Happy Holidays from Eleni Mandell & The Living Sisters!

"Skip The Sugar" and "Neon Chinese Christmas Eve" are from the Living Sisters' Harmony Is Real: Songs For A Happy Holiday. 

Merry T.Rexmas! from Marc Bolan

Here's Marc spreading the holiday cheer with his 1976 appearance on Christmas Supersonic, "Christmas Bop" and more. 

Remembering artist Joseph Cornell on his birthday

Raising a glass to assemblage artist Joseph Cornell on his birthday with a discussion of his life and work by Cliff Tisdell.

R.I.P. drummer Jack Pedler, 1953-2025

Sadly, Jack Pedler – who played with Teenage Head, Dave Rave Conspiracy, Buxton-Kastle & others – has died. He'll be greatly missed.

David Toop digs deeper into the strange hoodoo of Dr. John's Gris-Gris album

David Toop looked more closely at Dr. John's classic 1968 album Gris-Gris and reports his findings in Two-Headed Doctor. 

Two-Headed Doctor 

Listening For Ghosts in Dr. John's Gris-Gris

David Toop

MIT Press, Nov 26, 2024.  264 pages

ISBN: 1913689603, 9781913689605

A forensic investigation into a single LP: Dr. John, The Night Tripper's Gris-Gris album

Two-Headed Doctor is a forensic investigation into a single LP: Dr. John, the night tripper's Gris-gris. Though released in 1968 to poor sales and a minimum of critical attention, Gris-gris has accumulated legendary status over subsequent decades for its strangeness, hybridity, and innovative production. It formed the launch pad for Dr. John's image and lengthy career and the ghostly presence of its so-called voodoo atmosphere hovers over numerous cover versions, samples, and re-invocations. Despite the respect given to the record, its making is shrouded in mystery, misunderstandings, and false conclusions. The persona of Dr. John, loosely based on dubious literary accounts of a notorious voodooist and freed slave, a nineteenth-century New Orleans resident known as Doctor John, provided Malcolm "Mac" Rebennack with a lifelong mask through which to transform himself from session musician in order to construct a solo career.

Somewhere between puzzle, experimental rhythm, blues disguised as rock, and elaborate hoax, Gris-gris was a collaborative project between Rebennack and producer/arranger Harold Battiste (at the time musical director for Sonny & Cher). A few brief sessions held at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles brought together many of New Orleans' finest musicians, including Shirley Goodman, John Boudreaux, Plas Johnson, Jessie Hill, Ernest McLean, and Tami Lynn. Along with their complex histories, the cast of characters implicated in the story includes Ornette Coleman, Lafcadio Hearn, Zora Neale Hurston, Cher, Sonny Bono, Sam Cooke, Ishmael Reed, Black Herman, Prince La La, and many others. The story details in discursive style the historical context of the music, how it came together, its literary sources, production and arrangements, and the nature of the recording studio as dream state, but also examines as a disturbing undercurrent the volatile issue of race in twentieth-century music, the way in which it doomed relationships and ambitious projects, exploited great talents, and distorted the cultural landscape.

Check out David Toop's Two-Headed Doctor here. As a companion piece, you may want to look into the memoir of Dr. John's longtime musical collaborator Harold Battiste Jr. "Unfinished Blues: Memories of a New Orleans Music Man" from 2010 available here. 

Ryan Driver Quintet feat. Brodie West @ The Tranzac, Tuesday

Ryan Driver and crew – featuring saxophonist/clarinetist Brodie West – hit the Tranzac tonight at 9:30 pm. Should be delightful. 

Ryan Driver Quintet 

at The Trazac Club (292 Brunswick) 

9:30 pm. PWYC

Ryan Driver - piano / human voice / kazoo

Brodie West - alto saxophone / clarinet

Thom Gill - synthesizer

Rob Clutton - bass

Blake Howard - drums

The Ryan Driver Quintet specializes in the psychedelification of popular American songs from the 1920's through 1960's. They have been engaging in this task monthly since 1999, when they started playing as a quartet at Graffiti's in Kensington Market. The sextet plays only ballads, and almost always very slowly. That said, the interpretations are wildly adventurous, brimming with wonkiness, tangents, sweetness, heartbreak, ecstasy, and a kind of interplay that could only arise in the company of several odd / brilliant musicians with a long history of developing a unique sound together.

The Ryan Driver Sextet provides a ""lounge"" ambiance unlike anything else you can find anywhere, and an oasis of relaxedness, weirdness, and beauty that seems almost unimaginable, especially on a Friday night in Toronto." 

Listen to Chet Baker & Piero Umiliani's "Smog" soundtrack from 1962

Since it's Chet Baker's birthday today, here's his brilliant soundtrack collaboration with Piero Umiliani for Franco Rossi's "Smog."

Happy Birthday Victoria Williams!

Celebrating Victoria's birthday with her performance of "Crazy Mary" with Lou Reed along with a couple of Christmas tunes.

Merry Christmas from Babs Gonzales & Lloyd Williams

Here's the Lloyd Williams penned "Be-Bob Santa Claus" & "Manhattan Fable" performed by Babs Gonzales from 1954.

Merry Kitsch-mas from DJ Kitschy Mama!

Check out Kitschy Mama's What Have You – "Not The Real Santa" for some early holiday music treats today at 2 pm Eastern.

Here's the scoop from Kitschy Mama...

"Wishing ya a happy holiday season this week on WHAT HAVE YOU! Tune in for an absolute batsh*t xmas mix, stuff by Amormio Cillian Jr., Frank Kelly, Chris Hill and of course, R Stevie Moore MONDAY at 2pm ET on Sheena's Jungle Room on WFMU! Listen & chat live! See ya there!"

Check it out right here: https://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/159390

Watch the clip for R. Stevie Moore's "Goodbye Piano (Santa)" and check out the Jim Eanes hillbilly holiday weeper "It Won't Seem Like Christmas" from 1958. 

That time Hasil Adkins played an engagement party in Austin back in 1986

When you hire Hasil Adkins to provide the musical entertainment for your engagement party, this is what you get. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Ronnie Franklin & The Vibes

Here's an Tulsa rockabilly ripper from Ronnie Franklin and The Vibes... check out "Pretty Baby (I Saw You Last Night)"

A Very BADS Rockabilly/Surf Christmas Party @ The Horseshoe, Saturday

Mark Malibu & Starlotte Satine share a festive triple bill with The Bad Fortunes and NYC's Rover Boys Trio!

Here's the scoop from Mark Malibu...

TONIGHT'S the NIGHT - Saturday, Dec 20th - A VERY BADS CHRISTMAS SHINDIG! The Wasagas and Starlotte Satine hope to see everyone at the Horseshoe Tavern with Non-Perishable Food items (see chart below) for the Parkdale Community Foodbank.  Last year we gathered over 100 lbs of food.  Let's surpass that amount this year PLEASE!!!

ALSO see our good pals Bad Fortunes and The Rover Boys Trio   

9 pm  -  Doors

9:30  -   Mark Malibu & The Wasagas 

11:pm -  Bad Fortunes

12:15  -  Rover Boys Trio

DJ Dave 'til the wee hours! 

ALSO... The Wasagas new LP - Knock Me Out! will be available. The 5th full length release, 16 new songs, on Sharawaji Records.  Available on “red w/black splatter” vinyl and compact disc.  All Wasagas t-shirts $10. 

Check out Mark Malibu & The Wasagas' "Christmas Twist" followed by "Bad Fortune" by The Bad Fortunes and the Rover Boys Trio updating the Carl Perkins classic "Put Your Cat Clothes On" below.

You know Christmas is near when Darlene Love appears on the Tonight Show

Continuing David Letterman holiday tradition, Darlene Love reprised "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" with Little Steven & Paul Shaffer. 

Happy Birthday Kim Weston!

Cheers to soul great Kim Weston, one of the few artists who recorded for both Motown and Stax/Volt. 

Reg Schwager releases new 'Intuit' album with Brodie West & Michel Lambert

Reg Schwager's mostly improvised new album Intuit features saxophonist Brodie West and drummer Michel Lambert. 

Here's the scoop from Reg Schwager...

"I’m releasing a new album on BandCamp called “Intuit”, recorded with two great musicians - Brodie West and Michel Lambert. Most of it is improvised, but we’ve included a version of the old chestnut “Ain’t She Sweet”. We recorded two sessions, in 2016 and 2019, both times during the week between Christmas and the New Year. One thing the three of us share is having studied composition in Amsterdam with the great Dutch master Misha Mengelberg. I think about Misha a lot when we play together.

Listen to some audio clips from Intuit and get a copy via Bandcamp right here.

Reg Schwager - guitar 

Michel Lambert - drums 

Brodie West - alto saxophone 

recorded in Toronto on December 29, 2016 (tracks 1-5) 

and December 31, 2019 (tracks 6-11) 

recorded, mixed and mastered by Reg Schwager. 

R.I.P. Canuck rockabilly rebel Ronnie Hayward

Sadly, BC-born rockabilly singer/bassist Ronnie Hayward, who rocked clubs across Canada, has died. He'll be greatly missed.

Bloodshot Bill remembers Ronnie Hayward...

"Ronnie was a real deal one of a kind type guy. I was lucky to know him. When he lived in Montreal we got to play  & record together, and he even stayed at my place briefly. We stayed in touch when he moved on to Ontario & then BC. He said he missed doing gigs ("no one to play with out here"). We eventually lost touch. I tried reaching out to him just last month but his number had been changed.

He had a distinct style whether he was doing roots music or on a beatnik kick. Rest easy Ronnie." 🎶

Remembering New Orleans piano great Professor Longhair on his birthday

Remembering New Orleans piano marvel Professor Longhair on his birthday with s few typically stellar performances. 

Now Jazz Now: 100 Essential Free Jazz Recordings, 1960-80

Looking for the right gift for the tough-to-shop-for free jazz fan on your list, Now Jazz Now is probably the way to go.

NOW JAZZ NOW 

100 Essential Free Jazz & Improvisation Recordings 1960-80 

by Byron Coley, Mats Gustafsson, and Thurston Moore

Published by Ecstatic Peace Library. 270 pages. Soft-cover, fully illustrated. 196 x 268mm. Edited by Eva Prinz. Preface by Neneh Cherry. Afterword by Joe McPhee. 

New York, NY, USA – Musicians Mats Gustafsson, Neneh Cherry, Joe McPhee, and Thurston Moore, along with music writer Byron Coley, have contributed to an illustrated collector's guide to records -- replete with 270 pages of beatific album art, labels, sleeve notes and collector musings on their life-long obsessions of record collecting, with a distinct focus on the recorded history of free jazz and free improvisation. Compiling personal archives of their selections of recordings which could be contenders within a list defined by a parameter of 100 of the most essential releases presented in chronological order, acknowledging the music to be preternaturally noncompetitive, non-hierarchical, and of equal value, Now Jazz Now is a book for all adventurous music lovers, whether ravenous record collectors, avant-garde jazz enthusiasts, students of radical culture, or simply curiosity seekers in wonder to this music's illustrious history and lineage. The gleanings of Cherry, Coley, Gustafsson, McPhee and Moore will enlighten, delight, amuse, and bemuse all who follow their streams of consciousness, knowledge, perception, and, most importantly, unbridled respect and regard for a genre of music dedicated to the dignity of practicing freedom. All copies of first printing distributed by Forced Exposure in the USA will have an exclusive bookplate signed by Thurston Moore, Byron Coley and Mats Gustafsson; edition of 999.

First 999 orders will receive a signed book plate! Get a copy from Forced Exposure mailorder while they last right here.

One For The Weekend: Junior Wells

Here are borth sides of Junior Wells' 1967 Bright Star single "I'm Gonna Cramp Your Style" b/w "You Oughta Quit That"

Happy 82nd Birthday Keith Richards!

Raising a glass to Keith Richards on his birthday with a couple of performances and interviews you may have missed.

Altin Gün preview new Garip album with "Neredesin Sen"

Check out Altin Gün's updtate of the Neşet Ertaş tune "Neredesin Sen" off their forthcoming album Garip due on February 20th via Glitterbeat Records. 

Here's the scoop...>

‘Neredesin Sen’ is out now! The first single from our new album ‘Garip’ which will be released on February 20. The album is a tribute to Neşet Ertaş a legendary singer, composer and bağlama player whose songs we love. 

The single is now out on Glitterbeat Records and available to hear on all platforms 🙂

Neredesin Sen composed by Neşet Ertaş
Recorded by Altın Gün in @‌schenkstudio
Mixed by @‌toneboutique Mastered by @‌almachrome
Artwork by @‌maartenhuizing

Watch the animated clip for "Neredesin Sen" following a live-in-studio performance of the song below. 

Happy 60th Birthday Ian Blurton!

Cheers to guitarist/producer Ian Blurton on his 60th birthday! Here are a couple of interviews and some Future Now performances.

Rhythm Section Band plays Ghanian Highlife @ It's OK Studios, Saturday

Kofi Ackah, Dally Dominic, George Kobby & Daniel Boateng bring the highlife sound of West Africa to Queen West this Saturday. 

Rhythm Section Band

It’s OK Studio (468 Queen St. West)

Saturday (December 20). Doors 7 pm, Show 8 pm

TICKETS: $20 advance at Rhythm20Dec25.Eventbrite.ca. $25 at the door.

Batuki Music Society presents an evening of Ghanaian Highlife and Afrobeat music featuring the Rhythm Section Band on Saturday (December 20) at Toronto's It’s OK Studio (468 Queen Street West) at 8:00 PM.

The Rhythm Section Band features veteran Highlife musicians of Ghanaian heritage, Dally Dominic on bass guitar, Kofi Ackah on drums, Quandoe Harrison on keyboards, George Kobby on vocals, Gabriel Amankwah on keyboards and Daniel Boateng on lead guitar. Their musicianship is exceptional, showcasing both innate talent and proficiency in their respective instruments. The Rhythm Section is rooted in Highlife and Afrobeat, honouring the foundation of Ghana music while bringing a fresh modern sound to every performance. Rhythm Section exists because Highlife is their origin. It is where they came from. It is the foundation that later gave birth to Afrobeat and they refuse to let that history fade.

Highlife music is a prominent genre of West African music that originated in Ghana in the early 20th century, characterized by a fusion of traditional African rhythms and melodies with Western musical influences like jazz and brass band music. Highlife holds deep cultural importance in Ghana: emerging during the colonial era, highlife became a symbol of modern Ghanaian identity and pride, especially around the time of independence. It is known for its upbeat, danceable tempo and lyrical content that explores social issues, love, and cultural pride. It serves as a vehicle for storytelling, reflecting the experiences and aspirations of the Ghanaian people. 

For more info about the Rhythm Section Band and other Batuki Music Society events visit their site. Watch a clip of the Rhythm Section Band in action right here and below. 

Vintage highlife cookers from Ghana repackaged by Soundway

What might appear to be a new collection of rare highlife gems is actually just a 'best-of' prior Soundway archival comps.

Here's the scoop from Soundway...

"Ghana Special: Highlife brings together groundbreaking tracks from Ghana’s golden era, where Highlife, rock, and soul merged with deep tradition. Featuring Asaase Ase with Ebo Taylor, Hedzoleh Soundz, Ogyatanaa Show Band, and more, this collection highlights the innovations that reshaped the sound of modern Ghanaian music. A curated journey through classics and hidden gems, celebrating timeless artistry in a new edition."

Note: If you've got the previous Soundway compilations, namely 2009's Ghana Special (Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-81) 5LP box and/or Ghana Soundz Vol. 1 & 2 from 2002 and 2004 respectively – you, or the West African highlife fan on your Christmas list, may already own all of the tracks. 

The 10-track Ghana Special: Highlife's black and white sleeve with no liner notes or band photos included (apart from the mystery trombonist on the cover credited as "A musician at Rothman's factory Christmas party, Accra, 1976") isn't anywhere near the high standards in archival projects we've come to expect from the label. If Soundway wanted to avoid the appearance of a corner-cutting cash-in for the holiday season, they could've added a bonus 7-inch single with recordings exclusive to the release or just a digital download card might've been nice. It certainly would've made the $40 price tag a bit more palatable for those who've supported Soundway over the years. 

Ghana Special: Highlife

A1 The Ogyatanaa Show Band – You Monopolise Me

A2 Honny And The Bees Band – Psychedelic Woman

A3 The Wellis Band – Bindiga

A4 The Uhuru Dance Band – Yahia Mu

A5 Sawaaba Soundz – Owuo

B1 St. Peter & The Holymen – Bofoo Beye Abowa Den

B2 Asaase Ase Feat. Ebo Taylor – Ohiani Sua Efir

B3 Hedzoleh Soundz – Edinya Benya

B4 Honny And The Bees Band – Sisi Mbon

B5 The Black Star Sound – Nite Safari

R.I.P. singer/songwriter Joe Ely, 1947-2025

Saddened to hear that iconic Texas singer/songwriter Joe Ely of The Flatlanders has passed away. He'll be greatly missed. 

Joe Ely, 1947-2025

Legendary songwriter, singer, and raconteur Joe Ely died today from complications of Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s and pneumonia. His beloved wife Sharon and daughter Marie were at his side at their home in Taos, New Mexico. Ely was born February 9, 1947 in Amarillo, Texas. He was a leader of the extraordinary parade of artists raised in Lubbock who later settled in the live music capital of Austin. Ely signed with MCA Records in the 1970s and spent more than five decades recording and performing around the world. A full obituary is available to read right here.  

We're remembering my old pal Joe Ely today with performances from various points in his lengthy career.

Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders salute Johnny Thunders & David Johansen on new EP

Pat Todd and crew update some of their fave David Johansen & Johnny Thunders tunes for their "After The Dolls" 6-song EP. 

Here's the scoop from Heavy Medication Records...

We’re kicking off 2026 in grand fashion with the new :After The Dolls" six song 10” EP from Pat Todd and his rockin’ Rankoutsiders which will be out January 9th. On it, Pat pays tribute to two members of one of his and our favourite bands -- Johnny Thunders and David Johansen of the New York Dolls – by covering six of their post-Dolls songs.

Here’s what the man himself has to say “ …this record is something I’ve been wanting to do for 20 years or so but never seemed to have the time to record - to me, The New York Dolls are in the pantheon of all time greats, right along with Dylan, the Stones, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, the Velvets, etc. – and just like those people, I thought Johansen & Thunders wrote many great songs after what is thought of as their prime period - the Rankoutsiders started this record way before we knew that David Johansen was ill, and we finished it after his death - I personally owe David and Johnny a lot for all the inspiration & love I got out of their music & being - for me they will always be around…..”

Pre-orders are open now! Head over to our Bandcamp page and check out "Wreckless Crazy," one of the David Johansen tunes off the EP. 

U.S. Customers: We currently can't ship to the US, but you can reach out to the band to snag a copy. Also, some of our US partners will have copies on hand, too.

Watch a couple of clips of Pat Todd and crew tear through a couple of unrelated covers right here and here. Thanks for sharing Doug! Check out the artwork and tracklisting for "After The Dolls" following a performance at The Redwood Bar from 6/28/2025. 

R.I.P. filmmaker and social activist Rob Reiner, 1947-2025

Sadly, it has been reported that Rob Reiner and wife Michelle Reiner have been found dead in their Brentwood home.

Happy Birthday Krzysztof Sadowski!

Cheers to Polish Hammond hero Krzystof Sadowski on his birthday with the epic title track off his Na Kosmodromie album. 

JD McPherson's "Socks" Rock 'n' Roll Christmas tour hits Lee's Palace, tonight

'Tis the season for some yuletide rippin' from JD McPherson and crew with special guest Melissa Carper opening the show. 

TONIGHT! "Socks" A Rock & Roll Christmas Tour with guitar slinger deluxe JD McPherson and his band rolls into Lee's Palace with special guest Melissa Carper opening the show! Tickets are $48.56 (advance) available online right here and at the door. Watch JD perform "Run Rudolph Run," "Bad Kid" and more below. 

Listen to Gary Topp's chat with Damian Abraham on his Turned Out A Punk podcast

Raising a glass to legendary Toronto concert promoter Gary Topp on his birthday with his chat with Damian Abraham and more. 

Happy Birthday John Lurie!

Celebrating John Lurie's birthday with a Lounge Lizards TV appearance from '99 and some episodes of "Fishing With John."

B-Side Wins Again: Harvey Anderson's Modern Jazz Quartet

Fort Worth bandleader Harvey Anderson & stockbroker/pianist Jim Ecker hid a cool crime-jazz instro on the flipside of their 1959 single.  

Celebrating 50 years of Patti Smith's "Horses"

Believe it or don't Patti Smith's groundbreaking debut album "Horses" was originally released 50 years ago today. 

LINKS

Albumism Patti Smith's debut album Horses 50th Anniversary

Happy Birthday John Anderson!

Raising a glass to country great John Anderson with performances of "Wild and Blue" and "Black Sheep" 

Whaddya mean you don't know the Mamou Cajun Band

Here's some rare footage of Adam Landreneau, Cyprien Landreneau and Isom J. Fontenot gettin' down with Pete Seeger and more. 

Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz, Sattalites, Woodshed Orchestra @ Drom Taberna, Friday

Don't miss Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz at Drom Taberna tonight at 8:30 pm followed by the Sattalites at 11:30 pm.

An eventful evening at Drom Taberna (458 Queen St. West) gets under way with Max Forster at 6 pm. 

Happy Birthday Barbara Manning!

Cheers to singer/songwriter deluxe Barbara Manning on her birthday! Here's a few stellar performances worth checking.