The Besnard Lakes, Land of Talk May 27, 2010

The Besnard Lakes:

An indie rock band from Montreal led by a married couple, Jace Lasek (director, producer, singer and guitarist), and Olga Goreas (singer and bassist). Lasek started the band in 2001 as a sideline while he also owned and produced Breakglass Studios. He had produced records by groups such as The Dears, Sunset Rubdown, Stars and Wolf Parade. The duo wanted to break into the music industry and recruited a few band members and started playing the local club scene. They released their first album in 2003.

The Besnard Lakes released their second album in 2007. The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse received critical acclaim in North America and Europe. In 2008, after touring Canada, United States and Europe, The Besnard Lakes were nominated for the Galaxy Rising Stars Award of the CBC.

Land of Talk:

Land of Talk feature Elizabeth Powell (vocals/guitar), a former punk who got her start playing her own anti-rock anthems on the local scene of Guelph, Ontario, during her mid-teens. Upon her college years, with stints playing with the Aaron Riches Nuclear Family Band and the Valentines behind her, Powell set her sights on a solo career in the late '90s. Gigs in and around Ontario and Quebec eventually led to the formation of Land of Talk in 2005 with Bucky Wheaton (drums) and Chris McCarron (bass). Influences such as PJ Harvey, Dinosaur Jr., and Sonic Youth can be heard throughout the band's debut album, 2006's Applause Cheer Boo Hiss. The band landed on Saddle Creek for its second-full length, 2008's Some Are Lakes, which showed off a more eclectic, melodic approach and production by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon.

Official Website: http://blackcatdc.com/schedule.html