Winnipeg Buzz: Peanuts And Corn Set Up Shop At The Funny Farm

I liken the variety of this week's news to a freshly cooked meal in your mama's crock pot: they look so tasty and you can't wait to dive in. So grab your spork. The full list of artists invited to showcase at Canadian Music Week has been released since I highlighted the early acceptance of the VaGiants and others in my last column. But you know diplomatic old me can't go without mentioning the others on that list, so my highest congratulations go out to the likes of Novillero, Greg MacPherson, Blush, Imperial Public Library, The Perms, The Afterbeat and JFK And The Conspirators along with those VaGiants for being accepted into the annual event.

Local urban imprint Peanuts And Corn broke out with another hot update recently, which included the news that one of its key contributors (I suppose you could say he's a "CORNerstone" of the label... haha ohhh mercy) is set to release a new album. Pipi Skid (a.k.a Pip Skid a.k.a Wicked Nut of Farm Fresh and fermented reptile) is coming out large later this month with Funny Farm, his follow up to his 2001 debut, Friends4Ever. F4E featured multiple guest vocalists and producers, something the MC wanted to do away with on his new release. Instead, Funny Farm is a personal, introspective view of one man struggling against his political surroundings and feelings of loneliness. But it's not all downers; in true Pipi style, he comes out strong with some humourous tracks, like "Germ Warfare" and "Super Dope Producers." Funny Farm will be released this month. Watch for tour news to follow.

Local band Blush gave us Crowded Alone last year, got on a comp released by Winnipeg's big rock station and received some airplay in their hometown. It's a lot for one indie rock band to get, but the band didn't anticipate the success that was awaiting them. Since launching a radio campaign with Howard Rosen Promotion just over four weeks ago, the album's first single, "Word From The Wise," has been added at over 50 stations across North America. It's charting top ten in three of them and top 30 in nine others. The band are set to shoot a video with Toronto filmmaker Billy Dunlop (Firewatcher Films), who approached the band after hearing the single on Toronto's Edge 102.1.

Speaking of videos, Harlots are about to shoot the third video for the title track from their 2003 release, Crawl Spaces. Since signing on for some distribution help with Universal, the group has been getting good airplay across the country and are looking forward to doing some touring, starting with a Western Canadian tour at the end of the month. The band will play the Sidetrack in Edmonton February 20, with more shows to be announced soon.

Giant Sons were one helluva great instrumental rock band for the relatively short time they were around. Not that the band has totally dissolved, some members have joined up with ex-members of Standstill to form Rough Music. The new band are expected to begin playing shows as early as next month. Meanwhile, the final two Giant Sons recordings are available on the band's website at angelfire.com/indie/giantsons.

The Paperbacks are getting back into the recording swing of things, laying down some tracks for an EP that will be released by Minneapolis label Schedule Two Records. The label is also looking to put out some material by Greg MacPherson in the coming months. The Paperbacks are currently planning a tour for April that will take them into Western Canada, the American Northwest and California. And finally, are you looking for a hot way to treat your sweetheart on that deliciously commercial holiday known as Valentine's Day? Me neither.

But if you were, you might consider taking them to the Die Maschine (a.k.a The Collective) to see the first show The Waking Eyes have played in town since wrapping up recording their new album in Toronto. Novillero, Boat and Beef Donut will also be performing and, in complete conflict of interest style, I gotta mention that proceeds will go toward CKUW's Fundrive. Good cause, good bands, good reason to go out.

—Kari D.

We want you, we want you, we want you as a new recruit: chart_wpg@hotmail.com