Happy Birthday Walter Daniels!

Celebrating the birthday of bluesharp hero Walter Daniels with a couple of gems. Cheers to Olaf Jens for the ace caricature! 

90s Nostalgia: Yo La Tengo on The Wedge, 1997

Back in 1997, Wedge host Sook-Yin Lee had a chat with the members of Yo La Tengo in a Toronto home furnishings store. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Jean-Pierre Ferland

Back in 1970, Montreal's Jean-Pierre Ferland cut his classic Jaune album with David Spinozza, Tony Levin and Michel Robidoux. 

Aaron Goldstein & Eamon McGrath are Cut Corners @ Dakota Tavern, Thursday

Cut Corners are joined by Two Minute Miracles, Lenny Bull and Peter Elkas at the Dakota Tavern on Thursday. Doors at 8pm.

Here's the scoop...

"Cut Corners is the Toronto-based songwriting team of Aaron Goldstein and Eamon McGrath. Echoing the sounds of giants such as Gram Parsons, The Band, Teenage Fanclub and Neil Young, and approaching music with a grassroots, knuckles-to-the-dirt approach . With walls of fuzz and distortion punctuated by hints of glistening twang, Cut Corners creates vast sonic landscapes and cinematic musical passages

Peter Elkas band has also been added to the bill. "  – Yvonne Matsell, Dakota Tavern

 

Happy Birthday Bill Kirchen!

Celebrating the birthday of Telecaster master Bill Kirchen with a 95-minute Elderly Living Room Session you may have missed. 

Elvis Presley vs. Carl Mann

Tom Hanks' new favourite Elvis tune "I'm Comin' Home" (penned by Charlie Rich) was first cut by Carl Mann.  

Happy Birthday Raul Seixas!

Remembering Brazilian singer/songwriter and producer Raul Seixas with Tony & Frankye's "Trifocal" from 1971. Toca Raul!

Tami Neilson and Nive & The Deer Children play Harbourfront, July 15

Tami Neilson performs at 9:30 pm with Greenland's Nive & The Deer Children (8 pm) & Sweden's Sara Ajnnak (7 pm) for free!

Peter Astor shares "English Weather" from forthcoming Time On Earth album

The Loft & Weather Prophets mainman Peter Astor remains on brand with the moderately overcast "English Weather." 

Happy Birthday R.D. Burman!

Remembering legendary Bollywood composer R.D. Burman with "O Meri Jaan," a duet with partner Asha Bhosle from The Train. 

Happy Birthday Reggie Workman!

Celebrating the birthday of sound scientist, educator and NEA Jazz Master Reggie Workman.

LMNO, MED and Declaime join forces as LMD for Madlib-produced Flying High LP

LMD's Flying High debut – involving DJ Romes & J Rocc – is being released in a limited-edition run of white vinyl on July 29th. 

Here's the scoop...

Cali rap heavyweights LMNO, MED, and Declaime have joined forces to spit blunted tales, make wack emcees tremble, and showcase their lyrical gifts as the group LMD. And for their debut release, Flying High, they’ve called on another longtime collaborator—none other than living production legend Madlib—to produce the entire project. He provides his signature mind-bending instrumentals for his rapping cohorts, and the result is an organic, expertly crafted slice of hip-hop.

Flying High is the embodiment of that smoked-out, spiritually inclined boom-bap you’d want from this trio, with a few surprises along the way. You may also catch a contact high from a few of these cuts, because you can almost smell the weed smoke on “Flying High” and “The Cypher.” There are strong hits of soulful funk on the album, too, like the DJ Romes-assisted “Super,” as well as smoothed-out burners, like “Kool,” which features raps from Fly Anakin and scratches from J Rocc.

When they began to create the roots of Flying High in the mid-2010s, the three emcees hit the studio together with the shared belief that they needed to shake up the rap game by restoring the culture’s essence. And through plenty of trial and error—and bags of weed—LMD was inevitably formed in the way we get to hear them today. To say the wait was worth it would be a massive understatement, because this crew of hip-hop greats has certainly outdone themselves.

You can pre-order LMD's Flying High LP on white vinyl right here. Check out "Advice" below. 

Happy Birthday Eddie Floyd!

Cheers to singer/songwriter and guitarist Eddie Floyd on his 85th birthday. Here's a live rip through "Big Bird" from 2008. 

Watch Horace Silver with Andy Bey in 1972

Here's some rare footage of Andy Bey with Horace Silver along with Lee Morgan shot for the PBS Soul! program in 1972. 

Happy Birthday Frank Lowe!

Remembering tenor saxophonist Frank Lowe with a 1992 duet session with drummer Phillip Wilson. 

Versatile Jay Douglas sings the blues with "I'm In Love With You"

Soulful Toronto reggae great Jay Douglas proves he's equally adept at singing the blues with "I'm In Love With You" 

Here's the scoop...

Following the release of a string of reggae singles, including “Stone In Love With You,” “Muschange,” and “Pattidemic,” Jay Douglas slows things down and takes a stroll down the bass line to deliver a smashing blues single – “I’m In Love With You.”

Jay Douglas has always had a strong connection with blues and jazz, which shows throughout this icon’s catalog. What makes “I’m In Love With You” special is its ability to transport the listener to a time when big bands were the norm and warmly embraced. Warm brass swells and slick guitar riffs draw the listener in, reminiscent of the appeal of jazz bars back in the 60s.

“I’m In Love With You” is brimming with rich layers of instrumentation – even on multiple listens it’s hard to narrow a definitive list. That’s always been the appeal of Jay Douglas, and he doubles down on this musical prowess here in his newest single. 

“Many years ago, a promoter allowed me to put a band together for a famous blues singer from the USA whose name is Rosco Gordon. His music is one of the main reasons we're enjoying reggae music today. Working with Rosco gave me so much inspiration for my blues recordings. “I'm in Love With You” was produced by the maestro Eddie Bullen – lending to that blues style.”

Jay Douglas’ ability to connect with listeners and paint a picture with his lyrics is truly something special and always humbling. Growing up in Jamaica, Douglas was drawn to blues, jazz, gospel, country, mento, and calypso styles of music early on. He draws much of his inspiration from this love affair he has with these genres and writes music he loves that he believes will love him back. 

“Writing my music gives me a platform to share the truth and experience of my musical journey with others. The idea behind my music is all about the truth, and good vibrations for our souls. Just moving and grooving. The connections between me, my instruments, bandmasters, and collaborators - it's a love affair under one foundation to share with the younger generations who are the gems of the future.”

Jay Douglas found his introduction to the limelight in Montego Bay, Jamaica. From there, his natural charisma and irresistible charm have led to a successful and continuing 45+ year career in entertainment, through which he has developed a passion for American Blues, West Indian Rhythms, and Jazz Standards. 

Douglas’ tactile and impactful performances are the reason he was announced the winner of NOW Magazine’s “Toronto’s Best R&B Act” in 2006 and Toronto Reggae Awards “Male Reggae Vocalist Of The Year” in 2007. These accolades drew the attention of Seattle-based Light In The Attic, choosing Douglas as the Headliner of the “From Jamaica to Toronto” tour. 

More recently, Douglas was nominated for “Reggae Recording of the Year” at the 2012 JUNO Awards and was the recipient of “G98.7 FM Entertainment Award” at the Harry Jarome Awards. His most recent nomination was for his collaboration with General Trees on “Jah Children,” receiving his second JUNO nomination during 2020. 

Jay Douglas’ connection to his homeland has been the foundation of his career, which has led Douglas’ to form lifelong friendships and musical collaborations with many of the founding musicians of ska, rock steady, and reggae. His upcoming single teasing his new album is set to feature a collaboration with one of his old friends, the legendary guitarist Ernest Ranglin who just celebrated his 90th birthday.

Listen to “I’m In Love With You” below. Stream it on Spotify right here. 

 

One For the Weekend: Irene Torres

Toronto singer Irene Torres of the Santerias, Sugar Devils, Sol Azul and Tiki Collective breaks out on her own with "Madreselva"  

Here's the scoop...

Peruvian-born singer and visual artist Irene Torres has been active in Toronto's music scene for about a decade. As a front-woman for many groups, she has appeared with the Flamenco fusion ensemble, Santerias, the Afro Cuban band Battle of Santiago, the Tiki Collective, her original blues and soul music supergroup Irene Torres & The SugarDevils, and the Latin house project Sol Azul.

Greatly influenced by Irene's culture, heritage and unique life's journey, her solo debut features a fusion of the folkloric instrumentation of Peru and the raw storytelling of her original lyrics.

"Madreselva" is a story of the immigrant experience and the journey to ‘home’ in a new land.

"One day, as a child, not long after I had arrived from Lima, Peru to Toronto, I was walking down Brock St., and my nose caught the familiar scent of the beautiful Madreselva (Honeysuckle) blooms.

"I closed my eyes and it took me right back to my abuela and my neighbourhood in Lima. And I was home. Fragrantly strong, sweet and resilient, the Madreselva quickly climbs and covers anything it wants, sprawling over the city's concrete murals and metal fences. Madreselva's message: if I can thrive here, then so can you." - Irene Torres

Watch a performance of "Madreselva" below. Get "Madreselva" right here.

Redd Kross celebrates 35 years of Neurotica with deluxe double-vinyl reissue

The expanded reissue of 1987's Neurotica – including 12 unissued demos – is out Friday via Merge. Get it here.

LINKS

Flood Magazine Steven McDonald on the 35th anniversary of Redd Kross' Neurotica

Whaddya mean you don't know Chapuseaux y Damirón

Francisco Damirón's swingin' version of "Anabacoa" was voiced by José Ernesto Chapuseaux & Silvia De Grasse circa 1955.

The New Music investigates the popular hobby of record collecting in 1981

Intrepid New Music reporter J.D. Roberts went next door to interview Record Peddler boss Ben Hoffman about record collectors.

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day with Sugluk

Check out George Kakayuk, Tayara Papigatuk and pals get loose on "I Didn't Know" and "Fall Away" off Sugluk's second 1975 EP.  

Happy Summer Solstice!

We're ringing in summer with Ricky Nelson's proto-freakbeat version of "Summertime" from 1961. 

Portland's Eyelids w/ Beams @ The Horseshoe, Monday

Don't count on Peter Buck showing up for the Eyelids' set at the 'Shoe tonight but Beams will be there to get things started. 

Happy Birthday Lazy Lester!

Remembering Louisiana harp hero Lazy Lester on his birthday with "I'm A Lover Not A Fighter" 

Mulatu Astatke vs. Horace Silver

Mulatu Astatke put his own Ethiopian spin on Horace Silver's "Song For My Father" and called it "Yèkèrmo Sèw"

Chip Kinman explores synth minimalism with The Great Confrontation

Chip Kinman of The Dils and Blackbird delves into darkwave on The Great Confrontation out now via In The Red.   Photo: Karyn Cantor

R.I.P. Filmmaker M. Henry Jones

Sadly, filmmaker M. Henry Jones – who shot The Fleshtones' video for "Soul City" back in 1979 – has passed away. 

Michael Weston King salutes Jackie Leven with "The Final Reel"

"The Final Reel" appears on the Jackie Leven tribute album The Wanderer and Michael Weston King's album The Struggle. 

The Sadies share "All The Good" video from Colder Streams album

"All The Good" is off The Sadies' Colder Streams – out July 22 – which the now three-piece band will be touring to support. 

Here's the scoop...

On July 22, The Sadies’ will release Colder Streams, the long-awaited and highly anticipated 11th studio album produced by Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry. Watch Michael Dubue's video for “All The Good,” the fourth single from the forthcoming album.  

Recorded between 2019 and 2021 at Skybarn in Montreal, Canada, Colder Streams features 11 original compositions engineered and mixed by Pietro Amato except for “You Should Be Worried,” which was engineered and mixed by Michael Dubue and mastered by Peter J. Moore.  

With guest appearances by Jon Spencer (“No One’s Listening”), Michael Dubue (“End Credits”), Richard Reed Parry (“Message for Belial,” “No One’s Listening” and “Ginger Moon”), and the parents Good, Margaret on backing vocals for “So Far for So Few” and “All the Good,” with Bruce on autoharp on the latter, the cover art is original artwork by The Sadies’ bassist Sean Dean. 

The release of Colder Streams will mark the quartet’s final studio recording with founding member Dallas Good, who unexpectedly passed away in February. In preparation for the release, in October of 2021, Dallas penned what he coined the band’s “anti-bio” and seemingly said all there is to say about the new album, first noting, “Colder Streams is, by far, the best record that has ever been made by anyone. Ever.” 

 

“The Sadies’ world has been shaken,” said the band in a joint statement. “While we struggle with the loss of Dallas – our brother, friend, and bandmate – music has been our source of comfort and coping. We are honoured to announce the release of our new album, Colder Streams.  We are so proud of Dallas and the work that went into this album and look forward to sharing it with you.”

“I was utterly thrilled the Sadies asked me to produce this record,” said Richard Reed Parry, “which mostly meant I just hung around listening to the greatest live band in the country playing their asses off, and then occasionally I’d get off the couch and sing backing vocals. That said, this is The Sadies’ finest album, the one I always hoped they’d make one day and I’m stoked to have been there helping them do it. What an incredible band. “

With a deep fondness and reverence for the best of CBGB—country, bluegrass, and blues—The Sadies are equally informed and influenced by everything from ‘60s garage and psychedelic rock to surf instrumentals and punk rock. Since they first arrived on the North American scene 28 years ago, the Toronto-based roots-rockers have developed, even perfected, a style of music uniquely their own. 

In support of the album, the band – Travis Good, Sean Dean, and Mike Belitsky – will embark on a North American and European tour beginning June 17 at Atwood’s Tavern in Cambridge, MA. A complete list of dates follows the video for "All The Good."

 

The Sadies: On Tour

June 17 – Atwood’s Tavern – Cambridge, MA

June 18 – Swamp Stomp – South Kingston, RI

July 8 – Winnipeg Folk Festival – Winnipeg, MB

July 10 – Sjock Festival – Girl, BE

July 12 – Patronaat – Haarlem, NL

July 13 – Creative Outlaws – Recklinghausen, DE

July 14 – Grenswerk – Venlo, NL

July 15 – Bluesfest Ingolstadt – Ingolstadt, DE

July 17 – Zwarte Cross – Lichtenvoorde, NL

July 19 – Kuturrampe – Krefeld, DE

August 7 – Union Pool – Brooklyn, NY

August 28 – Orton Park Festival – Madison, WI

November 3 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, NL

November 4 – De Zwerver – Oostende, BE

November 9 – Dabadaba – San Sebastián, ES

November 10 – Kafe Antzokia – Bilbao, ES

November 11 – Escenario Santander – Santander, ES

November 12 – Garufa Club –  A Coruña, ES

November 13 – Independence – Madrid, ES

November 15 – Sala X – Sevilla, ES

November 16 – Lemon Rock – Granada, ES

November 17 – 16 Toneladas – Valencia, ES

November 18 – Razz 3 – Barcelona, ES

November 19 – La Lata de Bombillas – Zaragoza, ES

 

Happy 100th Birthday Jaki Byard!

Remembering jazz piano great Jaki Byard with some 1965 footage and the short documentary film Anything For Jazz. 

Happy Birthday David Thomas!

Celebrating the birthday of Pere Ubu singer/songwriter David Thomas with an interesting hour-long interview from 2017.

 

Badge Époque Ensemble previews Clouds of Joy album with "Zodiac"

Check out "Zodiac" off the forthcoming Badge Époque Ensemble's Clouds of Joy album out September 9th.

Here's the scoop...

The Badge Époque Ensemble return to Telephone Explosion Records for the label's 100th release with a new album, Clouds of Joy which is set for release on September 9 – they're today sharing the news alongside the first single, "Zodiac" which features vocals from James Baley. Featuring three vocal-led compositions, three instrumentals and three choral arrangements, this new album presents the Ensemble’s most ambitious, mature and engaging material to date. Clouds of Joy represents a shift from the group’s previous sonic excursions – the worlds of vintage soundtrack grooves and early electric jazz which found critical acclaim at Pitchfork, The Wire, Uncut, Paste, Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, etc – into a more era-ambiguous, complex and all-encompassing approach to arrangement and production. 

Familiar Badge Époque Ensemble motifs are present through this album’s nine tracks: extended sections of dusty drum & conga breaks, swirling saxophone and flute flourishes, fleet-fingered guitar excursions, hazy Rhodes chords and lashing clavinet stabs, but where Clouds of Joy excels is in its ability to weave tremendous vocal performances and choral arrangements into its dense tapestry of sound. This first single, "Zodiac" which features James Baley’s ecstatic, Stevie Wonder-esque lead vocal performance could light up the midnight sky, turning a nearly eight-minute jazz-funk instrumental odyssey into a sure-shot dancefloor hit. Watch the video below. 

Undergoing a major shift of consciousness upon learning that he was expecting twins, BÉE leader Maximilian ‘Twig’ Turnbull found the spark to initiate the album within his reflections upon the nature of human joy. This shift in mindset also helped shape the record from an operational standpoint: Turnbull stepped away from his fixture on keys, leaving all of the musical performance on this record to his cast of collaborators. With Max assuming a more “directorial” approach to production and arrangement à la Barry White, David Axelrod, or Fagen & Becker, this album finds the Badge Époque Ensemble in its most collaborative mode to date. Vocalists Dorothea Paas, James Baley and guitarist Chris Bezant all have co-writing credits here with Bezant contributing significantly to three compositions, including the album’s title track. The album was mixed collaboratively as well, as another joint effort between Turnbull, Steve Chahley and Tony Price, a trio who have teamed up behind the mixing desk for all previous BÉE albums, as well as U.S. Girls’ Heavy Light LP and records from other members of Toronto's bubbling scene including the likes of Jane Inc, Young Guv (Chahley and Tony Price) and many more.

For the most part, the Ensemble on this record is made up of names familiar to anyone following the Badge cosmology: drummer Jay Anderson, bassist Gio Rosati, flautist Alia O’Brien, saxophonist Karen Ng, percussionist Ed Squires and guitarist Chris Bezant, with the new addition of young jazz pianist Edwin de Goeij, a perfect surrogate for Turnbull’s ideas on keys. (This in-demand collection of musicians represents a scattering of key cogs from a clutch of other premium Canadian exports; The Weather Station, Andy Shauf, U.S. Girls & Marker Starling). Clouds’ emphasis on the sound of the human voice finds its perfect outlet in vocal arrangements by labelmate Dorothea Paas and a return from lead vocalist James Baley. Their contributions are complimented by a choir composed of session vocalists, (including singers from Bernice and Bonjay) who come together to provide a series of show-stopping harmonic acrobatics. 

Clouds of Joy marks the group’s third proper full length of five total releases for the Telephone Explosion imprint in only four years. It represents the Ensemble’s most fully realized presentation of a founding vision to create music as human, organic and alive as it is synthesized, produced and designed; music that transcends the notion of linear time, pulling in influences and ideas from the past and taking them far into the future. 

You can pre-order the Clouds of Joy album via Bandcamp right here. Check out the video for "Zodiac" followed by the track listing below.  

 

Badge Époque Ensemble – Clouds of Joy

1. Conspiring With Nature

2. Clouds of Joy

3. Let Breath Be The Sum

4. Badge Époque Ensemble

5. Joy Flows

6. Zodiac (ft. James Baley)

7. Don't Touch A Hair On His Head

8. The Greatest Joy

9. All Same 2 Each, Each Same 2 All

 

John Lydon isn't happy with Danny Boyle's new Sex Pistols series

John Lydon is voicing his displeasure with being left out of the loop during the making of the biographical miniseries Pistol.  

Happy Birthday James Carr!

Remembering southern soul great James Carr on what would've been his 80th birthday with a couple of classics. 

 

The Warlocks play The Horseshoe, Tuesday

Bobby Hecksher's L.A. psych rock whumpers The Warlocks hit Toronto on Tuesday for a show at The Horseshoe.  

 

Dock Boggs vs. Rosa Henderson

Dock Boggs found inspiration for his "Down South Blues" in Rosa Henderson's 1923 version with Fletcher Henderson on piano. 

Watch Toronto filmmaker Ron Mann on the New Music in 1981

Here's celebrated documentary filmmaker  Ron Mann discussing his free jazz study Imagine The Sound way back in 1981.  

Whaddya mean you don't know Grace Braun

Check out Grace Braun's "Do Right" from her 1996 album It Won't Hurt. Grace (aka Anna Rab) now plays in Phoxglove.

Poliça, Wilsen @ The Horseshoe, Saturday

Minneapolis crew Poliça present songs from their new album Madness tonight with Wilsen opening at 9 pm. 

Here's the scoop...

Poliça began in Minneapolis in 2011 when singer Channy Leaneagh started collaborating with Ryan Olson, the producer of Jagjaguwar signed soft rock collective Gayngs, on a new batch of synthesizer and percussion-heavy arrangements. Channy was in the process of emerging from a personal and creative breakup, with this informing much of the lyrical content of the songs.  The resulting debut album, 2012's Give You The Ghost, immediately garnered international acclaim, with Rolling Stone hailing it as "the sound of heartbreak and celebration happening simultaneously" and Q praising it as "a bewitching, urgent, magical debut."  Bon Iver meanwhile declared that Poliça was the “best band I've ever heard” and Jay-Z weighed in with a co-sign.   The record became known for Channy's electronically manipulated vocals (using a TC-Helicon voice processor) that lent the album much of its uniqueness as heard on tracks such as Lay Your Cards Out and Dark Star.

The quick success of ‘Give You The Ghost’ brought with it a heavy touring schedule and an itch to keep creating. Taking just a few months off from the road, the band ventured into the studio and came out with their follow-up, Shulamith, named after radical feminist Shulamith Firestone, in the fall of 2013.  The record featured stand-out tracks “Tiff” featuring Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Chain My Name a moment of sparkling electronic pop on a record of darker sounds and themes than their debut.  Interestingly the album’s cover was banned by Apple Music requiring them to heavily pixelate the image of a woman dying her hair red.  Shulamith was another critical hit with MOJO saying it "proves that intelligent pop music still has the ability to seduce and enthrall” and, bolstered by a live lineup of dual drummers Drew Christopherson and Ben Ivascu and bass and backing vocals from Chris Bierdan, Poliça conquered massive festivals around the world from Coachella to Glastonbury.  

There followed a period of recuperation back home in Minneapolis in which time Channy and Ryan started a family.  Slowly songs appeared, influenced by motherhood and the growing social unrest in the USA.  The resulting album, 2016’s United Crushers, named after tags that appear on many abandoned buildings around Minneapolis, was a crisper, less bleak affair as demonstrated on lead single Lime Habit.  United Crushers was also notable for having band members Drew, Ben and Chris contribute more to the recording and, with the vocal processing dialled down, the album had more of a live feel.  As with the previous two albums a whirlwind of touring, festivals and media appearances followed.  Channy became an in demand featured vocalist, performing on releases by Lane 8, trance DJ Sasha and Leftfield’s Alternative Light Source album. Poliça also worked with Berlin neo-classical collective s t a r g a z e, an intriguing musical pairing brought about by their involvement with Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon’s collaborative PEOPLE (now branded 37d03d0) collective. The resulting highly experimental album Music For a Long Emergency was released in 2018.

In 2018 Poliça began work on their fourth album but near-tragedy followed. As Channy was clearing snow from her roof she fell and had to physically drag herself into her house to call for help.  She had smashed her L1 vertebrae and battered her spine, leaving her in a brace with limited mobility for months.  While recovering, Leaneagh’s doctor told her to focus not only on physical healing, but to meditate on the mental act of healing as well – working to erase the anger, regrets, and fear she felt about her fall.  The resulting album When We Stay Alive, released in 2020, was followed by one European tour ending in Portugal in March 2020 before the pandemic hit. 

The songs on the new 7 track, 31-minute release Madness (out now via Memphis Industries) are a companion piece to When We Stay Alive and represent a potential endpoint to the first phase of Poliça's existence. 

Recorded in Ryan Olson’s Minneapolis studio during 2020-2021 with lyrics written and recorded by Channy Leaneagh, Madness is an experimental expansion of the 4 piece family band to include the anthropomorphic production tool “AllOvers(c),” designed by Olson and fellow producer & sound-artist Seth Rosetter. Madness continues within the collaborative enclave in which Poliça resides and includes co-production by Dustin Zahn Alex Ridha and Alex Nutter. The lyrics and startling artwork for Madness are summed up by Channy as follows: “I am here for you all and I am never truly myself here. I am her for you all and I am never truly her”.

Check out a few tracks from Poliça's new Madness album followed by a list of upcoming tour dates below. 

Poliça on tour

06-11 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern

06-12 Montreal, Quebec - Bar le Ritz

06-13 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

06-16 Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere

06-17 Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry

06-18 Washington, D.C. - The Black Cat

06-19 Columbus, OH - The Basement

07-02 Superior, WI - Earth Rider Brewery

07-06 Spokane, WA - Lucky You Lounge

07-07 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre

07-08 Vancouver, British Columbia - Fortune Sound Club

07-09 Portland, OR - Doug Fir

07-11 San Francisco, CA - Independent

07-12 Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom

07-14 San Diego, CA - Casbah

07-15 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom

07-16 Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf

07-17 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre

07-19 Davenport, IA - The Raccoon Motel

08-26 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall

 

That time Joni Mitchell & Pierre Elliott Trudeau swung by the Juno Awards in 1981

Way back in the 80s, celebrities like Joni Mitchell and Prime Minister Trudeau could be seen at the Juno Awards gala. 

Happy Birthday Lonnie Irving!

Remembering singer/songwriter Lonnie Irving with his 1960 jukebox gem "Pinball Machine"

90s Nostalgia: Teen Crud Combo, 1998

Here's Toronto's Teen Crud Combo feat. cake magnet Nick Flanagan and guitarist Allyson Baker tearing it up at the Lion's Club.  

One For The Weekend: Neu!

Check out the Stephen Morris & Gabe  Gurnsey remix of Neu!'s "Hallogallo" from the 50! box set available here. 

Happy Birthday CeDell Davis!

Remembering Helena-born blues guitar slinger CeDell Davis on his birthday with some rare performance footage. 

Joey Keithley celebrates 40 years of D.O.A.'s Hardcore 81 @ Lee's Palace, June 16

Joey Keithley and crew rip through D.O.A.'s classic Hardcore 81 album end-to-end. Check the vintage D.O.A. footage below.  

90s Nostalgia: Guitar Wolf at the El Mocambo, 1999

Here's Guitar Wolf's Seiji, Billy and Tōru tearing it up jet rock style at the El Mocambo in Toronto back in 1999. 

Greg Cartwright announces the end of Reigning Sound

After 21 years and 10 solid albums, Greg Cartwright decided it was time to end Reigning Sound.