Novillero
A Little Tradition
By Sarah Ferguson

Novillero's third full-length is their second released by Vancouver's Mint Records. There is something about A Little Tradition that surpasses the concise definition of tight power pop rock. The solid creativity in the construction of this music is both carefully produced and emotionally rich (hear the bridge in "Shadowboxing"). Lyrically, A Little Tradition looks at different dimensions of the unsatisfactory state of modern society. From the confinement one feels relying on a repetitive and uninspiring job ("Life In Parentheses") to the limitations of textual communication, "The Printed Word (Sucks For Inflection)," the album covers a wide area. "A Little Tradition" talks about how the world has changed, and being wholly unsatisfied by the changes. From Winnipeg, Novillero have been compared to artists from the Killers to the Who. A Little Tradition makes clear why. If not the same in musical sound they match those bands with the creativity and integrity found in their music. (Mint)

We finished the tour with two sold out shows in Hamburg at the Grosse Freiheit 36. Downstairs in the venue is the infamous Kaiserkeller where the Beatles played many times in 1960. During soundcheck we all took turns playing some of our favorite Beatles tunes (Dave belting out Golden Slumbers was affengail). Both nights after the show Tomte took us to one of their favorite pubs in St. Paulie- Mutter's. Great place, great music (they were playing Stereolab when we walked in). The second night we ran into Arlen from Wolf Parade and shared stories about touring in Germany.

We were at Mutter's very late Saturday night/Sunday morning but I don't think any of us missed our flights. Although I haven't heard from Jack for a while...