RAA show poster by Random Found Objects

Show info:

6/9 the Rural Alberta Advantage, Okay, Half-handed Cloud @ Bottom of the Hill, 9pm, $10, a/a

Here’s a reminder, for what will probably be the last ipickmynose presents show, the Rural Alberta Advantage (myspace) are playing a great bill at the Bottom of the Hill this Thursday July 9. Locals Okay and Half-handed Cloud (myspace) are opening.

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know my love of Rural Alberta Advantage is nothing new. In fact, they released one of my favorite albums of 2008, which will be rereleased by Saddle Creek tomorrow, July 7. I saw them twice at SxSW, including an incredible, breath-taking show at Central Presbyterian. They produce driving, often-raw indie folk about Alberta. Mark my word, they will put on a good show.

the Rural Alberta Advantage – Don’t Haunt this Place (mp3)

the Rural Alberta Advantage – Sleep All Day (mp3)

Okay play broadly folk music, but with some experimental and freak folk elements. When I saw them at the Bottom of the Hill last year, I enjoyed their set.

Okay – Natural (mp3)

Half-handed Cloud is a band I’ve been following for quite a while, since I saw him open for Sufjan years ago. With folk-pop songs for people with ADD, this will be a fun way to start the set.

Half-handed Cloud – Skip the Rope (mp3)

Ticket contest:

I have two pairs of tickets to give away. To enter to win a pair of tickets to this show, email contest [at] ipickmynose [dot] com by noon on Wednesday July 8 with “Rural Alberta Advantage” (or “RAA”) in the subject line. Make sure to include your full name somewhere in there–that’s what will be on the guestlist. The winner will be chosen at random from all that email in. I’ll email the winner on Wednesday afternoon. Get those emails in now! It’s easy!

the Rural Alberta Advantage by ipickmynose

the Interview

I spoke to Nils Edenloff, who fronts the RAA and writes about his experiences growing up in Alberta for their songs, by phone last week from his father’s house in Edmonton. It was the day after their very first Edmonton show and it acted as a homecoming show for Nils. He was obviously still basking in the experience. Despite the interview taking him away from time with his family, he was gracious throughout the interview. We spoke for almost half an hour in the end and I wish I could share all of it here, but due to practical concerns, here’s just some of what we talked about.

Adrian Bischoff of ipickmynose: So you’re back in Edmonton?

Nils Edenloff of the Rural Alberta Advantage: Yeah, it was sort of a homecoming show for me.

Adrian: Have you played there with the band before?

Nils: No, this is the first time we’ve actually been able to make it west of Ontario. So we’ve been [doing] a, sort of, Canadian tour. The Alberta show have been going pretty crazy.

Adrian: Yeah, I bet.

Nils: I never, ever would have expected that when we started this the response would have been so overwhelming.

Read the rest of this entry »

Local music gurus the Bay Bridged celebrate their 3rd Birthday Bash at the Rickshaw Stop. It includes a solid night of local music by the Heavenly States (myspace), Birds and Batteries and Geographer (myspace).

Heavenly States – Morning Exercise (mp3)

I got Delayer, the Heavenly States’ 2008 album, early last year. For me, it wasn’t immediate; rather, it took time and subtly grew on me. In the end, it’s quite an enjoyable album with a mix of straight up rockers, softer songs and a few that split the difference.

I’ve seen Geographer perhaps too many times at this point. I mean that in number only–I still want to see them again because they put on an excellent live show that brings their music to a new level from their recordings.

Geographer – Rushing In, Rushing Out (mp3)

So to recap:

2/5 Heavenly States, Birds & Batteries, Geographer @ Rickshaw Stop, 8pm*, $12, a/a

Mike of Geographer by ipickmynose

And, I have a pair of tickets to give away. I’m not even getting free tickets to this show. (Can I enter my own contest? No, you can’t, self.)

To enter to win a pair of tickets to this show, email contest [at] ipickmynose [dot] com by 11:59pm, Tuesday February 3 with “Bay Bridged” in the subject line. Make sure to include your full name somewhere in there–that’s what will be on the guestlist. The winner will be chosen at random from all that email in. I’ll email the winner on Wednesday morning. Get those emails in now! It’s easy!

Christian (right), co-founder of the Bay Bridged, and Joe, a Bay Bridged writer, at Treasure Island 2008

* I should note that though the official start time is 8pm, I’ve never seen the first band go on at the Rickshaw before 9 or 9:15.

If you want to enter to win these tickets get your emails in by midnight tonight.

There’s a few more hours to enter the Mogwai ticket giveaway for their Monday show at the Grand Ballroom. Get on that if you want to enter to win a pair of tickets.

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I also have a pair of tickets for Damien Jurado (myspace) and Matador recording artist Jennifer O’Connor (myspace) at the Independent next Wednesday, September 10.

Damien Jurado is one of my favorite songwriters. His stories of trial and disfunction in middle America make up one of the best lyrical catalogs among songwriters today.

Damien Jurado – What Were the Chances (mp3)

Jennifer O’Connor – Valley Road ‘86 (mp3)

To enter to win a pair of tickets to this show, email contest [at] ipickmynose [dot] com by 11:59pm Monday September 8 with either “Jurado” or “O’Connor” in the subject line. The winner will be chosen at random from all that email in. I’ll email the winner on Tuesday. Get those emails in now! It’s easy!

promo photo

The Scottish Guitar Army Mogwai (myspace) is about to release their sixth full length album, The Hawk Is Howling on September 23. They’re currently on tour with the eff Buttons warming up for and supporting that album.

The stalwarts of guitar post rock are making their way through San Francisco stopping in at the Grand Ballroom on Monday, September 8th.

Mogwai – Sun Smells Too Loud (mp3)

To enter to win a pair of tickets to this show, email contest [at] ipickmynose [dot] com by 11:59pm Friday September 5 with “Mogwai” in the subject line. The winner will be chosen at random from all that email in. I’ll email the winner on Saturday. Get those emails in now! It’s easy!