November 25, 2007
Apostle of Hustle, Wolfe Island Music Fest, 11 August 2007
photo courtesy of the amazing Chromewaves. More photos can be found here.
That hothothot August day seems like it occurred ages ago, doesn’t it. On that day, sitting on the grass under the blistering sun watching one amazing band after another take a stage placed in the middle a ball diamond, winter with its snow and freezing rain and short days seemed like an impossibility. Now, with winter making its presence known, it is the summer days featuring a seemingly endless supplies of Mill St. Stock Ale and Apostle of Hustle that seem mythic, occurring in some distant past; perhaps never happening at all, only dreamed.
Apostle of Hustle brought a number of things to the Wolfe Island stage. Among the expected were impassioned, poetic lyrics and fierce percussion. Among the unexpected were a strange interlude and an even stranger story involving a Mountie, drugs, and severed heads. Yeah…it didn’t make much sense at the time either but it seemed to fit nevertheless with the wonderful, dramatic set.
AoH will return to the Grad Club on November 30th. That’s this Friday, folks. Remember how good it was last time? You’ll want to get your tickets soon – at the Grad Club and online.
Apostle of Hustle, Wolfe Island Music Fest, 11 August 2007
1. My Sword Hand’s Anger
2. National Anthem of Nowhere
3. Kings & Queens
4. 17 year old mountie, how’s that for dirty? (talk)
5. Fast Pony for Victor Jara
6. Baby, You’re in Luck
7. interlude
8. Folkloric Feel
9. you guys are terrible (talk)
10. Chances Are
11. Jimmy Scott is the Answer
12. The Naked & Alone
13. Haul Away
Buy AoH CDs and shirts from Arts&Crafts (if you spend $10 you get a sampler, so go and get it).
November 16, 2007
Sandro Perri & Andre Ethier, Fuse, CBC Radio, broadcast 21 July 2007
photo of taken at (and courtesy of) The Artel, Kingston, December 1, 2006
In Sando Perri’s work, odd discordant elements jostle with gentle folk melodies. They offset the singer-songwriter stylings: just as you as soothed by Perri’s dulcet voice and guitar-picking, a wonky horn or electronic blip shakes you, demanding your attention. These songs could have been given to us unadorned and we would have been grateful, but Perri is not content to sit still (just look at the list of monikers and projects he works under, with, and through). He playfully arranges textures, harmonies, and lyrics, presenting little puzzles under the guise of simple songs. Elements of jazz and electronica and things with no names hide among the folksongs, ready to burst out and startle, shock, and amaze.
Perri will be playing in Toronto tomorrow, and with Eric Chenaux in Ottawa and Kingston (at The Artel) next week. Dates? Ok:
Nov 17 Toronto, ON Tranzac w/ Ivy Pallas, Valery Gore
Nov 22 Kingston, ON The Artel w/ Eric Chenaux
Nov 23 Ottawa, ON Avant Garde Bar w/ Eric Chenaux
Dec 13 Toronto, ON Tranzac w/ Friendly Rich
Dec 31 Toronto, ON Tranzac GLISSANDRO 70 DJ Set
I expect those who attend will be treated to nothing less than a stunning evening of music. You should go. I should go. We should go together.
Sandro Perri has collaborated widely. In addition to playing on his friends albums and having friends like Eric Chenaux play on his, he joined with Andre Ethier on the CBC’s raddest show, Fuse. This pairing was not as jarring as some occurring in past shows, but the results are nevertheless still quite wonderful. I have for you a few songs from that show that Perri took the lead on, including the Ethier song “The Best You’ve Ever Had”.
Sandro Perri & Andre Ethier, Fuse, CBC Radio, broadcast 21 July 2007
* Everybody’s Talking (Fred Neil cover)
* Circles
Get the new “Tiny Mirrors” and other albums by Sandro Perri (in all his incarnations – physical and digital) and Andre Ethier (digital). They will bring you joy.
November 12, 2007
The Weakerthans, Elixir, Kingston, 6 November 2007
photo of the Weakerthans at the Elixir by TheSkyIsMadeOfRock who has a bunch of photos from the night.
The Weakerthans blew through Kingston on their Reunion Tour tour last week. I think I’ve talked before how I always enjoy seeing them live as they are rock solid performers who never fail to sound great on stage but that they don’t always have the most magnetic stage presence. This time it was the same great sound and they even seemed to come alive, if only a little bit. They even occasionally hammed it up for us pulling out some classic rawking moves. The set list was pretty much as perfect as you could want, playing all the old favs. About 1/3 of the show featured material off Reunion Tour which melded pretty much seamlessly with their older material. Since seeing the songs played live and spending more time with the album my opinion of the album is improving (although I never disliked it, just don’t like it as much as their earlier work). The songs feature all the elements we love in The Weakerthans – extraordinary lyrics backed by amazing music. Below you will find my recording of the show. Aside from some rattly moments I think it is pretty rad and I hope you do too.
The Weakerthans, Elixir, Kingston, 6 November 2007
1. Psalm For The Elks Lodge Last Call
2. needs to see his hands (talk)
3. Civil Twilight
4. Our Retired Explorer (Dines With Michel Foucault In Paris, 1961)
5. our friend Sarah (talk)
6. Benediction
7. Reconstruction Site
8. Aside
9. new recording (talk)
10. Night Windows
11. Relative Surplus Value
12. Sun in an Empty Room
13. false start (talk)
14. Left & Leaving
15. our ssssss (talk)
16. Tournament of Hearts
17. The Reasons
18. Time’s Arrow
19. History to the Defeated
20. Plea From A Cat Named Virtute
21. encore break (talk)
22. Bigfoot!
23. One Great City!
24. Pamphleteer
25. Confessions Of A Futon-Revolutionist
26. free on the interweb (talk)
27. Virtute The Cat Explains Her Departure
28. (Manifest)
Be sure to pick up Reunion Tour and grab a hoodie while you’re at it.
November 6, 2007
Jenn Grant, The Artel, Kingston, 13 September 2007
photo by The Artel.
I hope you’ve got your ticket for the Weakerthans tonight because it is sold out. Well, sorta – they will have some tickets at the door so be sure to get there early. Even if you have your tickets you will want to be sure to get there in time to catch Jenn Grant, who will be opening the show.
Grant has an absolutely mesmerizing voice. Rich, warm, and with just a hint of warble, to state that Grant’s vocals are beautiful does not do her justice. She whispers and coos, as the words become abstract, and then she builds, her vocals bursting out powerfully. Grant has a great range and is equally comfortable in a variety of styles, adopting a country twang or sultry jazz tones as needed. On her album “Orchestra for the Moon,” she fills the songs with a wide array of instruments and guest vocals which accentuate her voice and lyrics. On stage, Grant is confident and charming and her songs come across more urgently as they are stripped down to their essentials: guitar, percussion to give them structure, and her powerful voice. To give you just a little taste, here are a few tracks from her performance at The Artel from September. Enjoy.
Jenn Grant, The Artel, Kingston, 13 September 2007
* Dancin’ in the Wind
* Fireflies (new song)
* Dreamer
* In A Brown House
Go out and pick up the gorgeous Orchestra for the Moon.
B(oot)log 