Zygiella Podcast 39 (14-19 May 2009).

Justin's been posting links to my podcast so far on this blog. I figure it's now my time to do so. Cheers!

Jen and Tyler welcomed Bryan David Ward and Justin Myler from the Brampton / Toronto band Black Hat Brigade to the podcast this week. We talked about their new record; the interplay between song-writing, performance, and recording; touring and building a fan base; promotion and fundraising techniques for bands; and some other stuff. Featuring songs by Black Hat Brigade ("Kitchen Party"), The Speaking Tongues ("Run To My Door"), Mantler ("Hoped For Chance"), Radius & Helena ("Double Dragon"), The Craft Economy ("Big Purse Lil' Dawg"), and Diamond Rings ("All Yr Songs" [taken from here]).

Black Hat Brigade have a new EP out called Fathers. Their CD release party is happening 29 May at El Mocambo as part of Pitter Patter Fest. The new disk has been getting nice reviews. Plus, I like it.

Listen at Zygiella
Download the podcast
RSS (subscribe / download this and past podcasts)
iTunes (subscribe)

Indie Music 80 (13-19 May 2009).

Like this list? Join my Google Group to get my weekly Toronto indie music listings. Or, the Facebook group. Subscribe to my weekly podcast (or download the episodes) here, or through iTunes. Or just listen to the latest one, and all the other ones, at Zygiella. Make sure to check the rest of my blog for show reviews and photos, giveaways, and downloads.

Welcome to my weekly roundup of inexpensive indie(ish) musical happenings in downtown Toronto, all for $10 or less. If I'm missing something you think I should list, or you have any comments, let me know. I star (*) shows that most interest me.

I go to too many shows a week, and when it comes time to recap my outings, I usually can't remember what I saw. But this week I pretty much stayed away from music, except for a lovely backyard shed show on Saturday and Wavelength on Sunday. I went from quiet folk to noise rock for those shows. Should do that more often.

What about you?

This week there's the usual assortment of good and I-don't-know on the listings. Scroll down for some suggestions, and press "play" to hear/download a handful of tracks from bands performing. I'm aiming to check out Vertiver on Friday---heck, it's free and not so far away, Steamboat's release party on Saturday, and Wavelength on Sunday. Katie Stelmanis and Diamond Rings! Lots of other good bets.

WEDNESDAY (13 may)

* Francis & the Lights w/ Mantler @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, free.

Download: Francis & the Lights, "On A Train" (A Modern Promise, 2008).

Cigarettes (Brad Casey) w/ Maggie Meyer @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Ronley Teper's Lipliners @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

PWYC Weds feat. Royal Manor, Slides, and Tundra Fun @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, pwyc.

Inertia Entertainment presents Misery Index and Wetwork @ The Annex WreckRoom, 7pm, $10. All ages.

THURSDAY (14 may)

* T H O M A S (CD release) w/ Fraser Gielen, Donlands & Mortimer, Nancy & Co., Quiet Hooves, and Bird Names @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc ($10 for the CD).

Friends of This Ain't the Rosedale Library presents Sheila Heti (reading), Malcolm Sutton (reading, images), Alex Lukashevsky (music), and The Torrent (music) @ The Boat, 7:30pm, pwyc. Proceeds to the bookstore.

Michael Holt, Dave Celia, and Peter Murray @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

The Low Heroes, Moondog Uproar, Sea Of Gold & Burgundy, and Luke Nares @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, $4.

* WreckingBall Entertainment presents The Speaking Tongues, The Skirt Chasers, and Knock Knock Ginger @ Clinton's Tavern, 9pm, $5.

Download: The Speaking Tongues, "Run to My Door" (Wild Sound, 2008).

TWM presents Rich Girl, l’Affumer, Agpak Mum, and Left of Zero @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6.

Drunk Woman presents Honky Night in Canada feat. The Strumbellas, Sunbear, Christian D & the Hangovers, Soloman, Taylor Mitchell, and members of the Diableros and Proof of Ghosts @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm, $6. "Drunk Woman will perform a set of Sun Records classics by the likes of Johnny Cash, Elvis, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis."

Download: The Strumbellas, "Underneath of Mountain" (unreleased, 2009).

Francis & the Lights w/ Mantler @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $10.

FRIDAY (15 may)

* Vertiver (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 7pm, free. All ages. Bring a donation for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

* Pants & Tie, Golden Girls, and The Famines @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $5

Pop Noir (dance party) feat. Picturesound (live) @ The Boat, 10pm, $5.

* Junior Battles, Horses, City Sweethearts, and Prevenge @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm, $6.

Beautiful Nothing, Audio To Mute, Winslow, and tba @ Annies On Queen, 9pm, $7.

The Jar Jar Par Party ("Space Costume Dance Party and Gungan Birthday Extravaganza") feat. 3 Guitaros, Sean Ward, Radius & Helena, and DJ Diana @ Tranzac (Main Hall), 8pm, $7 (or $5 w/ space costume).

* Mean Red Spiders, Soft Copy, Sunbear, and Rat Tail, w/ DJ Tara White @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, pwyc.

Francis & the Lights w/ Mantler @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8pm, $10.

SATURDAY (16 may)

* The Stables (2 sets, as part of Dan & Terri’s rehearsal dinner) @ Rancho Relaxo, 9:30pm, free.

Hugh and Rosie's CD Release for "Even Kercy: The Latest Lucubrations of Hugh Oliver and Michael Rosenthal" @ Tranzac (Tiki Room), 8pm, pwyc.

* Europe in Colour, Kinetic Stereokids, and The Craft Economy @ The Silver Dollar Room, 10:30pm (late doors), $5.

Download: Europe In Colour, "Last Flight to Paris" (Europe In Colour, 2007).

That's What She Said (CD release) @ Smiling Buddha Bar, 9pm, $8.

The Speakeasies, The Kramdens, Kid Coma, and Dancehall Free For All @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm, $8.

The Wilderness, l'Affumer, and The Lowercase @ The Cameron House (Back Room), 9pm, pwyc.

Download: The Wilderness, "The Bard" (CIUT live recording, 2009). Download the whole live EP here.

The Von Drats @ The Cadillac Lounge, 10pm.

* Steamboat (2 sets; EP release) w/ Andre Ethier, Sandro Perri, Mantler, Alex Lukashevsky, $100 (duet), and Doug Paisley @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm.

SUNDAY (17 may)

* Wavelength 463 feat. Katie Stelmanis, Emma McKenna, Braids, and Diamond Rings, w/ DJ Brad Ketchen, hosted by Doc Pickles, and visuals by General Chaos @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, pwyc ($5-$10 sugg).

Video: Diamond Rings, "All Yr Songs" (live performance, filmed by Colin Medley).

The Calrizians and Luau or Die @ The Cadillac Lounge, 9pm, $5.

Download: The Calrizians, "Hernando's Hideaway" (Don't Let the Smooth Taste Fool You, 2007).

MONDAY (18 may)

Krallice (in-store) @ Sonic Boom, 5pm (probably), free. All ages. Bring a donation for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Shoeless Monday feat. Yr New Friends, Forces, and The Vibe @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

Mark Pesci presents Tyvek, So Cow, The Bang Bangs, and Magic Cheezies @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $10.

TUESDAY (19 may)

* Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Flowers Of Hell, The Superstitions, and In Support Of Living @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

St. Dirt Elementary School @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 7:30pm, pwyc.

Fred Spek's Camp Combo @ The Gladstone Hotel (Melody Room), 8:30-10:30pm, pwyc.

The Book of Gnomes @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Dog Day CD Release w/ the Burning Hell May 28

On May 28 at Lee's Palace Dog Day will have their CD Release show in Toronto at Lee's Palace. Ok, technically this isn't the CD release show, just the (apparently required) Toronto version of the CD release show, the real one was May 1 in Halifax (where it should have been.)

Still by all accounts this album is brilliant and assuming most Torontonians reading this didn't make the Halifax show, this is your chance. As a (really, really big) added bonus the Burning Hell will go on after Dog Day with Pacific Trash Vortex and Wildlife going before.

Doors are at 9
Facebook Event Page is Here!

Dog Day "Oh Dead Life" music video

Review: The Torrent's debut, Leonora Moreno, Electronic Post Punk Retro 80's Drone

Easily one of the most exciting releases of the year, Toronto's The Torrent are Cameron Groves and ex Hidden Camera's Mike Barry who left his band because it "felt like more of a job." A fuse of early post punk and new wave (supposedly this might be considered "No Wave,") The Torrent are not so much about rehashing old sounds, as blending the old with the new giving birth to a whole new post-millenial baby, what with minimal drum machines, atonal singing, scales and modes outside of conventional Western ones, not to mention the droning and Krautrock styles suggestive of the uberprolific Stereolab, and you have an idea of why this album should be on the top of your playlist. Cameron Groves also adds some intense violin to create the droning effect that I love with so much Scandinavian music, Swedish bands like Garmarna and Hedningarna. Other bands that come to mind are Early Jesus and Mary Chain, Joy Division, Bauhaus, B52's, Beat Happening, Magnetic Fields, Public Image Ltd., etc. This is crazy good. Crazy good you can dance to, or drug out to, either way, you'd be a fool to overlook it. 

Hear it on The New Spin this Thursday night, 9-11 P.M. on 93.5 CHMR-FM, 7:30 EST.
--
in sound,
dashiell brown, host of The New Spin, "the best music you've never heard."

Indie Music Shows in Toronto, 5-12 May 2009.

[I put together a weekly list of shows in Toronto that cost $10 or less. Best place to get these is my own blog. But I'll post this week's here to let you all know about this resource, and, well, give the listings a little wider exposure. Cheers!]

Like this list? Join my Google Group to get my weekly Toronto indie music listings. Or, the Facebook group. Subscribe to my weekly podcast (or download the episodes) here, or through iTunes. Or just listen to the latest one, and all the other ones, at Zygiella. Make sure to check the rest of this blog for show reviews and photos, giveaways, and downloads.

Welcome to my weekly roundup of inexpensive indie(ish) musical happenings in downtown Toronto, all for $10 or less. If I'm missing something you think I should list, or you have any comments, let me know. I star (*) shows that most interest me.

Last week was nuts, music-wise. I went to see Baltimore's Ponytail on Wednesday night (also Romo Roto and Brides; review here). Thursday I was at Wrongbar for Green's Go CD release, and I loved their and The Magic's sets. The opener, Everything All the Time, had people talking, too. Must see more of them. Friday I caught Chris Yang and the marvelous Diamond Rings at Tranzac. (Check out Colin Medley's recent video of a Diamong Rings performance.) And then come Saturday it was time for another CD release show. This time, Great Bloomers's @ the Horseshoe, where I also enjoyed Sports: The Band (much improved over the past few months) and the one-time-only performance of Gavin Gardiner & the Cutting Edge. (Gavin's main musical project is The Wooden Sky.)

This week there's lots more great stuff to do. I'm looking forward especially to some quieter stuff at Delaware House Saturday night. Scroll down for tons of inexpensive suggestions, as well as a handful of song downloads to get you in the mood.

TUESDAY (5 may)

* Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Bella Clava, Boxes & Bags, Tin Star Orphans, and The Balconies @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

Great Aunt Ida and The Book of Gnomes @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Ugly Stick, Endangered Ape, Hot Blood Bombers, and Deutsches Banks @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm.

* Wildlife, Rich Aucoin, and First Aid Kit @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

GoodSoundsGood presents Moulann, Dee Planche and Tanika Charles @ Supermarket, 9pm, $6.

WEDNESDAY (6 may)

PWYC Weds feat. My October, Hospital Grade, and Elk Face @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, pwyc.

* Blacklung Curatorial Vol 3 feat. Isla Craig and Doug Hoyer @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

* I Have Eaten the City, Honest I's, Battleship Ethel, and Neil Cavalier (film) @ Cinecycle, 7pm, $5.

* The Disraelis, Chang-A-Lang, Amanda Rogers, and Old Seed @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Kevin Kane, The Two Twenty Twos, and Patrick Brealey @ The Rivoli, 8:30pm, $10.

THURSDAY (7 may)

The Parkdale Revolutionary Orchestra and Karl Mohr @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

* Doug Hoyer, Jenny Omnichord, Mixylodian @ The Boat, 9pm, $5

TWM presents Mixylodian, The Liptonians, Julia Set Generator, and Owel Five @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6.

* Heartbeat Hotel (ex-Mariposa), Romo Roto, John Milner You're So Boss, and Brame Face @ Tiger Bar, 9pm, $6.

Download: Heartbeat Hotel, "TVPO" (Transbastardized Orphan under a Harvest Moon, 2009).

* Trinket Trance presents Tripping Hazard (CD release), Wax Mannequin, Run with the Kittens, and Secret Public / Wonderful William's Philharmonic @ Sneaky Dee's, 9pm, $7.

* Truth Explosion Magazine presents Arietta (CD release), The Junction, Tera Melos, and Cancel Winter, hosted by Serb Superb @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 9pm, $7.

Download: Arietta, "Into the Deep" (Migration, 2009).

* White Whale 5 Year Anniversary feat. The Mohawk Lodge, Tusks, Octoberman, Poorfolk, and Eamon McGrath @ The Dakota Tavern, 8pm, $?

FRIDAY (8 may)

* The Oxford Hotel presents Matt Sajn, OK Vancouver OK, Katie Caron, and Slowly Slowdy @ The Oxford Hotel (117 Oxford St.), 7pm, pwyc. In the backyard, if the weather's good.

Alex Leggett and Zoe Sky Jordan @ The Velvet Underground, 9pm, $5 (or $2 w/ student ID).

* Pontiak and Wyrd Visions @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8-11pm, $5.

PDF Format, Battle Lava, TouchBoy, and Tetris Hold Em @ Bread & Circus, 9pm, $5.

Download: PDF Format, "We Shall Eat Krill" (This Is What It Feels Like, 2009)

* 84.85, Bombaman, and DJs @ The Boat, 10pm, $5.

TWM 41 presents Isle of Thieves, Born to Busk, and Luau or Die @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $6.

Picked On, U.T.I., and Sick Error @ Annie's on Queen, 9:30pm, $6.

* Machetes, The Hoa Hoa's, Les Gars, and Invasions @ The Silver Dollar Room, 9pm.

Right On Media presents Jay Spectre w/ Katie DuTemple & the Staytoughs @ Supermarket, 10pm, $8.

* Ketch Harbour Wolves, The O'Darling, and Wilderness of Manitoba @ El Mocambo (First Floor), 9pm, $10 (or $8 adv from http://www.ketchharbourwolves.ca).

Download: The O'Darling, "You're Directing" (A Nice EP, 2008).

SATURDAY (9 may)

Kidstreet @ The Mod Club, 10pm, $10. BUT, email infoATyyzrecordsDOTcom to be put on the guestlist for free entry. Don't be shy about this. (You just have to show up at the club before 11pm, when the band starts playing.)

* Snowblink, Evening Hymns, and The Wilderness of Manitoba @ The Delaware House (340 Delaware Ave.), 9pm, pwyc.

Download: Snowblink, "Rut and Nuzzle" (Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation, 2009).
Video: Evening Hymns, "Dead Deer" @ Wavelength, filmed by Colin Medley.

* Paul Linklater and Brent Randall & His Pinecones @ Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), 10pm, pwyc.

Download: Brent Randall & His Pinecones, "Bluebirds, Flowers and Other Things" (We Were Strangers in Paddington Green, 2009).

Elephant Stone (ex-High Dials) and Kevin Kane (ex-The Grapes of Wrath) @ The Drake Hotel (Underground), 8-11pm, $5.

Fire Hydrant (last show, 2 sets), Pick a Piper, and Henrietta Lacks @ The Cameron House, 9pm, $5.

Mark Pesci presents Urban Blight (record release), Waste Management, Omegas, Mad Men, and Bad Choice NYCTO @ Rancho Relaxo, 9pm, $10.

* Muck & the Mires, The Primordials, and The Superstitions, w/ DJs Frantic Tim and Flipped Out Phil @ The Silver Dollar Room, 10pm, $10.

SUNDAY (10 may)

Tin Star Orphans and Boys Who Say No @ WhipperSnapper Gallery, 3pm, pwyc. All ages afternoon show.

* Wavelength 462 / We Are Busy Bodies presents METZ, Little Girls, and Pacific Trash Vortex, w/ DJ Skip, hosted by Doc Pickles, and visuals by General Chaos @ Sneaky Dee’s, 9pm, pwyc ($5-$10 sugg).

* Gather Round Season Finale feat. Hamilton Trading Co., Trevor Murphy, and Braxton Clover @ The Boat, 9pm, pwyc.

MONDAY (11 may)

* Mt. Royal, Rah Rah, and tba @ The Boat, 9pm, $5.

Download: Rah Rah, "Tentacles" (Going Steady, 2008).

TUESDAY (12 may)

Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite feat. Transwell, Robot Man, Cold Dead Hands (CD release), and Rival Boys @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm, free.

No Brigade, Revolution Love, This Is Picture, BingeNinja, and The First Seed @ Rancho Relaxo, 8:30pm, $5.

The Burning Hell + Construction & Destruction at Rancho Relaxo

According to the Burning Hell Myspace it's going to be a 'solo' show, but the word on the street is that Mathias won't really be alone, just a scaled down version of the 13 people that joined him at the Shoe recently. Also playing is Port Greville, Nova Scotia's Construction and Destruction who I haven't seen but I've heard good, good things about and Mint Julip who I'm afraid I don't know anything about at all. Doors are at 8 - show starts sometime after that.


the Burning Hell



Construction and Destruction

Sneak Peek at Betty Burke

Some of the best shows in Toronto are the tiny ones in venues that aren't really 'venues' at all. One of these was Betty Burke at This Ain't the Rosedale Library. Betty Burke is the latest creation of Maggie MacDonald (Hidden Cameras, Republic of Safety) and in overly simplified terms appears to be headed in a rootsier-Billy Braggish sort of direction. (Though the lack of a rhythm section - at this particular show at least - made it difficult to say exactly)

You can follow developmenets and watch for future shows at bettyburke.blogspot.com - in the mean time here's a sneak preview.

Do Make Say Think, Final Fantasy and German Film

Via NxEW.ca: On June 11 at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto there will be a screening of Robert Oswald’s Tales of the Uncanny (Unheimliche Geschichten). The film was originally released in Germany in 1919 - one year after the end of World War I. The film has never been screened before in Canada.

You are only excited right now if you're a hard core film buff. Here is what is going to pack the square. In 1919 movies were silent and had a musical score that was performed with the film. For this particular screening that score will be performed by Toronto's Do Make Say Think and Final Fantasy. There you go - now who's a fan of German silent film??

Do Make Say Think - In Mind



Final Fantasy - Furniture

Toronto's The Weather Station, Avant-garde laptop folk noir

Four years in the making on a Toshiba Laptop using Sonar 4, Tamara Lindeman's project The Weather Station is a true lo-fi wonder complete with all sorts of organic soft spoken instruments which combine to give us a dark, desert-like, haunted record about loss and loneliness. The Line is a lovely blend of folk ballads along with a taste of the avant-garde, with Tamara's voice slinking and slithering on top. For fans of Patrick Watson, Nick Cave, Woven Hand, Cat Power, PJ Harvey, you get the idea. It's dark, noir folk at its finest.

Hear some of it tonight on my show, which will be streaming online 9-11 P.M, 7:30 EST.

in sound,

dashiell brown

host of The New Spin, "the best music you've never heard."

Other Canadian music featured tonight:

Headache 24, Patrick Watson, Olenka and the Autumn Lovers, Japandroids, Ghost is Dancing, Steve McBean's Pink Mountaintops (of Black Mountain), and St. John's Mountain and the Trees

www.myspace.com/dashiellbrown

Betty Burke at This Ain't the Rosedale Libary Apr. 29

Maggie MacDonald has a new music project and there is a free show coming up. That is the gist of what I needed to say but it will take me a minute to get there. If the name sounds familiar (or even if it doesn't) read on. Maggie MacDonald is easly one of the most impressive people in Toronto.

Starting in Cornwall, Ontario as a teenager she put on live shows and ran a fanzine called Saucy while serving as a student trustee on her local schoolboard. While attending the U of T in 1999 she ran as a NDP candidate for MPP. The next year her second play A Clockwork Gorbachev won the Hart House Plawriting Award and the Robertson Davies Award For Playwriting.

Her first novel Kill the Robot was pubslished in 2005 and her play Rat King the Rock Opera (with music from Bob Wiseman and Laura Barrett) played the New York International Fringe Festival in 2007.

So we've covered her career as a politician, playwright and author but this is a music blog right? So what about the music?

So far she has been a regular member of the Barcelona Pavilion, the Hidden Cameras, she was the founder of the Dating Service and the Grand Pubah of the Republic of Safety. (Imagine what she might do after she turns 30??)

Anyway, back to where I started. Maggie MacDonald's new musical project Betty Burke which features "Singer/guitarist Holly Andruchuk is known for her band with the Brothers Elliot, and the Buffalo Builders. Stephanie Markowitz is a filmmaker who directed and produced 'The Rat King.' Finally, Shaun Brodie is the busiest musician among us, playing with AC Newman, The Hidden Cameras, Hayden, Veda Hille, Duplex, and many more." are playing a free show with Brian Joseph Davis at This Ain't the Rosedale Libary (86 Nassau Street, Kensington Market, Toronto) at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29.

The Facebook Event Page is here!

Hidden Cameras - Smells Like Happiness (Hillside - 2005)



Republic of Safety - Disposable World (last ROS Show ever)

WINNIPEG INVADES TORONTO (For One Night Only)

Three superb Manitoban acts are set to perform tonight in the spotlight of an all Manitoba showcase, if you're in Toronto and you want to see a good show tonight then this is where it's happening.

9 PM - Oldfolks Home - Fresh from a stint at SXSW, Ricardo Lopez Aguilar's quirky electro pop was also recently featured on CBC radio 3's artist of the day page.
10 PM - The Details offer a sweet brand of borderline indie twee pop.
11 PM - Tele is known for their powerful live shows and have toured the country extensively already. A new album is in the works, set for release next fall.

Check out the facebook event page for more details!

This Week on Zygiella

The famous on the internet Jen Polk along with the almost equally famous Tyler Wade of Zygiella are joined by Dan Wolovick who is kind of a big deal at Two Way Monologues and the Rancho Relaxo to talk about local music, upcoming shows and spin some tunes (do you spin MP3s?)


(download it here)

Elliott Brood Cancer Fundraiser at Dakota Tavern

Directly from Elliott Brood's Myspace Blog:

"Hey All

This coming Wednesday night April 15th we will be playing a show at the Dakota Tavern in downtown Toronto to raise money for the Cure for Cancer. All proceeds from the show will be donated. We will also be raffling off donated items from the Maple Leafs and Raptors to raise some extra cash. The Dakota Tavern have made a commemorative poster which you can also purchase for the cause. Also we are very happy to announce that The Perpetrators will be opening up the night with some killer tunes. This is going to be a great evening so tell anyone and everyone. Remember to come early as it will most likely fill up quickly.

Hope to see you there.

THE BROOD"

Elliott Brood - Oh Alberta

Megan Hamilton: Tonight at the Rivoli (and tour dates for later)

If you listened to the CD Release Episode of the Zygiella podcast earlier this week you heard Jen pour some love on Megan Hamilton & the Volunteer Canola. If you didn't hear the podcast then um ... Jen really digs them. So do a whole lot of people, if you like to read reviews check out Megan's Myspace Blog for a whole slew of recent flattery. She even recorded her own introduction to the new CD which she is unveiling with the help of Kathleen Phillips and Olenka and the Autumn Lovers at the Rivoli in Toronto tonight.

See Your Midnight Breath in the Shipyard - An Introduction



If you can't make tonight's show in Toronto (I can't, company coming) there are a ton of chances coming up:

April 9 Toronto, ONRIVOLI - CD Release Party
April 23 Kitchener, ONMAXWELL'S MUSIC HOUSE w/guests
April 24 Guelph, ONWALLY'S TAVERN w/guests
April 25 St. Catharines, ONSEVENTY-THREE w/Whale Tooth and more!
April 30 Toronto, ONTRANZAC (Residency) w/Eric Welton
May 1 London, ONOpen House presents @ THE BLACK SHIRE w/Eric Welton and Fleece Elves
May 2 Windsor, ONPHOG w/Eric Welton and guests!
May 7 Wakefield, QCTHE BLACK SHEEP INN w/Lindsay Ferguson and Maggie Meyer
May 8 Montreal, QCPop Montreal presents @ LE CAGIBI w/Leif Vollebekk and Fall Horsie w/etc.
May 9 Kingston, ONKPP presents @ BarNone w/many others!
May 27 Toronto, ONCENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS - Alli's Journey Fundraiser with very special guests to be announced soon!
May 28 Toronto, ONTRANZAC (Residency) w/Rhiannon Thomas
May 28-31 Toronto, ONTBA - Pitter Patter Fest!
June 10 Toronto, ONTRANZAC (Residency) w/Matthew de Zoete and Kae Sun
June 17-21T oronto, ONTBA NXNE
June 27 Toronto, ONTRANZAC, Zunior 5th Anniversary show w/Wax Mannequin, By Divine Light and many more!

Megan Hamilton - Sleeping on the Floor

You Should Know: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers

Olenka and the Autumn Lovers are a collective out of London, Ontario with most members coming out of the Open House Arts Collective (Producers of, amoung other things the Oh! Fest.) Fronted by Polish singer/songwriter Olenka Krakus the band mixes eastern European influences with North American folk to create a style all their own. From It's Not the Band I Hate It's Their Fans

"The last time that I saw this band, I was completely taken in by their uplifting sound, as well as Olenka Krakus' captivating vocal charms. They've been back a few times, but until now, I had been unable to catch their live show again. In the interim, they've continued to impress new audiences on a regular basis and, as I predicted, the buzz surrounding them is starting to grow."

I really don't need to say alot about the band though as there is a ton of media for you to check out so you can decide for yourself what you think. For more info on Olenka and the Autumn Lovers check out their Facebook, Myspace, or Web Site (there are also some tour dates farther down the page.)

First you can check out an entire show of theirs recorded at Aeolian Hall, London, ON on June 15, 2008 at CBC Radio 2's Concerts on Demand. People have also put a ton of stuff on YouTube including this CD Release party.

P1: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers CD Release



The rest of this is here: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6.

You can also see them, starting tomorrow night in Toronto at
9 Apr 2009 8:00 PM - The Rivoli - Megan Hamilton CD Release show - Toronto, ON

Oh! Fest:
24 Apr 2009 8:00 PM - Oh! Fest - London, ON

May Tour:
7 May 2009 8:00 PM - Cafe Dekcuf - Ottawa, ON
8 May 2009 8:00 PM - not yet confirmed - Montreal, QC
9 May 2009 8:00 PM - The Capital - Fredericton, NB
10 May 2009 8:00 PM - The Ampersand (6-8p), Baba’s (evening) - Charlottetown, PEI
11 May 2009 8:00 PM - Sydney, NS
12 May 2009 8:00 PM - not yet confirmed - Halifax, NS or Sackville, NB
13 May 2009 8:00 PM - not yet confirmed - Halifax, NS or Sackville, NB
14 May 2009 8:00 PM - The Paramount - Moncton, NB
15 May 2009 8:00 PM - not yet confirmed - St. Andrews, NB

Zygiella Podcast #35 : The CD Release Episode

I don't know if she's planning to post it or not, but I know that Jen is incredibly busy these days. This 34th edition of the Zygiella Podcast features a bunch of Toronto bands who are doing their CD releases this week.



You can download it here or subscribe in iTunes or subscribe via RSS or do all three, I don't care. It's your life.

Indie Darlings Chad VanGaalen and Women Tour US and Europe

Canadian Indie artists continue to present strong showings in the U.S. and Europe. One of my favourite music blogs, Aquarium Drunkard, is promoting a show at Los Angeles landmark Silver Lake venue Spaceland, featuring quirky but mellow Westerner Chad VanGaalen and melodic noisemakers Women (also from the West). Aquarium Drunkard notes that their latest, Van Gaalen's Soft Airplane, and Women's self titled debut, were among the strongest recordings of 2008 (the right opinion, by the way). Yet here in Canada, they often can't even fill medium sized venues. Indeed, here in Ottawa, the two acts performed together at Ottawa's Zaphod's, a small intimate club which is a magnet for great indie acts. Both acts also recently did a show at Toronto institution the Horseshoe Tavern.

Van Gaalen and Women will continue to tour the American West Coast this Spring and then split on separate jaunts to Europe (Women noticeably supporting DeerHunter at gigs in Paris and Amsterdam).

Next time any great Canadian indie acts come to that intimate little club in your Canadian city, think about the folks in major American and European metropolises scrambling to get tix in areas where the population is so much larger. We are lucky to see these acts at home - check out those live sets when you can!

VanGaalen's Molten Light, with visuals and music created by VanGaalen:



Women w/ VanGaalen in hometown:

NIN|JA 2009: exclusive tracks for upcoming tour

In preparation for the upcoming NIN|JA 2009 tour, Trent Reznor has released 6 tracks on the tour's new site www.ninja2009.com.

Available in both MP3 & Lossless (FLAC, WAVE, and Apple), the release includes 2 tracks each from Nine Inch Nails, Jane's Addiction, and Street Sweeper. Most importantly and in true NIN-style, the songs are DRM-free.

If the recent Lights in the Sky tour is any indication of what sort of show to expect, along with the fact that Jane's Addiction haven't been together in nearly five years, the NIN|JA 2009 tour will be a concert not to be missed this summer.

Only one Canadian stop, people!

NIN|JA strikes Toronto on June 2nd @ The Molson Ampitheatre.
Tickets on sale @ Ticketmaster on Friday, March 27th @ 1700hr
or if you're a NIN member, Monday, March 23rd @ 1600hr

Sneak peak from the Sydney, Australia show via video from a Canon 5D Mark II, audio from the board:

NIN: 1,000,000 Live from on stage, Sydney 2.22.09 [HD] from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.

Rock Plaza Central (very) Limited Edition EP

Toronto's Rock Plaza Central has released 'Neath the Lion's Paw' an EP featuring 3 songs from their forthcoming CD (to be released in may) and alternate versions of older songs.

Only 200 Copies are available - 100 they will sell at shows and 100 are available online (see myspace.com/rockplazacentral for details.

If you'd like to pick one up in person they are playing the Horseshoe Tavern with Key Witness and Alfie Jurvanen (of Bahamas and Feist's band) the Facebook Event is here.

Rock Plaza Central - Anthem for the Already Defeated