BeardyMan (UK) has the Hillside Festival on his myspace/website, and if this is correct (looks legit) it's going to be ridiculous. Listen to some of his stuff, as I am now for the first time, and you'll see why!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Stars over the Hillside
Going back to my first-ever Hillside experience, this year STARS will be performing once again at the festival! (From an interview with Hillside organizers)
Also circulating is:
Los Lobos
Alex Cuba
The Tabla Guy
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
First Glance at Hillside
Early still, as the festival's call for artist submissions is still open, but a small handful of performers for this summer's 2010 edition have already surfaced.
Brasstronaut - About to blow up (Vancouver)
Harry Manx - B.C. Blues
Horse Feathers - Indie/Folk from Portland
Minotaurs - of Nathan Lawr and the..
First Rate People - Toronto
Krista Detor - Outta Indiana
Bent by Elephants - From Montreal
Andrew Queen - Ontario
Kim Logue - More Ontario folk, as expected
Friday, November 06, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Alpha Ipod
As you can see by the accidental last post I'm on the move around Asia. My blog for that is separate - StefanSpies.blogspot.com
As an experiment I've been listening to my iPod throughout this trip in a sequential order. Figuring it would be too difficult to chose the perfect album to match my mood every time (without new music coming my way) I thought this would give me an opportunity to revisit albums of old, rekindle love for some, and discover some gems in my collection that slipped through the cracks. Therefore my music collection (38+ days worth if played straight) is coming at me one album at a time - alphabetical order, by album title.
Well beginning in Toronto with A-Sides a Soundgarden best-of, I've worked my way past the self-titled Alexisonfire, Radiohead's Amnesiac, Aquemini by Outkast and many more before arriving at the catchy, yet pretty Awoo, by the Hidden Cameras to close out the A's.
Both Wolf Parade albums passed me by and I still love Apologies to the Queen Mary and though not as good At Mount Zoomer is decent too. Speaking of double albums - Rock Plaza Central also made a first album (that I heard anyway) that I love in Are We Not Horses whereas the follow-up ..at the Moment of Our Most needing or if only they could turn around, they would know they weren't alone is decent too. (I think they shortened that title, thank goodness but my ipod still has it as such)
Found a gem in Lily Allen's Alright Still especially the cover of the Kaiser Chief's Oh My God.
Thought I would want to skip through the very first one, Soundgarden, but ended up finding more than a couple tracks that I enjoyed more than i anticipated.
Other greats were Ashtray Rock (Joel Plaskett), the classic August and Everything After (Counting Crows), Arular (MIA), driving into the majestic country of Hampi to ..And the Ever Expanding Universe (Most Serene Republic) was fitting.
A runner for my top 10 2009 has got to be Maybe Smith's - Another Murder in the Morning. Hectic as it is if you can get into it the album pays off.
All in all A's were a big letter - nearly 50 albums listened to in full already! What with the "A somethings.." and the "All the hits" and the "...and the somethings" it was stacked and I expect to move through letters faster now so updates will be more often.
Now onto the B's! Starting with Weezer's B-side collection. See how that goes and I'll let you know in a letter.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
It Starts in Mumbai!
Well it's true what they say - no matter how much reading and preparation you do, you can never fully prepare for the real thing. My flight from Vancouver to India took a stop in Hong Kong and Bangkok and all told from lift-off Vancouver, to touch-down Mumbai it was exactly 24 hours journey. However it wasn't as bad as it sounds as I got lots of rest, read and watched some movies/TV, and was fairly comfortable scoring an emergency aisle each time (ah, legroom).
Arriving at 3am local customs and baggage were reasonably smooth and I'd hired a taxi into Colaba, a fairly well-traveled area of Mumbai. The Sassoon dock, promised to be a hub of fisherman activity turned out to be a sketchy spot in the pre-dawn so I was taken for a ride (both literally and figuratively) by my driver to the Gateway of India, only 500m away. Here I waited in front of the Taj Hotel (not the actual Taj) as the day lightened, getting some friendly tips from a German couple. There were many other 'friendly' Indians offering to find me a room and eventually I did get one though not until I'd stepped over sleeping people, and gone up super-sketchy lifts 5 floors while checking out OTHER hotels.
Once that was settled away I regrouped at the Gateway and took the Lonely Planet (thank goodness for Lonely Planet!) walking tour through the old British Fort area to the main train station. There are dogs, sleeping people, tiny cats with big heads, and yes - cows - all over the streets. Mostly I just cruised around on my own, feeling comfortable (at least when the sun is up) in any situation, while still exercising caution and sticking to somewhat busy thoroughfares. Saw the Mint, the Bank of India Reserve (btw don't try to take a picture of this, and if you do pull your camera out, then at least take the picture so you can delete it when the security guard forces you to!), and the University of Mumbai. Best of all there are huge parks in the heart of the city that overlook old English buildings, such as the Court House - a bustling place where security isn't all that good and I managed to climb to the 4th floor rooftop overlooking the complex.
At an Applied Art School I met a friendly fellow and swung a cricket bat - though the actual game fell through. Later on a couple young guys bought me a Chai tea (this tea is so sweet I actually like it!) before they tried to hustle me into buying a male Indian-dress before I caught on to the ruse.
Been an eventful day and a half.. my train was to leave at 7 this morning but has been delayed til 11. Almost that time now so I'd better go catch it!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Traveling
Apologies for keeping you hanging and not delivering.. I was supposed to attend the Final Fantasy and Timber Timbre show in Vancouver at a church this past Friday. I was super excited for it and you can imagine how crushed I felt when Owen Pallett came down with strep throat and had to cancel. Therefore I didn't get to see the show and don't have anything to post about either.
I do have another blog on the go though, it will document my travels through Asia over the next four months. I know it's not the same but it'll have to do as I doubt I'll be catching many relevant concerts while I'm away. Perhaps on the flip side I'll start it up again, wherever I take up roots in Canada upon my return in February. Until then!
Oh Matthias! (Matthias Kom, Weird Weather)
I made Coles notes for myself to fully write this one up.. but now that a month has passed it doesn't look like the full write up will ever surface. So here is a glimpse into what I was planning. It refers to the Attic (in Guelph) show featuring Matthias Kom (of the Burning Hell) and the Weird Weather, and Lisa Bozikovic.
****
Lisa playing the keyboard with same guy sitting on guitar and matthias on drums
matthias opens with "part of your world" before getting into some originals and some covers. Long story about dermatologist mid-song. Captures attn over simply uke. Gets Jenny O for cover of Wax Mannequin and story about being in yukon. Has the first girl, lisa, join him to sing backup on Burning Hell's song (lie, la,la,la,lie). Closes with Kiss the Girl including keyboard set to totally fit the sound of the song.
Weird weather saw Kom back on drums - only brushes b/c at the attic. nick (?) playing guitar - at one point so fast you literally couldn't see his hand. another player too.. keys? overall not that particularly intriguing set.
Comment on the night of Matthias (involved in all three sets, and the most captivating for a self-proclaimed agoraphobe!)
***
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Out of Commission
Apologies to the two and a half of you who've bothered to check here in the past few weeks. I've been wrapping up my tenure in Guelph and have actually driven out to St John's Newfoundland in the meantime. I know I should have given you the heads up but times were hectic - please accept my humble apologies.
I still have plans to write up the Matthias Kom/Weird Weather show from the Attic a few weeks ago. And I hope to give myself a proper send off before I voyage to the ancient land of spice (Asia?) for a few months. I'll say my goodbyes to Guelph at that point.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Big Shows in Little Guelph (THT Updates x2)
A glance at the sidebar schedule might make you think you were living in a big city, but in reality lil old Guelph is being blessed by concerts from some big, formerly big and gonna be big names in the upcoming months. Not to knock the others on that list but here are some highlights.
Metric is playing the University of Guelph's frosh week. Introduction probably unnecessary, but in order to see Emily Haines and co. you'll need to be a student or at least know a student. You may also need to know a loan shark as tickets are $36 - ouch! Peter Clark Hall is an awful venue, but that's usually because it is mostly empty, which may not be a problem for this show.
Japandroids who've been getting some hype (including being the X3 artist of the month for May 2009) were forced to cancel their last tour at the last minute due to a medical emergency. This BC power duo are known to bring a heckuva sound are returning to make up for that missed show. Support Mt. Saint Helen's Vietnam Band, Little Girls.
The Bouncing Souls are punk rock veterans, having played countless Warped Tours not to mention touring constantly on their own over the past twenty, yes twenty years! I caught them a few years ago at the Vancouver Warped and my desciption isn't particularly complimentary but you've gotta hand it to these vets for still bringing it after all this time. If they got me in the pit it musta been doing something right. Along for the ride are Saint Alvia Cartel. Early Show!
Two Hours Traffic bring their pop-done-right sound from the Island of Prince Edward in October. Lucky for us THT haven't forgotten about Guelph just yet when making their jaunts across the country. I remember their free gig at Jimmy Jazz just a couple years ago, and the two eBar shows that followed those - with the crowds growing for each one. I didn't blog any but I did write after the second eBar gig "Another solid fun-filled set, with 4 new songs including a good one called Noise Maker." I see that Noise Maker did indeed make the new album Territory; the opening track no less. Can't find the opening support just yet, but regardless The Danks who include a couple THT boys in their lineup are playing too - so I'd DEFINITELY advise getting tickets ahead of time for this one!
Whoa, further update as this big show gets bigger and Spiral Beach join the bill.
Not just The Acorn but Ohbijou too! This gig was supposed to go down last year if I recall but was cancelled well ahead of time for reasons that escape me now. It is back on and at the Dublin St. Church. Never seen the Acorn but Glory Hope Mountain was a killer album, and Ohbijou are lovely (and current X3 artists of the month). This'll be something to see!
The Hidden Cameras finally return to Guelph. Their live shows are known to be spectacles. Unfortunately I missed the last time they played the Dublin St. Church, and it has been over 2 years since that time so catch them while they're here!
Library Voices are doing a free gig. They may not be as well-known as some of the bands above but damn are they as great! It is a noon-hour concert (exactly what it sounds like, a show at high-noon in the UoG UC courtyard) and it's 100% free. I gave them some love for their recent Hillside show.
Almost worth canceling my travel plans to catch all these great acts...
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Tom Fun Orca-Wail (Vinyl)
Hailing from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia this energetic nine-piece invaded Guelph, which they lovingly referred to as the nipple of southern Ontario. In his wry manner, Ian MacDougall introduced the "Tom Fun Orca Whale".. to the half-hundred or so patrons who'd come out to the Vinyl on an early August, Tuesday evening (c'mon Guelph - show some support!). Once the small stage was sufficiently packed with an accordion player, banjo-ist, female acoustic guitarist, lead-singer and electric guitarist Ian, bass player, trumpeter and lovely lady violinist (from left to right, 8/9 members attending), all blocking the open-shirted, mustache who manned the drums, they busted into the first tune. It was this mustached-man who led the first track with a driving beat. Everyone on stage had the chance to clear their throats while singing the chorus of this track, and soon thereafter each worked out their respective instruments with an awesome showing during the Highway Siren Song Breakdown. Ian's great gruff voice growled clear (despite many sound system issues), leading the charge on most songs, though Carmen Townsend also lent a female perspective often, and the rest of the band were quick to join in for a chorus, backup or singalong. Vocals were hardly needed on the next track which had an anthemic beat reminiscent of BSS that changed drastically towards hoedown, before returning to the marching beat and then closing out at super speed.
I'd been looking forward to some Rum and Tequila and that dropped next. The violinist must have been looking forward to it as well since she got into it (and out of her shoes into barefeet too). In the spirit of removing clothing, the drummer lost his shirt entirely at this point for the rest of the show. After breaking a guitar during one song, Ian swapped for another and joked about trying to bust this one too while tuning it up. Not one song later he could be seen sliding the neck up and down his mic stand, doing his best to make his prediction true. There were some brief breaks from the musical swell (and not just to try to clear feedback), including the song that cut the hard hitting drums, making for a relatively lighter tune. Back at it, they ripped things up with the excellent Watchmaker that saw Carmen belting out her verses before all of the musicians just let loose, in one of the many instances where I was thinking 'finale', but it didn't come. Carrying on with a few more for the dancers up front, they even tossed some cover lyrics into the midst of their own songs, such as the chorus to MGMT's Kids. With the crashing of the following track it was clear that this was actually going to be the end after many false finales. The last push of this song was clear as they encircled the drummer, backs to the crowd, raising instruments in the air while jamming out, for the equivalent of a good-bye group hug. Too bad it couldn't have been a larger hug (audience-wise) but The Tom Fun Orchestra didn't seem to care as they poured out a full-out strong show much to the delight of the dedicated fans who were in attendance.
Carmen Townsend
Carmen Townsend had a beard and a mustache. No, not the lady, but her accompanying band, as they opened for Tom Fun. More specifically the band was a subset of Tom Fun, that included the bass player (beard) and drummer (stache), but were fronted by Ms.Carmen Townsend (hence the name) now playing a rather large electric (as opposed to her Tom Fun acoustic) guitar. She had a good wail that suited the rock'n'roll show. Opening with a crescendo of sound (I'm not sure that's even possible) they entertained for the whole set, especially with the tune that never seemed to end - growing longer, while getting stronger. The last song was appropriately introduced as a country tune since it definitely had that feel to it, but along with her voice it worked. Altogether, it worked.
Local group, Thunder and Lightning, started the night off. It was a three-piece, though without offense to the drum and bass players, they seemed to be there simply for the singer to play his electric guitar overtop of. With some restrained back beats he blasted out guitar licks for twenty or thirty minutes, with no stage banter (and not much presence). It wasn't unenjoyable, but not overly interesting either.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Great Bloomers, Boys Who Say No, Five Star Trailer Park (Albion, Guelph)
Up first of the three Torontonian bands at the Albion in Guelph last Friday (July 31) were Five-Star Trailer Park who were in Guelph for the second time in about a week. It was the beginning of a LOUD evening.. and not in terms of musical genre, but general sound system level. From the patio I heard On the Drive Home just fine. When I did make it inside I found an all-male six-piece playing some rock music. Fronting the group was an emotive guy who acted out many of the lyrics in charade-style (while wearing a Dancehall Free For All tee). As noted by a friend, the bass player was also "very agreeable" referring to him getting in the zone with a lot of head nodding. One of their final tunes sounded very familiar, and was likely a cover though I couldn't place it (after the few drinks I'd had) but some audience members could as they got up to dance.
Next to the stage were Boys Who Say No which predictably was made up of boys (four of 'em) who played drum, bass, guitar and added a dash of uke and keys depending on the song. They included a very drum-centric song (or perhaps that was the sub-woofer again) that saw some of the Great Bloomers join them on stage. Not bad.
Closing out the night the Great Bloomers were five guys, some of whom played a couple electric guitars and a keyboard. Playing their single, Young Ones Slept, first they managed to draw in a bunch of the patio dwellers and possibly some people from down the street at Sun Sun's as I'm sure you could hear it there! It didn't take long before they returned the favour and invited Boys Who Say No back onstage to guest on one of their tracks. There was a new one called something like Keep Me Here that was played before the rhythym section provided a jazzy instrumental interlude. The singer picked up an acoustic axe for a bit, while a guitarist picked his guitar, face-up in his lap. The title track from Speak of Trouble came after that and was followed by Honey Blanket. To close out the set was a well-recieved tambourine attack. In my opinion the Albion saved the best for last this night.
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