2009 Should Be Hot Panda's Year

One of last year's most talked about bands was Edmonton's Hot Panda. For example:

"Hot Panda is a lot of fun, easy to dance to and just might be the latest big thing, which Edmonton seems to have an endless supply of." - Jam

"Really, Whale Headed Girl is a starter album for a band looking to dig their heels into something firmer but by golly, is it ever a good way to kick things off." - Exclaim

"Comment:Hot Panda may be unsigned for now, but that won't last long. Their particular brand of off-kilter rock 'n' roll that blends elements of early, pre-Epic Modest Mouse, Talking Heads and, dare I say it, Pavement. Those are somewhat generic touchstones, but all very apt. They've already garnered a heap of accolades out west, and it won't be long before Hot Panda fever reaches the rest of the country." - Chartattack

and on and on and on and on.

And all of this is on the strength of an EP.

Now Hot Panda is coming back with the support of a label and with a full album to show off.

"It's amazing how the band can produce so much energy, but not rely on it. Usually bands need time together to find the right recipe and more importantly, time on the road to make sure the recipe is right for them. Hot Panda has already been coast to coast, watching the odometer turn (they are playing here at Gus' Pub on April 24th) and if Volcano... Bloody Volcano is any indication of what’s in store, I don’t see any signs of them becoming dormant." - Herohill

Volcano...Bloody Volcano will officially be available on Feb 10 but the send off for the album will be at the Pawn Shop in Edmonton on Valentines Day. (Regina's Rah Rah will be backing them up, doors at 9 - facebook event page here.) There are also Hot Panda dates coming up at Canadian Music Week, SXSW and a major tour is expected later in the year.

Keep up to date at their Facebook Page, Facebook Group or Myspace.

An Early Xmas Gift for Everyone from Mint Records

From CBC Radio 3 comes word that Mint Records has conjured up a free 7 song sampler featuring The Pack A.D., Kellarissa, the Buttless Chaps, the Awkward Stage, Vancougar, Novillero and Hot Panda. The only catch is that you have to have an eMusic account to access it - but the e-Music account is free so hop over to http://www.emusic.com/album/Various-Artists-Mint-Records-Mint-Records-Ridiculously-Late-eMusic-Sampler-MP3-Download/11332198.html and grab your 'Rediculously Late eMusic Samler'!

Also, if you are in the Vancouver area don't forget that Rediculously Early Xmas Party happens December 5th and 6th!

Free Downloads from the Choir Practice

Rumor has it that the Choir Practice was originally formed "as an excuse to drink wine and sing with friends." If that is true then the logic follows that if you are going to "drink and sing with friends" you might as well do it on stage and get paid.

The Choir Practice is an a'cappella vocal group from Vancouver consisting of "Coco (from The Gay and A.C. Newman) song writer, vocals and guitar, Larissa (from Kellarissa and P:ano) song writer, vocals and piano, Naomi (fashion designer) vocals, Olivia (from FanShaw) vocals, Jenn (from The Pokiok Falls) vocals and percussion, Kristen-vocals and gloc, Chris (from The Gay Straights) vocals and guitar, Ska-T (DJ) vocals, Shane (from Love and Mathematics) vocals and bass, Karin (photographer) vocals and percussion, Shira (from Blood Meridian) vocals and tamborine, Ida (from Great Aunt Ida) vocals, Sydney (from Hello Blue Roses) vocals, Marcy (from Heartbreak Scene) vocals, and finally KD (from the basement)". They are also the latest addition to this site's Podsafe Download section and the very first artists from Mint Records to be represented there.

the Choir Practice - Failsafe

Young & Sexy, the Pack AD and other Mint Stuff at NXNE

As some of you know I sometimes work with Vancouver's Mint Records. The people, not to mention the artists, are all awesome. So tonight, in spite of being pulled in a dozen different directions, I'm headed to the mint showcase at Sneaky Dee's.

If any of you want to join me, Young and Sexy is on at 11pm and the Pack A.D. is on at midnight! In case you don't know the band, the Pack A.D. is getting alot of good press lately.

From the Toronto Star:

"Lord almighty, do they rock – in a gritty, unhinged, kind-of frightening manner that's no doubt tightened up another few notches and grown more daunting since the band left several SXSW crowds feeling somewhat seared back in March."

From the Globe and Mail:

"Darker duo alt-blues than the Black Keys or the White Stripes - colour these rugged Vancouver chicks dangerous."

If you'd like to catch the Pack A.D. but can't make tonight's showcase they are also playing at 2:15 am at the Horseshoe, and on Saturday there is a free in-store performance at Criminal Records.

The Pack A.D. - What's Up There (live at the Apollo Bar, Thunder Bay, Ontario)




Young & Sexy - Curious Organ



Also, if you're out and about in Toronto keep your eyes out for "Fresh Breath of Mint", Mint Records free magazine. This issue contains Interviews with Feist and Iggy Pop (by Narduwar), Immaculate Machine's Euro Blog, Mint Family BBQ recipes, Pack A.D. tour pic and stories, comics, and lots of info on what's coming up for Mint.

You can find a copy (as pictured above) at Criminal Records, Sneaky Dee's, the Horseshoe Tavern, She Said Boom (both locations), the Cafe Diplomatico, Rotate This, Mitzi's Sister, and numerous other locations in and around downtown Toronto.

Love Music? Join the (Mint) Team!

Into Canadian indie music? Ready to stop just listening and become an active participant? Vancouver's Mint Records home of Immaculate Machine, the Pack A.D., Neko Case, Young and Sexy, Hot Panda, Bella, the Evaporators, the Choir Practice, Kellarissa, the Awkward Stage, Carolyn Mark, the Buttless Chaps, Cub and many, many more..needs your help.

Here are the details, straight from the Mint Press:

Do you love music? Do you love Mint Records? Do you love getting free CDs and getting on guest lists? How about postering, handing out flyers for shows and distributing fancy treasures to the good citizens of your hometown?

Since we do not have a Mint Records magic carpet (yet), we need a little help spreading some Minty joy through Team Mint. Should you choose to join this elite bunch, we'll send you on secret missions that may or may not involve putting up posters, loitering in record shops and taking goodies to your favourite venues, stores, cafes etc. Heck, when they're in the neighbourhood, a band might even need help selling merch.

And, to reward you for your noble efforts, you shall be rewarded with free CDs (often before your friends get 'em), guestlist spots for the occasional show and other fanciful treasures.

Some cities we're looking for helpers in (but not limited to):

- Seattle
- Portland
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- New York
- Boston
- Austin

And in Canada:

- Victoria
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Saskatoon
- Regina
- Winnipeg
- Ottawa
- Quebec
- Montreal
- Halifax

Interested in joining this choice club? Just let me know (click here) and I'll pass your info along!

Cub - My Chinchilla

Mint Records Signs Hot Panda

Just days after signing Kellarissa Vancouver's Mint Records has scored another major coup - adding Edmonton's Hot Panda to the Mint roster.

Mint's latest addtions are, by far, the hottest pandas in all of Edmonton.

"When you get compared, in the same breath, to everything from Daniel Johnson to the Talking Heads, you know you have a sound that's hard to pin down. Since their formation during the particularly chilly winter of 2006, the members of Hot Panda (Maghan Campbell, Keith Olsen, Chris Connelly, and Heath Parsons) have yet to sit down and have the discussion that goes: "So, what should we sound like?". The result is a swath of tunes that sound like anything and everything. Brit pop, gypsy swing, opera solos, Robert Pollard style lo-fi jangles, glammy Roxy Music keyboards, and "melodies that will be impossible to dislodge from your temporal cortex" (ChartAttack), all find their home in the music of Hot Panda... sometimes all in the same song!"

You can, if you haven't already, give them a listen on Myspace or New Music Canada.

Grab A Fresh Breath of Mint

Mint Records in Vancouver puts out a little mag called "Fresh Breath of Mint". Because they are in Vancouver and I am in Toronto She asked if I could spread a few around, which I've done: If you'd like a copy you can grab one (for free, in case that isn't clear) at:

Record/Audio Stores

Moog Audio - 442 Queen Street West
No Mint stuff on display (very little on display - they are mainly about equiptment, but they do carry CDS)

Criminal Records - 493 Queen Street West
No Mint stuff on display - display was primarily local stuff

She Said Boom - 393 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto
No Mint stuff on display

She Said Boom - 372 College Street Toronto
No Mint stuff on display

Soundscapes - 572 College Street
No mint stuff on display

Coffee Shops

Cafe Diplomatico 594 College Street, Toronto

Starbucks 1092 Queen Street West

Tinto 89 Roncesvalles Ave.

Java House 537 Queen West

Venues

Gladstone Hotel 1214 Queen Street West

Mitzis Sister 1554 Queen Street West

Other

College/Shaw Public Library

Ryerson University - various locations

Queen Video - 688 College Street
(video store w/ alot of independent film)

Bloor Cinema 506 Bloor Street West

No One Will Know (except you I guess)

Bella's first album on Mint Records No One Will Know is out today. The easiest way I could describe Bella would be the Stars meet Shiny Toy Guns, but if it reminds you a bit of the New Pornographers or Tegan and Sara it could be because the albums producer David Carsewell has worked with both of the above. The Band's members Cameron Fraser, Tiffany Garrett and Carla Benet swap lead vocals throughout the 12 tracks but harmonize so perfectly on each of them that 'lead vocals' aren't as important. Or, as Radio 3's John Paolozzi puts it "Bella is a Vancouver-based trio that executes the boy/girl harmony mix in a nigh-perfect sorta way"

You can listen to the entire CBC Radio 3 interview here.

The first song "Give It a Night" has hit single written all over it, but the entire CD is as good as the single. The music is danceable and mellow at the same time. Combining the dream like harmonies with trace inducing melodies and danceable rhythms. You can get a sampling of Bella on New Music Canada, or on their MySpace.

Bella will be kicking off a tour in support of the album in Brooklyn, New York tomorrow night - the rest of the dates are below:
UPCOMING SHOWS

SEPT 19, BROOKLYN, NY- Union Hall

SEPT 20, NYC-at Piano's

SEPT 21, SEATTLE- at Crocodile Cafe with Imperial Teen

SEPT 22, PORTLAND- at Lola's Room with Imperial Teen

SEPT 29, SAN FRANCISCO- at Bottom of the Hill with Imperial Teen

OCT 4, VANCOUVER, BC- No One Will Know CD Release Party!
at the Railway club

OCT 12, EDMONTON- the velvet underground

OCT 13, CALGARY, AB- at The Marquee

OCT 22, OTTAWA, ON- at mavericks

OCT 23, TORONTO, ON- at The Horseshoe Tavern

OCT 24, GUELPH, ON- at the E-bar

OCT 26, LONDON, ON- at the Alex P. Keaton

OCT 27, WATERLOO,ON- at the Starlight with Mother Mother

OCT 28, TORONTO, ON- at The Drake

OCT 29, MONTREAl, QC- Bar St. Laurent

OCT 30, QUEBEC CITY, QC- tba

NOV 1, HALIFAX, NS- Gus's Pub

NOV 3, FREDRICTON, NB- Capital Bar