Wine Lips Rolled Into Calgary with Bitter//Washed and Crooked Spies
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Wine Lips @ Dickens in Calgary, AB.
Wine Lips prove that a good knuckle sandwich can be the best kind of musical meal. Halfway through their Hungry for a Knuckle Sandwich tour, they played the legendary Dickens Pub, supported by Rossland, B.C.’s Bitter//Washed and local act Crooked Spies, who set the tone early with a gritty, guitar driven set that perfectly complemented the headliner’s sonic universe.
Crooked Spies always surprise me in a good way. They have this unwavering commitment to keep things loud, raw, and beautifully imperfect. Being a band in Calgary for as long as they have isn’t just a matter of hanging on, it's about community investment. Calgary’s music scene is passionate but often unforgiving. Venues close and reopen, musical trends shift, and artists regularly leave for Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal in search of bigger stages. Crooked Spies never dipped out. They rode every wave. They've played everything from packed weekend bills to tough midweek slots where only the diehards show up. They aren’t just participants in the scene anymore, they’re part of its infrastructure. The kind of band new artists look at and think, “If they can do it here, maybe I can too.” Dylan’s vocals carry a mix of grit and sincerity, shifting from a sharp, biting delivery in the verses to a more open and vulnerable tone in the choruses. The band’s set traced the arc of their decade-long catalogue, touching on material from Treason, the more refined songwriting of High Plains, and, of course, the introspective work featured on their latest full-length, A Lesson in Heuristics. Highlights included “Chasing Light,” “Pay It Mind,” and “Vanity.” Few bands balance longevity and authenticity this well, and their influence on Calgary’s scene is clear. If this show proved anything, it’s that the Spies aren’t just holding steady, they’re still evolving.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Crooked Spies @ Dickens in Calgary, AB.
There’s something electric about a band that can make a small mountain town feel like the center of the musical universe. Rossland's Bitter//Washed does this every night, in every city. Their performance lands somewhere between manic garage-punk and hazy psych-rock, and they aren’t just playing songs, they’re defining a scene. At times you hear echoes of Hot Snakes or Thee Oh Sees, but the band’s identity is fully their own. They have quickly become Calgary favorites, making three appearances in the city over the past year. Most notably, their high energy set at June’s Sled Island Festival.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Bitter/Washed @ Dickens in Calgary, AB.
The set drew heavily from their 2023 debut album, Bitter Illusions, as well as earlier singles like “SMD / Old Glorya” and “Lines in the Concrete.” Each song felt like a miniature rollercoaster, from the punchy opener ”Bitter Illusions" to the grinding psych-punk of “Circling the Drain.” I was particularly excited to hear “Human Garbage,” my favorite track from the album. It moves like a persistent train gaining momentum and showcases the dynamic back-and-forth vocals of Trevor Brown and Jackie Allard.
Their setlist, their energy, even their interactions with the crowd, reflected the kind of investment that comes from playing, and creating in a small town where every venue and festival appearance counts. They’re the kind of band that reminds you local music isn’t just about talent, it’s about heart, persistence, and the love of rock and roll.
Wine Lips returned to the city after a long stretch since their last headlining spot at Big Winter Classic 2023. Any doubts about whether their studio ferocity could translate to the stage were erased within seconds. Subtlety has never been their game; the psych-garage quartet built their name on blown-out riffs and whiplash tempos, and Friday’s performance proved once again why their reputation as a must-see live act remains untouchable. Focusing on Super Mega Ultra, the band placed their latest work front and center, with the album’s tracks translating live perfectly and drawing both longtime listeners and newcomers into their whirlwind. With equal parts sneer and howl, frontman Cam Hilborn’s voice cut through the fuzzed-out guitars with an urgent rasp. As lead singer and primary songwriter, Hilborn’s personality is at the core of Wine Lips, driving much of what makes the band distinctive. Andrew Donofrio’s guitar layers and Wes Martin’s driving bass round out the lineup, creating a wall of sound that is both untamed and meticulously crafted. Their set spanned the spectrum of their discography, from the self-titled 2017 debut to present, showcasing their evolution from scrappy garage rockers to masters of psych‑punk fusion.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Wine Lips @ Dickens in Calgary, AB.
If one thing stood out, it was how tight the band has become. Years of touring have honed them into a group that knows exactly how to turn a room upside down without losing control. A large part of that consistency comes from Aurora Evans, whose drumming is as powerful as it is expressive, and who is also one of my favorite drummers to photograph. Every beat she played drove the band forward with purpose, yet never felt mechanical. Watching her, it’s clear she doesn’t just keep time, she shapes the momentum of every song. Whether powering the assault of “Six Pack” or holding down the groove on slower psych-laced passages, Evans’ kit work anchored the band’s sound.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Wine Lips @ Dickens in Calgary, AB.
Highlights included “Derailer", the explosive opener from Super Mega Ultra, with its urgent riffing and lyrical meditation, and “Fried IV”, which had the crowd thrashing in unison. The band also delved into classics from Stressor (2019) and Mushroom Death Sex Bummer Party (2021), the latter recorded during lockdown and yielding a string of fan favorites, including the singles “Eyes” and “Get Your Money.” Each song seamlessly blended punk ferocity with psychedelic textures, demonstrating why Wine Lips has often been compared to acts like Ty Segall and Black Lips.
In a music landscape often dominated by polish and predictability, Wine Lips’ Hungry For a Knuckle Sandwich Fall Tour is a reminder of the thrill of unrestrained live rock. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s fun, and it’s exactly what Calgary fans have been waiting for. If Wine Lips are coming within a 100 kilometers of you, cancel your plans and get to their show.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Wine Lips @ Dickens in Calgary, AB.