Not quite as t-shirt worthy as "Free Weezy", but for nomadic poet Mark Berube , years of hard work is starting to pay dividends. Berube toes the line between spoken word artist, world musician and indie rock icon with remarkable humility. He crosses borders and rides trains, soaking in the culture and experiences in foreign lands without losing site of his Canadian roots. I've seen him bring a room of strangers to tears , open shows with an a cappella version of the South African anthem (which made my South African wife a fan for [...]
Happy Easter. Here's some music to keep you company. The week of inbox purging went alright but I still have 300 e-mails in the inbox that I'd like to cut down to 0. So here is the first batch for your picking and choosing pleasure. I tried to keep my favorites near the top. Enjoy. Ages & Ages - So So Freely First track off the Portland band's [...]
I love when bands release albums titled after a month and then release them in a different month. Example: Mark Berube & The Patriotic Few’s “June In Siberia” will be released in February. Marc and complain (Kristina Koropecki on cello, Patrick Dugas on drums, and Amélie Mandeville on bass) recorded the record live off the floor with Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Basia Bulat, Silver Mt Zion) at Montreal’s Hotel 2 Tango. From the sound of the tracks below, this one is a keeper. Listen: Mark Berube & The Patriotic Few ∞ My Me Lady [...]
This year's IDOW may not be chock-o-block full of huge acts, but the consistent quality the "lil festival that could" has assembled in pretty remarkable. Reaching from coast-to-coast, IDOW procured some national acts that are about to explode (New Country Rehab, Olenka & the Autumn Lovers) and some mainstays from the Canadian scene that continue to impress. One of those names is Mark Berube . For years now, Berube and his band - The Patriotic Few - have been denizens, traversing the world for inspiration. [...]
Thursday was a chock-o-block full kind of day at M for Montreal. Starting with an afternoon schmooze session filled with managers/agents/promoters and more business cards than the free lunch bowl at any TGIFridays and shows going until the early morning, delegates were on the go. That being said, Friday was just as busy. A few panels started the day - which I sadly had to miss to keep my day job rolling - but the afternoon church show/book launch was a perfect start for my Friday. Mark Berube & The Few - Mark's [...]
myspace From the opening splashes of water, What the Boat Gave the River shows the intensity Mark Berube puts into his music. Looking for Another is the dark tale of people escaping across the border, trying to paddle quietly, quickly, ignoring the fear that fills their hearts. The stabbing strings, piano and harmonies echo the situation perfectly, and as the pop song builds you feel like you are in the boat with them, trying to find refuge from the Coast Guard and start over. And for Berube, this [...]
Herohill
New Music Collaborative
The Late Greats
Ground Control
Ears Wide Open: Ocha la Rocha
Video: Portugal. The Man – “Atomic Man”
L.A.M.P. “Springtime” [mp3]
