In a move no one had on their 2024 music bingo card, scrappy 90s power trio Veal return to the stage in the new year for club shows across Ontario and Western Canada. The tour makes stops in both Vancouver and Toronto, cities the garage band called home at various points in their history. Veal is Luke Doucet’s first band, with original members drummer Chang and bass players including Howard Redekopp, Barry Mirochnick and Nik Kozub (Shout Out Out Out Out). Tickets on sale here.

In more Veal news, the rock and roll cacophony of the band’s debut album, Hot Loser, is now available to stream worldwide for the first time since its 1996 release. Pulled in the many misdirections of youth, underwritten by life’s inexperiences, Hot Loser’s themes of home, love, coming and going and the perpetual state of self-doubt are still as relevant and persistent today as they were 26 years ago.

With a reputation for blistering live shows and lyrics built on life’s weirder moments, the band made its mark on the 90s scene. Veal was also the launchpad for a multitude of musical directions and projects by its members. Luke Doucet went on to a solo career and then to form award-winning duo Whitehorse. Hot Loser contains the original version of “Mexico, Texaco,” later recorded for Whitehorse’s The Fate of this World Depends on This Kiss.

Listen to Hot Loser here.

2024 TOUR DATES

Hamilton, ON: Mills Hardware, Mar 8
Toronto, ON: Horseshoe Tavern, Mar 9
Winnipeg, MB: Times Changed, Apr 3
Edmonton, AB: Soho, Apr 5
Calgary, AB: Palomino, Apr 6
Vancouver: Biltmore, Apr 9

Tickets and details here.

ABOUT VEAL

Veal is fronted by Luke Doucet, whose abilities on guitar are virtually without peer, anchored by the rock-solid, highly animated drummer simply named Chang, and rounded out by Edmonton bassist Nik Kozub, now of Shout Out Out Out Out. A guitar-driven three piece band who serves up a potent live show of American music, Veal draws from country, surf, blues, and rock and roll, and using twisted lyrical imagery that culls up the likes of Tom Waits, John Lennon, David Lowery, Ween, and Lyle Lovett. Their vividly hook-filled and unpredictable brand of rock’n’roll has been a favourite among industry and fans since its inception.