Stay Out of the Mall XII Archives

Steph Yates is a talented singer, guitarist, and songwriter who plays in a Guelph-based band called Esther Grey. The scrappy, artful rock band has been together a few years now and earlier this fall they released a new single called Buttermilk. On Thursday Dec. 5, Esther Grey join Dusted and Marine Dreams at Stay Out of the Mall XII, a benefit for the Canadian Cancer Society towards leukemia research taking place at the Ebar (41 Quebec St.) in Guelph. Steph joined me during a live broadcast on CFRU 93.3 FM and she and I discussed high school basketball, being tall, getting into music, being shy, opening for Sebadoh, sleeping all day, drinking coffee, getting over performance anxiety, playing rock music, living in Waterloo and Guelph, the importance of music communities, the merits of band tension, the songs “Buttermilk” and “Night Calls,” and more.

Related links: esthergrey.bandcamp.com vishkhanna.com

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Sarah Harmer, Bry Webb, Dusted, more play Stay Out of the Mall XII
Annual Guelph concert benefits Canadian Cancer Society

The twelfth annual Stay Out of the Mall festival benefitting the Canadian Cancer Society takes place on Thursday Dec. 5 and Friday Dec. 6, 2013 at the Ebar (41 Quebec St.) in Guelph, ON. This year’s line-up features the amazing, award-winning Sarah Harmer in an intimate venue for a rare area appearance. Harmer’s most recent release is 2010’s lovely, spirited Oh Little Fire.

Holy Fuck’s Brian Borcherdt returns to Guelph with his other band Dusted, which will likely feature Loel Campbell of Wintersleep on drums. Dusted, who released the acclaimed LP Total Dust earlier this year will headline Thursday evening, while Harmer headlines Friday.

Also on Thursday, Toronto’s Marine Dreams, featuring Ian Daniel Kehoe of Attack in Black, play in support of their new album Corner of the Eye. Popular Guelph band Esther Grey, featuring the compelling voice and vision of Steph Yates opens the night, likely playing songs from their latest single, Buttermilk.

On Friday, Bry Webb, formerly of Constantines, walks a few blocks from his home to play just ahead of his colleague and one-time collaborator Harmer. Webb is close to completing the follow-up to his stunning solo debut, 2011’s Provider. Grey Kingdom is Spencer Burton (also once a member of the now-defunct Attack in Black), a wily, strange, hilarious bearded figure whose songs stir hearts and banter stirs bladders. In the underground music scene, there is no one more unexpectedly hilarious than Grey Kingdom. As he reads this, he is cursing my name. This will result in even more ludicrous banter. Make him angry. He needs it.

Tickets to each evening of Stay Out of the Mall XII are available online now via ticketbreak.com and in-person at the Bookshelf (41 Quebec St.) in Guelph. There is a Facebook event page for Thursday and also one for Friday. Updates and info will be posted there and also here.

Some of this info is available below.