FREE SHOW: Johnny de Courcy with LEGS ∆ at the Cobalt, Tomorrow Night

I may not get to see the Dead Weather any time soon, but at least this Friday, I'll get to see Vancouver's LEGS ∆ - and for free to boot. LEGS ∆ open for Johnny de Courcy as part of the Cobalts' no cover Come Fridays, every Friday:

Shad a Light on Me (+ Free Shows All Summer Long Courtesy of CBC)

Like probably most fans of 90s alternative music, I love the Breeders' "Cannonball." Shad samples it on "Out Here," and it's quite great:

I saw Shad play a free hour-long set at CBC Plaza yesterday. It was the kick-off show for CBC's "Musical Nooners," free hour-long shows prefixed with brief interviews running every weekday until August 23. That's one show down, thirty-four more to go. Visit CBC's event page for the schedule thus far with more to be announced soon.

Shad is most lauded for his intellectual lyrics which concern politics and social justice issues, but I just like the sound of his rapping. He also plays with a live band (and some guitar himself); that's nothing new for rappers, but it's always better than seeing them just rap alongside DJs. It was also good to see a sizable crowd of actual Shad fans show up to this free show amongst the legions of curious passersby. People in the crowd were up and dancing and rapping along. One guy even got the honour of rapping a full verse to "The Old Prince Still Lives at Home." 

And how about "The Old Prince"'s dead-on parody of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?:

Free Shows: Khatsahlano! Launch Party Live at Zulu Records

The Khatsahlano! Music + Art Festival is Vancouver's largest free outdoor music event, and this year, it's happening on July 21 from 12 PM to 8 PM. Eight blocks along 4th Avenue will boast five main stages and over thirty musical acts, as well as food, giveaways, street performers and of course, local shops.

To kick off or "launch" the Festival tonight (I guess there is a difference), Zulu Records, Vancouver's largest independent record store which is also located on 4th Avenue, will be featuring free in-store performances by three Khatsahlano! acts including Katheryn Calder (from the New Pornographers), the High Drops and Capitol 6. During the night, the rest of the bands to perform at Khatsahlano! will also be announced.