photo from The Line of Best Fit , who has Kevin Drew answer 20 Questions . Howdy folks. I know I'm a few days late in posting and, while you would think that my admittedly slack schedule shouldn't be hard to keep up with things sometimes keep me away from the computer. My excuse this time is that I'm on holidays. Right now I'm taking a few minutes away from my (much deserved, if I say so myself) vacation in Cape Cod to post. So please forgive me for being a few days behind. [...]
photo by Tinycakevillage , taken at the kvrx/i eat records day party, March 16, 2007. Tomorrow the second Polaris Prize will be awarded at a gala event in Toronto. I wasn't really sure what to think when I first saw the list. There were a few names that I would love to see on the oversized cheque (Julie Doiron, especially) and one who I am not terribly fond of (Joel Plaskett - I just don't dig it) and then a whole whack of acts that I think are really great and would be [...]
photo by Beth at RockPaperPixels from the Picastro myspace . This past Tuesday, Toronto's Picastro released their third album Whore Luck. The trio of Liz Hysen, Nick Storring, and Brandon Valdivia make extraordinary music that is experimental without being inaccessible. Picastro are in no rush. They take their time getting to their destination without letting their songs meander. They do not fall pray to self-indulgence and go off in all directions, rather they remain focused, allowing their music to unfold slowly and purposefully. Picastro restrain themselves, maintaining a subdued tone throughout, but with [...]
WAS at T in the Park, 2006, photos by J ane Stockdale for the BBC . Living in a college town, I tend to have mixed feelings about September. The invasion of students means the bars and restaurants are much more crowded, there are longer line-ups everywhere, the city is generally much noisier and busier, and the tranquility of the summer is broken (man, I really am one step away from being the crotchety old guy sitting on his porch shaking his fist at the "young whippersnappers", aren't I?). However, with the invasion of students isn't all bad. [...]
For photos much better than mine, see the pics taken by Chromewaves . All of the bands at the Wolfe Island Music Fest were awesome. You've heard me go on at length about the radness of practically each and every one of them. Of all the performers of the day, the act that I was really looking forward to seeing because she was something of a mystery to me, was Basia Bulat . She was introduced to me a while ago by the gentleman-scholars at Said the Gramophone and I have been playing [...]
Last year, courtesy of the fine gents at IGIF , I was introduced to a few songs off the self-released album Q&A from Chicago's Office . Their feels like it should be a guilty pleasure. On paper, I just don't think it is something I should like. However, it is just too infections, too fun, too gloriously poppy for me to deny. Songs by the Office soon after found themselves on my summer mix tapes, never failing to inject the mixes with something upbeat and fun. There are is more than a touch of retro '80s sound in [...]
The new album by the Last Town Chorus , "Wire Waltz", is a rather intriguing album. There is something otherworldly about it, due in large part to Megan Hickey's lap steel. Running the instrument through effects pedals, this is not what you'd hear down at the Grand Ol' Opry - she creates haunting soundscapes. This distinct instrumentation is the perfect foundation for her amazing, melancholy songs. She offers intimate takes on loss, heartbreak, and alienation but Hickey sings with a clear, extremely strong voice, and you never get the sense that her subject matter is going to overwhelm [...]
photo courtesy of Frank at Chromewaves - check out his photos from the day here and review here . Thanks Frank! Greetings from the Birthplace of Rock n' Roll. I'm here in Cleveland on a bit of a holiday and thought I'd take this bit of downtime to do a quick post. After months of build up the Wolfe Island Music Fest did not dissapoint. The day was great from start to finish - for which I have to extend my thanks to Virginia and all the volunteers. [...]
photo by Stewart Jones . Well folks, tomorrow the Wolfe Island Music Fest kicks off! Huzzah! Starting the weekend off is the Hootenanny, featuring Jim Bryson, Luther Wright, Jenny Whiteley, semi-not-really-secret special guests (*cough* Handsome Furs! *cough*) and the lovely Julie Fader . Last year's was a ton o' fun - you may recall that I talked about last year's instalment here - and I have no reason to doubt that this year's will be too. Julie Fader first came to my attention as she provides backup vocals, keyboards, and [...]
photo of Holy Fuck performing in Philadelphia, 17 May 2007, courtesy of Jalapeño . Only one week away until the Wolfe Island Music Fest ! Last year Holy Fuck , I'm told, practically stole the show. This year they are going to whip the audience into a frenzy before Wolf Parade come out to rock the socks of all present. Their improv, electro-rock dance music never fails to get the crowd moving. Holy Fuck is one of those bands who are good on cd but absolutely come alive on stage. The show at the Grad [...]
Occasionally, folks are kind enough to send music my way and I have been rather ungrateful taking way too long to talk about it here. I am going to try to make up for it starting today, by posting some short reviews with songs for you to check out. Frenzied is not an apt description of the music of A Fine Frenzy . While it is a perfectly fine band name, the songs of Alison Sudol are calm, lovely, delicate and seductive. In "Almost Lover" (see below), a song of relationship [...]
Photo by jamradiojam Can you feel it? Can you feel the excitement in the air? The Wolfe Island Music Fest is less than two weeks away. One of this year's biggest acts is, without a doubt, Apostle of Hustle who previously graced the WIMF stage in 2005. Having witnessed the extraordinary talent that is Andrew Whiteman and crew up close and personal at the Grad Club on the first date of his residency there at the beginning of the year, I am looking forward to their performance in this rather [...]
Weeping Tile, one of my all-time favourite bands, are reuniting for the Wolfe Island Music Fest . This as you might imagine, is quite exciting news. While they officially broke-up in or around 1998, the Weeping Tile crew still like to get together and play the odd show such as the Salvation Army Benefit. In this yearly tradition (see my write-up on the Weeping Tile set from 2004 - here ), a whole slew of bands get together for a good cause ( give generously! ) and a great deal of fun is had by all. For the [...]
photo courtesy of Jalapeño taken at the Bowery Ballroom, NY, 15 November 2006 I know I'm running a bit behind, but it is the summer and I am feeling strangely compelled *not* to spend my weekends in front of the computer. And, looking ahead to getting outside for another weekend of awesomeness, here is my second post on bands playing the Wolfe Island Music Fest , happening on August 10-11. Spiral Beach wowed me when I saw them at the Winter City Festival in [...]
Holy Smokes! It is just a shade over one month until the Wolfe Island Music Fest and I am really, really getting excited for it - and you should be too. Why you ask? Well, here are thirteen reasons why, aka the lineup: Friday August 10th – 8:30pm Hootenanny Review featuring Jenny Whitely Luther Wright Julie Fader Jim Bryson Saturday, August 11th – gates –12pm Wolf Parade [...]
Photo from the BL show at Zaphod's in Ottawa on June 20th, part of the Capital Idea! Festival, courtesy of the Mocking Music photo pool . It was one of those 'Where did this band come from?' situations. The Besnard Lakes just seemed to appear out of nowhere, bringing a set of amazing psych-rock and a smoke machine with them. I was blown away by their live show and, since seeing them, they've released "Are the Dark Horse" to widespread critical acclaim and now everyone everywhere is digging them. As far as I'm concerned, with [...]
Listening to the CBC Radio 3 's session with Frog Eyes , I envision Carey Mercer onstage as a seducer one moment and demon the next as he moves from whispering to cooing before letting loose with the shrieking vocals he is best known for. Wildly emotional and esoteric, Frog Eyes has a reputation as one of the most intense live bands out there. Having not had the opportunity to see them perform myself I can only imagine. You, however, could experience it for yourself if you are in the National Capital Region as they are playing at [...]
photo of Sarah Harmer and Bruce Cockburn by jenniedo taken at Edmonton Folk Music Festival. August 12, 2006. It's sorta-kinda-not really a secret that Sarah Harmer is playing a show at the Grad Club on Tuesday so don't tell anyone I told you about it. Actually, if you are just hearing about it from me you're probably too late to get into this ultra-intimate gig, 'cause word on the street is that it sold out last week. I am really looking forward to this show because, as loyal b(oot)log readers will know, I'm [...]
The most successful instances of Fuse , one of the best shows currently produced the Mother Corp, are, in my mind, are the ones which pair one of my favourite bands with something strange and wonderful (see Ohbijou and Kids on TV ). Another case in point is the session below: the amazing Apostle of Hustle paired with the throat singer Tanya Tagaq . The sound of throat singing is utterly unique. It is haunting, evocative, and amazingly it complements the Cuban-inspired sound employed by Andrew Whiteman. Tagaq's vocal contributions are subtle (but [...]
photos courtesy of Bramptonboi , taken at Wavelength 349 , Sneaky Dee's Toronto, 4 Feb. 2007 I worry for Entire Cities , I really do. They stopped by Kingston's greatest venue at the end of a small tour, and the stresses of the road were taking their toll. Given that they are going to be in high demand all over the place since their ep "Centralia" is fantastic, they may just come apart at the seams under the pressures of touring. But, even if that's the case, it's going to be [...]
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