April 28, 2012
So long…
Hey everyone who might happen to still visit. After six plus year of running b(oot)log, I find myself with less and less time to devote to writing here (and less time to go to shows). I keep thinking I might be able to post once in a while but, since it was Summer the last time I posted with any regularity, I think it is time to face facts and admit this blog has run its course.
It was a great deal of fun to write about all the great musicians who came to Kingston A huge thanks to the bands and to the local promoters who brought them to town – especially to Virginia at Flying V.
And I thank everyone who took the time to leave a comment and to the folks who have sent me music and other stuff to promote.
I’ve cancelled my hosting so all the links are now inactive but if there is something you would like please leave a comment or shoot me an email and I can send you the tracks you are looking for.
If you’ve enjoyed anything you’ve come across here, be sure to support the musicians by buying their albums and merch and by going out and seeing them live.
r.
November 1, 2011
The Gertrudes launch “Till The Morning Shows Her Face To Me” Tomorrow!
Kingston’s very own megagroup The Gertrudes are back with a brand-spanking new album called Till the Morning Shows Her Face to Me. Their latest LP is an evolution of their folksy sound – there is no radical departure here but certainly they continue to grow.
While they show their wonderful raucous side right out of the gate with the stomper “Derby Girl”, the sound on the album is predominantly quite gentle. This soothing, almost contemplative sound is found across the record, particularly with the standout tracks “Six Jars”, “Flashbulbs & Catcalls” (my favourite song on the record, at the moment) and the delicate “Lonely Days” which closes out the album. There are rocking moments, too, to be sure (with “Derby Girl”, for example, or the fantastic organ & banjo jam in the middle of “Good People”), and the soulful in “Carolina” & “Passage” which feature Amanda Balsys’ powerful vocals, but, compared with Dawn Time Riot, this is a more introspective record.
The Gertrudes’ staples of vocal harmonies, multiple guitar parts, banjo, accordion, horns are all present, and the prominent addition of strings enriches their already full sound – cello & violin are used to particularly good effect on “Summer Plans”. Built on top of the solid base provided by the group’s pair of percussionists, record’s excellent production allows layering sounds and textures without things every becoming muddy. The experimental, sci-fi sound seems to be less present on this record than in the past, but while used sparingly, it is used to great effect, adding a “je ne sais quoi” with ever feeling forced or gimmicky.
Check out “Six Jars” recorded by the amazing Southern Souls.
And stream the entire album at Exclaim.
“Till the Morning Shows Her Face to Me” is being launched at the Grad Club TOMORROW NIGHT. The Gertrudes are playing with Charlotte Cornfield and tickets are only $5 so get down there for what will undoubtedly be a great show and pick up this fantastic new album. Other upcoming dates are found below. See their website for full details.
The Grad Club, Kingston, Wednesday November 2nd, 8pm
The Carden Street Cafe, Guelph, Saturday November 12th, 10pm
The Drake Hotel in Toronto, Friday December 2nd, 8pm
The Elmdale Tavern, Ottawa, Friday Dec 9th, 9pm
Their albums are released by Apple Crisp Records & can be bought through Sonic Unyon.
August 2, 2011
Wolfe Island Music Festival, 5-6 August 2011!
Holy Smokes! August is here which means WIMF2011 is only a few days away! And I haven’t said a single thing about it. It is a good thing that I am probably not where you get your info about these sorts of things, otherwise you would be right to scold me. But you probably know all about it all ready so what I am about to say is not going to be news to you.
However, just in case you need to know if this year’s Wolfe Island Music Fest has my seal of approval, rest assured & get your tickets, because it most certainly does. The two day festival once again is chock-a-block full of b(oot)log favs including, but not limited to, Plants & Animals, Jenn Grant, Great Lake Swimmers, and Forest City Lovers. The weather is going to be great (as will The Weather Station, undoubtedly), the Beau’s will be flowing, and the line-up is filled with amazing bands:
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5
The Town Hall Concert
Great Lake Swimmers
The Weather Station
8:30 pm
The General Wolfe Hotel
Rich Aucoin
Cherry Chapstick
10:30 pm
The Island Grill
Paul Langlois
Greg Ball
Sleuth Bears
Bader Lane Quartet
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6
Stars 10:00-11:00 pm
BUCK 65 Extra Special Mystery Guest 9:00-9:45 pm
plants and animals 8:00-8:45 pm
P.S. I love you 7:00-7:45 pm
Jenn Grant 6:00-6:45 pm
The Wooden Sky 5:00-5:45 pm
Forest City Lovers 4:00-4:45 pm
Jennifer Castle 3:00-3:45 pm
Evening Hymns 2:00-2:45 pm
Wilderling 1:00-1:45 pm
Gates open at noon.
And!!! Kicking things off on the Mainland a FREE SHOW!
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4th,
Toucan Pub
By Divine Right 10pm
Are you all excited? You should be.
Tune back in tomorrow when I will have a special post to get you (even more) stoked for the weekend.
June 13, 2011
Shows! Skeleton Park Music Festival 2011!
As the summer solstice approaches, one of the most unique cultural events in Kingston is close at hand. This year’s Skeleton Park Music Festival, running from June 16-18, once again has an eclectic and really wonderful line up.
Performers on Saturday include Julie Doiron, Charlotte Cornfield, Steve McKay, and One Hundred Dollars among many others. The evening before you have Sheezer & The Gertrudes and more will rocking out with the Kingston Derby Girls.
Here is the lineup but check out the Festival site for full details. Get out and see so great live music – most events are free, so you have absolutely nothing to lose.
Thursday, June 16, 8pm @ The Sleepless Goat Cafe FREE!
DRUMHAND
Friday June 17, 5:30pm @ The Kingston Memorial Centre
In partnership w/ The Kingston Derby Girls (ticketed event)
Slick Whippet
Sheezer
The Gertrudes
Rueben deGroot
Saturday, June 18th, 10am, All Day + FREE! @McBurney Park
Washboard Hank – 10:00am
Children’s Crafts – 10:00am
11 A.M. (The Band) – 11:00am
Slaves of Spanky – 11:30am
Open Voices Choir – 12pm
The Glass Chain – 1pm
Sleuth Bears – 1:30pm
Charlotte Cornfield – 2:00pm
Yuka – 2:30pm
Children’s Games @ 2:30pm
Tug of War @ 3:30pm + Children’s Parade!
One Hundred Dollars – 4pm
Julie Doiron – 5pm
New Country Rehab – 6pm
Steve McKay – 7pm
The Soul Jazz Orchestra – 7:30pm
Saturday, June 18th, 10pm @ The Sleepless Goat
People Project
Sheesham & Lotus
May 26, 2011
Shows! Home Grown Live – May 28th
For the third year running, the ambitious Home Grown Live will be taking place all across downtown Kingston. This year’s edition, happening Saturday, May 28th, will feature sets of local musicians grouped by genre (folk, jazz, indie, blues etc) at 11 venues. The cost is only $10 to get access to all the venues – only $5 with a Foodbank donation – and all the proceeds go to the Joe Chithalen Memorial Musical Instrument Lending Library.
The best bet for readers of this here blog is going to be the Apple Crisp Showcase taking place at the Gradclub. It will feature b(oot)log friends The Gertrudes on at 9 and Reuben deGroot who takes the stage at 10.
For the full listing of all the events taking place check out the Home Grown Live website. Get out there, support great local charities and see some amazing local talent live.
Here are The Gertrudes performing a special Earth Hour concert from this past May filmed by Wood&Wires.
February 23, 2011
The Luyas – Too Beautiful to Work (w/ full SSUC set)
.jpg)
photo by SarahBrideau.com from 2008 (in Montreal?)
It is a good time to exist my friends, because The Luyas‘ stunning new record “Too Beautiful to Work” was released yesterday and our ears are filled with wonderful sounds. Mysterious, haunting, beautiful sounds unlike anything else you are likely to encounter.
You should go, now, to Idée Fixe Records where you can stream the full album, download two tracks and where you can, nay must!, buy it.
There is a dreamy quality that coats the album. Jessie Stein’s unique voice reaches out plaintively as the music swirls and builds, until things become urgent – like at the 1:41 mark of “Worth Mentioning” where bells ring and penetrating drumming kick in propelling the vocals along. The shifts in the record – from lush to chaotic – make for some extremely memorable moments. The listener is kept off balance and alert, waiting for the next shift or surprise. And there are so many wonderful surprises here. Strange sounds permeate the record – is it effects-laden frenchhorn? the mythical moodswinger? strings or keyboards or horns or something else entirely? The listener is frequently left guessing. Lyrics are repeated, the words gaining meaning each time they are said, each time a new layer of sound is placed behind or over them.
The records is precisely crafted. With so many intricate pieces fitting together, with so many places where the seams could split apart, all the sounds are marshaled together without things feeling constrained. This delicate balance that is achieved on TBTW, between the chaotic and the restrained, makes the record so special.
Back in 2007 I said that The Luyas “are jubilant and terrified, strange and wonderful.” I think this is as applicable to TBTW as it was to “Faker Death“, perhaps, though, more jubilant than terrified but still strangely wondrous and wonderfully strange. They are more confident and commanding without losing their sense of awe or their willingness to joyfully explore dark corners.
The Luyas are embarking on a tour. You should go see them if they wander into your neighbourhood. They are playing many places Canada & the United States & Europe. They aren’t playing Kingston again, at the moment, but perhaps they will stop by soon. Here are some of their upcoming dates. See their site for full listings.
02/24 Montreal, QC- La Sala Rossa02/26 Quebec City, QC- Le Cercle03/04 Charlottesville, VA- Jefferson Theatre w/ Ra Ra Riot03/06 Jacksonville, FL- Jack Rabbits w/ Ra Ra Riot03/07 Ft. Lauderdale, FL- Culture Room w/ Ra Ra Riot03/08 Orlando, FL- The Social w/ Ra Ra Riot03/09 Tampa, FL- Crowbar w/ Ra Ra Riot03/11 New Orleans, LA- One Eyed Jacks w/ Ra Ra Riot, Givers03/12 Baton Rouge, LA- Spanish Moon w/ Ra Ra Riot03/14- 03/20- Austin, TX- South By Southwest
Buy the records from Idée Fixe (Canada) and Dead Oceans (elsewhere).
For Pop Montreal, The Luyas created an installation/performance space/event called “Everything is Outta Sight”. They made an enchanted forest from paper and lights. The evening was filmed and it can now be viewed here:
A year ago I saw The Luyas perform – they were haunting a stunning church. I have put some of the tracks online previously, but here is the full set. Enjoy.
The Luyas, Sydenham St. United Church, Kingston 2 February 2010
1. Cold Canada
2. makes you blind (talk)
3. Tiny Head
4. Dumb Blood
5. alright? (talk)
6. Seeing Things
7. Canary
8. Moodslayer
9. Pietro walks (talk)
10. I Need Mirrors
11. kind ladies and sirs (talk)
12. Worth Mentioning
February 11, 2011
Shows! Off the International Radar @ The Mansion Feb 12th
Hey,
Did you miss your chance to get tickets to the now sold out Jim Bryson/Weakerthans show on Saturday? (more on that show later) Well, never fear because your Saturday night can still be filled with awesome live music.
The fantastic Off the International Radar are playing with Mausoleum at The Mansion. There will be also be Special Intimate Solo Acoustic Sets from Shotgun Jimmie, Jay Baird & Megan Hamilton. Doors are at 8, sliding scale admission ($8-$10). See the FB event page for more details.
This is a CFRC Funding Drive event. Show your support for campus & community radio and donate today. It is the last weekend for the funding drive and they need your support to meet their goal.
Check out OTIR’s video for “A Cold Mirror”
And Holy Radar (Collaboration with Holy Fuck)
Buy the OTIR/HF split from HDD.
December 30, 2010
Shows! PS I Love You at The Mansion – New Year’s Eve
The hottest spot for New Year’s Eve in Kingston this year is undoubtedly The Mansion with PS I Love You. They’ve had an unbelievable year and it seems fitting that they will be closing it out with a hometown show.
The year that was 2010 started off pretty amazing for the band with P4K finally flipping over the Diamond Rings/PS I Love You 7″ and giving “Facelove” the love it deserves in January. They released a single in March, toured – not only outside of the 613 but extensively – and released their full-length in October on the respected label Paper Bag Records. That record, Meet Me at the Muster Station, is making all sorts of Best of 2010 lists for good reason.
If you can, check PS I Love You out on New Year’s. For all up coming dates see their myspace.
-Dec. 31 w/ Cherry Chapstick @ The Mansion, Kingston
-Jan 15 w/ Two Door Cinema Club + TokyoPolice Club @ Koolhaus, Toronto
-Jan 16 w/ Two Door Cinema Club + TokyoPolice Club @ Club Soda, Montreal
They played as part of the 2009 Salvation Army Winter Relief Benefit. Here is their (very, very short) set from a year ago. Enjoy & Happy New Year’s.
PS I Love You, Salvation Army Winter Relief Benefit, The Mansion, 22 December 2009 (early show)
1. Meet Me at the Muster Station
2. Breadends
3. Get Over
4. amazing stuff (talk)
5. Starfield
6. Facelove
Get yourself the LP, the EP, the single, the shirts etc etc at Paper Bag. If you act quick (before Jan. 2) you can get free shipping and 30% off your order, using the code BOXINGDAY. Go! Shop! [note: the first vinyl pressing of the album is now sold out but I am told that a new pressing (green!) is on its way]
December 21, 2010
Salvation Army Winter Relief Benefit TONIGHT at Zappa’s Lounge
Just a reminder that this year’s Salvation Army Winter Relief Benefit is taking place TONIGHT at Zappa’s Lounge. Get out there and enjoy the best thing about Kingston in December.
Last year’s event was a little different than previous years – new venue & two shows – but it featured all the things you come to expect from a Winter Relief Benefit after 15 years: great local musicians, cover songs, folks hopping onstage to give a helping hand when needed, and good times had by all. I attended the early show which did not have a proper Weeping Tile set, but Sarah Harmer did treat us to a nice selection of (mostly cover) songs. She started off with the absolutely lovely “Huron Carol” – which dates back, amazingly, to 1643.
Happy Holidays everyone.
Sarah Harmer, Salvation Army Winter Relief Benefit, The Mansion, 22 December 2009 (early show)
* Huron Carol
* I am Aglow
* Christmas in Prison (John Prine cover)
* Gone for Good (Shines cover)
* Fairy Tale of New York (w/ Chris Kelly)
Donate to the Salvation Army.
Feats of Strength Montreal Holiday Compilation 2010
With only a few short days until Christmas, you probably would rather have a hole in the head than hear “Jingle Bell Rock” one more time. Never fear, Michael Wray (of Mixylodian) has put together another awesome compilation of non-traditional holiday tunes from (mostly) Montreal musicians.
If you were lucky, you caught last year’s “Feats of Strength” mix, which features great songs by favourite Montreal acts including Adam & the Amethysts, Jessie Stein (The Luyas) & Mixylodian, and others. This year’s installment continues the tradition of presenting holiday-themed tunes from refreshing and unexpected angles.
There is something for everyone in this compilation. From the very lovely (Abigail Lapell’s Driedle Song), to the naughty (the sleigh bells and steel drum – rocking Inapropriate Christmas Song by Mixylodian & Santa Suit Tattoo (XMAS 4 EVA) by Amber & Erin [of Nightwood]), to the superfun (Hamilton Trading Co.‘s Long Johns & the songs by The Sunnies [dl the whole album for their bonus track]), the wonderfully weird (Parlovr‘s two songs), and the topical (Wikileaks Winter by Banana Lazuli), with much more.
There is no reason why you shouldn’t get this holiday album – it is chock-full of great tunes for the festive season, it may very well will introduce you to a bunch of great new bands and it is FREE. Thanks Montreal!
Download the full compilation here.
Say thx to Wray & treat yourself by buying “Wild in Church”.
B(oot)log 