Happy Birthday Frankie Lee Sims

Remembering Gulf Coast guitar slinger Frankie Lee Sims with a couple of rockin' blues classics. 

Watch the New York Dolls on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert

Here are the Dolls performing Personality Crisis and Trash at the Long Beach Auditorium on July 24, 1974.

The new Radio Birdman film you won't see at Hot Docs 2016

Watch the trailer for John Meredith's Into The Maelstrom doc and wait for the DVD.

Watch D'Angelo perform Prince's Sometimes It Snows In April

Appropriately enough, Maya Rudolph & Gretchen Lieberum of Princess accompanied D'Angelo.  

Happy Birthday Krzysztof Komeda

Remembering the composer/pianist with his Requiem for John Coltrane and Knife In The Water OST.

Googoosh @ Ricoh Coliseum, April 30

After checking a few of the Persian soul diva's classics (below), you can get tickets for her T.O. show right here.

Happy Birthday Duane Eddy!

Celebrating the man with the twangy guitar's 78th birthday with some early gems.  

Writing On The Wall vs. The Zodiac

Writing On The Wall cut a whumpin' version of Mort Garson's psychsploitation curio Aries: The Fire-Fighter.

Lee "Scratch" Perry & Subatomic Soundsystem @ Danforth Music Hall, May 14

Celebrate Lee Perry's 80th birthday with Scratch and his pals in Toronto. Get tickets right here. 

Producer, mixer and Grammy-winning reggae dub artist, Lee “Scratch” Perry has been overturning tradition and confounding conventional wisdom for more than five decades. In the process, the widely acknowledged father of dub reggae became one of the most important artist/producers in contemporary music.

Born in Jamaica in 1936, Lee Perry began in the music business in the 1950’s and by the 1960’s became known for his innovative production techniques as well as his eccentric character. His breakthrough single "People Funny Boy" – a shot at Joe Gibbs following his 1967 Coxsone Dodd diss "Run For Cover"  – was notable in 1968 for its innovative use of sampling as well as a chugging beat that would soon become known as reggae. It also sold an estimated 60,000 copies in Jamaica alone. Concurrent with his own releases with the Upsetters, Perry produced numerous reggae artists at his Black Ark studio, including some of the finest work by Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Heptones, and Max Romeo.

After his famed Black Ark Studio was consumed by fire, Perry took refuge in England and the U.S., performing live and making records with collaborators from a wide range of musical genres, all artists who had been inspired by his innovative work: British dub producers Adrian Sherwood and Mad Professor, punk legends The Clash and Public Image, rap innovators the Beastie Boys, and in recent years the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, Funkadelic's George Clinton, rocker Andrew W.K., electronic artists like The Orb, and of course NYC bass music specialists Subatomic Sound System who back in 2007 collaborated with Dubblestandart on Scratch's first dubstep remixes.

For over six years in the USA, Subatomic Sound System has been Scratch's go to band for bringing his Black Ark Studio sound live to the stage, a unique hybrid configuration that brings together a handful of live musicians like veteran Jamaican percussionist Larry McDonald with computers and live dub mixing of classic recordings as well as brand new sounds Scratch hears from outer space.  Lee “Scratch” Perry, now into his sixth decade as a pop-provocateur, remains one of the world’s most imaginative sonic architects.

Watch Perry's 80th birthday tour performance in Paris (below) followed by the trailer for Volker Schaner's new film Lee Perry's Vision of Paradise.

Russell Peters @ Massey Hall, Tuesday & Wednesday

Sunday Jam w/Leroy Sibbles & Jay Douglas @ Lula Lounge, Sunday

Here's a clip of Leroy performing Equal Rights with the Tamlins. The Sunday Jam starts at 5 pm sharp.

Matthew Halsall's spiritual jazz gem gets overdue vinyl release in May

Being a DJ himself, you'd think that Matthew Halsall would've had his On The Go album on wax much quicker. 

It's been a long wait but UK rising star jazz trumpeter Matthew Halsall's fantastic On The Go album from 2011 is finally being issued on vinyl as a limited double-LP edition on May 20.

Hailed as the "Best Jazz Album of the Year" at the 2012 Worldwide Awards, Halsall's third set on Gondwana label – featuring the stellar line-up of saxophonist Nat Birchall, pianist Adam Fairhall, bassist Gavin Barras and drummer Gaz Hughes with Rachael Gladwin on harp – has been specially remixed and remastered by Matt with George Atkins at 80 Hertz boasting three previously unissued bonus tracks.

Hopefully Matthew will have the good sense to re-press that Alice Coltrane tribute 12" he recorded with his Gondwana Orchestra (featuring the aforementioned harpist Rachel Gladwin) at the BBC's Maida Vale Studio released in a tiny edition last year. You can pre-order On The Go (Special Edition) right here.





Matthew Halsall - On The Go
1. Music For A Dancing Mind
2. Song For Charlie
3. The End Of Dukkha
4. Samatha
5. The Journey Home
6. The Move
7. Only You*
8. Singing Everyday*
9. Breathless* 
*bonus track

Dan Burke: The Last Music Man

Here's a David Kalinauskas short film about Toronto concert promoter Dan Burke.

SFJAZZ Collective salutes Michael Jackson @ Winter Garden Theatre, Saturday

David Sánchez, Miguel Zenón, Robin Eubanks, Sean Jones and company won't stop 'til you get enough. 

RIP Lonnie Mack, 1941-2016

Influential Indiana-born guitar slinger Lonnie Mack passed away Thursday at the age of 74.

Behind The Scenes: Gary Taxali art show

Dan Neumann snapped this intriguing shot at a recent art opening for celebrated Toronto artist Gary Taxali. 

Parquet Courts @ The Phoenix, Friday

Watch Brooklyn's stylish PC crew play three songs off Human Performance then read this new SPIN interview. 

One For The Weekend: Bob Dylan

Françoise Hardy & John Lennon appear in this Damien Rodriguez clip for Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (3rd take).

New video from Montreal darkwave duo Essaie Pas looks exactly like you'd expect... or hope

"La Chute" is off the Essaie Pas album Demain est une autre nuit on DFA. Kaspar'89 directed the clip.

Essaie Pas on tour:
April 21 – Paris, FR – Le Point Éphémère
April 22 – Bordeaux, FR – Café Pompier
April 28 – Namur, BE – Le Belvédère
April 29 – Brussels, BE – Homeplugged
April 30 – Arlon, BE – Les Aralunaires Festival
May 2 – Lille, FR – La Péniche
May 3 – Amsterdam, NL – De School
May 11 – Rennes, FR – Bar’Hic
May 12 – Brest, FR – Le Vauban
May 13 – Leipzig, DE – Institut für Zukunft #
May 14 – Metz, FR – Les Trinitaires
May 17 – Paris, FR – Le Silencio
May 18 – London, UK – The Waiting Room
May 19 – Berlin, DE – Kantine am Berghain
May 21 – Brighton, UK – The Great Escape
# w/ O/H (Orphx + Huren)

Los Lobos @ Koerner Hall, Saturday

Here's that legendary band from East L.A. sounding better than ever after 42 years together. 

Tupac takes on Trump from beyond the grave

The late Tupac Shakur drops some science on Donald Trump and wealth inequality back in 1992. 

Halifax's Erin Costelo @ The Burdock, Thursday

Check out Erin's powerful performance of Low off her just-released Down Below, The Status Quo album.

Don't miss Daddy Long Legs w/ Catl & Noble Savages @ The Horseshoe, Thursday

Badass blues busters Daddy Long Legs top an explosive triple bill w/ Catl & Hamilton's Noble Savages – kaboom!  

Catch Daddy Long Legs & Catl in London and Montreal this weekend...

Creepy cool 70s sound library gem Infini rescued from obscurity by Omni

Created by Italian sound library kingpins Fabio Borgazzi (aka Fabio Fabor) and Armando Sciascia (aka H. Tical, Blue Phantom, Peter Hamilton, etc), Infini is a masterpiece of avant hauntological orchestration. Prepared pianos collide with subterranean VCS3 synthesis and mournful ornate strings, spectral choral arrangements ride menacing drones and eldritch bass rumbles in a phantasmic cinematic skin. Rod Serling would've been impressed.

Originally recorded for Sciascia's own Vedette label between 1970 and 1971 (left) then repackaged for film production use by the esteemed French sound library operation Musique Pour L’Image in 1972, these sublime mini-symphonies of apocalyptic dread are finally getting their first-ever commercial release. This limited-run 200gm vinyl version of Infini – put out for Record Store Day by the Australian-based Omni Recording Corporation run by electronic music producer David Thrussell (see Soma, Snog, Black Lung) – has been remastered from the first generation analogue master tapes and comes with four additional tracks from the original sessions along with authoritative liner notes by Alvin Lucia and some snazzy inner sleeve graphics inspired by 70s vintage Musique Pour L'Image design.

While you're trying to track down a copy of Infini, check out Thrussell's delightfully dark Down mix of rare Italian sound library tracks – including a couple of gems from Borgazzi and Sciascia – he assembled for the excellent music blog A Sound Awareness back in 2013.

 A few of Omni's other recent reissues worth investigating

Hip Hop before Hip Hop: Faust

Here's Faust performing "The Lurcher" on John Peel's BBC show broadcast March 1, 1973.

Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet w/ The Sadies @ Lee's Palace, Friday & Saturday

T.O. photographer Rick McGinnis posted some fantastic early shots of both groups on his blog today.  

To coincide with Record Store Day (Saturday, April 16), Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet are releasing a sumptuous box set in collaboration with Yep Roc Records. OH, I GUESS WE WERE A FUCKING SURF BAND AFTER ALL... gathers the original three Shadowy Men albums, newly remastered in deluxe gatefold sleeves, with expanded artwork, essays by band associates and a chihuahua. New compilation, entitled SOFT POLISHED SEPARATES gathers stray singles, soundtrack cuts, early cassettes, BBC John Peel Sessions, their CBC Brave New Waves session, and highlights from the band's LP with B-52s vocalist Fred Schneider. All of this is stuffed into a snazzy box rivalling the original cast recording of Jesus Christ Superstar in thickness and strictly limited to 750 copies. Here's a snazzy teaser clip...

Souljazz Orchestra release Oceanic Suite by side-project Atlantis Jazz Ensemble

Check out the tracks "Yemaya" and "Leviathan" off AJE's Oceanic Suite debut out today on Marlow Records.

One For The Weekend: Neno Exporta Som

Here's the Brazilian soul classic Deixa a Tristeza by Neno Exporta Som on Discos Copacabana from 1971. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Logic System

Logic System is the brainchild of Moog maestro Hideki Matsutake of YMO fame and Ryo Kawakami.

Happy Birthday Daniel Clowes

Here's Daniel discussing his latest graphic novel Patience with stylish Canuck cartoonist Seth. 

The Jayhawks return to Toronto June 10 & 11

Gary Louris and crew will unveil their new sound at Lee's Palace (June 10) & The Horseshoe (June 11). 

Miranda Mulholland & Andrew Penner release Harrow Fair debut single May 6

Harrow Fair is Miranda Mulholland and Andrew Penner. On May 6, the dynamic guitar/fiddle duo will release their debut 7" single – coupling I Will Be Your Man with a cover of Hank Williams’ I Told A Lie To My Heart – on Roaring Girl Records/Fontana North.  Harrow Fair has a few dates coming up later in April, with more to be announced soon.

Now seasoned veterans of the Toronto music scene, Miranda Mulholland (Great Lake Swimmers, Belle Starr) and Andrew Penner (Sunparlour Players) started writing music together while working in the Soulpepper Theatre Company over the last few years. Since then, they have built a musical framework that allows both of them the freedom to use their considerable strengths as both singers and players while collaborating on compelling new compositions enhanced by rootsy guitar and fiddle interplay.

Harrow Fair seems like the perfect platform to showcase Mulholland's exceptional talent as a vocal stylist which has thus far been overshadowed by her fearsome fiddling skills. Have a listen to Harrow Fair's inventive reworking of I Told A Lie To My Heart below.


Upcoming Tour Dates
April 21 – Toronto, ON – 2016 Waterkeeper Gala at CBC (25 John St.), 7-9pm
April 23 – Huntsville, ON – Hunstville House Concert
April 24 – Wakefield, QC – The Black Sheep Inn (early show)


Harrow Fair links
site: www.harrowfair.ca
twitter: www.twitter.com/harrowfairmusic
facebook: www.facebook.com/HarrowFairMusic

Happy Birthday Frank Emilio

Remembering Cuban jazz great Frank Emilio with a 1997 performance of Midnight Theme with Jane Bunnett.

Behind The Scenes: Gregorian Chat

The Lawn's Richard & Patrick Gregory aren't discussing the No Flash, Please! launch at The Horseshoe May 15.

Andrew Bird @ Danforth Music Hall, Wednesday

Here's Andrew and company playing Capsized, Roma Fade, Left Handed Kisses & Neil's Harvest.

Happy Birthday Herbie Hancock

Celebrating Herbie Hancock's 76th birthday with a fabulous 1974 performance of Chameleon.

Peter Walker @ The Tranzac, Saturday

Finger-style guitar virtuoso Peter Walker – a big influence on Ben Chasny – makes a rare Toronto appearance.

My Darling Clementine @ Mohawk Place (Buffalo), Monday

It might be time for a road trip since My Darling Clementine isn't playing Toronto on this tour.

Cooder - White - Skaggs @ Massey Hall, tonight

Watch Ry Cooder talk about his guitars after a classic Jimmy Martin tune.

Whaddya mean you don't know Cyril Diaz

Afro Ritmo recently put out a limited-run Cyril Diaz single featuring "Lena" and "Madame Killio" (below). 

Charlie Parr 10" EP out on Record Store Day

The 5-song 10" EP on green vinyl – with sweet Shawna Gilmore sleeve art – includes the tunes below.

Happy Birthday Carl Perkins

Remembering Carl Perkins on his day with a couple of classic early performances.

One For The Weekend: Nancy Sinatra

Here's an overlooked 1968 gem written and produced by Lee Hazlewood with a swingin' Billy Strange arrangement.