photo taken on May 1, 2009, at the Albion Hotel, Guelph by sidrguelph.

It is approaching the summer solstice in Kingston, which means that before we begin the long march back into darkness, we celebrate with the Skeleton Park Music Festival. Things are already underway, they were kicked off on Wednesday, in fact, and continue tomorrow night with an Into the Magic Soundbox event and with the main festivities taking place on Saturday. Of all the great acts who are going to perform during this free morning-to-dusk event, I am most looking forward to seeing Bruce Peninsula live again.

Bruce Peninsula will undoubtedly being riding into town with spirits high: they are about to start their Western Canada tour in Kingston (as logical a place as any) and have just been long-listed for the 2009 Polaris Prize for their stunning LP A Mountain is a Mouth. While the $20000 cheque isn’t made out in their name quite yet, I would not be at all surprised if they continue into the final round.

Bruce Peninsula make music that is born out of bogs and fields, oceans and mountains. They invoke ancient places in songs that sound like traditional spirituals but express modern, worldly concerns. They do amazing things with their many voices. There are stand out individual sounds, the growl of Neil Haverty and power and rich vocals of Mischa Bower, which are two identifiable voices, but it is their collective voice which is so memorable. Layers of vocals are presented, softly, sweetly. They build upon each other, merging only to break apart in ecstatic howls. Abusive percussion drives it all, with bells and chimes, claps and guitars being propelled along. Melody and harmony exist cheek by jowl with stomps and shouts. It is raw, emotional, effecting. The sound is old – spirituals are not exactly burning up the top-forty charts – but these sounds, and their delivery by the hydra-headed group, are nevertheless fresh and invigorating.

As mentioned, the band is about to hit the road out west and some of you lucky folks are going to see them with the amazing Rock Plaza Central and others are going to be graced by Jon-Rae Fletcher, in addition to BP, both of whom have received the b(oot)log seal of approval. You would be silly not to go out and see them live. So go! Full dates at BP’s site/space.

20 Jun 2009 – Skeleton Park, Kingston
28 Jun 2009 – Bruce Trail @ Poor Pilgrim Island Treasure Hunt, Toronto
7 Jul 2009 – Pyramid Cabaret w/ RPC, Winnipeg
8 Jul 2009 – Walker’s Nightclub w/ RPC, Saskatoon
9 Jul 2009 – Brixx Bar w/ RPC, Edmonton
10 Jul 2009 – Dicken’s Pub w/ RPC, Calgary
11 Jul 2009 – Canmore Hotel w/ RPC, Canmore
13 Jul 2009 – Biltmore Cabaret w/ Jon-Rae, Vancouver
14 Jul 2009 – Logan’s w/ Jon-Rae , Victoria
15 Jul 2009 – Habitat w/ Jon-Rae, Kelowna
17 Jul 2009 – O’Hanlan’s, Regina

To get a bit of a sense of the awesomeness of BP live, I offer you their stunning set from the Apple Crisp Music Fest in March. Come out to Skeleton Park this Saturday. Don’t worry about the rain – you’re not sugar, you won’t melt. But you will enjoy the music.

Bruce Peninsula, Apple Crisp Music Festival, Next Church, Kingston, 20 March 2009

1. Inside / Outside
2. Steamroller
3. drank out of a pickle jar (talk)
4. Shanty Song
5. just don’t buy steve’s cd (talk)
6. Shutters
7. Seven inch (talk)
8. Lift ‘Em Up
9. small confession (talk)
10. 2nd 4th World War
11. singalong (talk)
12. Weave Myself a Dress
13. Crabapples
14. do it all over again (talk)
15. The Chain (Fleetwood Mac cover)

Be sure to buy AMiaM and the fabulous 7″ (where you can find ‘Lift ‘Em Up’) from Zunior.

After a longer than expected hiatus, b(oot)log is back up and running. So go on and download away.

I have nothing new for you except to say that Kingston & area residents should go to The Mansion tonight for the Velvet Underground tribute night where all songs off of “Loaded” will be played by local artists.

See the AppleCrisp site for more details. All proceeds will be going to the Skeleton Park Music Festival, running June 17-19. And speaking of which, the line up has finally been announced. Here’s the poster

Hello Pretties. I’ve been ignoring you, I know, but life sometimes gets in the way and ye olde b(oot)log gets put on the back burner. But it’s quality, not quantity, right? And I think I have something of rather great quality for you today.

Last Tuesday b(oot)log fav’s Apostle of Hustle released their new record, Eats Darkness, and they are stopping by on wednesday at the home of the most glorious patio for beer drinking in the whole of kingston, The Grad Club, on Wednesday. I’ll be there and I think you should come on by, too, ’cause its gonna be a hothothot show.

From my few listens of the album (stream the album on the AoH myspace), Eats Darkness is a bit of a departure in sound for Whiteman & co. I must admit to being kinda thrown by the interludes that pop up throughout the album, with bits of spoken word that have been manipulated (yes, I do believe that is William S. Burroughs you hear in “Nobody Bought It”) but the songs hold up. Not as expansive as in previous outings, perhaps, and a little lighter on the cubano, which I love so very much, but with amazing moments nevertheless, ‘Eazy Speaks,’ ‘Perfect Fit’, and ‘Blackberry’ all sitting comfortably among the best of AoH’s earlier material.

Apostle of Hustle are finishing their Canadian jaunt celebrating the release of their record. Remaining tour dates in Canada below & then they are off to the US (check out their site/space for more details):

5/27/09 – Kingston, ON @ The Grad Club
5/29/09 – Toronto, ON @ The Music Gallery
5/30/09 – Waterloo, ON @ Starlight Room

Also, AoH will be a part of the amazing, wonderful, spectacularly awesome Wolfe Island Music Fest (August 8). Woot! To get you all ready, here’s my recording of their last visit to the Grad Club where AoH busted out a bunch of tunes of the record which they just finished recording as well as a heap other, older, tunes. Enjoy & see you on Wednesday.

Apostle of Hustle, Grad Club, Kingston, 19 September 2008

1. Xerses
2. new songs (talk)
3. National Anthem of Nowhere
4. Perfect Fit
5. recorded music pretty much should be free (talk)
6. Blackberry
7. professional screamer (talk)
8. Song For Lorca
9. Chances Are
10. My Sword Hand’s Anger
11. Stephen Harper’s hair (talk)
12. How to Defeat a More Powerful Enemy
13. Folkloric Feel
14. homage to a great poet (talk)
15. Eazy Speaks
16. get him out (talk)
17. Fast Pony for Victor Jara
18. Kings & Queens
19. Cheap Like Sebastien
20. give it up (talk)
21. Baby, You’re In Luck
22. Haul Away
23. respect for the killer jams from Ottawa/outro

Buy the new record through Arts&Crafts.

**

My main man in Ottawa, Matthew at I{Heart}Music, is facing a nasty socan bill which he accumulated in the course of bringing you the finest music possible (read about it here and the follow-up here). Go on over and throw a few dollars his way. Not only will it get you +1000 karma points, he’s making you a mixtape with the help of some of his friends to say thanks.