Live Tonight: Busta Rhymes, Molten Lava, The Famines

Friday, August 14

Busta Rhymes
The Drink

Busta Rhymes seems like a nice guy. Of course, I'm basing this completely on three things: 1) his music has some kind of sense of humour to it; 2) he smiles a lot, and it's a big smile, and; 3) his interview with Nardwuar, where he does really well all things considered. That's part of why I felt a little bad that his Regina show, originally booked for the Credit Union EventPlex at Evraz Place, had to move to the Drink because of a lack of ticket sales. What's the deal? Maybe the controversy behind "Arab Money" (embedding disabled) has reached Regina ears. Anyone can tell you that sampling the Holy Quran for the first single off your album isn't a good idea. Making it a typical, hip-hop club banger is an even worse idea. More likely, though, that the problem is he's Busta Rhymes in a city that's largely indifferent to big hip-hop shows.

Playing with Belly and Peter Jackson.



Molten Lava
The Exchange

If you love shredding and haven't experienced Molten Lava yet, you're a little late. Not only have they been kicking around for years now, but the Regina band now lives in two different cities and their debut album, Sevens and Nines, is sold out on LP. Luckily, they're doing a quick summer jaunt with Windsor-based Orphan Choir and are playing the Exchange, along with new Regina band Foxwarren and Violent Kin (Maygen and S.J. Kardash of Saskatoon's Junior Pantherz).



The Famines
The Club

For awesome art-rock, the Famines are your go-to group. For awesome album art, the Edmonton band's Raymond Biesinger has got you covered, too. He's done the art for their cassettes, eight tracks, and seven inches, and it's just as wonderful as the band itself. Rumour has it he even did a prairie dog cover once. Opening for them is The Czar, The Kaiser, The King. The band is two-thirds members formerly of Robot Versus Monster and one-third Dave Schneider of the Hot Blood Bombers, one of Regina's perennially awesome dudes, on bass.

Playing with John Davy and the Jump Off.



Also playing tonight: Donny Parenteau at the Pump and Acres of Lions and Zachary Lucky at O'Hanlon's.