August 26, 2006
You Say Party! We Say Die!, Maida Vale Studio, Lamacq Live, BBC1, 21 August 2006
This week’s b(oot)logged treat is, yet again, courtesy of the Beeb. On Monday, Vancouver’s dance-punk superstars You Say Party! We Say Die! played three songs (including a new one) and had a little chat with Steve Lamacq. This is political, exclamation-filled, dancey, fun stuff.
The Elixir in Kingston will be hosting YSP!WSD! and controller.controller on Sept. 14 and you know I’ll be there and wearing my dancing shoes.
I really don’t have much to add beyond that. See you next week.
You Say Party! We Say Die!, Maida Vale Studio, London, Lamacq Live, BBC1, 21 August 2006
1) Intro.mp3 (1.28 MB)
2) Love In The New Millenium (Your Pants My Couch).mp3 (2.89 MB)
3) music for the brain and the feet talk.mp3 (2.98 MB)
4) Apocalypse Meow.mp3 (2.8 MB) [note: this was incorrectly listed as “Apocalypse Now” on the BBC tracklisting]
5) my new favourite band talk.mp3 (2.48 MB)
6) Like I Give A Care.mp3 (3.05 MB)
7) outro.mp3 (0.4 MB)
YSP!WSD! would like you to Hit the Floor.
August 19, 2006
The Hootenanny Revue, Wolfe Island, 11 August 2006
Hey there folks. Last weekend was the annual Wolfe Island Music Fest. The lineup was ridiculously good this year – so good that WIMF is giving Hillside a run for its money. And at a fraction of the price no less! With an added bonus of getting to ride on a ferry! Seriously mark your calendars for next year, it is that good. But, for the second year running I have been unable to attend the main day of fun. Stupid summertime obligations. As expected, all reviews that I have seen said this year’s event was outstanding.
Knowing that I wouldn’t be in the area on Saturday, I made sure that I got to see the Friday night Town Hall concert, the Hootenanny Revue. I missed the Hootenanny when it previously swung through town and I am very glad that I got to attend this time.
The Hootenanny is somewhat hard to explain. It is equal parts bluegrass, gospel revival, and cabaret, with a dash of indie rock. They call it Cowpunk, which I think is quite fantastic. I am not a fan of most country music, particularly what would be considered mainstream country, but I nevertheless like the type of music made by the Hootenanny All-stars. It is more “alt.” than what I would consider most alt-country. It is much more bluegrassy. These folks aren’t just adopting the sonic tools of bluegrass and traditional, olde-tyme country music as a novelty, however, they are the real deal. Everything we saw was authentic, passionate, and fun.
It was a revolving cast of exceptionally talented folks each taking turns at the mic and switching instruments as duty called. When not onstage they watched and danced right up front. There were five distinct performers/groups on the bill – Carolyn Mark, Luther Wright, Jenny Whiteley, Shuyler Jansen, and Salt– with a Dan Whiteley on mandolin and Diona Davies on fiddle, and Tolan McNeil on guitar, as well as a drummer, Michael Silverman who’s name escapes me at the moment. There was also a special guest appearance by Chris Brown and Kate Fenner. They backed each other up, sang harmonies and duets and by no means were they done once they sang their three or four songs in each set. Everyone brought something unique to the act whether they were the feature at the time or serving as backup.
The crowd was a very interesting mix of country fans, old folks, Wolfe Islanders, kids, and hipsters but I think it is safe to say that everyone was having a good time. They particularly liked the upbeat songs which lent themselves to dancing. The slower, softer numbers found many people’s attention wandering. The people standing at the back were exceptionally chatty through pretty much the whole damn thing. I remain mystified why they didn’t go just outside the hall where it was cooler, you could still hear the music and where the beer tent was located. At anyrate fun was had. At the end, after Jenny Whiteley sang “Circus is in Town” a capella as the others packed everything away (what was with that one chick in the audience screeching?), the Hootenanny All-Stars led a conga line out of the hall where fireworks were let off. Aside from my slight uneasiness out of fear that they might burn the church down (they did seem to be landing quite close) it was a pretty fantastic way to end the evening.
Wolfe Island was the last stop on the Revue’s tour but I highly recommend you catch them if they roll through your town the next time the Hootenanny hits the road.
Selections from the Hootenanny Revue, Wolfe Island Music Fest, St. Margaret’s Hall, Marysville, Wolfe Island, 11 August 2006
* The Hootenanny All-Stars, The Hootenanny Express.mp3 (1.25 MB)
* Jenny Whiteley, In the Pines.mp3 (4.08 MB)
* Salt, We are Trying.mp3 (2.16 MB)
* Shuyler Jansen, Bottle of Wine.mp3 (3.88 MB)
* Luther Wright, She’s Right On.mp3 (1.7 MB)
* Chris Brown and Kate Fenner, While You Sleep.mp3 (3.99 MB)
* Carolyn Mark, You’re Not a Whore (If no one’s paying).mp3 (2.92 MB)
I have just posted one song from each of the main performers. If you were there and would like a particular song from the show (except for the first part of the first set including Carolyn Mark’s first set which I didn’t record due to my utter incompetence) ask nicely and I might be able to help you out.
Hold a Hootenanny in your living room : buy music by Shuyler & Jenny, Luther, Carolyn, and Salt.
This has nothing to do with the Hootenanny Revue but I stumbled across it when looking for pics from Friday (which I didn’t find – anyone take any photos of the show they’d like to share?) and thought it was funny and worth including in this post. (with thanks to awonderfulltreat)
August 14, 2006
i(heart)music turns 1!
I(heart)music is celebrating its birthday and, not content with handing out goodie bags filled with candy and little toys at his party, Matthew has organized a three day extravaganza featuring some utterly fantastic bands. From power-pop to post-rock I have a feeling that you will find something you will like. So head on out to Wakefield on August 18-20 and join in the celebrations. More info can be found here and tickets are available here. And a sample of four of the twelve bands featured can be found here:
* Spy Machine 16, Reassured Backpacker.mp3
* My Dad vs Yours, No Farms, No Foods, No Future.mp3
* Raising the Fawn, Gwendolyn.mp3
* Pony Up, The Truth About Cats And Dogs (Is That They Die).mp3
August 12, 2006
The Stills, World Cafe, NPR, 9 August 2006/The Current, MPR, 14 April 2006
I’ll be perfectly honest with you all: I’m not really a huge fan of The Stills. That is not to say that I dislike them by any means, its just that I really never have paid them too much attention. I am not entirely sure why. Every once in a while one of their songs will pop up on my shuffled playlist and inevitable my interest is piqued and I will have to check the track info to see who the artist is. But I really haven’t put any effort into appreciating the band. I suppose we all do that at times, when we acknowledge that something is worth further investigation but never really moving beyond that point. The Stills’ performance this week on NPR’s World Cafe (and the acoustic MPR session that I happened to come across today as well) has made me pay a little more attention to the band than I have before. My initial reaction to them has be reaffirmed. This is something I could, and perhaps should, get behind. It is rather straight forward guitar driven indie-rock, with some organ/synth/piano flourishes that I dig. Perhaps now I’ll give them their due. Or, at the very least, I will continue to enjoy them when they randomly pop up.
The Stills, World Cafe, NPR, 9 August 2006
1) intro.mp3 (0.4 MB)
2) In the Beginning.mp3 (5.03 MB)
3) interview 1.mp3 (2.83 MB)
4) Helicopters.mp3 (3.96 MB)
5) interview 2.mp3 (3.09 MB)
6) Lola Stars and Stripes.mp3 (3.65 MB)
7) outro.mp3 (0.4 MB)
The Stills, The Current, MPR , 14 April 2006
1) In The Beginning.mp3 (2.8 MB)
2) interview 1.mp3 (2.7 MB)
3) She’s Walking Out.mp3 (2.99 MB)
4) interview 2.mp3 (2.64 MB)
5) Oh Shoplifter.mp3 (3.18 MB)
Investigate The Stills further yourself and help support Public Radio at the same time.
August 6, 2006
Tegan and Sara, Lee’s Palace, Toronto, 14 September 2000
Way back before they were covered by the White Strips, before their songs were featured on Grey’s Anatomy and The L Word, before they even got themselves a band, and at just about the time they released their first album on Universal/Vapor (“This Business of Art,”) and Tegan and Sara were about to hit the big time, they played to a packed house on a rainy and hot September night in Toronto.
They played an energetic acoustic set and, as what seems to be something of a trademark in their live performances, chatted with the audience and each other between songs, telling stories, jokes, and just seeing how everyone is doing. They didn’t play terribly long, only about 45 minutes, but I think everyone in the audience walked away happy, knowing that we experienced a band in their purest form just as they were about to go on to do great things.
I wasn’t the one to record this concert but I offer my thanks to the anonymous taper who recorded and shared this. The recording has been circulating so if you are a T&S fan you may already have it or some songs from this performance.
I was, however, in the audience. Want proof? Ok. I spent my third year of University in Glasgow. Just before I left for the year I visited Toronto to hang out with friends and go to MEC and do those last minute things you do. As part of my send-off I went to see Tegan and Sara with some friends I have known since highschool. Before the show started, my friend Kathryn walked backstage and talked to Tegan and Sara for a bit. I’m not exactly sure what she said but on track 20 – that’s me they are talking about. Which at the time (ok, and now) I thought was pretty cool. Afterward the show they signed my album and wished me well. And Sara, you totally could have come with me. It was a great show and a great night all around.
I hope everyone is having a fantastic long weekend.
Tegan and Sara, Lee’s Palace, Toronto, 14 September 2000
1) Proud.mp3 (2.82 MB)
2) trading seats talk.mp3 (0.4 MB)
3) The First.mp3 (2.93 MB)
4) dancing and tshirt talk.mp3 (1.43 MB)
5) Hype.mp3 (2.7 MB)
6) being hot and standing talk.mp3 (0.6 MB)
7) My Numbe.mp3 (2.75 MB)
8) more standing talk.mp3 (1.23 MB)
9) Freedom.mp3 (2.04 MB)
10) broken string talk.mp3 (1.09 MB)
11) Not With You.mp3 (3.11 MB)
12) sharing a bed and fight talk.mp3 (1.06 MB)
13) Buried Alive.mp3 (3.32 MB)
14) Tegan’s patroller camp story.mp3 (2.61 MB)
15) More for Me.mp3 (2.25 MB)
16) email talk.mp3 (1.13 MB)
17) All You Got.mp3 (2.26 MB)
18) last song and streetcar talk.mp3 (1 MB)
19) Superstar.mp3 (2.93 MB)
20) encore protocol, thanks, and going to Scotland talk.mp3 (1.51 MB)
21) Divided.mp3 (2.65 MB)
To coincide with my post on them, Tegan and Sara are releasing their live DVD “It’s Not Fun. Don’t Do It” on August 8th. Check out the trailer here and pre-order here in Canada (with a poster) or here in the US.
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