Whitehorse hits the Burt

A classic tale of musical romance continues for Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, the husband-and-wife duo behind Whitehorse. Both successful solo artists, the pair teamed up for a debut album in 2011 and followed it up in August 2012 with The Fate of the World Depends on This Kiss.

Individually, Luke (who grew up and learned his musical chops in Wolseley) and Melissa have been recognized with numerous awards and nominations, including the Junos and the Polaris Prize. Their live show is built on Luke’s mesmerizing guitar work and the pair’s smouldering vocal harmonies.

Whitehorse plays Feb. 8 at the Burton Cummings Theatre. Tickets are $33.25 at ticketmaster.ca.

 

This Hisses steps it up

Winnipeg indie rock trio This Hisses is that rarest of musical entities, a high-concept act that delivers. 

Featuring the ethereal vocals and songwriting of frontwoman/bassist Julia Ryckman, the group — which is rounded out by guitarist Patrick Short and drummer JP Perron — the trio began playing what it dubbed ‘garagey surf punk’ but in the 18 months or so since the release of debut album Surf Noir, the group has progressed beyond its three-chord beginnings, writing material that is more cinematic in sound and scope — evoking the feel of late ’70s, early ’80s post-punk acts such as Siouxsie & the Banshees and early Japan.

As 2013 dawns, the trio is launching its second album, Anhedonia, and, if the video for Blacksmith is any indication, this record — which was recorded in Winnipeg, produced by Matt Peters (Royal Canoe, Waking Eyes) and released on the local Transistor 66 label — will mark a great leap forward.

The local release party for Anhedonia goes  this Saturday, Feb. 9, at the West End Cultural Centre. Tickets are just $15 in advance, or $20 at the door.

MTC opens  Ed’s Garage

Rod Beattie is probably most familiar to Canadian theatre-goers as Walt Wingfield, the fictitious gentlemen farmer who made the move from big city to Ontario countryside and whose foibles and anecdotes were chronicled in the Wingfield series of plays by playwright Dan Needles.

The latest show Beattie and Needles have bring to the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre sees them stepping away from the Wingfield character, but not too far.

Ed in Ed’s Garage is a farmer who lives in the town of Port Petunia and it’s apparent that he not only runs the town, he’s also its de facto therapist, dispensing wisdom and advice in pithy doses.

This, of course, means he falls afoul of the psychotherapist who moves in next door, providing the crux of Ed’s Garage’s dramatic arc and humour.

Ed’s Garage opens Thursday, Feb. 7 and runs until March 2 at MTC’s John Hirsch Theatre. See mtc.mb.ca for ticket info.