Happy Birthday Ron Sexsmith!

If not for Harry Nilsson and Ron Sexsmith, Feist may never have learned what a Brandy Alexander was. 

Feist vs Mastodon for Record Store Day

Some wiseacre thought it would be a really good idea for Feist and Mastodon to cover each other's songs for a Record Store Day split single. So the hairy Atlanta progressive metal crew chose A Commotion from La Feist's latest album Metals. In return, the Juno-winning Canuck superstar fought back the temptation to take a crack at Mastodon's Cut You Up With A Linoleum Knife and settled on Black Tongue from The Hunter, the 2011 album of the year according to such reliable sources as Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Rock Sound.

In related RSD news, the cover-happy Mastodon are also releasing their version of A Spoonful Weighs A Ton by The Flaming Lips as a limited-run pink vinyl single with – surprise – the Lips' original from 1999's The Soft Bulletin on the flip. Did you actually think that Wayne Coyne would go to the trouble of learning the lyrics to a Mastodon tune?

Black Tongue (Mastodon) by Feist


A Commotion (Feist) by Mastodon

Stream Feist's new Metals album

 

Charlotte's fancy dancey Feist parody

Terrible Angels by Charlotte Gainsbourg

Feist documentary hits Toronto and DVD shelves

Whether due to public demand or the fact that Feist simply had a day off in Toronto between gigs, Anthony Seck's documentary Look At What The Light Did Now – a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Reminder album and the aftermath – will finally get a public screening in Toronto at The Royal Ontario Museum on November 21 beginning at 8 pm. Check out the film trailer and Feist's charming rendition of the title song with Little Wings which I previously posted right here.
For some reason, the presentation will be hosted CBC poster boy George Stroumboulopoulos – evidently both Ron MacLean and Linden Macintyre were busy that night – who'll no doubt heap praise upon La Feist and director Seck for a full 15 minutes before giving way to some thoughtful questions from the audience for another 10 minutes and it'll be all over by 10:15 pm.

Those who aren't quick enough to score tickets to the ROM event should note that Look At What The Light Did Now will be issued as a DVD on December 7 and yes, there's extra material that won't be seen at the ROM. What exactly do you get? Well, there are five single shot, unedited live performances (Limit To Your Love, Secret Heart, Help Is On It's Way and So Sorry) from The Reminder tour; footage from The Living Lantern – a performance at the Cameron House; archival footage of Feist and record producer Chilly Gonzales on the Presidential Suite Tour 2002; two short films (The Water directed by Kevin Drew and Departures co-starring Kevin Drew), along with music videos for I Feel It All, 1234, My Moon My Man and Honey Honey. 
The 13-track bonus CD includes solo and duet versions of the title track of the film, rare and unique live performances, and just what everyone in Berlin was waiting to hear – solo piano reinterpretations of Feist's songs Intuition, The Water, Sea Lion Woman and 1234 by maestro Gonzales!
Unfortunately, the DVD doesn't feature any live footage of Feist fronting the Calgary grunge band Placebo from the early 90s prior to moving to Toronto or what has proven to be her most popular television appearance ever – Sesame Street. So for anyone who can't get enough Feist, I've included a couple of entertaining clips below. You're welcome. 


Double Run by Placebo (w/Feist)

 

Back Down The Same Way by Placebo (w/Feist)



Lazy Bermuda by Placebo (w/ Feist)



Feist on Sesame Street

One For The Weekend: Feist & Little Wings

In conjunction with the Seattle premiere of the new Feist documentary Look At What The Light Did Now, a video of Feist and Little Wings horizontally duetting on the title song has magically appeared. Those Feist fans who don't already have tickets for tonight's screening of Anthony Seck's feature-length chronicle (Super 8 & HDSR) of the making of Feist's 2007 album The Reminder at Seattle's Henry Art Gallery will have to be content with the laidback song clip and the film trailer below.
So far there are no scheduled Toronto screenings but if you happen to be anywhere near the lovely German resort town of Weissenhäuser Strand, you can see Look At What The Light Did Now during the Rolling Stone Weekender on November 13. Check the current list of dates following the clips.

 
Look At What The Light Did Now by Feist & Little Wings



Look At What The Light Did Now film trailer




Upcoming Screenings

Tuesday, November 9 - 7:15 pm PST - Pacific Film Archives Theatre - Berkeley, CA (LAWTLDN Screening + Q&A with director Anthony Seck and special guests)

Wednesday, November 10 - 6:20 pm GMT - Curzon Soho Cinema - London, UK (LAWTLDN Screening + live via Skype Q&A with director Anthony Seck - Curzon Soho, Screen 3)

Saturday, November 13 - 1 pm CET - Rolling Stone Weekender - Ferienpark Baltic Sea, Weissenhäuser Strand, DE

Tuesday, November 16 - 8:15 pm PST - Vancity Theatre - Vancouver, BC 

Wednesday, November 17 - 8:30 pm GMT - Picture House at FACT - Liverpool, UK

Thursday, November 18 - 8:15 pm CET - Smart Cinema - Amsterdam, NLD

Wednesday, November 24 - 7:30 pm MST - Cantos Music Foundation - Calgary, AB

Friday, December 3 - 6:30 pm GMT - Institute of Contemporary Art - London, UK

Saturday, December 11 - 6:30 pm GMT - Arnolfini - Bristol, UK