Hag Face shows more to Calgary, Alberta than its country image

Hag Face at Tubby Dog (photo: Megan Cole)

By Megan Cole

Calgary, Alberta has several stereotypes. Typically they have to do with cowboys, country music, beef and conservative politics. As the hub of a very rich province where energy corporations from around the world have offices, the city hasn’t always been very open to diverse food opportunities, craft beer and alternative cultures, but as Bob Dylan said, “These times are a-changin’”

The biggest proof of Calgary’s culture shift is Sled Island Festival, which celebrated it’s eighth year last week. While in town for the festival, we went to a local band to get the lay of the land and hometown perspective of a city that often gets a bad reputation.

We first met Hag Face in a Cowtown live music institution, Tubby Dog. This hot dog joint has been a big part of Hag Face’s journey so far, as it has welcomed a diverse range of both local and touring bands, and also welcomed an all-ages audience. As an all-female band, Hag Face often get pigeonholed into the usual musical stereotypes, but when Kelsie Hjorleifson gets going on the drums and Lindsay Coulton starts belting out their lyrics, any ideas of a soft-sounding estrogen fest disappear. Despite being in a red- and yellow-coloured hot dog restaurant, fans turned up to see one of Calgary’s hardest working bands, and they even managed to do a bit of moshing.

The ladies of Hag Face (Coulton, Hjorleifson and guitarists Nyssa Brown and Martine Ménard) played Calgary’s Tubby Dog twice during the five-day music festival, and after Rice and Bread attended an afternoon of shows at Sloth Records, just down the street from Tubby Dog, they took us to some of their favourite stops for coffee, beer and a trip up the Calgary tower.

Smoking cigarettes and craving coffee, Coulton, Hjorleifson and Menard, led us to Café Beano near Calgary’s popular 17^th Avenue, while Brown was at work. It was clearly a popular destination for coffee lovers of all kinds; from female rockers to business people, it’s a great spot to refuel.

Lindsay Coulton and Kelsey Hjorleifson at Caffe Beano (photo: Megan Cole)

While waiting in line for Americanos, espressos and iced lattes, Coulton, who’s gluten-free, told me Big Star Bakery, just around the corner from Café Beano, is perfect for those with gluten intolerances, and conveniently fellow rocker Ryan Sadler, from Calgary band Teledrome, works there and helps keep her fed.

While sitting outside during one of the few dry moments of the day, Coulton, Hjorleifson and Ménard share with us their experience from Sled Island the year before, which was aptly coined “Flood Island.” Even though Coulton and Ménard now live in a different part of the city, during 2013 when Sled Island had been cancelled due to severe floods Coulton decided to host house concerts in her backyard and basement.

Martine Menard at Caffe Beano (photo: Megan Cole)

As both VIPs and musicians for the festival, Hag Face decided it was time to travel by foot to the Calgary Tower to eat, drink and stare down at the city. As we wove our way through the streets, from one part of town to another, Hjorleifson and I talked about the changing culture of the city, and how despite its wealthy conservative background, bands (like Hag Face) and artists seem to be coming out of the woodwork to change the way the city is portrayed.

Thanks to a progressive municipal government, Hjorleifson says public art, like Wonderland, the popular Bow Tower sculpture, is becoming a big part of the landscape. She says a new policy has made it so new developments need to incorporate public art into their plans. Unfortunately, local and provincial artists are oven overlooked, but there are still exciting things happening, she says.

Hag Face at the Calgary Tower (photo: Megan Cole)

At the top of the Calgary Tower, Hag Face takes advantage of the glass floor, sitting and even laying down on the glass. People below are likely flashed, but we’re so far up it’s unlikely anyone actually knows what they are looking at.

After chowing down on some brownies and scones by Sidewalk Citizen, a Calgary baker where Hjorleifson actually works, and enjoying some affordable Big Rock Brewing beers, we hit the road again, making our way to Local 510 for music, food and more beer. After some more local craft beer and an order of chicken tacos, Hag Face slowly disperse, heading home to get ready for another night of music.