CFL Sessions on Tour

Henry Svec is touring the CFL Sessions - a collection of songs written by CFL players in the 70s and re-recorded by Svec with the help of WL Altman, Laura Barrett, Andy Magoffin and Jeseka Hickey. I first told you about the album back in April and since then it has been featured in our podcast a few times and made NxEW.ca's Shadow Polaris Long List. I was on vacation when word of this came in so the shows in London, Guelph and at the Tranzac in Toronto have already happened but there are still a few shows left starting tonight at Mitzi's Sister with Dog is Blue:

* August 10 with Dog is Blue @ Mitzi's Sister, Toronto. 9:00 pm. PWYC.

* August 12 @ Raw Sugar Cafe, Ottawa. 9:00 pm start. PWYC.

* August 16 with Erin Lang @ Le Cagibi, Montreal. 9:00pm. PWYC.

You can still get the album for free (and find out more about the songs and artists) at theCFLSessions.ca

More Zygiella: Wade Tyler and Jen talk about Wayne Petti

Wade Tyler and Jen take another whack at goings on in the Toronto Music Scene in the recent past and the recent future, discuss Jen's Wayne Petti issues and play some music by Key Witness, Wayne Petti, DD/MM/YYY, At Odds With Even, Chang-A-Lang and Dog is blue:



Download it Here

You can also download Part II of Jen's adventures in talking to people at NXNE

I got home really late on Wednesday night, but I was keen to get an early afternoon start on the official first day of the festival. I started at the Hyatt Regency, where I picked up my press pass and chatted with Fezz Stenton from Green Go. Then I sat in on the round table discussion featuring a dozen members of the (mainstream) Canadian music industry. I took a breather after that bizarre session to debrief with Leif Vollebekk, Scott Bouwmeester, and Stefan Banjevic. After seeing Dinosaur Bones perform a spirited set at Sunrise Records, I interviewed a couple members of that band, Joe Strutt from Mechanical Forest Sound, and NOW Magazine's Jordan Bimm. Spiral Beach was by then entertaining a good crowd at Yonge-Dundas Square, where I talked to Elvis Mondays' William New and Bo and Brandon from La Casa Muerte. Featuring songs by Green Go ("Brains For Breakfast"), Leif Vollebekk ("Northernmost Eva Maria"), Kids on TV ("Breakdance Hunx"), Parallels ("Reservoir"), Dinosaur Bones ("Life In Trees"), The Swallows ("Glorious"), and La Casa Muerte ("Cut It Out").

Download it Here

And, as always, there are Jen's listings of the shows you should check out in Toronto this week.

Zunior 5th Anniversary (Dog is Blue, Forest City Lovers, Entire Cities, etc.) @ the Tranzac June 27. 2009

Sadly, I missed out on both the Ohbijou CD Release on Thursday and the Sunparlour Players CD Release on Friday, which was really unfortunate, but a man's gotta eat... but, despite my disappointment at missing both of those shows, the Zunior 5th Anniversary Show/Party/Extravaganza was on at the Tranzac on Saturday night. The show was appealing for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: it started at a reasonable time (9pm), which meant that I was going to get home at a reasonable time (before the subway stops); the Tranzac is a great sit down venue; and there were at least a few bands that I was pretty keen on seeing.

Aside from the smell (TO garbage strike + heat + crowded house + not enough A/C = big tyme stink), the night was set to go quite well.


(the shadow to the left is Laura and the shadow to the right is Paul)
Dog is Blue, 9:15 Acoustic Room

B/c of the number of bands and the amount of stuff going on Paul Watson and Laura (Dog is Blue) ended up without mics in the acoustic room for their set... c'est la vie... it actually didn't matter so much. In fact, I'd almost go so far as to say as it added a degree of 'authenticity' to the performance.

Their songs, which typically consist of guitars, keyboard, and a variety of music toys, sounded terrific in the tiny room at the front of the Tranzac. For whatever reason, their songs - live - really resonated with me, and I caught myself humming 'Seacaptain' (probably my favourite) on my way home. At this point I'm projecting this as a sleeper for a year end top 10...


Forest City Lovers, 9:40 Main Room

Had heard a lot of good things about this band, have their 2nd album Haunted Moon Sinking on my computer, but never really listened to it. After their set last night, I daresay it'll be getting a few more (metaphorical) spins. The band has a sound that is relatively similar to Ohbijou - sweet female vocals, strings - but, there is something a little darker about FCLs. At this point I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I do know they have my attention... and I also know that Liz really liked them... she says they were her favourite.


Entire Cities, 10:30 Front Room

Those of you who have been around for a while (say, more than a year) may remember (but likely won't) how much I enjoyed Entire Cities' Deep River (#20, 2008). So, it seems logical that I would really enjoy their set, and I did. They were great. They were energetic to say the least - breaking drum sticks and guitar strings - but weren't all go-go and had a really nice balance b/w that unbrideled energy, and a quiet, more intimate side.

I think for them to become a (inter)nationally recognized band they're going to have to polish things up a little bit (if that's what they're into), but they were really fun and I def. look forward to seeing them again/hearing a new album...

... and then, some time shortly after that, Liz and I went home...

But, I did catch snippets of Culture Reject and By Divine Right both of which I enjoyed and'll be interested in checking out in the future...

If you're interested in some mp3s from the show, you can catch them at the Burgeoning Metropolis blog.

Elsewhere in the Blogosphere

VUE Weekly on the Rural Alberta Advantage.

Young Galaxy has a new (free) mix CD up

Jen has her weekly show listings up.

Radio 3 says Wintersleep has been added to that McCartney/Plaskett Halifax show.

Vintage likes the Burning Hell and Six Shooter

T.O. Snob talks to Dog is Blue

Elsewhere in the Blogosphere

CBC Radio 3 has new streaming concerts up from Jim Bryson, Andy Magoffin, NQ Arbuckle, Snailhouse and Ukrainia.

Herohill looks at the new Ohbijou

Exclaim has info and tour dates for $100

CBC Radio 3 has info on the Sled Island Create A Poster event, open until June 15

the Forest City Lovers are recording again!

Singing Lamb reviews Dog is Blue

Herohill says Virgin Fest has one of the worst lineups of any festival ever - have to agree. Sudbury's lineup kicks ass by comparison.

the Coast has a nice writeup about Owl

Zunior 5th Anniversary Lineup

Zunior, 'the little (totally artist and fan focused, music site is turning 5! And how would such a thing celebrate it's birthday but with music? So here's the commercial for it again (I know I posted it the other day but what the hell...) Full linup is below:



When: Saturday, June 27
Where: The Tranzac - 292 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto

Lineup and ticket info: tickets.zunior.com (see below as well)

A monumental concert, birthday celebration and all around event not to be missed, the evening is sponsored by Exclaim Magazine and will also mark the induction of the first two bands into Zunior.com's Independent Music Hall of Fame.  More details about the Independent Music Hall of Fame can be found here: http://halloffame.zunior.com/

As for the concert itself, it features a hand-picked selection of amazing bands divided into three rooms. The main room will also feature video art projections by Montreal's Mere Phantoms and a DJ set by The Straggler. This will be a show to remember. Here's the lineup:

Main Room:

9:00 - The Violet Archers
9:40 - Forest City Lovers
10:15 - Mike O'Neill
11:00 - Andrew Vincent

Front Room:

9:00 - Murmurers
9:45 - Culture Reject
10:30 - Entire Cities
11:15 - Wax Mannequin
12:00 - Ben Gunning

Acoustic Room:

9:15 - Dog Is Blue
9:45 - Selina Martin
10:30 - Megan Hamilton
11:15 - My Divine Light (By Divine Right's José Miguel Contreras)

Fans of Canadian independent music can get their $10 tickets here:

tickets.zunior.com

Each ticket comes with a free compilation of b-sides and rarities from all 13 bands involved!

Free Download: Dog is Blue covers Jenny Omnichord

One favorite from the NxEW Podcast - Dog is Blue (episodes 2 and 7) covering another Jenny Omnichord (Episode 2 + 4 & 7 w/ Barmitzvah Brothers + 1, 3, & 6 w/ the Burning Hell). It all seems sort of insestuous doesn't it? Anyway, here is Dog is Blue covering Jenny Omnichord's Blankets and Bones (download a copy here).

Elsewhere in the Blogosphere

T.O. Snobs Music likes Dog is Blue, alot.

Tegan and Sara have a new web site.

the Rural Alberta Advantage is trying to raise funds for a new limited edition 7" final with Kickstarter.com.

Lonely Vagabond talks about the Cheap Speakers.

Painting Over Silence talks about the Dears at the new 'West End Cultural Centre' in Winnipeg.

Chartattack has info on the upcoming Tokyo Police Club album

Zunior's 5th Anniversary Extravaganza Commercial

"A tease of all the great bands performing in celebration of Zunior's 5th Anniversary. The show is on Saturday, June 27 at the Tranzac in Toronto and tickets can be purchased (with a free rarities compilation) here:

http://www.zunior.com/product_info.php?roducts_id=2333"

Exchanging emails with... Dog is Blue

So, round 4 with Dog is Blue, or, Paul Watson, if you prefer. Paul has recently released an album called ...Makes Ghost Noises, which is a really neat folk album. It's an album that I haven't reviewed fully, and may not for a little while, but its like Matt Damon in Rounders, 'hanging around'. And while its not an album that is going to blow you away (I'm not sure "ghost-folk" albums are capable of doing that), but its an album that is kind of like comfort food. It makes you feel good.

Paul and I chat about why he decided to record an album, the process, but also what its been like trying to promote it, since, its a debut album and he's "just one man"...

If you're interested in checking out the first few email exchanges see: Black Hat Brigade, Ketch Harbour Wolves, and The Rest.

See the email exchange in its entirety here.

Another Free Sampler from Zunior

Zunior has released their latest free sampler with tracks from Great Lake Swimmers, Royal Wood, the Lodge, Dog is Blue, These Hands, and more and all for free and nothing at http://www.zunior.com/product_info.php?products_id=2398!

You Should Know: Dog is Blue

Paul Watson, general manager at Zunior and blogger at the possibly defunct Wolves, Hawks and Kites and the Toronto Music Blog Collective is also Dog is Blue and has just released his first album, "...Makes Ghost Noises" which he calls "basically a half-hour bout of homemade ghost-folk".

You can download a couple of Paul's tracks at dogisblue.com. One of them is

Grandma (from "Makes Ghost Noises")



Then there's Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (Dylan cover, not on the album).



If you like what you hear you can grab the album at Zunior and you can catch Dog is Blue

April 8, 2009 - The Ampersand, Charlottetown, PEI with Weird Weather, Jenny Omnichord and The Burning Hell!

April 9, 2009 - The Radio Station, Sackville, NB with Jenny Omnichord

June 27 - The Tranzac, Toronto, ON - The Zunior.com 5th Anniversary Extravaganza