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Antifolk/rocktroubadour, writing life that haunts neon-lit doorways and threadbare rooms. A musical disciple of Howlin’ Wolf and Crazy Horse, honing a blend of post-punk folk in bars from Saskatoon to Shanghai, Montreal to Moscow, and Halifax to Helsinki. Fiercely independent and one of the hardest-working Canadian musicians around with over 20 years of Replacements-inspired scrappy club shows notched into his Telecaster.
Alun Piggins has entrenched himself in the business as a fearless self-starter, writing, producing, and engineering releases on his own label, Moldy Floor Records. His international focus has taken him across Canada and the US, China, Russia, Finland, and the UK. And his impassioned songwriting and guitar-shredding performances have won him audiences across all genres. He has shared the stage with artists ranging from Fugazi to Peter Case. Cleaning Women (Finnish avant-garde techno) to Be Good Tanyas. Cat Power to Fred Eaglesmith.
In keeping with this heel-worn pace, "At War with the Elephants," his third solo studio release, is 1 part international border crossing and 1 part homeward journey. Travelling comes as second nature and butts up to the seedier side of B bars and social disparity. Walking through the slums of Shanghai. Singing Red Army Blues at a house concert in a run-down Russian apartment. Passing a beer-soaked guitar back and forth with Cui Jian (China’s godfather of rock) at 5 a.m. after a gig in Beijing. Channel-surfing live TV war from a basement bar. Snapshots of the underbelly of home and abroad that inform the songs with an incisive fly-on-the-wall perspective.
"At War with the Elephants" is the latest release in a solo discography that includes 3 albums and 2 EPs, in addition to 3 albums with ’90s thrash/folk band The Morganfields. Alun has also engineered and produced albums for other artists such as The Rheostatics, Godspeed You Black Emperor, and Stephen Stanley (TLOTL), among others.
To purchase Alun’s discs, Click Here. To purchase dowloadable albums, Click Here
It was great seeing you and Jay the other night and meeting the Hobbit.She really adds a lot of depth with the violin and her vocals are a big help.It probably would have sounded even better if I had actually come in to the club instead of just hanging around outside. Sincerely Larry
So since I'm going to be living within druving distance I'm gonna come see you play a lot more come Nov. I'll find a baby sitter for my boy somwhere lol! Now your gonna have to play at least every weekend then it will give me an excuse to come up and hear you play and see your adorable smile =) Stay Rockin Alun!!
just wanted to let you know about my show tonight at The Local, 396 Roncesvalles - 10 pm, no cover. It's just me & a string section & it's sounding pretty sweet if I do say so myself! This is week 2 of my April residency...next week I'll have a pedal steel player with me. Details are posted at http://hopefulmonstermusic.blogspot.com
Stumbled upon your set at the Dakota Tavern the other night for the first time, and enjoyed it very much. To use a common term: you rocked the joint! Will definitely have to check out another gig soon.
We are looking forward to seeing you and Jay again. I was trying to convince a few buddies to come out to your next show in Sudbury when they asked me about your style of music you play. Stumped for an answer because I came up with "folk on crack".
We have already scheduled and penciled in a hangover on this date after a Piggins Sudbury Saturday Night--lord knows these things have to be planned or else someone always gets hurt.
