Metric Plays Live on U.S. Radio, Coast to Coast (Free Download!)

Metric has been touring the U.S. recently to support its new album "Fantasies," and whether you've caught the band in concert or not you can now listen to a couple of these live sets.

Two weeks ago Metric performed an in-studio set for "Morning Becomes Eclectic," the acclaimed show on KCRW radio in Santa Monica, California. The set includes a couple of conversation breaks during which the band discusses "Fantasies" with host Nic Harcourt. Metric's set is archived on the KCRW Web site for you to watch or listen to.



On the opposite coast, Metric played at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club last week and National Public Radio not only Webcast the show live, but has made the audio of the hour-and-20-minute set available for free online streaming or download. The set focuses on the new album, but also includes some old Metric favorites such as "Monster Hospital." Since I unfortunately missed Metric's sold-out show at New York's Terminal 5, I was glad to be able to download and listen to the D.C. concert.

Metric's tour continues over the summer with shows in England, Canada (including Ottawa and Halifax), and Australia.

More Metric:
* Metric MySpace page

* Metric Web site (www.ilovemetric.com)

* Metric on YouTube

Sled Island Featured Artist ~ Ladyhawk

This rock quartet hails from Vancouver and have been around since 2004. Formed by best friends (singer/guitarist Duffy Driediger, lead guitarist Darcy Hancock, bassist Sean Hawryluk and drummer Ryan Peters) from Kelowna, BC, Ladyhawk have made a name for themselves in the independent scene despite some reported struggles.

Signed to Jagjaguwar records (home also to Pink Mountaintops, Julie Doiron, Okkervil River, Women and the new Dinosaur Jr.), the group released their self-titled debut album in 2006 and quickly followed with the 12" EP Fight for Anarchy a year later. When it came time to record their second full-length, the four holed themselves up in an old barn with no working bathroom in Kelowna. As they toured in support of Shots (release in March, 2008), the band expressed in an interview the disheartened feeling when very few people showed up for their U.S. shows. However, Canadian performances were better and the group forges on...

READ THE REST ON OFF THE DIAL!

Sled Island Featured Artist ~ SSRIs

Calgary’s Sled Island festival is almost upon us and Off the Dial is running a cool daily feature. Every day from now until June 26th, we’ll showcase one band who will be playing this year’s festival. Here’s our first featured artist!

June 23rd, 2009 @ Tubby Dog with Sub-Linguals, Jonathan Toubin, Noah York

Vancouver’s SSRIs will be playing the very first day of Sled Island at Tubby Dog on Tuesday, June 23rd. The quartet (Elliot Langford, Joseph Hirabayashi, Anthony Dallas and Aaron McKinney) are self described as “weird/punk” which sums up their sound quite nicely. Their music is very raw, sometimes chaotic and experimental and should translate live quite interestingly. Just as chaotic their music can be, so his their history.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY AT OFF THE DIAL!

FozzyFest Celebrates 5th Year

FozzyFest, an all weekend DJ/music camping extravaganza, returns this year for it's fifth celebration and organizers expect it to be their biggest year yet.

Started in 2005 as a birthday celebration for Shawn Lafluer (a.k.a. Fozzy) by his friends, the group rented DJ equipment and invited a whole bunch of people to join them. The outing was such a success, they decided to expand the invite list the following year and focus the celebrations around Canada Day. They began charging a small fee to recoup the costs of equipment rental but have always maintained that this is a not-for-profit, all-for-fun event. In fact, the group began donating a portion of the money collected to the Heart & Stroke Foundation last year.

This year's event will not only feature plenty of DJs spinning various kinds of music on both nights (June 26th and 27th, 2009) but they've expanded to two stages and will feature live music as well...

VISIT OFF THE DIAL FOR THE FULL ARTICLE!

Win a FREE Copy of Sights & Sounds’ Monolith

Hey guys! So, last month we featured a review of Canadian rockers Sights & Sounds new CD Monolith. Now, with great thanks to their label Smallman Records, here’s your chance to win a FREE copy of this CD.

How do I get my hands on this FREE CD you’re asking? Simple, just make sure you’re on our mailing list…and that’s it! If you’re already on our mailing list, you’re automatically entered into the random draw. If not, get on it and JOIN TODAY!

We’ll leave the entry period open for a week or so and announce our random winner later next week. Make sure to spread the love, tell all your friends know about the contest and get them to join the mailing list TODAY!.

Make sure to check out our Sights & Sounds CD Review of Monolith right here on Off the Dial!

the Most Serene Republic Introduce Another New Song

Milton, ON’s the Most Serene Republic are getting closer and closer to releasing their third full-length album, …And the Ever Expanding Universe on July 14th but you can hear yet another track from the forthcoming album.

TO READ THE REST, VISIT OFF THE DIAL!

Secret Broadcast Compete for $20,000

Secret Broadcast will be competing against three other Calgarian acts this coming Thursday (June 18th) for $20,000 in the Fuel Rock Star 2009 competition and are asking fans to come out and support them.

The contest, put together by Calgary radio station Fuel 90.3 FM pits groups in a battle-of-the-bands type competition and often simulcast live performances to air. This Thursday's show, also featuring Noel Johnson, Frankie McQueen and Calm Asa Coma, takes place at it's usual venue, the Rusty Cage South @ Studio 82. Noel Johnson takes the stage at 20:30 hrs, while Frankie McQueen plays at 21:20 hrs, Calm Asa Coma performs at 22:10 hrs and Secret Broadcast finishes up at 23:00 hrs.

Click HERE To Read the Entire Article!

CBC Radio 3 Keeps Faith With it's Listeners

After last weeks historic 77% vote in favor of a 100% Canadian CBC Radio 3, Radio 3 has done what they have always done and declared an all Canadian Radio 3 - with an asterisk.

"we will also continue to reserve the right to play what some may consider 'non-Canadian' music when we feel it makes sense. For example we might:
:: Play bands that feature Canadians prominently, even though they don't technically qualify as ‘official Canadian Content,' like the new Buck 65 collaborative project, Bike For Three.
:: Play a cover! If a Canadian artist is covered or remixed by a non-Canadian artist and people are talking about it, we will feel very comfortable playing that song for you once or twice for context, as we recently did in our Remix Special Podcast.
:: Broadcast a non-Canadian band at a live event because they're on the same bill as several amazing Canadian acts, as we did two years ago at Pop Montreal. 
:: Make an occasional exception: Our recent CBC Radio 3 Session with Neko Case, who is American, but is widely considered an ‘honourary Canadian.'
Embrace an artist's choice, if a guest host or artist wants to play a favourite track or talk about influences."

Which is entirely live-with-able. Neko Case, in particular, having attended UBC and having been a member of numerous Canadian bands - from Cub to the New Pornographers could probably get her Canadian citizenship in a heartbeat if she ever asked.

This is not, as I said during the whole discussion about being anti-anything. We're not against foreign artists. Most of what fills Canadian airwaves and movie theaters is not Canadian but being a country born out of other people's colonies, civil wars, revolutions and political maneuvering we're a country that has never taken the time to define itself and figure out who we are. I think that exploring and celebrating our own artists is at least a starting point. It is not, after all, as if any Canadian will ever have to ask "but where will I ever find international content?"

It is sad that, as I predicted, no one outside of the CBC understands the significance of a 77% vote for an all Canadian music channel. It is possible, I suppose, that the do understand the significance but are too out of touch with their audience and detached from their culture to gain from it and so they simply ignored it. Pierre Burton would have understood the significance though.

A Small Historic Moment: What the Radio 3 Results Mean

Yesterday when the results of the Radio 3 survey came in I just told you what happened. I was excited and hadn't really stopped to think about it yet but once the dust had settled and the 'fight' over the future of Radio 3 was over I had time to stop and contemplate what it means.

For the first time in the history of Canada , as far as I know, Canadians have overwhelmingly said that all Canadian music and only Canadian is good enough. One of the cliches about this country when it comes to music (as well as film and most areas of the arts) is that performers have to be successful outside the country before we'll take them seriously at home. After that, if they come back to Canada, the 'tall poppy syndrome' kicks in and we say 'if you're so good, why did you come back?' That has been the cliche for most of Canada's existence. Having been born out of England and France, populated from the "old country" - regardless of where that was, and situated right next to the United States - there has been a certain inferiority complex - because of our size and relative youth as a country we've needed reassurance from elsewhere to tell us that we were doing something right.

Yesterdays results fly in the face of that thinking. 77% of the (mostly) Canadians who voted said that all Canadian, all the time was good enough. They decided that they didn't need to hear the best of Canada up against the best of anywhere else to know it was good. This shouldn't be taken as a slight against the music of any other country. Few of the voters listen exclusively to Radio 3 and we all know where to get international music when and if we want it (try any other radio station anywhere.)

For Canadians to say though that this country has enough good music that we can have a channel devoted exclusively to Canadian music and there is simply no room for anything else is remarkable. It flies in the face of the old stereotypes and, if it is a feeling that is nurtured and spreads, could mark a serious societal turning point in how we view Canadian arts and culture.

As I said yesterday, this is not a final decision. It is merely something that the management of CBC Radio will take into account in making it's decision about the future of Radio 3. Whatever they decide though this is a serious victory. Canadians should be proud and those that work in, produce, or market Canadian media, arts and culture should take note!

Congradulations to Radio 3's listeners for making a statement that Canada has never heard before.

CBC Radio 3 Listeners Vote Overwhelmingly for 100% Canadian Music

For the last four days CBC Radio 3 Voters have been casting online ballots in a poll over whether or not to begin including international artists in CBC Radio 3 playlists.

Until now there have been two different versions of Radio 3 going. The Sirius Satellite channel played 85% Canadian and 15% International music and the web radio version played 100% Canadian. Due to budget cuts at the CBC Radio 3 is forced to go to one stream and listeners were asked whether they wanted the 85% or 100% Canadian version.

After four days of voting and discussions that became heated at times the results are in and Radio 3 listeners have voted 77% to 23% in favor of a 100% all Canadian CBC Radio 3. That's great news for Canadian recording artists who would have seen their time in the playlists cut by 15% had the international option been chosen. It also could have meant some artists not being played at all anymore.

This isn't a final decision, merely something Radio 3's management will take into account in their decision. But with such a lopsided result it will be very difficult for Radio 3 to choose the international option. It is also clear if you read all - three - posts on the topic that those who wanted an all Canadian list (myself included) were much more adamant in their position than those who wanted international music. This means that Radio 3's hope of appealing to a wider audience with international music is unlikely. Instead it would result in diminishing their current audience.

It is wonderful to see Canadians finally taking a justifiable pride in their own and saying, without reservation, that a 100% Canadian music channel is worthwhile and wanted.

Propagandhi Schedule Short US/Canadian Tour with Strike Anywhere

Originally published on Off the Dial.

Manitoba socio-political punk rockers Propagandhi announced today that they'll be heading out on a short tour with Strike Anywhere later this month. The ten-date tour has been dubbed the "Freedom From Oil: Tar Sands Resistance Tour" and launches in Minneapolis, MN on June 16th with stops in Milwaukee, WI (June 17th), Chicago, IL (June 18th), Detroit, MI (June 19th), London, ON (June 20th), Montreal, QC (June 22nd), Quebec City, QC (June 23rd), Ottawa, ON (June 24th) and wrapping up with two shows in Toronto, ON on June 25th and 26th (the latter date is an all-ages show).

Propagandhi released their sixth full-length album, Supporting Caste, in March and will follow the short North American tour with a handful of dates throughout Europe in July.

Strike Anywhere just signed a new deal with Bridge Nine records and are in the midst of recording their new album, titled Iron Front, with producer Brian McTernan. Iron Front is slated for release later this year.

Check out our review of Propagandhi's Supporting Caste.

Hot Little Rocket Announce New Album and Impending Split

Originally published on Off the Dial.

The news that Calgary's Hot Little Rocket were going to release a new album wasn't that big of a surprise. In fact, vocalist Andrew Wedderburn told me as much when he revealed to me they were writing new material at their January show at the Palomino. When they released the official news today though, I was not prepared for the additional announcement.

"Hot Little Rocket will be releasing a new album this summer/fall. We recorded 12 new songs with 2 of our favourite people, Lorrie Matheson and Dave Alcock. The tentative release date will more than likely be our 11th anniversary in September because we took way too long to finalize the details," read the statement released by drummer Joel Nye on the band's official site, facebook and MySpace pages. "And yes, the plan is for the band to split up, sell the house, disrupt the kid's lives and move to opposite sides of the island."

As many fans of the band know, three of the four members have other projects so it's no surprise that Nye continued saying, "Aaron (Smelski) will continue on with Heat-Ray who have a new record out this summer, Matt (Swann) will release his solo venture this summer as "extra happy ghost!!!" I will continue playing with Key to the City and yes, we also have a new record coming out this summer.... that's right one band tied to 4 new records and all this summer....FYI, Andrew is also in the process of gathering some crazed individuals to rock some roll (name and lineup not released at press time)... so you really want to know why we are breaking up, because breakups mean much more hard feelings, anger and depression....and anger and depression leads to more creativity, and more creativity leads to more records."

Sad news indeed. However, one must focus on the good news, being that we will get a brand new album of Hot Little Rocket material (the first since their excellent 2007 release How to Lose Everything) and there will be a few chances to catch them live one last time. They are one of the highlighted bands on this year's Sled Island festival with a show at Dicken's Pub on Thursday, June 25th with Fox Opera, Ladyhawk, Yukon Blonde and the Paperbacks. They will also be playing an outdoor show for CJSW's Olympic Plaza Concert Series this summer and of course, the CD Release party which will also serve as their final show ever.

A band that will be truly missed but revered for a very, very long time.

CD Review: Sights & Sounds ~ Monolith

Originally published on Off the Dial


Hailing from across Canada, Sights & Sounds came to be on New Years 2006 when brothers Andrew Neufeld (vocals/guitar) and Joel Neufeld (drums) joined Matt Howes (bass) and Adrian Mottram (guitar) to record a single track. What resulted was a bond between the four and their debut self-titled EP was released in 2007. With their debut full-length, Monolith, they really define their sound.

Beginning with the very strong lead track “Sorrows“, you immediately get a sense that their name somewhat matches their sound. What you hear is a landscape of lingering guitars and synths layered with delicately strummed rhythms and effective crescendos. Produced by Devin Townsend (Misery Signals, who Sights & Sounds are actually touring with at the moment), many of the songs are reminiscent of the prairies; wide open and grand.

Andrew (who also plays in Comeback Kid while his brother Joel is also a member of Sick City) carries his vocals across various ranges from melodic to harmonizing and even raspy, intense emotion seamlessly, which compliments the instrumentation quite well.

All told, Monolith is quite an impressive album. You can still hear it in it’s entirety on their MySpace page and Sights & Sounds can be seen live across Canada on the Weight of the World Tour with the aforementioned Misery Signals plus Haste the Day, Dead and Devine and Architects. Dates include May 29th in Regina, May 30th in Edmonton, May 31st in Grand Prairie, June 3rd in Vancouver, June 4th in Victoria, June 5th in Naniamo, June 6th in Courtenay, June 7th in Whistler, June 9th in Calgary, June 10th in Lethbridge, June 11th in Saskatoon, June 13th in Thunder Bay, June 15th in St. Catherines, June 17th in Montreal, June 18th in Quebec City, June 19th in Ottawa, June 20th in Kingston and June 25th in Toronto.

Madcowboys to Release New Album Canada-Wide

Originally published on Off the Dial.



Calgary punk trio Madcowboys released their third, self-titled full-length album at home back at the end of April but the boys are preparing the new disc for national release on June 2nd, 2009.

The follow-up to their excellent release Baby Steps, this album was produced by Ian Blurton and recorded at Audio Audities in Bearspaw, AB. When asked why Madcowboys went without a title for this album, drummer Will Schatz said, "(It's) Our best album yet and we felt that it did not need a title." He also added that it was inspired by "the countless hours we spent on the road."

The new album is being released on the New Black, a Calgary based record label and music & arts centre that provides jam and performance space, plus full marketing services including band web-sites, album inlays and t-shirt designs. Madcowboys are actually playing the New Black Centre on June 7th with Carpenter and Kurt Vonnegut.
Watch for our review of the new Madcowboys CD in the next couple of weeks here on Off the Dial!

NYC Loves Canadian Indies

New York City is a major destination for musicians from all over the world to play, and on any given night the Big Apple is host to some of the finest independent Canadian artists. You'll find musicians from north of the U.S. border playing in all kinds of venues, from the smallest clubs to Madison Square Garden (where I saw Metric opening for the Rolling Stones a few years ago).



So if you're a Canadian visiting New York, or an ex-pat living the in the area, you don't have to miss out on seeing homegrown music. Here's a sampling of some of the Canadian indie artists with upcoming shows in New York:

Neko Case
Monday and Tuesday, April 13 and 14, 8 pm
Nokia Theatre Times Square, www.nokiatheatrenyc.com

Hawksley Workman
Wednesday, April 15, 7 pm
Joe's Pub, www.joespub.com

Great Lake Swimmers
Friday, April 17, doors 8 pm
Bowery Ballroom, www.boweryballroom.com

Sweatshop Union
Tuesday, April 28, 11:30 pm
Joe's Pub, www.joespub.com

Tragically Hip
Friday, May 8, 7 pm
Nokia Theatre Times Square, www.nokiatheatrenyc.com