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.
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:
