Premier Rock Forum

Ricaine.

I've loved this Australian band for years, they've since broken up (quite a few years ago now), but I still think they're amazing. They recorded an LP with Bob Weston a while back.

MySpace

Bio on their French label's site.

mp3's
Last of The Last
...Of The Twilight League

The bass player is now in Blacklevel Embassy, who are also awesome and just recorded their last album with Bob.

www.myspace.com/danielfrancisdoyle - really, really wonderful stuff.

The compulsion is to talk about all the local bands here I like. I'll abstain from that and instead talk about some touring acts I enjoy.

Bel Riose are probably one of my favourite bands I've opened for. They're two brothers from out Vancouver way playing pretty awesome pop/rock on drums and bass.

Portico list Slint first under "influences." Automatic victory. They're also friends with Wintermitts, who were very nice houseguests.

Hot Panda are really excellent, kinda spazzy rock. I'd call them "quirky" but their live act doesn't seem self-conscious enough to justify it.

Wax Mannequin is also really fantastic. It's one guy, basically; he recruits a band on record, but it's just him and a drum machine live and it's more intense than some full-band shows I've seen. He's startlingly catchy and his songs reference each other almost as much as Destroyer, which makes for really cohesive records.