*Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston @me_onlylouder*

The Bloxs Arts Centre has skyrocketed to the forefront of Calgary’s venue scene as an accessible space for people of all ages to enjoy the best live music the city has to offer. Occupying a new space further up 11th Ave, it was our first time checking out a show at the Bloxs that promises a lot of potential, especially with Sled Island around the corner and it being a staple venue.

Presented by Crybaby Promotions, first up was frenetic post-punk group Sunderer who instantly made the audience loosen up and thrash about. With only one official release under their belt on latest single “Drink Culture”, the band are gaining momentum for their high-energy, dynamic live shows. Sunderer create a space to vent out their anger, while combining elements of sincerity and charm. Both cynical and positive, sensitive and aggressive, Sunderer’s openly political and English “talk-sing” flair positions them nicely as a staple to the genre that is reminiscent of Squid, Courting, or Shame.

Following Sunderer, was Edmonton’s sludge doom / post-rock group Truster. The group turned things down a notch, slowing down the chaos, leaving space for breath where the music ebbed and flowed. With layered musical textures, vocalist Stacy Burnett is a force whose sonic profile encapsulates melancholy as Burnett’s vocals are drowned amongst the wall of sound from the guitars and drums. It’s challenging to believe that the sounds are outputted from a three piece band. With songs that could fall nicely amongst the discography of bands like King Woman or Godspeed! You Black Emperor, known for achieving their soundscape with the contributions of five members or more. Their tracks hit with intensity, while the audience soakinv it all in while Stacy and drummer Porter Bommes yelled into their instruments.

Closing out the all-age show were PERRA, Calgary’s newest grrrl gang punk rockers. They played their first show at the Au Arts Gallery Crawl back in March and they’ve been all the rage ever since. As a group that resonates with the youth crowd who are looking for a place to belong, in community spaces that best represent the music scene, PERRA are bringing audience members together with their fast-paced, riot girl spirit. Not only does their love of the genre shine on stage, but the band were front-stage for every band on the bill, dancing along to every set. The Bloxs is bound to be a community hub for likeminded individuals to share their passion for music, and it’s bands like Sunderer, Truster, and PERRA who are setting the stage for these shows to be a successful hit.

Sunderer, Truster, and PERRA Live at The Bloxs in Calgary, AB

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