Neko Case marks 25 years of recording with Wild Creatures collection

Now 25 years since The Virginian, Neko Case shares the 23-song digital comp Wild Creatures with one new tune "Oh, Shadowless" 

Neko Case – Wild Creatures

1. I'm an Animal (Middle Cyclone)

2. Lady Pilot (Blacklisted)

3. Halls of Sarah (Hell-On)

4. Man (The Worse Things Get...)

5. Star Witness (Fox Confessor Brings The Flood)

6. I Wish I Was the Moon (Blacklisted)

7. The Next Time You Say "Forever" (Middle Cyclone)

8. Favorite (Canadian Amp)

9. Hell-On (Hell-On)

10. Hold On, Hold On (Fox Confessor Brings The Flood)

11. Polar Nettles (Middle Cyclone)

12. Wild Creatures (The Worse Things Get...)

13. Furnace Room Lullaby (Furnace Room Lullaby)

14. A Widow's Toast (Fox Confessor Brings The Flood)

15. Deep Red Bells (Blacklisted)

16. This Tornado Loves You (Middle Cyclone)

17. Winnie (Hell-On)

18. Night Still Comes (The Worse Things Get...)

19. Maybe Sparrow (Fox Confessor Brings The Flood)

20. Things That Scare Me (Blacklisted)

21. The Tigers Have Spoken (The Tigers Have Spoken)

22. Set Out Running (Furnace Room Lullaby)

23. Oh, Shadowless (previously unreleased)

You can get tickets for Neko's upcoming concerts at her site: https://nekocase.com/tour. See dates below. Chicken not included. 

Neko Case Wild Creatures tour 2022

06/01 Austin, TX - Paramount Theatre +


06/02 San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger +


06/03 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater +


06/04 Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall +


06/07 Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriet's #


06/08 San Diego, CA - Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay #


06/10 Los Angeles, CA - Theatre at the Ace Hotel #


06/11 San Luis Obispo, CA - Fremont Theater #


06/12 Berkeley, CA - The UC Theatre #


06/13 Grass Valley, CA - The Center for the Arts #


06/15 Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre %


06/16 Seattle, WA - Woodland Park Zoo %


06/17 Portland, OR - Pioneer Courthouse Square *


06/18 Spokane, WA - Bing Crosby Theater %


06/19 Boise, ID - Egyptian Theatre %


06/22 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^


06/23 Omaha, NE - The Admiral Theater **


06/24 St. Louis, MO - Sheldon Concert Hall **


08/28 Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl ~~ 


8/29 Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre ~~


09/01 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue ~~


09/02 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre ~~


09/03 Evanston, IL - Out of Space @ Temperance Beer Co. ^^


09/04 Nelsonville, OH - Nelsonville Music Festival


09/06 Jersey City, NJ - White Eagle Hall ##


09/07 Boston, MA - Emerson Colonial Theatre ##


09/08 Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel ##


09/09 Vienna, VA - Filene Center at Wolf Trap ++


09/10 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer ##


09/12 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel ##


09/13 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse ##


9/16 Anchorage, AK - Alaska Center for the Performing Arts


9/17 Fairbanks, AK - Hering Auditorium

+ 
with M. Ward

# 
with Leyla McCalla

% 
with Gabby Moreno 

* 
with Indigo Girls

^ 
with Andrew Bird and Iron & Wine

** 
with Bendigo Fletcher

++ 
with She & Him

~~ 
with Disq

^^ 
with Courtney Marie Andrews

## 
with Sean Rowe

Whaddya mean you don't know Ted Toppin

Toronto's Ted Toppin released this rap record as Mr. T back in '81. The synth-tweaked track sounds like a William Onyeabor jam!

That time the New Music explored the Toronto reggae scene in 1981

Here's some rare footage of Leroy Sibbles, Ernie Smith and Carlene Davis shot for the New Music feature Reggae In Toronto. 

Ian Blurton's Future Now previews Second Skin album with "Like A Ghost"

"Like A Ghost" is off the forthcoming Ian Blurton's Future Now album Second Skin out July 15th via Pajama Party/Seeing Red.

You can pre-order the new Second Skin album – featuring wicked sleeve art by Jeremy Bruneel – via Bandcamp right here. 

R.I.P. Ronnie Hawkins, 1935-2022

Sadly, Ronnie Hawkins – Canada's Arkansas-born godfather of rock 'n' roll – has passed away. There won't be another like him.

Here's Alejandro Escovedo solo in Austin, 1994

The resolution ain't that great but here are two important performance clips of Alejandro Escovedo solo in Austin back in 1994. 

Happy Birthday Tom T. Hall

Remembering singer/songwriter Tom T. Hall with a 2011 performance of "That's How I Got To Memphis"  at the Bluebird Café. 

That time Hasil Adkins appeared on Ghoul A Go-Go in 2002

Boone County rock 'n' roll rebel Hasil Adkins made an appearance on the surreal cable-TV kids show Ghoul A Go-Go in 2002.

Kronos Quartet vs. Dick Dale & His Del-Tones

You'd think David Harrington's Kronos crew hasn't much hope against surf guitar great Dick Dale on "Miserlou Twist" but wait... 

Glenn Milchem shares video for "Fates Conspire" shot by Monica Guddat

Check out the video for "Fates Conspire" the title track off the 2019 album from Blue Rodeo drummer Glenn Milchem. 

Here's the scoop from Glenn...

"A few years ago I made a solo acoustic album called Fates Conspire, recorded by my dear friend John Borra and filmed by my wife, Monica Guddat. The idea was to release a video of the recording of each song but shortly after we finished, Monica’s mom had a devastating stroke and the video project was set aside so Monica could devote her spare time and energy to caring for her mom. Recently, John Borra offered to pick up the reins on some of the video editing and here’s the first result of his generous efforts - the title track, Fates Conspire, which I wrote for our wedding."

Fates Conspire by Glenn Milchem is available via all streaming services. Watch the "Fates Conspire" video below. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Aris San

Greek singer/guitarist Aris San was the subject of a 2007 film, The Mystery of Aris San. Check it out along with a few gems. 

One For The Weekend: XTC

Here's a video for XTC's "Melt The Guns" off their 1982 album English Settlement. 

WeWantSounds releasing Saravah label 2LP comp in July

The well-chosen 16 track label survey includes gems by Pierre Barouh, Brigitte Fontaine, Marva Broome & Baroque Jazz Trio.

Here's the scoop...

Wewantsounds is delighted to present the first retrospective on vinyl of Saravah Records, one of the most influential French labels founded in Paris by singer, songwriter and producer Pierre Barouh in 1966. Featuring Brigitte Fontaine, Jacques Higelin, Alfred Panou, and many rare tracks – a few accompanied in the studio by members of the Art Ensemble Of Chicago while in France – reissued on vinyl for the first time, the set gives a glimpse of the free-form, groovy sound of the label between 1965 and 1976. Supervised by Pierre Barouh's son and Saravah historian, Benjamin Barouh, The 2-LP gatefold set Pierre Barouh & The Saravah Sound (out July 22) comes with a four page insert featuring liner notes (English/French) by Benjamin plus an exclusive interview of Barouh's partner Fernand Boruso by Jacques Denis telling fascinating anecdotes around the label.

Pierre Barouh is a legend in France. A gifted singer in the 60s, he became an icon with the Claude Lelouch film "Un Homme et Une Femme" in 1966 that made him a star. Indeed, in 1965 while in Brazil, on the insistence of Vinicius de Moraes, he recorded French version of 'Samba de Bênção' with Baden Powell on a revox, retitled 'Samba Saravah' and played it to his friend Lelouch who fell in love with the song and decided to use it in the film. Barouh plays his own character in it and also wrote the score with composer Francis Lai. The rest is history: The film and the score became huge hits. ​But instead of cashing in on this success, Barouh decided to develop Saravah Publishing into an label and a recording studio with his old friend and associate Fernand Boruso to develop projects in a truly independent and original way.

​Through their film connections, came Brigitte Fontaine and Jacques Higelin who were already making their marks in the French underground and had recorded ‘Cet Enfant Que Je T'avais Fait’ for the 1968 film "Les Encerclés". Saravah signed them on the spot and the song, arranged by Jean Claude Vannier, which would become a cult classic, appeared on Fontaine's breakthrough debut LP "Brigitte Fontaine Est... Folle." Fontaine would go on to record several albums for Saravah - often with her partner Areski Belkacem - including "Comme A La Radio" in 1969 with Art Ensemble of Chicago. The latter are also featured on 'Mystifying Mama' by Marva Broome and 'Je Suis Un Sauvage' by Alfred Panou, an African actor and singer who'd worked with Jean-Luc Godard.

​Pierre Barouh pioneered Music from Africa and Latin America as he'd spent time in Brazil (in 1969 he directed 'Saravah' a fascinating documentary about the Rio music scene with Baden Powell, Maria Bethania, Paulinho da Viola and Pixinguinha). He released two albums by Gabonese artist Pierre Akendenge, whose 'Orema Ka-ka-ka' from the 1976 album 'Africa Obota' is featured here.

Through Boruso, Saravah also released a handful of jazz albums including the "Pianos Puzzle" series from which come Rene Urtreger's 'Tchac Poum Poum', Georges Arvanitas' 'Trane's Call' and Maurice Vander's 'Sicilienne'. The label also ventured in fascinating recordings mixing Jazz, experimental music and pop by Baroque Jazz Trio, Michel Roques or Cohelmec Ensemble.

The set also features rare singles by Beartrice Arnac (then Boruso's girlfriend) with the jazzy 'Le Bruit et le Bruit' and Jacques Higelin's 'Je Jouais le Piano', one of the first songs recorded for the label and which has never been reissued since. The set ends with a haunting duet between Pierre Barouh and Baden Powell, recorded in 1965 during the same Rio session as 'Samba Saravah'.

Fernand Boruso, called “Fern” left in 72. After a few successful years, the label went into decline and would never capture the energy of the beginnings. Saravah would nonetheless leave a rich and fascinating body of work whose influence keeps growing over the decades. Pierre's Son, Benjamin, has been preserving the label’s archives for 30 years and is working on a new documentary “L’État de Vacance” on Saravah in the 70s, out soon. 

Pre-order Pierre Barouh and the Saravah Sound via Bandcamp right here. Check out Marva Broome's dancefloor fave "Mystifying Mama" and Brigitte Fontaine's "Comme a la Radio" and Alfred Panou's "Je Suis Un Savage" (all backed by the Art Ensemble of Chicago) following the track listing below.

Various Artists – Pierre Barouh and the Saravah Sound

A1 Marva Broome  Mystifying Mama

A2 Baroque Jazz Trio  Delhi Daily

A3 Brigitte Fontaine  Comme À La Radio

A4 Maurice Vander  Sicilienne

B1 E.D.F.  E.D.F. Power

B2 Béatrice Arnac  Le Bruit Et Le Bruit

B3 Michel Roques  Monsieur Chimpanzé

C1 René Urtreger  Tchac Poum Poum

C2 Jacques Higelin  Je Jouais Le Piano

C3 Brigitte Fontaine & Jacques Higelin  Cet Enfant Que Je T’avais Fait

C4 Alfred Panou  Je Suis Un Sauvage

D1 Georges Arvanitas  Trane’s Call

D2 Pierre Akendengue  Orema Ka Ka Ka

D3 Cohelmec Ensemble  Desert Angel

D4 Areski  80 A.B.

D5 Pierre Barouh  Saudade (Un Manque Habité)

That time Jörg Evers struck back with the PACK in Leonburg, Germany in 1995

Here's Jörg Evers and his sweaty crew bashing out a few Bavarian punk classics in Leonburg in 1995 followed by a 1977 clip.  

Kate Clover vs. X

Check out Kate Clover's recent version of X's "Your Phone's Off The Hook" following an X performance from 1980.

Happy Birthday Phil Ranelin!

Celebrating the birthday of Tribe Records co-founder Phil Ranelin with one of his classics.

R.I.P. guitar great Thom Bresh, son of Merle Travis, 1948-2022

Sadly, guitarist and stuntman Thom Bresh – of Chiyo & The Crescents – has passed away. He'll be greatly missed.

Watch Robert Cage, Elmo Williams and T-Model Ford in Buffalo, 1998

The late Elmo Williams (above), Robert Cage and T-Model Ford each kicked out the jams at Buffalo's New World Records in '98. 

R.I.P. Cathal Coughlan of Microdisney, Fatima Mansions, Telefís

Sadly, singer/songwriter Cathal Coughlan of Microdisney & Fatima Mansions has passed away at 61. He'll be greatly missed. 

Happy Birthday Charles Earland!

Remembering Hammond hero Charles Earland on his birthday with Black Talk! producer Bob Porter and a couple of tracks. 

Glasgow's Nimbus Sextet launch Forward Thinker on May 27th

Listen to a few tracks from the Nimbus Sextet's new Nuovi Fratelli-produced Forward Thinker album below. 

Here's the scoop...

On May 27th, promising Glasgow-based contemporary jazz combo The Nimbus Sextet will be releasing Forward Thinker, the follow-up to their Acid Jazz label debut album Dreams Fulfilled issued back in 2020. Recorded and produced again by the Nuovi Fratelli team of Wayne Dickson & Luigi Pasquini,  Forward Thinker is a sophisticated seven-tracker, with intricate arrangements by bandleader and keyboardist Joe Nichols, a jazz-funk sound that nods heavily to Herbie Hancock et al’s 70s output. 

Title track ‘Forward Thinker’ is a seriously nimble and funky bass and drums propelled cosmic jazz-dancer. Despite the high energy levels, this is probably the most restrained track on the album, the super sharp brass and constant groove making this an exhilarating winner, reminiscent of Idris Muhammed. A surefire jazz-dance staple in the making. 

Forward Thinker’ features trombone from Nathaniel Cross (Solange, Macy Gray), and tuba from Jonny Enser (Nubiyan Twist). It marries a 70s jazz-funk ethos with the nu-jazz aesthetic of Moses Boyd and Theon Cross. Fitting then, that the single's primary featured artist is the latter's brother Nathaniel Cross. Bandleader Joe Nichols called on long term collaborators Nuovi Fratelli to help mold the piece into a spacey jazz-dance track that bridged the gap between classic Dexter Wansel and modern day jazz anarchists Cykada.

Nichols gives us an insight into the single: “Forward Thinker's high octane, propulsive energy delves into the inner mechanisms of my mind when ambition and the need for me to move forward in my life takes control of me. The horn lines represent my scatter-gun brain as it darts about from one place to next when in this mode, while the groove is the engine of my creative drive. Conceptually as well as musically, it is the album's centerpiece, setting the stage for the exploration of my mind and mental health that the album journeys through. Nuovi Fratelli provided me with the mechanics to realize this vision on the title track.

Nuovi Fratelli

Says Wayne Dickson (Nuovi Fratelli): "Forward Thinker was the greatest challenge that Luigi and I had yet faced on a Nimbus Sextet production, and the most exciting. Colin Curtis had previously commissioned us to remix STR4TA's 'Rhythm In Your Mind'. In retrospect, this was intrinsic to the direction we took Forward Thinker in. 

"We had no hang ups about letting any of our influences into the production. My love for 70s era David Rubinson productions of the Pointer Sisters and Herbie Hancock are obvious from the outset, but when we move into the space-age section we fused elements of Dexter Wansel and Salsoul-era Candido. But there was still something missing. Luigi and I are both Giorgio Moroder fans, so he played an 'I Feel Love'-esque synth bass line that took it where it needed to go - the stratosphere! We also wanted to make sure the track grooved in the way that we’ve come to expect from the fantastic Space Grapes releases. There are so many disparate influences on Forward Thinker from all of us."

‘Woodview’ offers a short piano piece of deep and emotional contemplation that suggests the wistful romanticism of Alice Coltrane. This leads seamlessly into the slow burning ‘Another Place’. Setting off where ‘Woodview’ ended, the gentle piano led piece is a supporting vehicle initially for trumpeter Euan Allardice’s lyrical soloing, before an abrupt change of direction as the whole band breaks into a staccato Latin-ish rhythm that unleashes a raw burst of Michael Butcher on the sax. 

The album's second side offers a concept trilogy where Nichols explores the emotional journey that he went on during lockdown. ‘Search For Solace' sees the band breaking out and really exploring their ensemble playing. The slick drums and bass of Alex Palmer and Mischa Stevens hold down the hip hop funk groove alongside Joe Nichols’ gorgeous piano riffing as the piece grows and expands with standout solos and some delicious moments of release, especially during a wonderful psychedelic synth section that artfully picks up into the deep, rhythmically complex second movement ‘From The Shadows’ that carries us back gently to earth. 

The conclusion of the trilogy and first single from the album, ‘To The Light’ is another killer dancing tune that epitomises the band’s ability to absolutely own the jazz-funk groove. Like their playlist-busting version of Yussef Kamaal’s ‘Lowrider’ on their Helix EP, Nimbus Sextet make this appear easy. Nichols’ fingers are on fire as he completes run after run of hyper-speed funkiness over a hard-hitting horn and rhythm section. 

The Nimbus Sextet make their Paris debut at New Morning on May 26th and return to the London stage at Pizza Express Live on May 27th - the album release date. 

Get the Forward Thinker album via Bandcamp right here. Check out "To The Light," "High Time" feat. Charlotte de Graaf and the album's title track "Forward Thinker" feat.  Nathaniel Cross below. 

Happy Birthday Daniel Humair!

Celebrating the birthday of musician and painter Daniel Humair with an interview and a few stellar performances on drums. 

The Beau-Marks vs. Duane Eddy

Admittedly, Duane Eddy's rip through "Peter Gunn" is a classic but Montreal's Beau-Marks have their own spin on Mancini's gem.

Happy Birthday Sun Ra!

Celebrating Sun Ra's earth birth with the Don Letts 2005 doc Brother From Another Planet and a 1988 segment on WPVI-TV.

90s Nostalgia: The Mummies

The Mummies played a loft party in '91 followed by a well-bandaged barrage of punk rock at CBGBs on March 13, 1993. 

Watch Charlie Parr perform "1922 Blues"

Check out Charlie Parr playing "1922 Blues" shot by Will Ross for Western AF at Cloverlick Banjo Shop in Fort Collins, CO. 

R.I.P. Bernard Wright, 1963-2022

Sadly, Bernard Wright, best known for his well-sampled 1981 album 'Nard, has passed away in Dallas after being struck by a car. 

Happy Birthday Marc Ribot!

Celebrating the Marc Ribot's birthday with an interview, the 2007 film The Lost String by Anaïs Prosaïc and a solo performance.

That time Teenage Head played Winnipeg in 1981

Here's Frankie Venom and crew rockin' Winnipeg's Norlander Hotel in 1981 along with some other rare live audio. 

One For The Weekend: Dog Trumpet

Dog Trumpet's Reg Mombassa and Peter O'Doherty just shared an ace video for their timely new tune. Watch and enjoy. 

R.I.P. Evángelos Papathanassíou aka Vangelis, 1943-2022

Vangelis of Aphrodite's Child reportedly died at a hospital in France while being treated for COVID-19. He'll be greatly missed.

Michael Rault previews new album with Starsky & Hutch-inspired video

Montreal's Michael Rault's new self-titled album is out June 10th. Check out his "Neither Love Nor Money" clip and an interview.

Here's the scoop...
A remarkable re-imagination of '70s pop perfection, Michael Rault's new eponymous album began to take shape during a time of endings. Michael, on the cusp of turning 30 and freshly off the road promoting 2018's A New Day Tonight, had just ended a romantic relationship, and cut ties with his management and touring band. Returning home to Montreal, he hunkered down in his bedroom studio and began writing. From the drug-fueled, dance floor slow-stepper, "Neither Love Nor Money", to the introspective "Inside Your Heart", to the tongue-in-cheek playfulness of "Champagne", the body of work he created in this epoch of uncertainty is proof of just how crucial that time of endings really was. Michael delivers a lush, timeless collection of songs - continuing his increasingly profound exploration into the worlds of progressive pop, psych folk, yacht rock and beyond. 

You can pre-order Michael Rault's new album via Bandcamp right here. Watch Ryan Baxley's video for "Neither Love Nor Money" followed by Mark Neeley's animated clip for "Exactly What I Needed" and a fairly ho-hum podcast interview. 

R.I.P. singer/songwriter Bob Neuwirth, 1939-2022

Remembering the great singer/songwriter and painter Bob Neuwirth with a chat and a performance of "Annabelle Lee"

LINKS

Sid Griffin salutes Bob Neuwirth on the Sid Podcast

Watch John Doe's video for "Destroying Angels"

"Destroying Angels" is off John Doe's new album Fables In A Foreign Land (out Friday) which you can get right here.

Superchunk plays Toronto's Axis Club (formerly the Mod Club), June 8

Here's Superchunk performing "Wild Loneliness," the title track off their new album. Get tickets for their Toronto show right here.

Happy Birthday Mark Mothersbaugh!

Celebrating Mark Mothersbaugh's birthday with DEVO's Riot Fest performance at Chicago's Douglass Park last September.  

That time Toronto's Deadly Snakes played the Mike Bullard Show

Watch Andre Ethier, Carson Binks and crew tear it up way back in 1998. 

Happy Birthday Jackie McLean!

Remembering saxophonist and educator Jackie McLean on his birthday with a short documentary and interview.

MC Serch vs. Don Cooper

Here's 3rd Bass rapper MC Serch taking on Don Cooper in a turtleneck throwdown over "Captain Spangle's Crystal Song"

Watch the Flamin' Groovies live at Cabaret Sauvage

Here's an hour-long performance by The Flamin' Groovies in Paris from April 29th. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Corky Hale

Here's the pilot episode of Corky Hale show starring the harpist/pianist and featuring her husband, songwriter Mike Stoller. 

90s Nostalgia: The Melvins at The Apocalypse Club, 1990

Here's King Buzzo and crew covering The Stooges, Blue Cheer, KISS and Green River in Toronto on May 11, 1990.

The Melvins – Apocalypse Club, Toronto 11/05/90

00:00 Eye Flys (cuts in)

05:34 Down On The Street (partial The Stooges cover)

06:10 Zodiac

10:19 Heater Moves and Eyes (partial)

12:36 At A Crawl

15:24 She (partial KISS cover) (cuts in)

16:31 Parchment Farm (partial Blue Cheer cover)

17:51 Creepy Smell

19:43 Grinding Process

21:55 Leeech (Green River cover)

24:40 Oven

26:03 Euthanasia

29:46 Ligature

33:16 Revulsion

38:36 We Reach (cuts out)

39:51 Raise A Paw (cuts in)

39:57 Green Honey

One For The Weekend: The Zeros

Watch the video for The Zeros' "In The Spotlight." They open for The MC5's Wayne Kramer at San Diego's Soda Bar on May 15.