They play music that is said to have great strength and beauty, with a complex yet very accessible mixture. And now Vernon can hear the sounds of Vancouver band Pugs and Crows when they play Gallery Vertigo Nov. 7.
Joining the Juno award winning instrumental band on their Tight Times Tour will be West Coast legendary guitarist Tony Wilson.
Pugs and Crows intertwines elements of indie rock, modern jazz, and classical music to exhibit a playful, absurdist bent while evoking lush cinematic soundscapes.
The ensemble of accomplished musicians rests on the flexibility and talent of each of its members to complete its energetic and original sound.
Since the independent release of their debut album, Slum Towers, in 2009, Pugs and Crows have performed at many major music festivals and theatres across Canada, including The National Arts Centre in Ottawa, The Montreal Jazz Festival, and The Vogue Theatre in Vancouver (opening for renowned guitarist, Bill Frisell).
In 2010, Pugs and Crows received the Galaxie Rising Star Award for best new group going on to participate in the Banff Centre’s International Jazz and Creative Music Workshop in 2011. Out of this came Fantastic Pictures, the ensemble’s second release, which won a Juno for Instrumental Album of the Year in 2013.
Pugs and Crows are currently putting the finishing touches on their third album, due to be released in the spring of 2015. This recording features the ensemble’s longtime friend and collaborator Tony Wilson, as well as vocalist Debra-Jean Creelman (of Mother Mother, Frazey Ford fame). The band is making plans to tour this new music across Canada and abroad in the upcoming year.
Pugs and Crows plays Gallery Vertigo, #1, 3001, 31st St. (upstairs) Friday, Nov. 7. Admission is $10-15 sliding scale. Doors open at 8 p.m. wand show starts at 8:30 p.m.
