.
Altameda - Time Hasn’t Changed You
This Edmonton band is set for total domination. After their debut release they worked their asses off to get themselves in a position primed for success. They have shared the stage with Sam Roberts Band, Plants & Animals, Kacy & Clayton, and Reuben & The Dark and also toured as Calvin Love’s backing band as opener for The Sheepdogs. These connections should prove invaluable to help them become a household name in Canada.
What We Know:
- Time Hasn’t Changed You will be released on January 25th on Pheromone Records.
- Two singles have been released so far:
- They will be hitting the road upon the albums release:
Jan 18 - St. Albert, AB - Arden Theatre#
Jan 22 - Victoria, BC - Capital Ballroom*
Jan 25 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom*
Jan 26 - Kelowna, BC - Better Than Freds*
Jan 28 - Grand Prairie, AB - Better Than Fred's*
Jan 30 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room *
Jan 31 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room *
Feb 01 - Calgary, AB - The Palace Theatre*
Feb 03 - Medicine Hat, AB - The Esplanade*
Feb 04 - Red Deer, AB - Bo's Bar & Grill*
Feb 05 - Lethbridge, AB - Average Joe's*
Feb 07 - Prince Albert, SK - E.A. Rawlinson Centre For The Arts*
Feb 08 - Saskatoon, SK - Coor's Event Centre*
Feb 09 - Regina, SK - Casino Regina*
#w/ Joey Landreth
*w/ The Trews
At Mission Dolores - Last Night Outside Her Apartment
There is something happening in Kamloops right now. Bands and solo artists are popping up like blossoms bursting out after showers in the spring. There’s a healthy scene in this small city that is very much being nurtured by At Mission Dolores frontman JP Lancaster. Any establishment within the cities tiny downtown core may double as a music venue and it’s probable that Lancaster would be promoter for the gig. Lancaster also runs Factotum Cassettes & Oddities which is a small record label doing huge work at documenting the burgeoning scene in Kamloops. Think of At Mission Dolores as the older, wiser band of this scene that the kids look up to. This incredible band also features Jared Doherty who put out an amazing solo album in 2018 called Small Window whose track “Attention! Salute” was on our list of the Best Tracks Of 2018.
What We Know:
- Last Night Outside Her Apartment will be released on May 3rd via Factotum Cassettes & Oddities.
- The album was recorded/engineered/mixed at the Noise Floor Studio on Gabriola Island by Jordan Koop (Wolf Parade, The Courtneys, Dumb)
- At Mission Dolores will first release a mini album in January meant as an accompaniment to contrast the recordings that will arrive in the spring. The Cups N Cakes Network premiered a song from that album last week.
- Promo art:
Black Thunder - La Fine Creata
Last year we saw a surge from Regina, Saskatchewan in terms of high quality music output. Tons of new bands are emerging, helping to put Regina on the map as one of the most exciting small city music scenes in Western Canada. Through the many quiet years in Regina, there was always Black Thunder. This year will mark the tenth anniversary of this heavy, guitar psych band and they will celebrate by giving us their fourth studio album. The eight tracks that will make up La Fine Creta are expected to carry on Black Thunder’s tradition of heavy riffage, metal aesthetics with prog leanings that are all wrapped up in a fuzzy psych blanket.
What We Know:
- It was produced by Chris Dimas (Surf Dads, Beach Body, Blue Youth)
- Cover art will be done by Jason Thiry who did the artwork for their last two albums.
- They released the debut single, “Bekinstein Limit", last year as an insanely creative and funny video set in a universe where coffee is outlawed and special task forces patrol the streets to keep them free of coffee contraband.
Blessed - Salt
After two extremely loved EPs (EP II was named our favourite EP of 2017), Abbotsford band, Blessed are set to deliver their debut album this coming year. Recorded and mixed over three weeks in Montreal with producer Jace Lasek (Suuns, Wolf Parade, The Besnard Lakes), the album finds them continuing to evolve helping them maintain their reputation as one of Canada’s most interesting bands. The addition of a fifth member on guitar/keys, has definitely helped them keep their creative uniqueness intact. In the bands words, “the songs range from short, staccato, punk-tinged flares to lengthy escapades that recall Deerhunter's noise-rock freak-outs and Do Make Say Think's lush cinematic passages.”
What We Know:
- Salt will be self released on April 15th.
- One single has been released:
- Cover art:
Counterfeit Jeans - Good Morning
Edmonton’s Counterfeit Jeans have been turning heads in their hometown since erupting onto the scene in 2015 with their debut EP. They play melodic, noise-rock that sounds way too massive for a three piece which is a testament to their abilities to craft music in a meaningful way. Their popularity is starting to expand beyond their home province, having made the Polaris Prize “Longer List” in 2017 and having their debut album be the very first Canadian release on Brooklyn indie label, Broken Circles.
What We Know:
- Good Morning will be released early 2019 on Kingfisher Bluez.
- The album was produced by Counterfeit Jeans frontman, Jed Gauthier (Dead Fibres, Canibales)
- One single has been released and the artwork found on the single is the cover art for the album:
Figure Walking - Vertical/Horizontal
Figure Walking are prepping their sophomore album for release in the summer of 2019. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps it will help to say that Figure Walking is the new project from Winnipeg staple, Greg MacPherson. Their debut album was on our list of the “Best Albums Of 2017” and was long listed for the Polaris Prize. Joined by long time pal Rob Gardiner on drums, this duo channels punk rock ethos with dance rock vibes.
What We Know:
- To be released in the summer of 2019 on Disintegration Records (which is half owned by MacPherson himself).
- Vertical/Horizontal will consist of 12 tracks that were mostly recorded in Winnipeg at Argyle Studios with engineer Cam Loeppky (the other half of Disintegration Records). A few tracks were recorded in Montreal with engineer Steve Bates. The album was mixed by Cam Loeppky and mastered by Phillip Victor Bova.
Holy Void - Self Titled
Prepare for a psychedelic blast with surf inspired guitar, moog keyboard, and tons of feedback. Winnipeg’s Holy Void have been teasing Western Canadian audiences with many tours in recent years but no new music since their 2016 EP entitled For Everything Else. Made up from members of The Catamounts and Surprise Party (Surprise Party have called it quits to focus on Holy Void), this forthcoming album has been anticipated for years now.
What We Know:
- The album will be released in the summer on Transistor 66.
- The album was produced and recorded by Grant Trippel of Holy Void at Exchange District Studios.
- Winnipeg artist Delf Gravert is doing the artwork.
- An Eastern tour will follow, culminating with their hometown release show in Winnipeg.
BA Johnston - The Skid Is Hot Tonight
Everybody’s favourite knucklehead is set to return in 2019 with another batch of greasy anthems sure to amuse even the dullest of the dull. BA Johnston has become the working man’s hero; one part comedy, one part tragedy and three parts cheeseburger. He has a gift for crafting hilarious musings that are relatable to all, even those who don’t want to admit it.
What We Know:
- The Skid Is Hot Tonight will be released on Transistor 66 in February.
- The tour will be extensive:
Fri/Sat Feb 22/23 St Johns NFLD @ The Ship 2 NIGHTS
March 2 Guelph ON @ Jimmy Jazz w/ Drunk at the Library
March 8 Peterborough ON @ Red Dog w/ Beef Boys, Television Rd
March 9 Kingston ON @ Toucan w/ Beta 58s, Beef Boys
March 15 Brantford ON @ Train Cafe
March 16 Hamilton ON @ This Aint Hollywood w/ Flesh Rag, J Blissette
March 22 Bowmanville ON @ Manantler w/ Poor Pelly
March 23 Toronto ON @ Junction Music Hall w/ Sleepless Nights, Flesh Rag
March 29 North Bay ON @ Raven w/ Wax Mannequin
March 30 Sudbury ON @ Townehouse w/ Wax Mannequin, Kommisars, Mighty Rhombus
April 6 Waterloo ON @ Jane Bond
April 12 Ottawa ON @ House of Targ w/ ThunderKok, Lee Reed, Deathsticks
April 13 Montreal QC @ Grumpys w/ Lee Reed
April 18 Saulte Ste Marie ON @ New American
April 19 Thunder Bay ON @ Sovereign Room
April 20 Winnipeg MB @ Times Changed w/ Blonde Goth
April 23 Lethbridge AB @ OWL w/ J Blissette
April 24 Calgary AB @ Ship w/ Mandible Klaw
April 25 Edmonton AB @ Buckingham
April 26 Regina SK @ O Hanlons
April 27 Saskatoon SK @ Black Cat Tavern
- The artwork IS superb:
Jom Comyn - name unknown
Edmonton’s Jom Comyn is prepping for a big year in 2019 with the release of a new full length. His last release I Need Love was a multi genre behemoth of an album that was so good that it made our “Best Albums Of 2017” list. He’s been playing tracks from this forthcoming album live for awhile now, and from what we hear it may go down as his best work to date.
What We Know:
- Not much yet but we were able to learn that it was produced by Chris Dadge (Pre Nup, Samantha Savage Smith, Lab Coast) and he plays a bunch of the instruments on the album.
- The record will feature guest appearances by some of Calgary’s finest, and artwork by David Janzen, a phenomenal Edmonton painter.
Kittens Tribute Compilation
Kittens were amongst a group of bands including Meatrack and Stagmummer who where at the forefront of Winnipeg’s noise scene in the 90’s. They played aggressive rock with an intense live show that got them noticed across the country. They helped pave the way for bands like KEN mode and Tunic that are keeping the city’s noisy tradition alive. Many outsiders may not know that Winnipeg practically wrote the book on noise-rock in Canada and in 2019, No List Records is hoping to share some history with the younger generations of noise freaks. Coming into their 25th year in existence, No List Records witnessed it all and helped give many outsider acts a platform to release their albums to wider audiences. This year will mark the culmination of five years of work with the release of a tribute compilation to Kittens. Tracks from Anion, Not Of, The Great Sabatini, adolyne, Shallow ND, Hawkeyes, Drore (UK), KEN mode and Cellos are confirmed and at least another ten that have committed are being assembled to give this Winnipeg noise rock trio their proper due.
There is still room for more, and No List Records will continue to take applications for a short while after this is published.
What We Know:
- This is going to be one of the best tributes to ever surface in Canada.
Man Meat - You Deserve Better
Saskatoon’s Man Meat are the live show that everyone talks about. They get festivals buzzing, cities anticipating and humans running wild wherever they go. Their brand of noise-rock infused post-hardcore has put them atop the list of the most vicious bands in Canada. If you like your music noisy, never miss a Man Meat show. Their many tours and festival appearances have given them a large underground following across Western Canada and we are salivating at the prospect of a new full length.
What We Know:
- You Deserve Better will feature eight tracks
- Man Meat is hopeful for an early summer release
- The three tracks released on 2018’s Dirt Fight EP will be on the forthcoming album:
Arlo Maverick - Soul Merchant
Edmonton’s Arlo Maverick is primed for an incredible 2019 as he preps the release of his long awaited follow up to 2016’s Maybe Tomorrow. Maverick has been making serious waves in Western Canadian and could be the MC that busts open the flood gates to show the world that Canadian hip-hop is not exclusively reserved to the city of Toronto. This album has seen many delays and was first reported for release in early 2018, but the wait will be worth it as the delays have only made this album better.
What We Know:
- Soul Merchant will be released independently in the Spring.
- The album features production from: Mike Schlosser, Oozeela, Motorbike James, Mistah Fingaz, Frostbyte and Jon Mario.
- Guest spots include: Oozeela, K-Riz, Selassie, Karimah and Fendercase.
- One single has been released so far (expect another soon):
Melted Mirror - Past Life
This year is primed to be enormous for Calgary’s Melted Mirror as they will be satisfying our need for synth jams with a new album called Past Life. It’s been more than two years since their debut album Borderzone was released and this synth driven post-punk band hasn’t taken their foot off the gas. Many tours and festival appearances have given them time to hone their craft and we are expecting a tighter, more evolved sound.
What We Know:
- Past Life will be self-released on March 1st.
- It was produced by Nik Kozub (Humans, The Wet Secrets)
- It will be available on CD, Cassette and digitally.
- Cover Art:
Motherhood - Dear Bongo
Motherhood are hard to pin down, they self describe as avant-rock which is as good a description as any. They craft songs all over the map with country twang, psychedelic swirls and punk-rock prowess. It’s safe to say that this Fredricton trio always delivers something compelling and unique. Nobody in Canada does it quite like Motherhood.
What We Know:
- Dear Bongo will be released March 1st via Forward Music Group.
- The album was produced by Kyle Cunjak and Motherhood.
- It will be available on 180g Mustard Yellow Vinyl, CD & Cassette and can be pre-ordered here.
- Two singles have been released:
- After release shows in Fredriction (Mar 01 at Charlotte Street Arts Centre) and Moncton (Mar 02 at The Caveau), the group will head south to tour the States.
- Cover Art:
Kelly Ruth - Forms
Hailing from Winnipeg, Kelly Ruth is preparing her debut album as a solo artist. Known for her work in Civvie, Ruth play’s experimental music by using contact microphones and effects pedals on her weaving loom and other related tools. Working with Civvie she has recently performed at Sounds Like Festival and has opened for an improvisational collaboration between Venetian Snares and Daniel Lanois, as well as opening for Merzbow + Balázs Pándi as part of Bend Festival.
What We Know:
- Forms will be released via Pseudo Laboratories on January 24th
- A video has been released for the single “4 Dimensional Persistence”:
- Cover Art:
Screaming Targets - Carbon Copies
Four seasoned musicians come together to play punk-rock like you remember it. Straight ahead, urgent and fun, Screaming Targets spent 2018 playing numerous shows in Edmonton and Calgary. Everyone that saw this Edmonton “supergroup” that consists of Ben Disaster (Real Sickies), James Stewart (Slates), Lee Klippenstein (Slates, Eamon McGrath) and Chrispy (The Blame-its), inevitably got hooked and has been salivating ever since at the prospect of a record.
What We Know:
- Expected late spring/early summer
- Recorded with Todd Congelliere from Toys That Kill/Clown Sounds and produced by Screaming Targets.
- The four demos on their bandcamp page were re-recorded and are on the album.
The Shiverettes - Real Shrill Bitches
Calgary’s Shiverettes are set to return with a new full length of feminist punk rock that demands your attention. Their last album Dead Men Can’t Cat Call was released in 2017 and featured the track “Broken Record” which was one of our favourite tracks from that year. Expect a brutally honest and unapologetic blast of punk-rock designed to empower women and take down any men who aren’t allies. Personifying true punk-rock ethos, we are extremely excited to see how The Shiverettes have grown as a band.
What We Know:
- Real Shrill Bitches will be self released on April 18th
- It will be available on vinyl, CD and digitally.
- Their hometown release show will be April 18th at King Eddy’s with Wares & Mademoiselle. Shows in Edmonton, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg will follow.
- Promo Art:
Smokey & The Feeelings - name unknown
Smokey & The Feeelings is the brainchild of Edmonton artist Smokey. Known mostly for his work as a painter and sculptor, in 2016, Smokey released one of our favourite albums. Smokey states: “This one will continue the tradition of whatever the hell it is we do, goth country or square dance macabre. Less strings, more ramshackle pots and pans and broke down sythns”.
What We Know:
- This, as of yet, unnamed album will be self-released in the spring.
- It was produced by Smokey and engineered by Patrick Michalak
- The Feeelings on this album are: Aaron Parker (Cantoo), Paul Arnusch (The Wet Secrets, Whitsundays), Tom Murray (Eamon McGrath) and some exciting cameos.
Yves Jarvis - The Same But By Different Means
Un Blonde was the project of ex-Calgarian Jean-Sebastien Audet. After many recordings under this moniker and a move to Montreal, it was time for a change. When speaking of the need to re-brand, Audet states: “Now I’m at a place where I feel like when I hear it, I don’t like it because I don’t identify with it at all,” he continues. “I knew I needed something that I could identify with.” Expect more gorgeous experimental soul on this upcoming release.
What We Know:
- The Same But By Different Means will be released on Flemish Eye on March 1st.
- The album will be available on Vinyl, CD and digitally
- One single has been released (Artwork shown on embed is album the album artwork):
- Like his past releases, the album has a lengthy tracklist:
1. to say that is easy
2. the plight comes
3. sugar coated
4. nothing new
5. constant change
6. out of the blue, into both hands
7. into the forefront
8. 360
9. forward
10. curtain of rain
11. hard to say bye
12. fruits of disillusion
13. that don't make it so
14. pigs at the helm
15. time and place
16. blue V
17. goodbye reason, goodbye rhyme
18. dew of the dusk
19. talking or listening?
20. glory to you
21. exercise E
22. the truth