“Just A Scratch” and “Catch Me If You Can” by Tokyo Police Club

I’m not crying, you’re crying…
Okay, I was a little misty-eyed when I got the news that after over 20 years of making music, Newmarket’s own Tokyo Police Club will be hanging up their hats.

Thankfully they’re not just leaving us with nothing, they announced several finale shows in Toronto with a lot of familiar names, and now they’ve released tour dates, including two shows here in Vancouver (with Born Ruffians!), the first of which is already sold out.

To top all of this off, we’ve been presented with two new songs: “Just A Scratch” and “Catch Me If You Can”. Of the songs guitarist and keyboardist Graham Wright says:
"I hear bits that we might have come up with in the garage back then, and other bits we could never have dreamed up until right now. I hear all the music we ever loved and all the music we ever made - and most importantly, I hear US, the four of us, the hivemind that is TPC, with all its ideas and enthusiasm.”

Okay great, I’m crying again. I cannot wait until the shows in September!

Christine

“Seeing Ghosts” by Nice Horse

Hot off their win for Horizon Group or Duo of the Year at this year’s CMAB Awards, Calgary country juggernaut Nice Horse has announced a new look for the band; going forward as a duo with Katie Rox and Brandi Sidoryk. And to cement that change, the pair released a surprise new single “Seeing Ghosts” last week, an upbeat country breakup song.

Brandi expands on the new direction: “There's no question that the past few years have been some of the hardest times of our lives, but the thing that got us through it all was writing and we did a lot of it. This song, and the rest of the album, is a result of that and we're so proud of the music we've created. We hope the fans, along with everyone who supported us and our former bandmates, are proud of the direction that we're heading.”

(As an aside, if I had a nickel for every time Brandi was in a band that changed into a duo… I’d have two nickels, but it’s weird that it happened twice?)

Kirk

“Somebody’s Son” by Haley Blais

Ahead of her North American tour that starts this week, Haley Blais has dropped her new single, “Somebody’s Son”.

The haunting, acoustic song was written & recorded during the making of her last album Wisecrack, with Blais sharing, “This is me talking directly to my brother; one family ending, and another beginning. A conversation with him spanning years.”

You can check out the new song below, and see all the dates on her tour on her website!

Kirk

“Gum” by Alex Badger

Alex Badger is hoping her new single sticks.

Last week, the Vancouver singer released her latest single “Gum”, a chill and catchy indie pop tune, that highlights her vocals.

Have a listen and check out the video below!

Kirk