CMW Preview: Writers’ Strike

Chiara recommends Writers’ Strike:
Saturday March 24 – 2am @ The Rivoli
Music Nova Scotia Showcase w/ Molly Thomason (9pm), Wintersleep (10pm), Soho Ghetto (11pm), The Stanfields (12am), Carleton Stone (1am) Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers (3am)

There is a fine art to constructing your CMW schedule, and while I’ve been constantly tweaking mine over the past week, the moment it was announced that Writers’ Strike would be playing the Rivoli, my Saturday 2am dancecard was spoken for. My most anticipated set of the festival? Quite possibly.
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A 5-piece from Halifax, the band has been at it for awhile, although you may have known them by their former moniker, The First Aid Kit (no, not the Swedish duo). Sun-drenched, synth-laden and easy on the ears, Writers’ Strike wins you over from the very first swirly hook. Their EP Stay Down is up for download on their Bandcamp on a PWYC basis and title track “Stay Down” was my theme song for quite some time last fall. If there is a lyric out there that better captures the essence of our generation than “over-educated, underwhelmed and underpaid, we stay out too late, “ well, I certainly haven’t heard it. Listen here:

If you prefer your music to be of the physical variety, they also released a 7” split with pal Rich Aucoin, which you can order from their site or pick up at their showcase. With only rave reviews of their live show, I am eagerly anticipating experiencing it for myself.

Until then, enjoy this fun video the band made for their spell-bindingly gorgeous cover of Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.” It’s a perfect encapsulation of summer in a 2:54 video. Keep your eyes peeled for some potentially familiar faces in there too!