Ottawa's The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol unleash Symbol Ensemble III

On the cusp of Ottawa Psych Fest II, The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol are releasing Symbol Ensemble III in an edition of 100 copies.

Here's the scoop...
On Wednesday, July 4th, 2018, The Band Whose Name Is a Symbol had a regularly scheduled rehearsal. Perched on the eve of the inaugural Ottawa Psychfest, an “Ensemble” recording had been organised to coincide. This would be the 3rd such gathering with an expanded lineup and the sole intention to roll tape and improvise. Outside Birdman Sound it was a humid 42 degrees and warmer still in the culture bunker downstairs. Scheduled to arrive by air was The Golden Rule, a North West, UK based duo who straddle the Penines and feature top lads Brett Savage (Dead Sea Apes) & Dave Cambridge(Cardinal Fuzz). TBWNIS co-founder Mark McIntyre, coming from Canada’s west coast would also be joining us!

What you hear on “Symbol Ensemble III” is 9 people celebrating friendship and commonality with regard to the simple love of music through free improvisation. This event was captured live off the floor and you hear exactly what went down, unfettered by any foolery or gimmicks what so ever. Super pleased to present this super ltd. edition LP that serves to mark the occasion and hope you all dig! Listen to "Mending Fences" below.



The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol – Symbol Ensemble III 
(Birdman Sound Records) # BS 017
Side A
Mending Fences 9:04
Mancunian Blues 7:05
Side B
Atlantic Barnacles 7:31
March Of The Teutons 9:36

Ltd. 100 vinyl 12” LP w/silk screened covers on recycled chipboard jackets. Includes download code with extra tracks.

Symbol Ensemble III
Dave Reford – guitar
Bill Guerrero – guitar
Mark McIntyre – guitar
Brett Savage – guitar
Dave Cambridge – guitar
Nat Hurlow – bass
Scott Thompson – space horn and electronics
Jason Vaughan – synth, keys, percussion
John Westhaver – drums and percussion

For more info about Ottawa Psych Fest II, check the Facebook page right here. 

Happy 75th Birthday Chris Spedding!

Here's Chris tearing it up with Jeff Clyne in Ian Carr's Nucleus back in 1970. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Halima Ibrahim Awad

Here's Halima Ibrahim Awad's Sudanese funk gem "Zahra Nadya" on the Munsphone label. 

Before They Were Famous: Elton John & Nick Drake

Before he was known as Elton John, DJM employee Reg Dwight sang some demos of songs by an aspiring artist named Nick Drake circa 1968. 

Shina Peters' Afro-Juju gem Sewele gets reissued

After a stint with Ebenezer Obey, guitarist Shina Peters went solo with Sewele in 1986 featuring the classic "Yabis"

Here's the scoop from Strut Records...

“‘Sewele’ represented a time of transition in my music career,” explains Peters. “I had branched out to start as a solo artist after spells with Ebenezer Obey, Prince Adekunle and Segun Adewale and I was trying to find my own voice and to play juju in a more progressive direction. This was an important time for me. Three years later, I had honed that sound into Afro-Juju, and my ‘Ace: Afro Juju Series 1’ album broke me as an artist.

On ‘Sewele’, Peters explores different themes on four extended juju workouts, showcasing his incredible guitar work and his sense of fun as the odd Bob Marley and Abba riff pops up in the grooves. The title track means ‘shower of blessings’: “it’s like a prayer for my fans throughout Nigeria and the diaspora.” The funky Afrobeat of ‘Yabis’ is about being proud to be African and not to follow American ways and ‘Agbe’ere De’ states proudly that Peters is coming again with something different: “I always wanted to get the message across to my fans that I was keeping things fresh and creating melodies and music that people would enjoy.” The final track, ‘Late Aboderin’, is a moving tribute to Peters’ mentor, the late Chief Aboderin: “He helped me in many ways including legal aid in a court case against a record label. He also bought a van to carry the band to concerts.

This new reissue features all original artwork and a new sleeve note by Sir Shina Peters telling the story of the album and his wider career. The album audio has been restored by See Why Audio and remastered by The Carvery. Listen to "Yabis" below.

One For The Weekend: General Genius

Time to celebrate the 2019 NBA Champion Toronto Raptors "Raptor Foot" style with General Genius – even Mayor John Tory is doing it. 

Cabana Room Electric Reunion @ Hugh's Room, Sunday

The Lawn's Gord Cumming and Richard & Patrick Gregory will be joined by John MacDonald for two songs Sunday.

Cabana Room Electric Reunion
at Hugh's Room (2261 Dundas St. West)
Sunday, June 16, 2019 | 8:00PM
Tickets: $25.00 advance, $30.00 at the door.

The second night of an a two-night reunion of the regulars from a legendary music room in the heart of Toronto. The Cabana Room – atop the Spadina Hotel – was the incubator of Toronto's Queen West  music scene of the 80s, and Jimmy Scopes was the host. He’s not here to hear it but we’re gathering to pay musical tribute. Thank you, Jimmy Scopes!

On Sunday (June 16), the mostly electric shenanigans are hosted by Arlene Bishop and feature some of Jimmy’s favourite music: Gord Cumming, Richard & Patrick Gregory (The Lawn, The Woods are Full of Cuckoos), The Dave Howard Singers, Dave Dysart (The Supreme Bagg Team),  Garage Baby, Fergus Hambleton (The Basics, The Sattalites),  Steve Ellis, Steve Ranger, and Bob Vezpaziani (API), Tony Malone (Drastic Measures, Basketcase), Blair Packham (The Jitters), Gordon Shawcross (Monkey Trial), and Mr! Mouray (Jaimie Vernon w/ Simon Bedford-James).