More music this week

The Lucas Sader Project Supplied
Comeback Kid Supplied
Cold Specks Supplied

The Lucas Sader Project

Why did Lucas Sader decide to use his debut album, Apollo, to pay tribute to jazz icon Miles Davis’s 1960s quintet?

“I feel they totally changed the way people think about small group jazz playing,” explains 21-year-old drummer and bandleader Sader.

“Also, the drummer in the group, Tony Williams - who was only 17 at the time he joined Miles - was already changing the way people thought about jazz drumming. He had a totally different sound and concept when he approached the drums, and the fact that he was so young makes it even more (impressive). Words can’t even express how awesome his playing was at such a young age.”

The Lucas Sader Project, which also features world-renowned trumpeter Derrick Gardner, alto/tenor saxophonist Paul Balcain, pianist Paul DeGurse and bassist Karl Kohut, will release the album with a performance at the West End Cultural Centre on Thursday, Nov. 22.

The group recorded the disc live off the floor in one five-hour session this past June. In addition to compositions by Davis, the 11-song collection features five originals by Sader.

“Miles Davis was an artist who was always trying to reach for something more - he was always going somewhere different,” Sader says. “I felt it was crucial that this album do that as well, so that’s why I included my own songs on there.”

Thursday’s concert starts at 8 p.m. and will feature guest musicians Will Bonness on piano and Erin Propp on vocals. Comedian Reggie San Miguel will act as host for the evening.

Advance tickets are $15 ($12 for students) and available at the WECC, Music Trader and www.TicketWeb.ca. They are $20 at the door.

Visit www.lucassadermusic.com.

Comeback Kid

Winnipeg’s hardcore kings return to their hometown for a two-night stand - an all ages show on Thursday, Nov. 22 at Broadway Community Centre (185 Young St.) and an 18+ show on Friday, Nov. 23 at the Windsor Hotel (187 Garry St.).

It’s been more than two years since the group released its last album, Symptoms + Cures. The band’s lead singer (and former guitarist), Andrew Neufeld, recently told PunkNews.org that, while the band hasn’t been able to dedicate much time to writing the follow-up, it has big plans for 2013: It will play a series of shows with original lead singer Scott Wade to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of its debut album, Turn It Around.

“We’re going to be playing songs from Turn It Around and Wake the Dead (our second record) with me playing guitar and our old singer singing,” Neufeld said last month. “So we just confirmed our first show that I’m not allowed to announce yet but we’re probably going to be doing a handful of shows on the east coast, west coast and Europe.”

Neufeld added that he can’t see the band playing the albums in their entirety.

“There’s probably some shitty songs on both records,” he said. “But we’re going to make a good-sized set list off both of those records with our old singer Scott singing. I mean, we still hang out all the time, he’s been wanting to do it… It’s just going to be a super fun thing.”

Incidentally, Scott Wade will be in town for a DJ set at the Windsor on Saturday, Nov. 24. Will Winnipeggers get a preview of Comeback Kid’s upcoming Turn It Around anniversary tour on the 22nd or 23rd? Time will tell.

The 18+ show is sold out, but tickets for the all ages gig are still available at Music Trader, Into the Music and www.ticketworkshop.com.

Visit www.comeback-kid.com.

Cold Specks

“Enigmatic” might be the best word to describe Al Spx, the 24-year-old singer-songwriter who fronts her own seven piece band, Cold Specks.

While she has revealed more and more of herself in interviews since the May release of her debut album, I Predict a Graceful Expulsion, Spx does not use her real name because at first, she did not want it tied to songs that are so personal - songs she says she never intended for people to hear when she first wrote them.

With a few tours under her belt, is Spx more comfortable being associated with the material on Expulsion?

“I guess it’s something that I felt early on (but) I no longer feel that way,” she says by phone while driving with her bandmates and manager in between tour stops in San Francisco and Portland.

Spx calls her sound “doom soul,” which is an apt description for songs that are steeped in the musical traditions of the Deep South. It’s a dark sound with dark lyrics to match. On the album, Spx sings about depression and suicidal thoughts.

The album has produced some striking videos, most recently for the song Hector. Filmed in England, the video depicts Spx as a pregnant bride dragging her beheaded groom/husband’s body through a forest.

“I just wanted to be a possessed pregnant bride and I let (the director) roll with it,” Spx says.

Spx performed a solo set opening for the Great Lake Swimmers at the West End Cultural Centre this past May, and says she is looking forward to returning to this city.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in Winnipeg with the full band.”

Cold Specks perform at the Park Theatre on Monday, Nov. 26. Demetra is also on the bill. Advance tickets are available for $20 at the Park Theatre, Music Trader and online at www.ticketbreak.com. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. and the show is at 8 p.m.

Visit www.coldspecks.com.

Published in Volume 67, Number 12 of The Uniter (November 21, 2012)

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