Review: Sadie Hell's Magnificent Debut

It's hard to imagine that Sadie Hell has its roots in a handful of punk songs Ben Welland wrote a few years ago, often inspired by touring with his brothers' band, NOW. Sadie Hell at the time "wrote, jammed, and sweated alot" according to Welland but did not tour. But something was missing from these songs, and so over a few years he searched for more.

Eventuallly, the original, intense, compact energy of punk became unravelled into something much more complex and esoteric, especially with the introduction of strings and the like. Those songs, and several more, became Sadie Hell's self-titled debut. Coming from the focused energy of punk, it was as if a musical atom were split: an intricate explosion of sounds, some mellow, some raucous, some stunningly gorgeous - but all blending together to make a majestic record.

There is no label that can be attached to Sadie Hell: it's orchestral pop in parts, 70s era prog rock in others, folky at times, loudly expressive at others, a pinch of 80s synth rock, and intricate arrangements played at turns with sweet subtley and crazy clamour (and sometimes both). The sole (and soul) anchor to these varied styles is Welland's voice, an instrument on its own, always powerful and constantly stretched to match these different sounds.

It takes guts to pull off a record like this, and Welland has done it. The title track, "Sadie Hell", starts with Welland's voice, solo, powerful - a message to all that this is going to be the Sadie Hell record he wants, like it or not. Then we hear mellow plucked guitar, slight reverb, and expect a folky track. Then big drums, strings, horns kick in, and we expect an orchestral pop gem. Back and forth the song goes, peaks and valleys, a musical adventure through many sonic palettes. So many that, when you listen to Sadie Hell, you expect something to falter, a beat to be missed, an off note, a sour melody. There seems to be too much at stake. I could hear nothing like that: Sadie Hell hit the mark and more.

Normally when I review records I like to comment on all of the songs in some detail, recognizing they are parts of a whole body of work. It's very hard to do with this record: each song is painted with nuance, and worthy of lengthy comment on its own. Critics could easily think these tracks are a bit 'pretentious' given their length and incredible scope. But that would only apply if the effort was not realized, if the songs were not little gems. Welland's Sadie Hell go well beyond what could have been self-indulgent, setting down 9 (there's a hidden track at the end of the CD) perfectly realized songs.

"Sadie Hell" certainly stands out, setting the pace for the rest of the record. "Sadie wrote a letter to God, and wondered why he never replied" is an ominous start, but only underlines the operatic nature of the record. A sad song, for sure, but the desperation is magnificent, especially in the chorus "Said he wants to die!", (which later shifts to "Sadie wants to die!"), which is immediately flanked by a mellow horn line - a little touch of grace in a personal hell. The balance of the tracks contain similarly serious lyrics, all well matched by the power of the music. At bottom, Sadie Hell is full of ruminations on loneliness, hope, grace, and regeneration. Oblique at times, but always interesting, the lyrics match the forceful mood of the songs.

"Onward, Hop!" starts out very slowly, a mild guitar lick which expands over time, picking up steam until heavier guitars kick in, with vocals popping up fully half way through the song. Themes here include determination in the face of adversity, self-doubt followed by confidence, moving forward, all balanced with the joyful refrain of the track's title.

"Live the Evolution" is one of the few possible singles (more on that in a minute) - pretty guitar melody, gentle bass backing, horn refrains, all focusing on Welland's voice. The back up vocals here are simply lovely. This track recollects 80s pop brushed against the more modern guitar melodies of REM or Pavement. Amazing.

I've had Welland on my radio show and we've chatted in my office about his music. As a radio host, I am intimately familiar with the value of the 3 - 4 minute song: anything more risks not being played, or relegated to fringe hours on the radio. 6 of these tracks exceed 4 minutes, with 4 over 6 minutes (2 of them over 7!). In an era where easy playing is imperative, that sounds like career suicide. But there's more: when Welland released the record, it was on vinyl (with the CD as a bonus only). Now here's an artist with guts and confidence - entirely justified. As Welland said to me, "Sorry radio. These songs are for me." Except that we can enjoy them too.

The rest of the tracks on this set continue the orchestral, majestic themes, all with Welland's voice as an anchor holding the songs together in a cohesive whole. Each deserves to be listened to intently, and separately. "Pedestrians" is likely the mellowest of the lot, with slow melodic guitar throughout. "In the Fold" keeps up the mellow guitar line, with mild horns in support, all eventually hitting a more raucous plain but calming down again. After the pretty and brief "Stir In The Wings", the band returns to the wildly orchestral "The Wolf Can", moving from easy guitar to bellowing sounds and screamed lyrics. This song also has Welland appproaching a Bowie - like vocal sound. "The Wolf Can" nicely bridges the space between it and the title track, without losing sight of all the great songs in between.

Overall, Sadie Hell is an extraordinary debut, with a band setting its sights very high and achieving them and more. You'd be a fool not to find this record, and you may even be amazed that it was pretty well all created in Ottawa. And you should also know this: as I write, Welland and his band have played two recent shows in the Ottawa area: one to benefit sweatshop.org (to help folks who work in appalling conditions) and one to benefit victims of a fire in Ottawa's Glebe neighbourhood. Ben Welland and Sadie Hell are true artists - revelling in the beauty they create but also fostering whatever conditions might make life more beautiful for others. Thanks for that.

And stay tuned - Ben and I conversed in more detail via email about the band and its music; we'll have that information up later. For now, buy the record and enjoy. Oh - and the name? It was meant to be a play on an Ottawa neighbourhood, Sandy Hill. Ottawans draw your own conclusions.

Chris MacLean and Dave Bidini - Great Canadian Music Tomorrow Morning on CKCU!

Tomorrow morning I am very happy to have two great Canadian artists on the Thursday Morning Special Blend on CKCU (FM 93.1 in the National Capital Region, http://www.ckcufm.com/ online).

Chris MacLean is an accomplished, award-winning singer-songwriter who lives in the West Quebec Hills just north of Ottawa. After spending 8 years with world music ensemble Galitcha, Chris decided to pick up on her solo career again. With the help of veteran songwriter and producer Ian Tamblyn, Chris has just released Feet Be Still, a beautiful collection of fine folk songs performed with grace and beauty. Says Ian Tamblyn of her work:

“One of the things I like best about Chris Maclean’s work is its levity; even when singing the most serious song there is still a sense of light in the work. It begins with her voice which is unmistakable, clear and ethereal all at the same time. There is something too in her melodies which always return to an uplifting theme even though the song may touch upon some sorrow. And then there are her lyrics which are more often than not redemptive and positive, particularly on her new CD Feet Be Still. All in all Chris’ work seems to be about a lightness of being and grace while walking through a very complicated life. Feet Be Still.”

For her efforts, Chris won the 2008 Colleen Peterson Award for Songwriting. Chris will be in the studio with me tomorrow just after 8:00 a.m., where we'll talk about music and hear her perform a song or two. I hope to do a review of her latest CD here in the future.

Dave Bidini is an icon of the Canadian indie music scene, a former member of seminal group the Rheostatics, and an accomplished author. Readers of this blog know how much we love the Swim Drink Fish Music Club, with its innovative use of Canadian Music to raise money for clean water initiatives. Dave has just contributed 30 songs - you saw that right, 30! - to the SDFM Club, which you can access with the dirt (no pun intended) cheap annual membership of $9.99. Dave explains on their website what he did and why he supports the SDFM Club:

"This is me around my 4 track cassette recorder, the triceratops of home recording devices. I limited myself to 4 tracks to expedite the breadth of the project, having to meet the demands of the Waterkeepers. A lot of the songs are about living close to water -- youthful summers on Toronto Island; a misspent teenagehood hanging out at the Leslie Street spit; as an adult sailing with my dad out of the Etobicoke yacht club -- as well as the fucked up polluted soup that is our city's lake. Through this series of lo-fi demos -- I did them quickly, over two days -- I wanted to call attention to SDF and the Keepers, whom I've known and worked with for a long time, and who are doing great and estimable work in the face of deteriorating environmental conditions. Almost all of the pieces here were created through the 'instant song' technique -- basically writing and singing whatever came into my head -- although a few were more obviously crafted. Whatever the case, enjoy, and please help support the Waterkeepers. I do and will and will continue to, evermore."

After 9:00 a.m., I'll talk to Dave about his contribution to this great initiative, and see what else is going on in his career.

Fiftymen CD in the Works

Music fans in Ottawa are very familar with the Fiftymen's whiskey-soaked, insurgent country music that sounds like a cattle drive through the bars, back roads, bad decisions and broken hearts of our fair land. I've heard them described as Merle Haggard meets Joe Strummer, and that is pretty close to the mark. Hard workin' and always a blast to see live, the band is comprised of a number of local musicians with many regular jobs, and so touring and recording are not so easy. But when you can catch a show in the National Capital Region, you are guaranteed to have a great time.

Two of the Fiftymen - Mark Michaud and Jeff Hardill - are co-owners of Kaffe 1870, a popular watering hole in Wakefield, Quebec, with a gorgeous view of the river, plenty of beer, good bar food, and great live music from time to time. I was there recently with my sweetheart (getting ready to head up the road to the Blacksheep Inn to hear Danny Michel), and Mark overheard us talking lots about music. He realized we were music lovers, and gave us a copy of Fifytmen's last CD, 2005's Balances + Sums, for free. Nice guy.

We chatted a bit and happily discovered that Fiftymen are working on a new record. This is great news - not only for Fiftymen fans, but for those who like their music countrified and stomping with a suitable raunchy rocking beat. Can't wait to hear the new CD, and seeing some shows in support. Maybe this fall???

I've looked for the last CD, Balances + Sums, in record stores before, but haven't been able to find it. Alas - the reason was that copies of the CD hadn't been produced for a while. The one I was given was part of a new batch that has just come in. So fans - if you want a copy of that great CD - get it while supplies last!

New Jim Bryson CD in the Works

I know many music lovers thoroughly enjoyed Jim Bryson's latest record, Live at the First Baptist Church (Kelp Records, 2009), which elegantly captured all the charm and joy that is a Jim Bryson concert (especially at the wonderful First Baptist Church in downtown Ottawa). But that just left fans with a desire for some new studio music after 2007's stellar Where the Bungalows Roam (also on Kelp, and one of my favourites of that year). Hearing a live record also left fans wanting for a real live Bryson show, which have been few and far between given his touring with legendary Canadian acts such as the Weakerthans, Kathleen Edwards and the Tragically Hip. In fact, the last show I saw was the fantastic Kelp Records Anniversary concert at the Mayfair Theatre in Ottawa last April (the subject of my first blog post here at NxEW).

With all the demand as a supporting guitarist, (and a new baby at home) it's kinda tough to record tunes. However, Kelp Records' website says that Jim is working on a new CD. I spoke to Jim this past week, and he tells me that he just tracked 11 new songs at the Hip's recording studio, the Bathouse in Kingston. Working with Ottawa super-producer Dave Draves, and hoping to attract many great musicians to help, he's predicting that the new record will be out this fall. Looking forward to it, Jim!

I'm also looking forward to some live shows promoting the CD. If you check out Jim's website, there isn't much info about upcoming shows. However, Jim tells me he's doing the annual Holiday shows at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield again. This year, they're scheduled for December 19th and 20th.

Ottawa Folk Festival Showcases Canadian Headliners and more

The Ottawa Folk Festival's summer festival is an incredible music event, with live music, of course, but plenty of other great, interactive activities. There's a Kids' Zone, an Artisan Village, an Envirotent with workshops, a ukelele building workshop, Festival Gardens, sound healing, and plenty more.

And then there is the music: in addition to bringing many awesome performers from around the world, this year the Festival has many many artists from Canada, including all the headliners. Just some of the Canadians you will see are:

- Canadian Music Icon Bruce Cockburn;

- East Coast sensation Joel Plaskett;

- former Barenaked Ladies front man Steven Page;

- Stars' Amy Millan;

- the Sadies, one of our best live acts;

- excellent songwriter James Keelaghan;

and many more.

And here's a great tip: Chris White, Artistic Director with the Ottawa Folkfest, tells me that Bruce Cockburn has suggested a songwriters' circle featuring himself, Amy Millan, Joel Plaskett, and Steven Page. This will be a unique and memorable chance to see four great Canadian musicians and songwriters work together under the theme of "Songs From the Road".
It likely takes place Sunday afternoon.

Althought the Ottawa Folk Festival programs events year round, you will definitely want to check out the whole of the summer festival to see all of these artists. It takes place August 21 - 23 at Brittania Park, in Ottawa. Check Ottawa Folk Festival website for details on schedules, activities, and tickets. Note there is special pricing on advance tickets until August 13, 2009.

Canada Day Festivities in Ottawa

Fireworks are what draws people Downtown Ottawa every year on July 1st. However while the fireworks last for twenty minutes, there is music all day long, often featuring some of Canada’s best known acts. Last year Blue Rodeo and Joel Plaskett played the Hill (As I well found out in this interview). This year is no different as Sarah McLachlan headlines. Unlike the Junos though, Canada Day also features acts with less pop culture/over 40 demographic profile but no less talented or deserving. The full schedule can be found here but I’ve pointed out my favourites below.

Les Respectables with Gordie Johnson
As anyone who saw Gordie Johnson play with either Steve Miller or Joel Plaskett at Ottawa Bluesfest 2007, the man has the ability to fit his astounding guitar playing into the music of other musicians. I imagine it will be no different with francophone act Les Respectables.

They play as part of the noon and evening shows on Parliament Hill.

Said the Whale with Hannah Georgas
Vancouver band Said the Whale joins up with Vancouver singer/songwriter Hannah Georges. For anyone looking for catchy indie pop with a little more of an acoustic bent then look no further. Said the Whale have a new EP out and Georgas is currently recording new material but I suspect that we shall hear favourites such as Georgas’ “The Beat Stuff” (Which features Spencer from Said the Whale) and Said the Whale’s “This City’s a Mess.” I, for one, couldn’t be happier.

They play as part of the noon and evening shows on Parliament Hill.

Julie Doiron
Julie Doiron has turned out an impressive series of records since her days in lo-fi rock pioneers Eric’s Trip. Her new record, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, is no different. As you can see in her SXSW show, her live show with drummer/songwriting partner Fred Squires is just as good.

She plays Major’s Hill Park Noon and Evening Show as well as an evening set at Jaques Cartier Park in Gatineua.

Justin Rutledge
Justin Rutledge offers up something for folk music fans or revelers looking for something a little more low key and melodic. Most of his set will probably be drawn from his excellent release Man Descending. Although expect everyone to get into and sing along with his crowd pleaser, “Don’t Be So Mean, JellyBean.”

He plays Major’s Hill Park Noon and Evening Show

Maybe Smith
Hailing from Saskatoon, Maybe Smith will play certainly get the crowd going with his quirky yet catchy indie pop songs. There simply is no simple way to describe his music, its pop, rock and electronic music depending on the song. Listen to his music on Myspace, then check out the show and enjoy!

Torngat at Zaphods video

Video from the Ottawa show on April 9th.

Torngat @ Zaphods from Ming Wu on Vimeo.

Live Music in the Nation's Capital on CKCU

Carleton University based CKCU FM - the Mighty 93.1 on the radio waves and ckcufm.com on the net - was Canada's first campus-based community radio station. For over 30 years, CKCU has been a source of innovative and wide-ranging programming. For music fans, one of the best programs to check out is Charles Anthony's Ottawa Live Music. Ottawa Live Music airs every Thursday night at 11:00 p.m., and features a set of live, in the studio, music from a wide variety of musicians, many of whom are from the Ottawa area. You'll hear folky singer/songwriters, metal, punk, pop, country, blues and much much more.

I know the CKCU studio very well, and space is tight for a proper live show. But Charles Anthony does a fantastic job of getting great and interesting acts in there and setting up a decent sound output for maximum enjoyment. Of course, with shows live and on the radio, if you're enjoying a tune then you can call in and let Charles know. Once I was even patched through to the artist to chat about a song she had just performed.

Don't worry if you can't stay up that late, or you miss a show - Charles has a great website which provides mp3 files of previous performances. He's also in the process of converting these mp3 files into the superior Ogg Vorbis format, and has many of them available right now. The list of performers is amazing, and includes some of my favourite Canadian musicians: The Acorn, Big Jeezus Truck, Black Boot Trio, Department of Foreign Affairs, Lindsay Ferguson, Sarah Hallman, Lynne Hanson, the Scarlett Fever, Andrew Vincent, Brock Zeman.... The schedule for the next few months features Chachi on Acid, Tanya Janca, the Bible All Stars, and more.

Charles tells me that he is setting up a new and improved website. You can check it out right here, though it is still a work in progress.

For great live music from awesome Canadian artists, listen to Ottawa Live Music whenever you can, Thursdays at 11:00 p.m. on CKCU - 93.1 FM in the National Capital Region, and online at ckcufm.com.

Marc Charron's Hard Work Pays Off

Marc Charron is a workhorse of a singer/songwriter/musician. In a recent facebook posting, Marc noted that, since July 2004, he has performed over 1000 shows, on 6 Canadian tours, 3 Western tours, one Australian tour (with Seismic), and one Eastern Canadian tour (with Lure). But then, in what is either a lament or a challenge, Charron notes "YOU still haven't seen me play..."

I've seen Marc Charron play. I've been most fortunate to have him perform, too early in the morning for most musicians, on my radio show, the Thursday Morning Special Blend on Ottawa's CKCU. His performances are always spirited, well crafted and fun. He's a great performer.

Charron's new record is entitled Coming & Going. It's been generally available at some of his shows in a pre-release form, and I am fortunate to have a copy. Coming & Going showcases the classic Canadian musician: child of the road enjoying the trip, experiencing love and heartbreak on the way, with a longing for home. In contrast to most of his solo shows, this record features a full band, with guests including Eric Grosvenor, Chris Bartos and Stuart Watkins. This is Charrons's first full studio record, and it shines.

"Snowy Frost"'s light acoustic strumming beat, and sing-a-long "doooo do do do do do do" chorus, perfectly captures the cool light inherent in the title, while evoking the loneliness of the road - whether you're on it or not. While "Canaday I Oh" features fine instrumentation with lovely strings, the beat and the strains of the violin also turn your mind to the vastness and difficulties of this land, especially for a DIY solo musician, with a chorus of sounds that seems as primitive as the wind. "Sun Breaks" maintains the outdoor theme, with references to simple Ottawa Valley life, this time using a standard, mid-tempo rock beat. But the acoustic melody breathes pleasant sunlight into the song, and we know exactly what it means when the sun breaks.

The standout track is "Just Like That". Listeners to my show, and Ottawa fans, have probably heard the original, stripped down version of this song (from the Collector's Item EP), which featured simple acoustic guitar melodies and a belting beat from Charron himself. But on Coming & Going, Charron takes full advantage of the band, which perfectly wraps the simplicity of the original track in a much grander setting. The strings here provide wonderful support to the tune, but Charron throws a curve ball mid way through, shifting into a funky reggae beat and back. Themes of the road, the outdoors, and perseverance are there as well - with stunning results.

Go see Marc Charron perform. Bring a friend. Buy his new CD. Of course, Charron is further evidence of the great live music scene we have in and around Ottawa. He has a lot of gigs in various places over the next number of weeks. These are 'cover' shows, but be sure to ask Marc to play some originals - you'll thank me. Check his myspace page for dates and locations.

Marc Charron Live Halloween Night!!!

Souljazz Success Story

One of the greatest Canadian music success stories over the last five years or so is the Souljazz Orchestra. The Ottawa six-piece (Pierre Chrétien - electric piano, clavinet, organ, percussion, vocals; Marielle Rivard - shekere, tambourine, vocals; Steve Patterson - tenor sax, percussion, vocals; Ray Murray - baritone sax, percussion, vocals; Zakari Frantz - alto sax, flute, percussion, vocals; and Philippe Lafrenière - drums, percussion, vocals), perform room lifting, butt-shaking soul music in all its many forms.

In 2002, these musicians started mixing a blend of jazz, R & B, African, Latin and more influences, creating a delicious stew of funky music which starts in the groove, grabs hold of your heart and soul, and keeps you moving 'til the end of the show or the record. Their first record, Freedom No Go Die (Toronto based Do Right! Music), was released in 2006 to much critical acclaim, notably catching the attention of BBC DJ Gilles Peterson. Peterson's listeners eventually voted "Mista President" as one of the top ten tracks of the year.

The band also had a regular gig at Ottawa's eclectic Babylon Nightclub, where local music fans were treated regularly to Souljazz's legendary, energetic live shows. But the band is no stranger to touring outside its home base, spending plenty of time honing their chops during tours across North America and Europe, often sharing the stage with world music luminaries, including the likes of Femi Kuti and Etta James.

Last year, Souljazz released the stellar follow up, Manifesto (Do Right! Music), which made many top 10 lists for 2008. From the Souljazz website:

Manifesto is the Souljazz Orchestra's latest endeavour: the powerful chants, majestic brass, overheated organs, chicken-scratch guitars, hypnotic bass and polyrhythmic percussion mix dirty funk and tropical jazz to the band´s signature militant afrobeat.

Not content to stay with their already wide-ranging world/funk/soul sound, Souljazz recently collaborated with reggae legend Horace Andy, re-arranging "Watch Me" into a 'bumpin' afro-reggae thing'. That record (on Strut) is set to be released in the next few months.

Souljazz is another testament to the success of Canadian music abroad. Souljazz hit Europe again in April and May, starting in England and ending up in Finland, with many stops in between. Ottawa fans, however, are in for a treat: Souljazz Orchestra return to the Babylon Nighclub on April 4th starting at 10:00. Don't miss your chance to see a phenomenal live show from an awesome Canadian band, and wish Souljazz Orchestra well on the tour.

At the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, with new track "State Terrorism":

Bell Orchestre N.E. American Tour Starts Soon

Great American music blog Brooklyn Vegan has been touting Bell Orchestre lately, more evidence of Canadian music spreading abroad. The six member band cites influences as varied as Lee “Scratch” Perry, Arvo Pärt, The Penguin Café Orchestra, and Talk Talk, but crafts a decidedly unique pastiche of sounds on their instrumental tracks - sometimes pastoral, sometimes raucous, always unique and cerebral.

The band scored huge on its sophomore release on Canadian Indie mega-label Arts & Crafts: As Seen Through Windows features John McEntire (Tortoise, the Sea and Cake) recording the disc. Here's how the band describes the result on their own website:

"The result is at once fierce and beautiful, delicate and dirty. McEntire’s
extensive studio knowledge and attention to craft provided Bell Orchestre with a
kind of bridge, spanning the diversity of their sound to create a richly layered
and sonically expansive recording; a recording that closely mirrors Bell
Orchestre’s very process of making music. Opening with the distressed sound of
muted and distorted horns, strings and drums—an almost monstrous sound, the
album effortlessly shifts into an elaborate and soaring movement, sometimes
edging close to fragility, sometimes on the verge of exploding, but never once
faltering nor threatening to lose its way."

Sounds amazing to me....

The band heads out on the road the first week of April, hitting mostly Quebec, eastern Ontario and Toronto, and culminating with what I am sure will be one of THE must-see sets at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. What's really cool is that Bell Orchestre has secured a few churches to perform in (notably in Kingston and Ottawa), and that ought to be one fantastic experience.

Here are the dates - don't miss it if you can:

4 Apr 2009 21:00 Sydenham Street United Church w/ Colin Stetson Kingston, Ontario
16 Apr 2009 20:00 Theatre Granada w/ Colin Stetson & Julie Doiron Sherbrooke, Quebec
17 Apr 2009 19:30 Theatre Petit Champlain w/ Colin Stetson & Little Scream Quebec, Quebec

18 Apr 2009 20:30 First Baptist Church w/ Colin Stetson & Little Scream Ottawa, Ontario
19 Apr 2009 22:50 La Tulipe w/ Colin Stetson & Little Scream Montreal, Quebec
23 Apr 2009 23:00 Starlight Social Club w/ Colin Stetson Waterloo, Ontario
24 Apr 2009 20:00 Courthouse w/ Colin Stetson Toronto, Ontario
25 Apr 2009 20:00 Casbah Hamilton Hamilton, Ontario
30 Apr 2009 18:30 Le Poisson Rouge New York, New York
1 May 2009 21:00 Somerville Theater w/ Colin Stetson & The Havels Somerville, Massachusetts
10 Jul 2009 20:00 Winnipeg Folk Festival Winnipeg, Manitoba
11 Jul 2009 20:00 Winnipeg Folk Festival Winnipeg, Manitoba

And here's Bell Orchestre performing at the Hillside Inside Festival in Guelph earlier this year:

New CD Coming from Ottawa's John Allaire!

Ottawa's barroom troubadour, John Allaire, is a veteran of the local music scene, covering folky roots rock, to alt/punk, and back again. His career started in the mid-80s, with now legendary (at least in these circles) The Town Cryers. After that, Allaire formed the alt/punk The Mercy Miners. In 2003, Allaire starting releasing solo records, with three recordings ending with the last, critically aclaimed, "Ghosts of the Royal Hotel". With a fabulous rock 'n roll voice, a great guitar style, and a passion for music that is infectious, John performs heartfelt stories about real people in real places.

One of the things that most impresses me about Allaire is the passion he brings to the stage. It is clear that he has fun - a lot of it - performing live music, and musicians who have fun while performing are obviously in love with music. Even with a small crowd, Allaire's sets are enthusiastic and heartwarming. Of course, Allaire got a big break last year at Ottawa's Bluesfest, where he performed on one of the main stages.

Allaire's latest disc,"Up Hill ... Both Ways", is set to be released May 22, 2009. Here's the tracklist: Highway 105; Lonesome Fiddle; Sundays in June; She Walks on Water; Swing the Hammer Down; St. Eugene; Trails in the Sand; Magnets; Candy Apple Killer; The Sonic Properties of Fire; What it Takes; Reels and Breathes. Allaire performed Candy Apple Killer on my radio show last September, and it was a lyrically fun stomp through a local fair. Allaire has a great sense of humour too...

There's a stellar lineup: Anders Drerup: Vocals, guitars, upright bass, pedal steel, mandolin, organ and banjo; Jeff Tanguay: electric bass; Kevin Smith: Drums; Chad Nesrallah: Congos; Tony Dunn: Keyboards, saxophone; Glenn Torresan: Slide guitar and Nathan Smith: on violin. Judging by the variety of instruments and his past work, this will be a sweet sounding disc for sure. Many of these players are long-time collaborators, and so we can expect this band to be tight.

And the proverbial icing on the cake: guest vocals from Tara Holloway on "Swing the Hammer Down" - a Pete Seeger-type old folk song - and Amanda Rheaume on "Trails in the Sand", an up-tempo song about their days together doing open mics in Ottawa. Rheaume is a local favourite on the blues scene, and her vocal work with Allaire on the last record showed they are a wonderful combo. Thank goodness for open mics!

So: mark your calendars for May and following: Allaire's CD release party is May 22 at Club Saw in Ottawa, followed by a show on the 23rd at live music institution Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield. Then it's off to a short, and I hope successful, US tour. Oh - and Allaire will be live on my radio show, the Thursday Morning Special Blend on CKCU, on May 21st just after eight a.m.