DO IT FOR THE KIDS 3

The third installment of Black Dot's annual charity gig goes down on this weekend and features such local indie-dwellers as 7 And 7 Is, Sleeping Girl, Down for the Count, All Purpose Voltage Heroes, and The Social Wire. This year the event is taking a more international approach, with all funds raised going towards The ihuman Society and the Village Aid & Development Society.

[Update: In the print edition of SEE it was erroneously reported that this was a Black Dog event rather than that of Black Dot productions, the actual organizers. We regret the error and apologize for any inconvenience. The correct show information is as follows: Saturday December 20th at Queen Alex Hall (10425-University Avenue)

Doors at 7, All Ages, $8 at the door.

THE WOLFNOTE

"I guess we play crazy, sassy, party rock," laughs The Wolfnote guitarist, Bryan Kulba. "Our whole goal is to get people to dance and have a really good time, so we're not the type of band to stand around. In fact, I think we're one of Edmonton's craziest bands to watch." From their quirky combination of, yes, danceable indie rock and convulsive hardcore, to their youthful, carefree attitudes, there is certainly one thing that The Wolfnote know how to do: have fun.

Citing everyone from the B-52's to Drive Like Jehu as their influences, Kulba says the band is out to "pick out all the hooks and leave everything else behind," as they tread fearlessly forward in their quest to spread merriment. "When we're writing something we look at it to see if it is going to be body-movin' and fun to play; those are basically our only primary rules," Kulba explains.

Of course, with guitarists that pogo-jump on stage, and a lead singer whose searing vocals could inspire a riot in the most subdued crowd, there are bound to be at least a few casualties along the way. "We've actually hurt each other, and people watching us, on occasion-and sometimes things get a little out of hand," Kulba admits. "I think all of us have bruises, and there was one show where three of the band members' glasses got damaged beyond repair in one way or another."

Demolition of eyewear aside, Kulba enthuses that he loves to play live and that entertaining has always been a priority for the young quintet in their brief two-year career. "We're more into playing hall shows than we are playing bar shows, because when kids come out to a hall show they are looking for a good time and good music, whereas at a club they are probably just there to drink and do their own thing," he notes. "We go on tour and play shows, get money to pay our expenses, and sleep on people's floors, so it's a cheap way to see all the sights and have a great time."

The Wolfnote have already played their way across Canada and much of the eastern United States, spreading their fun-loving tunes to audiences across the musical spectrum. Kulba says the best part about being a part of the band has simply been the experiences they've shared. "Playing in the States has been amazing because we've been able to get quite a large crowd and a great response. But I think the funnest thing is just meeting people and making friends with other bands," he explains. "We've made friendships that will last for years, and I think that's an awesome thing to have. We just want to play shows, enjoy yourselves, and have people enjoy themselves too."

So, toss out your pretentious pants and get ready to dance as The Wolfnote hits the stage for another Edmonton hall show on:

Fri, Dec 19- with Misery Signals, The Hollywood Ending, White Walls, Drive By Punch, and the Whiz Kids at King Edward Park Hall (7708-85 St.)

RESONANCE

Everyone knows that there are two types of people in the world: those who grew up wanting to be flamboyantly famous rock stars, and those who wanted to be lawyers or doctors. In the case of Edmonton's own riff-heavy, distortion-crazed, nu-metal outfit Resonance, whimsical dreams of stadium-sized grandeur aren't just a distant teenage phase that has come and gone-they are a long-term goal.

"I think we're all still looking to live the dream," asserts Resonance singer David Ackerman. "I call myself a local rock star just because I'm someone who's still expecting to get out of the small-town local scene and who still hasn't resigned [himself] to playing little club gigs forever."

Ackerman and his accompanying trio of long-haired, would-be idols began playing in 1999 after he placed an ad in a local newspaper searching for "other future rock stars" to jam with. "I'd been jamming around town with various musicians, but none of them seemed to want to get out of their basements," Ackerman explains of his rationale for placing the ad; "I figured people would either take the ad seriously, or they would think I was way out there. But it brought the missing pieces of this band together, so that's what really matters."

Now, four years later, the Black Sabbath-inspired boys have toured across the country, released a full-length album, and are in the midst of putting the finishing touches on their sophomore release. Sure, they might not be exactly a household name yet and, okay, they recently headlined at a club called Wash 'n' Slosh in Saskatoon, which is only accessible through an alley behind a parking lot, but Ackerman says the band is taking it all in stride. "We've all got a pretty good sense of humor, so we step outside ourselves and have a good laugh when we don't have much of a crowd," Ackerman notes. "It's a lot harder when there's no crowd at all, but if we've got ten or 15 people in a bar who are actually sitting there watching us, then we'll play the show as we would if there were a hundred people."

Today they may be a drunken man's jukebox for revelers at the Power Plant, or entertainment for a handful of inebriated veterans hanging out at The Fox and Hound's, but who knows what could be in store for the dedicated, hard rock songsters.

Resonance rocks Sat, Dec 20 at the Power Plant (U of A campus)