The mention of Athens, Georgia in a musical context tends to bring to mind a certain sound or aesthetic – be it the jangly college rock of R.E.M. in the ’80s, the whimsical psychedelia of the Elephant 6 movement in the ’90s and since the late ’90s through today, the blistering Southern rock of the Drive-By Truckers (though some, myself included, tend to think of them more as an Alabama band).

And while you can find traces of the aforementioned bands in their DNA, it was in the spirit of the Truckers that Athenian trio The Whigs brought into town this past Tuesday for a free Nu Music Nite showcase at the Horseshoe to coincide with the Canadian release of their second album Mission Control. Their songwriting isn’t as ambitious in scope or narrative depth but they more than compensated with a ferocious live show built on Julian Dorio’s thunderous drumming. Seriously, his kick drum could have punched a hole through a bank vault and the rest of the band was just as tight. The Whigs aren’t up to anything that hasn’t been done many times before and sometimes they’re a bit too obvious with their cribbing but what they do, they do well and there’s always a place in this world for good, loud rock’n’roll.

The good-sized crowd that had gathered for The Whigs all but cleared out by the time their tourmates – Birmingham, Alabama’s Wild Sweet Orange – came on and that was their loss. The people who left, not the band’s. Summing up their sound succinctly isn’t easy – their roots run country but with space-rock aspirations. The resulting pushme-pullyu of delicate folkiness and psyched rock-outs definitely had my attention though there weren’t any specific songs that grabbed me – it was more the overall strategy at work that I found engaging. They were touring their debut EP Whale but should have a full-length out sometime this Spring. Should be worth checking out.

Chart, The Tripwire, The Post-Tribune, The New York Daily News and Creative Loafing all have features and interviews with The Whigs while LiveDaily.com and Gibson.com have features on Wild Sweet Orange. Live In Toronto has some recordings of The Whigs’ set on Tuesday already available to download and they’ll be back in town on March 19 at the Opera House opening for the Drive-By Truckers. Of course.

Photos: Wild Sweet Orange, The Whigs @ The Horseshoe – February 5, 2008
MP3: The Whigs – “Right Hand On My Heart”
MP3: Wild Sweet Orange – “Wrestle With God”
Video: Wild Sweet Orange – “Wrestle With God”
Myspace: The Whigs

And speaking of R.E.M., Pitchfork is streaming the first single from their next album Accelerate, out April 1. Hey, electric guitars. Hey, Mike Mills backing vocals. Welcome.

Stream: R.E.M. – “Supernatural Superserious”

Is there anything more chocolate-and-peanut butter than shoegaze fans with nothing to do on Valentine’s Day? I think not. Which is why the timing of a tribute night to My Bloody Valentine entitled Loveless for February 14 at the Drake Underground is just perfect. Participating bands so far include Germans, Sleeping Kings Of Iona and Gravity Wave but more will be announced. I expect most of the performances will be of the incredibly loud, incredibly droning variety and since the selections won’t be restricted to Loveless, there’s almost certainly going to be some takes on the louder, bashier numbers from Isn’t Anything and admittedly, “Feed Me With Your Kiss” has got to be loads of fun to play, but it’d be nice to see someone take the Japancakes approach and focus on the wonderful melodicism in My Bloody Valentine, not just the noise.

MP3: Japancakes – “Loomer”

British Sea Power appear to have a puppet fetish. First, there’s the new video for “No Lucifer” which features both real puppets and band members dressed as puppets – quite unsettling – and then there’s this YouTube clip which showed their stage setup from their recent appearance on Jools Holland… more puppets. In lieu of foliage. Also unsettling. Do You Like Rock Music? is out on these shores next week and more North American tour dates covering the east coast should be along shortly.

Video: British Sea Power – “No Lucifer”

The Courier Mail talks to PJ Harvey.

NOW‘s cover feature this week is Cat Power, playing the Kool Haus this Saturday night. Congratulations to Elva, who won the contest for passes to the show.

This Is Fake DIY talks to Land Of Talk’s Liz Powell as the band prepares for an upcoming European tour.

Dean Wareham talks to eye about both Dean & Britta, at the Mod Club on Saturday, and his memoirs Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance, out March 13. And he answers five questions from NOW.

You may have noticed I’m on a bit of a Winter-hating trip this week, and with another 20 cm of snow forecast for today to go along with the 30 or so we got on Friday, that’s probably not going to end anytime soon. And while I’m not so naive as to suggest that music is a strong enough anodyne to counter the February blahs, putting on a record of concentrated Summer-y power pop goodness like Two Hours Traffic’s Little Jabs does help a bit.

I responded favourably to it when I first reviewed it last July but am a little surprised how a record that at first glance seemed to be just a solid bit of guitar pop has stayed in moderate to heavy rotation over the subsequent six months. Why? Well, it may just be solid guitar pop, but it’s also nearly perfect guitar pop. With buoyant melodies, breezy lyrics about girls and cars and an obvious appreciation for the finer points of six-string jangle, it may just get me through to the Spring.

And just in case an extra boost is needed, next week they’re setting out from their hometown of Charlottetown, PEI on a nationwide tour sponsored by CBC Radio 3 that hits the Horseshoe on February 23. Tickets for that are $8. They’re also offering up some live tracks recorded there this past June at NxNE (and where I saw them in July) and which you can stream in its entirety here. They’ve also just finished up a video for the ultra-infectious “Nighthawks”. The Chronicle Herald talks to the band about the successes of 2007 and working with producer Joel Plaskett on Little Jabs.

MP3: Two Hours Traffic – “Backseat Sweetheart” (live at the Horseshoe – June 9, 2007, via CBCR3)
MP3: Two Hours Traffic – “Better Safe Than Sorry” (live at the Horseshoe – June 9, 2007, via CBCR3)
MP3: Two Hours Traffic – “Heat Seeker” (live at the Horseshoe – June 9, 2007, via CBCR3)
MP3: Two Hours Traffic – “Stuck For The Summer”
Video: Two Hours Traffic – “Nighthawks”
Video: Two Hours Traffic – “Stuck For The Summer”
Video: Two Hours Traffic – “Jezebel”
Stream: Two Hours Traffic / Little Jabs
MySpace: Two Hours Traffic

Also on the bill that night are The Wooden Sky and My Shaky Jane, both of whom I’ve seen recently and make for a very solid bill. The Wooden Sky have also just completed a new video for the title track from their album When Lost At Sea.

Video: The Wooden Sky – “When Lost At Sea”

Also making the trek from the Maritimes to Toronto in the next month are Dog Day, with two Canadian Music Week shows scheduled for March – at the Horseshoe on the 6th and then the Rivoli on the 8th. They’ve let loose a couple more MP3s from their excellent Night Group record, just in case you weren’t convinced by what you’d heard so far.

MP3: Dog Day – “Oh Dead Life”
MP3: Dog Day – “Sleeping Waiting”
MP3: Dog Day – “Lydia”

The Chicago Tribune talks to Dean & Britta about life after Luna. They’re at the Mod Club on Saturday night.

Paste features Tapes’N’Tapes on April 14. Their new one Walk It Off is out a few days prior on April 8.

Spinner is streaming a bunch of new releases from artists who, incidentally, are all coming to town soon. Bob Mould’s District Line came out yesterday and he plays the Mod Club on March 10. Falling Off The Lavender Bridge from Lightspeed Champion came out last week and he’s at the Horseshoe on March 4. And finally, Sons & Daughters’ new Bernard Butler-produced album This Gift also came out last week and they’re at Lee’s Palace on March 26.

Stream: Bob Mould / District Line
Stream: Lightspeed Champion / Falling Off The Lavender Bridge
Stream: Sons & Daughters / This Gift

Saturday night wasn’t done with the Weakerthans, no sir. After a quick pit stop at home to change into some dry socks and shoes, it was back out the door to Sneaky Dee’s to catch The Airfields’ release show for their debut album Up All Night (officially out today), which I previewed last week. Most of it, anyway. I arrived too late to catch Terror Lake and based on the number of people who told me I missed out, I was under the impression that I’d missed out. Alas. Next time, Lake of Terror. Next time.

I was in time, however, to catch Love Kills who had been recommended to me a number of times in the past with the pitch, “they sound like the Jesus & Mary Chain with boy-girl vocals”, which is to say they sound like The Raveonettes. And as reductive as that sounds, it’s actually pretty accurate though I enjoyed Love Kills more than I did The Raveonettes when I saw them live. Love Kills weren’t nearly as abrasive as either of the above reference points and were more willing to let their pop side show, particularly as delivered by Heather Flood and Pat Rijd’s spot-on harmonies. And while Rijd, all stoic in his mirrored shades, offered a reasonably lifelike facsimile of either Reid brother or Sune Wagner, Flood was far too giddy onstage to compare to Sharin Foo’s icy Nordic cool. But that’s alright, I think I’d rather see someone having a good time.

I’ve seen the Airfields numerous times in the past and while they’ve always been enjoyable shows, there always seemed to be a caveat to go with the performance, whether needed or not. They had new members, they hadn’t played in ages, they hadn’t slept in days, whatever. But if there was ever a night that would suffer no excuses, it was this one. A release show they themselves had organized for a CD that was sold out long before they took the stage before a packed house of friends and fans – a band couldn’t ask for a better set of circumstances under which to perform and in response, The Airfields delivered the best show I’ve ever seen them play.

Their strengths on record – the terrific melodicism, delicate arrangements and their ability to wear their influences on their sleeve without them becoming the whole outfit – were on display alongside their strengths in performance which aren’t as immediately obvious from their recordings, namely a healthy amount of reckless energy and an appreciation for the finer points of making a good, loud racket. Given the opportunity to play a full-length set – and well-earned encore – for the first time since I’ve seen them, they were able to visit material from all three of their releases as well as throw in a Field Mice cover for good measure. As a fan, it was really gratifying to see a band that’s had more than its share of fits and starts finally deliver on their immense potential. Bravo.

Their next show is on March 6 at the Wrongbar as part of Canadian Music Week. It’s a showcase for the Unfamiliar Records, with whom the band will be releasing an EP of their noisier material in the near future.

Photos: The Airfields, Love Kills @ Sneaky Dee’s – February 2, 2008
MP3: The Airfields – “Never See You Smile”
MP3: The Airfields – “Yr So Wonderful”
MP3: The Airfields – “Lonely Halls”
Video: The Airfields – “Red Fox”
MySpace: The Airfields
MySpace: Love Kills

Pitchfork has an interview with The Raveonettes, whose Lust Lust Lust is out February 19 and play the Opera House on March 21.

NPR is streaming a World Cafe session with Richard Hawley and both Scotland On Sunday and The Times Online offer extensive profiles of Sheffield, England’s favourite son.

Daytrotter unloads a session with The Thermals.

Visa issues resolved, England’s New Model Army will finally be in town for a show at the Horseshoe on April 14.

Two-Way Monologues talks to Jane Vain & The Dark Matter, in town on Thursday at the Drake and again on Sunday at Sneaky Dee’s. Congratulations to Heath, who won passes to the Drake show as well as a copy of their new CD Love Is Where The Smoke Is.

JAM! checks in with multiple Grammy and Juno award nominee Feist. She plays the Sony Centre on May 13. Update: Add Shortlist Of Music winner for 2008 to her CV.

Cover Me has assembled a tribute album of sorts to Neil Young’s greatest album (in my mind), On The Beach.

E! has more positive news on Arrested Development: The Motion Picture. Time to settle that writer’s strike, fellas.

I don’t understand what there is to celebrate about Winter. It’s a cold, dreary season that seems to last far longer than the time allotted to it by the calendar and the only sensible way to spend it is indoors, with double-paned windows and central heat. So, of course, the city decides that it’s the perfect time to throw an outdoor festival and to make sure that it can’t simply be ignored (from indoors), they get The Weakerthans to play a free show. Outside. Of course.

Taking place at at Nathan Phillips Square, aka City Hall (of Toronto or Raccoon City, whichever), they did this last year as well. That show starred Sloan and was an excruciatingly cold night. This year’s forecast was considerably warmer but I made the mistake of interpreting that as warm, which it most certainly was not. Which is why I was wearing neither my boots nor my warm socks on Saturday night. Yeah. I is smart. Anyway, though I wasn’t as bowled over by Reunion Tour as many were (something about it seemed just a little too precious, too consciously maple leaf pin Canadian), I’m still a huge fan of the band and was sad to have missed both their shows back in November (on account of exhaustion) so I was pleased to get a chance to make that up, even at the risk of losing a toe or two to frostbite (okay, I exaggerate but I really couldn’t feel my feet).

Though Winnipegers theoretically have a greater tolerance for cold than your typical Torontonian – not for nothing is it nicknamed “Winter-peg” – John K Samson seemed a bit alarmed that the onstage heaters were cutting out almost as soon as the show began and attempts by the crew to get them working was a running theme through the night. Regardless, the Weakerthans soldiered on. Bassist Greg Smith and guitarist Stephen Carroll kept their circulation going with the rock moves – guitar necks aloft! – Samson was his typically reserved self, staying close to the mic and singing his songs of curlers, cats and Antarctic explorers. The set started off with selections from the more recent records but began wandering further back into their repertoire as the show went on and over the course of an hour and change, via their seamless blend of pop, rock, punk and folk, made yet another compelling argument for declaring them one of the best bands the country has to offer, a fact that the fairly massive crowd gathered in the shadows of City Hall would certainly testify to and probably with less whining about the weather than I’ve done.

Photos: The Weakerthans @ Nathan Phillips Square – February 2, 2008
MP3: The Weakerthans – “Sun In An Empty Room”
MP3: The Weakerthans – “Night Windows”
MP3: The Weakerthans – “Plea From A Cat Named Virtue”
MP3: The Weakerthans – “Aside”
MP3: The Weakerthans – “The Last Last One”
Video: The Weakerthans – “Civil Twilight”
Video: The Weakerthans – “The Reasons”
Video: The Weakerthans – “Psalm For The Elks Lodge”
Video: The Weakerthans – “Our Retired Explorer”
Video: The Weakerthans – “Aside”
Video: The Weakerthans – “Watermark”
Video: The Weakerthans – “Diagnosis”
MySpace: The Weakerthans

A few of the bigger Canadian Music Week showcases are starting to come together. On the Thursday, March 6, the Horseshoe is hosting what’s shaping up to be a sterling lineup of Canadian talent with Immaculate Machine, Katie Stelmanis, Dog Day and The Acorn along with two secret acts that Chart (who are presenting the showcase) swears will be worth the wait when they’re revealed in three weeks or so. Uh huh. Dog Day are also at the Rivoli on the Saturday night along with Jenn Grant and over at Lee’s Palace that night, it’s a UK thing with Yoav, Archive, The Pigeon Detectives and The Duke Spirit.

Wish I’d noticed this when I did the American Music Club post on Friday – Merge is now streaming all of The Golden Age in advance of its release on February 19. Yay.

Stream: American Music Club / The Golden Age

Weekend America challenges The Mountain Goats to write a song about Super Tuesday. The Mountain Goats accept. Their new album of songs they weren’t dared to write – Heretic Pride – is out February 19.

Band Of Horses keeps a tour diary for Filter.

DCist talks to Aimee Mann about her next album Smilers, due out in March.

The Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt talks Distortion with Chart

The San Francisco Chronicle has an interview with Bob Mould. NPR has a streamable concert. NPR wins. District Line is out tomorrow and he plays the Mod Club on March 10.

Magnet talks to Beach House. Their second album, Devotion, is out February 26 and they have a show at the El Mocambo on March 28.