Royal City Rarities Coming

03/31/09 11:19am

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

A compilation of Guelph, Ont. band Royal City's B-sides and rarities will be released through Outside Music in Canada and Asthmatic Kitty in the U.S. on June 23.

The 12-track self-titled disc features unreleased material, including a cover of The Strokes' "Is This It?" with a guest spot from former Orange Juice singer Edwyn Collins.

Royal City formed in Guelph in 2000 and included singer/songwriter Aaron Riches, Jim Guthrie, Simon Osborne and now FemBots drummer Nathan Lawr. Their At Rush Hour The Cars debut came out the same year through Guelph's esteemed Three Gut Records and was followed by the acclaimed Alone At The Microphone a year later. Lawr left the band in 2002 and was replaced by former Super Friendz drummer Lonnie James.

The band's lineup was a loose one, and also briefly included Feist, Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett and former Blue Rodeo keyboardist Bobby Wiseman. Royal City disbanded in 2004 following the release of Little Heart's Ease.

Here's what's on Royal City:

"Here Comes Success"
"Can't You Hear Me Calling"
"Postcards"
"A Belly Was Made For Wine"
"Dog Song"
"O You With Your Shirt"
"Bad Luck"
"The Nations Will Sing"
"I Called But You Were Sleeping"
"They Came Down"
"Is This It?"
"In The Autumn"