Mariachi Ghost

Winnipeg's Mariachi Ghost is a band that I don't know a lot about, but in a way that's good, because it seems like a mysterious endeavour, with bandmembers wearing skull make-up and seemingly not a lot of biographical material out there. With a little digging, we could easily find out more...but I like the music and the look, for now that's enough. A unique ensemble for these parts. There's an ep out there called Machete that is available at the following locations for $10: McNally Robinson Booksellers Into The Music The Winnipeg Folk Festival Store Music Trader Find Mariachi Ghost on facebook or on the band's CBC artist page.

School of Seven Bells do Siouxsie and the Banshees For You

School of Seven Bells are riding their version of 80's ethereal pop and a bit of electronic skronk with a cover of Siouxsie and the Banshees' Kiss Them for Me. You know who School of Seven Bells sometimes remind me of? Juno award-winning Rose Chronicles, that's who.

Creosote - Area Man

Regina's Creosote is really a one-man wrecking crew named Gord Smith, and he recently released a new album called Area Man. A very long time ago, Smith walked up to me and, apropos of nothing, asked: "Son Volt or Wilco?" Upon receiving my answer, he smiled and quickly moved on. That question stuck in my mind, and I always expect to hear some alt-country coming from Smith, but Area Man is straight-out rock. Or maybe that should be ROCK, because Creosote's new album sounds like the kind of unabashedly riff-heavy, harmony-driven hard rock we don't really hear much anymore. Area Man almost sounds like grunge never happened, that filter that unfortunately spawned Pickleback, Theory of a Default, et cetera.



Smith also has the er, guts to cover Rush on the new record. Not only that, but he chooses a 1980's keyboard-laden track from Power Windows to cover - Mystic Rhythms. You can buy Area Man at iTunes. Creosote is also a son Volt tune. Coinkydink? Just don't call Cresote MR. Creosote.