THE FEMBOTS-“Calling Out”

Hailing from Toronto, FemBots broke in 2000 receiving rave reviews all over the net. “Calling Out” will be the band’s fourth release, which has been described as “post-industrial folk,” but certainly owes a lot to modern indie rock. Many of the songs are solid rock tunes, and a few get close to experimentation. For example, “Lost At Sea” is sung through a voice modulator. This technique usually comes off as gimmicky and puts immediate distance between the band and the listener, but here, when combined with the crunchy blues jam at about 2 minutes and 10 seconds in, it seems to make sense. It gives the tune an organic quality—raw like bits of gravel under bicycle tires. In contrast, another water-themed tune, “Ship Breaking” is sad and slow. It sounds very much like the sequel to Elvis Costello’s lament, “Shipbuilding.” Both are wonderful, classic-rock ballads. “Good Days,” the single, is the most accessible song here; it’s an unsurprising rock ditty that really isn’t very much like the rest of the record. Kinda like using “Float On” as the single representing Modest Mouse.

Good Days

Tour Dates

Sep 26 Toronto @ Music Gallery
Oct 3 Montreal @ Pop Montreal
Oct 4 Ottawa @ Zaphod’s
Oct 7 Charlottetown @ Baba’s
Oct 8 Sackville @ Strutt’s Gallery
Oct 9 Fredericton @ The Capitol
Oct 10 Halifax @ Gus’s Pub
Oct 22 Winnipeg @ The Lo Pub
Oct 23 Saskatoon @Lydia’s
Oct 24 Regina @ The Club
Oct 25 Edmonton @ The Pawn Shop
Oct 26 Kelowna @ Habitat
Oct 29 Victoria @ Logan’s
Oct 30 Vancouver @ Railway Club
Nov 1 Calgary @ Marquee Room
Nov 3 Thunder Bay @ The Apollo
Nov 4 Sault Ste Marie @ Loplops
Nov 5 Sudbury @ The Townhouse
Nov 6 Hamilton @ Casbah
Nov 7 Toronto @ The Dakota Taven
Nov 8 Kitchener/Waterloo @ TBA
Nov 20 Guelph @ E Bar
Nov 21 Windsor @ The Phog Lounge
Nov 22 St. Catharines @ Merchant Ale House

Bonus Cover:

The Beautiful Ones (Prince)-Besnard Snakes

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