Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Recording: David Prentice and co.

Artist: David Prentice [with John Oswald / David Prentice and Arthur Bull / ensemble]

Songs: [a series of improvisations]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), December 27, 2013.

David Prentice and John Oswald - [two edited fragments]

David Prentice and Arthur Bull - [first piece]

David Prentice and ensemble - [excerpt]

Full review to follow. A rather exciting early show in the Southern Cross was a reunion of sorts, put together by John Oswald to give folks a rare chance to hear David Prentice in action. Now working as a violin maker in Flesherton, Prentice was also a longstanding member of the Toronto improvising community, including the mysterious/legendary Double Wind Cello Trios.

Starting with a series of duos, Prentice and Oswald played together first, followed by a pairing of Prentice and guitarist Arthur Bull. The latter was a last-minute fill-in for the gig, sitting in for Tiina Kiik — and though Bull (now living out in Halifax) was not part of the DWCT scene, he's no stranger to these musicians — he's a veteran of the legendary CCMC open jam nights of the '70-'80's and much more. In fact, before playing with Prentice, Bull commented, "you can think of this as a slightly-delayed cassette release. [beat] The cassette came out in 1986. We never did get around to having an event."1 Unsurprisingly, they had a natural interplay that hinted at a strong musical kinship, even if they haven't played together in quite a while. (The tinny buzzing you might hear midway through is courtesy of an aluminum pie plate that Bull borrowed from Scot Thomson, who had used it as a mute in his mini-set with Germaine Liu.) The night ended with all of the duos joining together into a quintet for a final, longer set.

The whole evening offered excellent performances, but also food for thought on several matters. It was highly enjoyable to just watch this as a reunion of old friends (both playing and in the crowd), and I'm glad it gave me an impetus to do some digging to learn a bit more about the local improvised music scene from a time before I was paying attention to it. Even more inspiring was the reminder of how music is a lifetime pursuit, and that one's own development and the bonds made over time can be a measure of success.


1 I assume he was referring to this, which is a thoroughly tasty bit of work. Cassette excavators: get this in your re-issue queue!

Monday, December 30, 2013

Sunday Playlist #42b

Sunday Monday Playlist #42b: Favourite Recordings of 2013 — Pop (Part 2)

Well, all things considered, I don't have enough of a grip on 2013 to do a full on "best of" list. (Hell, at my pace, I'm still not ready to pronounce on 2011.) But there have been a few of the recordings that I've posted that have stuck with me for one reason or another. The first half of this list is here. Still to come: not-pop.

Veda Hille - Oh My God

Recorded at The Music Gallery, February 25, 2013. Hille's score for this new Peter Pan musical is based on lyrics by a teenaged boy — which maybe explains why CSI and Macbeth show up. Absurd and wonderful.

Hussy [a/k/a HSY] - Ladies Nite

Recorded at Steam Whistle Brewery ("Steam Whistle UNSIGNED"), May 24, 2013. Just as the band contracted their name, they boiled their sound down to pure, high-grade sludgy menace.

Man Made Hill - Speed Dating

Recorded at 961A College St., September 13, 2013. "Hey baby, do you like it manic and confusing?"

Maylee Todd - I Can't Stand It

Recorded at The Great Hall – SummerWorks Festival ("Maylee Todd's Musical Planetarium"), August 17, 2013. Playing in the round underneath planetarium projections, Maylee Todd showed her softer side could be as attention-demanding as her full-force funk workouts.

Moonwood - Trans Martian Express

Recorded at Handlebar ("Crosswires"), April 14, 2013. Wherein self-professed musical weirdos merge onto the autobahn and create their own version of pop tunes.

New Fries - Fix Touch

Recorded at Double Double Land ("Punchclock Showcase"), November 30, 2013. DIY-core/clatter/shout.

Pachamama - Fuck The Entertainment Industry

Recorded at Holy Oak Café, June 22, 2013. Conscious jammers of the year, separately and together.

The Replacements - Bastards of Young

Recorded at Garrison Common ("Riot Fest" – Day 2), August 25, 2013. There's no way this should have been as good as it was. Even the losers get lucky sometimes.

Sacred Lamp - unknown

Recorded at Double Double Land, July 27, 2013. Very possibly my #1 fave recording of the year. The restless ghosts of Santo & Johnny are free from the fetters of this world now.

The Saffron Sect - Phosphorous Flash

Recorded at The Silver Dollar Room ("MINOR Fundraiser"), October 4, 2013. I was waiting a couple years to hear this band, but the music is pretty timeless.

The New Mendicants - She's Gone

Recorded at The Dakota Tavern, August 26, 2013. I'd say my fond memories of this are skewed positively because this was a sit-down + listen start early/end early show, but maybe this is what happens when you put two talented songwriters on a stage together.

Caylie Staples - Ten-Ten

Recorded at Saving Gigi ("The Ballads Reimagined, Part Three: Voice"), March 17, 2013. This tune about the insistence of memory managed to imprint itself somewhere that I just couldn't shake it.

The Weather Station - unknown

Recorded at Holy Oak Café, August 20, 2013. "Was it the way he tied his shoes, the careful way he placed them in my hallway?" The beauty of the little details at the heart of big changes.

The Wooden Sky - An Evening Hymn

Recorded on the back of a truck being pushed down Stokes St. Spreading a concert out over a parking lot, back alley, park, street and loading dock is definitely one way to imbue a night with a sense of place.

Young Guv - Crawling Back to You

Recorded at The Garrison ("All Toronto's Parties"), November 22, 2013. Besides touring/recording with Fucked Up and producing what might be a couple of next year's best albums, Ben Cook managed to find time to toss off few pop gems in a couple of his side projects. The way that the start of this gives me the same shiver I get from, say, the best Buffalo Tom singles makes it the cream of the crop.

Zacht Automaat - unknown

Recorded at Double Double Land, July 27, 2013. A triumphant fanfare to the future.


P.S.: It looks like the exfm widget that I've been using to make the music streaming go (I think that's the technical term) is going to disappear shortly. If anyone knows of an simple, easy-to-implement alternative, please let me know — otherwise, I'll be losing some functionality here.

Concert Listings Roundup #25

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.


Gig of the week:

AGO First Thursdays: Long Winter Takeover (feat. Snowblink / Doomsquad / Isla Craig / Henri Fabergé) / The Art Gallery of Ontario 2014-01-02 (Thursday) [FB event]

"The fifth floor of the AGO's contemporary tower will turn into a music and installation space, featuring performances by Snowblink and Doomsquad... and Isla Craig and Henri Fabergé will offer pop-up performances around the galleries." Plus much, much more.


This week's noteworthy shows:

The Garrison's 4th Annual Boxing Day Special Festival & Food Drive (feat. Dutch / Prosimii / Dilly Dally / The Pucumber Sasssquash Family Band / MoonSunnMoon) / The Garrison 2013-12-30 (Monday) [FB event]

Tranzac New Year's Eve (feat. Hooded Fang / KASHKA / Weaves / Maloo / The True Visitor Band [Thom Gill & co.] / John Southworth / Sing Leaf / Blimp Rock / The Woodshed Orchestra / The Tranzac 2013-12-31 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Human Honey (The Corner / Watershed Hour / Stellarize) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-02 (Thursday) [FB event]

Mark Godfrey, Nick Fraser, Jim Lewis, and guests / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-01-03 (Friday – early!)

Alex Calder (Blonde Elvis / Wish / Pet Sun) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-03 (Friday) [FB event]

Feast In The East 33 (feat. Mimico / Bella Akira / New Fries) / Gerrard Art Space 2014-01-04 (Saturday — All ages! Done by 11!) [FB event]

Most People (SATURNS / Wizard Of / Spookyfish / KMMK SO) / Creatures Creating 2014-01-04 (Saturday) [FB event]

Toronto Does Toronto III ["Toronto musicians cover the Toronto musicians they love"] (feat. Thom Gill / Ryan Driver / Simone Schmidt / Chris Cummings / Lisa Bozikovic / Alex Lukashevsky) / Holy Oak Café 2014-01-05 (Sunday) [FB event]


Add these to your calendar:

Somewhere There presents Paul Newman's 50th birthday show (feat. Paul Newman with Karen Ng / Joe Sorbara / Heather Segger) / Array Space 2014-01-08 (Wednesday) [more info]

Tight Nuns (This Mess / Make no Gains / Practice Wife / Denim Skeletons / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-09 (Thursday) [FB event]

Audiopollination #14 (feat. Michael Keith and Bob Vespaziani with Kyle Macdonald / Cheryl O / William Davidson) / Array Space 2014-01-14 (Tuesday) [more info]

Perfect Pussy (Mexican Slang) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-25 (Saturday) [FB event]

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Sunday Playlist #42a

Sunday Playlist #42a: Favourite Recordings of 2013 — Pop (Part 1)

Well, all things considered, I don't have enough of a grip on 2013 to do a full on "best of" list. (Hell, at my pace, I'm still not ready to pronounce on 2011.) But there have been a few of the recordings that I've posted that have stuck wiith me for one reason or another.

AroarA - #14

Recorded at Soundscapes, September 6, 2013. A nice, homey little in-store where pals like Leslie Feist and Daniela Gesundheit drop by for a show-stopping vocal break.

Beliefs - Catch My Breath

Recorded at Sonic Boom ("Record Store Day 2013"), April 20, 2013. Another in-store appearance, Beliefs had a very good year and are finishing off album #2 as we speak.

Bernice - Body Motivation

Recorded at The Great Hall, May 19, 2013. Two beautiful voices backed by a super-talented core of musicians, Robin Dann and co. sounded great whether it was in a concert hall or on a beach.

The Beverleys - Bre's House

Recorded at The White House, November 29, 2013. The Beverleys announced themselves as a band worth going out of your way to hear this year. They have some recordings in the can, ready to go for a release on Buzz Records in 2014.

Bizzarh - Cruella

Recorded at Daniels Spectrum ("Wavelength 570: The Regent Park Courtyard Session"), July 26, 2013. It's good to know that at least sometimes pure talent can get us (by which I mean, "me") to look past the genre silos we put ourselves in. Place your bets now for Bizzarh to be the soundtrack to summer '14.

The Bicycles - Requiem

Recorded at BLK BOX (SummerWorks Festival), August 15, 2013. Even in a year where The Bicycles returned with the the tasty Stop Thinking So Much, their greatest moment came at this one-night-only theatrical staging of a brand new song cycle (about young drones in love) that stands as the most emotionally resonant work they've done. Look for an album of these songs (and, dare we hope, a restaging?) to come out in '14.

The Blow - unknown

Recorded at Artscape Gibraltar Point ("The Final ALL CAPS! Island Festival"), August 10, 2013. Headlining the first night of the ALL CAPS festival, Khaela Maricich brought a bunch of songs that no one had heard before, but managed to create enough wiggly energy that the crowd seduced the pants right off her.

Jennifer Castle + Wyrd Visions - You Don't Have To Be

Recorded at The Music Gallery ("Weird Canada Showcase" a.k.a. Wyrd IV), May 11, 2013. Curating their own version of a pop showcase, Weird Canada brought together this inspired pairing, who spent the set accompanying each other as well as taking turns singing the other's songs.

Chelsea Light Moving - Burroughs

Recorded at Lee's Palace, March 31, 2013. The dissolution of Sonic Youth was a harsh loss, but rather mitigated by the chance that it gives us to see the successor bands in much closer proximity, playing new songs with a fresh edge.

Cold Warps - Dip Tripper

Recorded at The Silver Dollar Room ("Burger Records Party"), March 8, 2013. Sometimes the good stuff comes in shorty, ragged packages, half-ripping off their forefathers with a devil-may-care grin.

DAS RAD - Silver Latrine

Recorded at The White House ("Wavelength 580"), November 9, 2011. Sure sludge for now people.

Deciduous - Salt

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), August 7, 2013. Vanessa Hanson (who used to perform solo as Vanessa's Entire Heart) has toned down the feedback but still finding new ways to deconstruct folk music.

Ed Askew - Blue Eyed Baby

Recorded at The Piston ("Tin Angel Records showcase" – NXNE 2013), June 12, 2013. Look up Ed Askew and you'll quickly come up with terms like "outsider" or "idiosyncratic", but the way he yelps "oh, yes!" here is as pure an emotional release as you can find.

Emma McKenna - unknown

Recorded at The Great Hall ("Long Winter, Vol. 5"), March 23, 2013. Once a bandmate with Austra's Katie Stelmanis, Emma McKenna signalled a return to action with the debut of this trio. There haven't been many more rumblings since this, but do stay patient (it's been awhile!) and keep an eye out.

Evening Hymns - Rescue Teams

Recorded at The Drake Underground, November 14, 2013. It's always a thrill to catch a new song in the rough, as-yet unburdened by any preconceptions.

Gabe Levine - Where the Light Falls

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), June 1, 2013. Gabe Levine hasn't been playing many shows of late, but he brought a few new songs along for this solo set, including this one that seemed just perfect with the evening's light beginning to dim outside the windows.


P.S.: It looks like the exfm widget that I've been using to make the music streaming go (I think that's the technical term) is going to disappear shortly. If anyone knows of an simple, easy-to-implement alternative, please let me know — otherwise, I'll be losing some functionality here.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Recording: Brendan Canning

Artist: Brendan Canning

Song: unknown*

Recorded at The Dakota Tavern ("Jason Collett's Basement Revue"), December 26, 2013.

Brendan Canning - unknown

Full review to follow. Closing out the night, Canning led an impromptu pickup band that extended the acoustic guitar-led melodies of his recent You Gots 2 Chill album into mellow jamspace. He was joined on stage by a piano player (that I assume was Greg Calderone, part of his recent live unit), plus a guitarist from nigh-ungoogleable instrumentalists Garage City (who had played earlier in the night) — and were joined by singer-songwriter Charlotte Cornfield, who answered the call for a drummer.

* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Charlotte Cornfield

Artist: Charlotte Cornfield

Song: Aslan

Recorded at The Dakota Tavern ("Jason Collett's Basement Revue"), December 26, 2013.

Charlotte Cornfield - Aslan

Full review to follow. Besides filling in on drums for a couple other artists, Toronto native (and current New Yorker) Charlotte Cornfield also played an assured mini-set fronting her own trio, showing off some tunes that'll likely turn up on the forthcoming follow-up to her Two Horses album.

Reading: Zoe Whittall

Artist: Zoe Whittall (and band)

Poem: Law and Order (An Erotic Primer)

Recorded at The Dakota Tavern ("Jason Collett's Basement Revue"), December 26, 2013.

Zoe Whittall and band - Law and Order

Full review to follow. As per Basement revue tradition, Zoe Whittall, who had read a few poems in the night's first half, returned later in the night to read again, this time backed by an ad hoc ensemble of the night's performers.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Recording: Kappa Chow

Artist: Kappa Chow

Songs: Sleep All Day + I Want Out

Recorded at Handlebar, December 23, 2013.

Kappa Chow - Sleep All Day

Kappa Chow - I Want Out

Full review to follow. Rooted in the Killer Haze crew and sporting a flexible lineup (their tape features two different iterations recorded in Sackville and Montréal), this is pure DIY slop-punk, but more "K Records cuddly" than "lurching menace". There's a joyful sense of play at hand, with both audience and band liable to start chanting "kappa chow!" to start (or end) any given song.

Recording: Mean Tikes

Artist: Mean Tikes

Song: Break

Recorded at Handlebar, December 23, 2013.

Mean Tikes - Break

Full review to follow. Paul Lawton is taking a break from his Ketamines project, but there's no word right now if this is a pause or a stop. But in the meantime, four-fifths of that band's most recent lineup are now playing together as Mean Tikes [sic]. The Robert Smith eyeliner they took the stage with gives a hint of the sonic pivot here, veering from garage-y nuggets to Thatcher-era NME fodder. Newcomer Mike McKeever (who also plays in Pink Wine alongside Joel French) is the difference-maker in that regard, supplying liquid lead lines that glide instead of chug. The band has already been in the studio, so expect to see a 7" emerge in short order.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Recording: Lîla Trio

Artist: Lîla Trio

Song: [excerpt from first piece]

Recorded at The Imperial Pub's back room, December 21, 2013.

Lîla Trio - [excerpt from first piece]

Full review to follow. The full Lîla Ensemble is an amalgam of music and dance, but even if this night saw the three musical members on their own, there was still a strong kinetic energy, especially in Bea Labikova's snaky alto lines.

Recording: Aldcroft-Fisher-Gennaro

Artist: Ken Aldcroft/Colin Fisher/Mike Gennaro

Song: [excerpt from first piece]

Recorded at The Imperial Pub's back room, December 21, 2013.

Aldcroft-Fisher-Gennaro - [excerpt from first piece]

Full review to follow. As the ice storm moved in outside, all was cozy in the Imperial's back room, host to a casual night of no-holds-barred free improvisation, guitar, sax and drums bouncing off each other in rolling swells.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Recording: Little Match Girl Passion Ensemble

Artist: Little Match Girl Passion Ensemble

Song: When It Is Time For Me To Go

Recorded at The Music Gallery, December 20, 2013.

Little Match Girl Passion Ensemble - When It Is Time For Me To Go

Full review to follow. This adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's grim New Year's tale was pitched as a seasonal alternative to the ubiquitous Messiah. Arranged by Bang on a Can's David Lang, the music fuses twentieth century minimalism with much older church-y choral traditions. Accompanied only by some spare percussion, the quartet (Katherine Hill, Patricia O'Callaghan, Lucas Marchand, Dallas Bergen) did a rather beautiful job of it.

Recording: GREX

Artist: GREX

Songs: Christopher's Bell Game [excerpt; composer: Christopher Willes] + All Is Loneliness [Moondog cover] + Kviria [trad. Georgian, arr. A. Samaras]

Recorded at The Music Gallery, December 20, 2013.

GREX - Christopher's Bell Game [excerpt]

GREX - All Is Loneliness

GREX - Kviria

Full review to follow. Alex Samaras' GREX ensemble continues to be a rare combination of musical forward-thinking and unadorned beauty, specializing in vocal arrangements of songs both ancient and avant-garde. For this set, they greeted the audience as they entered the Music Gallery with Christoper Willes' game-piece for handbells1, which segued into a piece by ensemble fave Meredith Monk. "All is Loneliness" seemed like an appropriate pick for the dark times of the year's shortest days, but sun-invocation "Kviria" (an old Georgian folk song) was its antidote — in Samaras' hands, it sounds like God's own choir channelling Pet Sounds isolated vocal tracks.


1 More of Willes' new work is forthcoming soon at the next instalment of the Music Gallery's Emergents series on January 17, 2014. Recommended!

Monday, December 23, 2013

Concert Listings Roundup #24

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.


Gig of the week:

Zacht Automaat [Record Release!] (Doc Dunn / Coca Cola / Double Double Land 2013-12-28 (Saturday) [FB event]

ZA gigs are rare enough that each one qualifies as an event, but with this one acting as a celebration of their amazing double vinyl compilation, it's even more of an occasion. Come out and celebrate all your prog hopes and kosmische dreams with what will henceforth hopefully no longer perennially be referred to as "one of the city's best-kept secrets". And that's saying nothing of the fact that the mighty Doc Dunn is also celebrating a new release as well.


This week's noteworthy shows:

Kappa Chow (Mean Tikes [ex-Ketamines!] / Construction & Destruction) / Handlebar 2013-12-23 (Monday) [FB event]

Daniel Nebiat / Assab Restaurant 2014-02-25 (Wednesday)

Jason Collett presents The Basement Revue / The Dakota Tavern 2013-12-26 (Thursday)

The Garrison's 4th Annual Boxing Day Special Festival & Food Drive (feat. BA Johnston / Jim Storie Juniors / Moonwood / Darknesses / Rioting Reverb) / The Garrison 2013-12-26 (Thursday) [FB event]

Jon Oswald & David Prentice / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2013-12-27 (Friday – early!)

What's In The Box: Night 2 (feat. Solids / Alvvays / Programm / Parks At Night) / The Drake Underground 2013-12-27 (Friday) [more info]

The Garrison's 4th Annual Boxing Day Special Festival & Food Drive (feat. LIPS / New Positions / The Garritones / Dirty Penny / Special Guest) / The Garrison 2013-12-27 (Friday) [FB event]

Long Winter: KIDS (feat. Ali J Eisner / The Woodshed Orchestra / Hooded Fang / Space Chums / Clara Venice / Lido Pimienta / Unfinished Business) / The Great Hall 2013-12-28 (Saturday – afternoon show! PWYC! All-ages + kid-friendly environment!) [FB event]

What's In The Box: Night 3 (feat. Itzsoweezee / Phèdre / Weeknight / Doomsquad / Etiquette) / The Drake Underground 2013-12-28 (Saturday) [more info]

Dying With Dignity #1 (feat. Surinam) / The Press Club 2013-12-28 (Saturday) [FB event]

Calvin Love (Beams / Henri Faberge / The Folk) / The Silver Dollar Room 2013-12-28 (Saturday) [FB event]


Add these to your calendar:

The Garrison's 4th Annual Boxing Day Special Festival & Food Drive (feat. Dutch / Prosimii / Dilly Dally / The Pucumber Sasssquash Family Band / Special Guest) / The Garrison 2013-12-30 (Monday) [FB event]

Human Honey (The Corner / Watershed Hour / Stellarize) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-02 (Thursday) [FB event]

Alex Calder (Blonde Elvis / Wish / Pet Sun) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-03 (Friday) [FB event]

Feast In The East 33 (feat. Mimico / Bella Akira / New Fries) / Gerrard Art Space 2014-01-04 (Saturday — All ages! Done by 11!) [FB event]

Most People (SATURNS / Wizard Of / Spookyfish / KMMK SO) / Creatures Creating 2014-01-04 (Saturday) [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Sextet [record release!] / Array Space 2014-01-10 + 2014-01-11 (Friday + Saturday) [FB event]

Long Winter – Year 2 Volume 3 (feat. Rae Spoon / Isla Craig / B.A. Johnston / Princess Century / Doug Tielli / Weaves / Derek was D-Sisive / Absolut / Sydanie / Bizzarh / Ronley Teper and The Lipliners / New Zebra Kid / Bespoken) / The Great Hall 2014-01-10 (Friday) [FB event]

Emergents II (feat. Ensemble Paramirabo / Christopher Willes) / The Music Gallery 2014-01-17 (Friday) [FB event]

Wavelength 585 (feat. Jay Holy / Sexy Merlin / Ice Cream / Jics) / Handlebar 2014-01-25 (Saturday) [FB event]

Spectrum Music: Atlas of Imaginary Places / The Annex Theatre 2014-01-24 (Friday) [more info]

Music in the Barns : Cinerama – The Music of Nicole Lizée / Artscape Wychwood Barns 2014-01-24 (Friday) [more info]

Wavelength Music Festival: FOURTEEN – Night 1 (feat. Phèdre / TOPS / Ostrich Tuning / Zoo Owl / You'll Never Get To Heaven) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-02-13 (Thursday) [FB event]

Wavelength Music Festival: FOURTEEN – Night 2 (feat. Marnie Stern / DIANA / Odonis Odonis / Weaves / MATROX) / Adelaide Hall 2014-02-14 (Friday) [FB event]

Wavelength Music Festival: FOURTEEN – Weird Canada's "Wyrd Distro" Launch (feat. Aaron Levin & Marie Claire Flanagan [talk] / Carl Didur [music]) / June Records 2014-02-15 (Saturday – afternoon event! free!) [FB event]

Wavelength Music Festival: FOURTEEN – Night 3 (feat. Colin Stetson / U.S. Girls / Petra Glynt / Gambletron / Special Guests TBA) / SPK Polish Combatants Hall 2014-02-15 (Saturday) [FB event]

Wavelength Music Festival: FOURTEEN – "The Toronto Music Moment" [Talk + in-store performance] (feat. Evelyn Mukwedeya & Memory Makuri / more TBA) / Sonic Boom Records 2014-02-16 (Sunday – afternoon event! free!) [FB event]

Wavelength Music Festival: FOURTEEN – Night 4 (feat. Cousins / Greys / The Wet Secrets / Lido Pimienta + Kahuna / Elaquent) / The Garrison 2014-02-17 (Sunday) [FB event]

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Recording: Anne Waldman & AroarA

Artist: Anne Waldman & AroarA

Poem: Gossamurmur

Recorded at Adelaide Hall ("Jason Collett's Basement Revue"), December 19, 2013.

Anne Waldman & AroarA - Gossamurmur

Full review to follow. Once upon a time, the poetry segment at Jason Collett's Basement Revues seemed like he plucked a poet from the next bar over and picked some musicians out of the crowd and threw them together on stage to see what happened. Now, programming of the series' shows in a larger venue, there's a chance to expand that reach a little, and this show saw AroarA come up from Montréal to back American poet Anne Waldman in what turned out to be an expansive mini-set. We got a sneak preview of a new collaborative project in progress, with Ariel Engle and Andrew Whiteman providing musical settings for Waldman's visionary feminist Matriot Acts, but for obvious reasons, I was also compelled by this piece about the value of archives. "Gotta keep the tapes going," instructed Waldman.

Recording: Margaret Atwood & The Sadies

Artist: Margaret Atwood & The Sadies

Poem: The Animals Reject Their Names and Things Return to Their Origins

Recorded at Adelaide Hall ("Jason Collett's Basement Revue"), December 19, 2013.

Margaret Atwood & The Sadies - The Animals Reject Their Names and Things Return to Their Origins

Full review to follow. So: what does one do to top last year's coup of presenting Michael Ondaatje doing a reading backed by Feist? The only logical next step would be to have The Sadies backing a poetry reading by Margaret Atwood... so that's precisely what Jason Collett put together for this year's "big box" edition of his Basement Revue.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Recording: Joe Sorbara + Co.

Artist: Joe Sorbara + Aniqa Qadir / Joe Sorbara + Andrew Lauzon

Songs: [excerpts from improvisations]

Recorded at Array Space ("Audiopollination #13"), December 17, 2013.

Joe Sorbara + Aniqa Qadir - [excerpt from an improvisation]

Joe Sorbara + Andrew Lauzon - [excerpt from an improvisation]

Full review to follow. All improvisers are students, but those who are students of York professor Casey Sokol might be a little luckier than most. The art of improvising itself can only be approached indirectly, but a firm grounding in active listening was evident in all of the musicians that he selected to perform in this special anniversary showcase of the Audiopollination series. Ranging from guitar to piano to voice to dance, the six performers were each paired with percussionist Joe Sorbara, who had plenty of tricks to draw on. Whether scrunching and squeaking a balloon for a vocal call and response or bowing a clanging bell (both heard here) this was an evening or constant invention and high calibre musicianship, doing a good job of fulfilling the series' mandate of throwing together musicians who have never played together before and seeing what happens.

You can revisit the whole night on the series' audio archive, but here's a couple clips from my own recordings. Take note that the series continues, now on the second Tuesday of each month, at Array Space.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Recording: Kith & Kin

Artist: Kith & Kin

Songs: Harvest Hymn [traditional] + The Log Driver's Waltz [Wade Hemsworth cover]

Recorded at The Music Gallery, December 15, 2013.

Kith & Kin - Harvest Hymn

Kith & Kin - The Log Driver's Waltz

Full review to follow. Kith & Kin's annual Holiday Wassail — one of those gather-ye-together events that engender a deep sense of warmth and belonging — had a bit of a twist this year, with the trio also celebrating the release of a new double album. That gave then a chance to mix in a few of the water-themed tunes from the very wonderful Cool of the Day with the more seasonal offerings. The group specialize in songs that sound like they've been around for forever (like the shape-note hymn here), even when they're ones like "The Log Driver's Waltz" that can cause an umprompted singalong.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Recording: Dog Day

Artist: Dog Day

Songs: Get High + Part Girl

Recorded at CineCycle, December 14, 2013.

Dog Day - Get High

Dog Day - Part Girl

Full review to follow. Back once more as a quartet, Nancy Urich and Seth Smith can now stay up front on guitars to present the songs from the new Fade Out, as well as a more textured reproduction of the material (especially from Deformer) that they'd previously toured as a two-piece. With some parental leave presumably on the horizon, it was good to have a chance to hear the new material getting an airing.

Recording: Soft Hell

Artist: Soft Hell

Song: Obsessive Compulsive*

Recorded at CineCycle, December 14, 2013.

Soft Hell - Obsessive Compulsive

Full review to follow. Playing their first full show, Soft Hell sounded like a hardcore band that's just on the verge of slowing down into something more simmering, like from overt aggression into a sublimated glare.

* Thanks to Tim for passing the title to this one along!

Recording: Ian Kehoe

Artist: Ian Kehoe

Song: unknown*

Recorded at CineCycle, December 14, 2013.

Ian Kehoe - unknown

Full review to follow. With a snowstorm shutting down the 401 to Welland, Marine Dreams leader Kehoe was stuck without a band, but took the opportunity to bring out his notepad and test out some new songs in a stripped down setting.

* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Recording: Fresh Snow

Artist: Fresh Snow

Song: Helix Pass

Recorded at The Great Hall – Conversation Room ("Long Winter, Year 2, Volume 2"), December 13, 2013.

Fresh Snow - Helix Pass

Full review to follow. Fresh (ahem) off gracing the week's Now cover, the band played to a packed front room at the Great Hall. Half-hidden in a dry ice fog, the quartet (boosted by Laura C. Bates on violin) brought some obliterating volume and ruthless efficiency to their album's songs.

Recording: Doldrums

Artist: Doldrums

Song: She is the Wave

Recorded at The Great Hall ("Long Winter, Year 2, Volume 2"), December 13, 2013.

Doldrums - She is the Wave

Full review to follow. Having spent most of the year on the road, it was no surprise to see Airick Woodhead with another new lineup of backing musicians (this time 'round, brother Daniel "Moon King" Woodhead on drums and Guy Dallas on synths). The result was a more streamlined, dancefloor-ready version of Woodhead's bent-pop anthems, ready to go in a room that was transformed into a moshpit-ready rave.

Recording: I Am Robot and Proud

Artist: I Am Robot and Proud

Song: Nothing Normal Sounds Good

Recorded at The Great Hall ("Long Winter, Year 2, Volume 2"), December 13, 2013.

I Am Robot and Proud - Nothing Normal Sounds Good

Full review to follow. Shaw-Han Liem's IARAP hadn't played a local show since dropping their long-awaited Touch Tone album. That gave them a chance to bring a set filled with new songs (as well as a video travelogue of their tour to Japan and Korea) and show off the band's current four-man live incarnation.

Recording: Hooded Fang

Artist: Hooded Fang

Song: Sailor Bull

Recorded at The Great Hall ("Long Winter, Year 2, Volume 2"), December 13, 2013.

Hooded Fang - Sailor Bull

Full review to follow. After a long stretch of Euro-touring, Hooded Fang are back in town to splatter their slop-pop for a few more shows. You can catch 'em at Long Winter's special kids edition as well as the Tranzac's always-awesome New Year's Eve party.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Concert Listings Roundup #23

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.


Gig of the week:

Audiopollination #13 [first anniversary!] / Array Space 2013-12-17 (Tuesday) [FB event]

The "improvised bonanza" of Somewhere There offshoot Audiopollination is celebrating a year of instant composition and collaboration with this show, featuring Joe Sorbara (percussion) playing six short sets with a series of artists hand-picked by musician/teacher Casey Sokol. The exploratory spirit is furthered with realtime visual manipulations by Adam Rosen and John Creson projected up onto the big screen. Every show is unique, of course, but you can get a feel for the series' sensibility through their excellent audio archive. And if you've never been to the comfy Array Space, this is an excellent chance to come and check out an excellent venue. The show is $10 or PWYC and won't go super-late.


This week's noteworthy shows:

Feint of Hart presents Cock-up On St. Creskin's / Comedy Bar 2013-12-16 (Monday) [FB event]

See-Through Trio (Mike Smith and Matt Miller) / Musideum 2013-12-17 (Tuesday)

Jason Collett presents The Basement Revue / Adelaide Hall 2013-12-19 (Thursday)

Arachnidiscs Recordings Double Release Party (feat. Beard Closet / Babel / Cetacea) / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2013-12-19 (Thursday) [FB event]

The Generals [feat. members of Another Blue Door/The Mark Inside/Action Makes] present Exile On Main St. performed in its entirety with an all-star cast of guest lead vocalists / The Silver Dollar Room 2013-12-19 (Thursday) [FB event]

Ryan Driver & The Weather Station / The Tranzac 2013-12-20 (Friday — early show!) [FB event]

Kith & Kin Trio (The Poinsettias) / The Imperial Pub 2013-12-20 (Friday) [FB event]

Little Match Girl Passion (GREX) / The Music Gallery 2013-12-20 (Friday) [FB event]

The Green Ray (Gold Pony) / Magpie Taproom 2013-12-20 (Friday) [FB event]

Saving Gigi X-Mas Bash (feat. Prosimii / Trog / Nick Flanagan) / Saving Gigi 2013-12-20 (Friday) [FB event]

Riverrun / The The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2013-12-21 (Saturday) [FB event]

Wolfcow (Alpha Strategy / New Horizzzons / Alpha Couple) / Handlebar 2013-12-22 (Sunday) [FB event]


Add these to your calendar:

Kappa Chow (Mean Tikes [ex-Ketamines!] / Construction & Destruction) [FB event] / Handlebar 2013-12-23 (Monday)

Zacht Automaat [Record Release!] (Doc Dunn / Coca Cola / Double Double Land 2013-12-28 (Saturday) [FB event]

Calvin Love (Beams / Henri Faberge / The Folk) / The Silver Dollar Room 2013-12-28 (Saturday) [FB event]

Tranzac New Year's Eve (feat. Hooded Fang / KASHKA / Weaves / Maloo / The True Visitor Band [Thom Gill & co.] / John Southworth / Sing Leaf / Blimp Rock / The Woodshed Orchestra / The Tranzac 2013-12-31 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Gino Washington (BB Guns / The Honeyrunners / Pins & Needles / The Two Times) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-14 (Saturday) [FB event]

Afrofest's Black History Month Concert Series (feat. Madagascar Slim) / The Gladstone Hotel 2014-02-07 (Friday)

Afrofest's Black History Month Concert Series (feat. Adam Solomon) / The Gladstone Hotel 2014-02-14 (Friday)

Afrofest's Black History Month Concert Series (feat. Resolutionaries Marimba Band) / The Gladstone Hotel 2014-02-21 (Friday)

Afrofest's Black History Month Concert Series (feat. Asiko Foly) / The Gladstone Hotel 2014-02-28 (Friday)

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Recording: Moon King

Artist: Moon King

Songs: Almost Blue + Hexe*

Recorded at The Drake Underground, December 12, 2013.

Moon King - Almost Blue

Moon King - Hexe

Full review to follow. After spending most of the year on the road, Moon King returned home for Christmas — but not surprisingly, with their work ethic, they'll be heading off to an isolated cabin first to record some new songs. A handful of those got an airing at this welcome-back show, and it sounds like they extend the layered sophistication found on the two Obsession E.P.'s.

* This new song was listed as such on the setlist. It could be a partial or temporary title.

Recording: HSY

Artist: HSY

Song: Winter Circuit*

Recorded at The Drake Underground, December 12, 2013.

HSY - Winter Circuit

Full review to follow. Now experimenting with drumpad percussion, HSY was louder and more industrial than ever at this show — normally after an experience like this, you wake up with those weird bruises and scattered memories. But with HSY, you're not as afraid to remember what caused them.

* Thanks to Jude for passing the title to this one along.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Recording: Strange Strings Ensemble

Artist: Strange Strings Ensemble

Song: Famous Wildlife Movies I [excerpt] (Composer: Mike Smith)

Recorded at The Music Gallery ("Emergents I: Strange Strings"), December 12, 2013.

Strange Strings Ensemble - Famous Wildlife Movies I [excerpt]

Full review to follow. I don't normally tend to post two versions of the same song, but what we have here just happens to be a little bit different than the last time I saw this performed, so having a chance to hear 'em back-to-back may well be instructive. Here, Mike Smith is on synth, and joined by Ilana Waniuk (violin) and Amanda Penner (viola), two members of the ad hoc ensemble put together for this show, exploring new textures and new musical partners for traditional "classical" strings.

This exciting night was just the first of this season's Emergents series at the Music Gallery, each of which is going to be curated by a past graduate of the series. Next month's programme (on Friday, January 17, 2014), curated by Adam Scime, was just announced, and will feature Christopher Willes and the Montréal-based Ensemble Paramirabo.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Recording: Bespoken

Artist: Bespoken

Song: Aigre Douce IV

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall), December 10, 2013.

Bespoken - Aigre Douce IV

Full review to follow. Conceived as an ad hoc ensemble to present one of Nick Storring's compositions, Bespoken has turned into something of an actual group. Joined by Matt Ramolo, Brandon Valdivia, Cheryl Duvall and Ilana Waniuk, this show also served as a launch party for the ensemble's first album, on the new Divorce Records sub-imprint Heavy Fog (which is dedicated to documenting "deep undercurrents in classical music"). Taking place in the Tranzac's main hall and with a cassette being sold at the door, this had a strong DIY feel that will hopefully serve as a catalyst to bring together folks from the New Music, free improvization and indie rock realms. (And on that score, do note that the band's next show will apparently be at the January edition of the Long Winter series.)

Recording: Allison Cameron

Artist: Allison Cameron

Song: Last Landing*

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall), December 10, 2013.

Allison Cameron - Last Landing

Full review to follow. Falling somewhere between noise-rock bricolage and folk deconstructionism, Cameron's banjo plucks and skittering static bursts felt like traditions imploding, fragmented meaning-ness drifting somewhere in the space between atoms of a haphazardly-expanding universe.

* Thanks to Allison for passing the title to this one along.

Recording: Christopher Willes

Artist: Christopher Willes + Ensemble

Song: Blow/Draw [excerpt]*

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall), December 10, 2013.

Christopher Willes + Ensemble - Blow/Draw [excerpt]

Full review to follow. This led off an exciting night of New Music at The Tranzac, with the ensemble (containing several noteworthy improvisers1) spread around the room such that it was hard to tell where they ended and the crowd began. This spacialization helped create a sonic bath for Willes' ascension drones. Though this piece was "only" a half-hour, the slow shifts in the sound field brought to mind music that uses extended duration as a means of evoking a trancelike state. Gorgeous stuff.


* My understanding that this is still in the working-titles-being-tossed-around stage. I will update if I hear word something else has been settled on.

1 Given that I now have a list in front of me, I might as well add that the ensemble on this night was:

  • Lina Allemano – trumpet
  • Anne Bourne - cello
  • Allison Cameron – casiotone
  • Rob Clutton – bass
  • Jason Doell – Portuguese guitar + ebow
  • Daniel Harley – violin
  • Tom Richards – trombone
  • Germain Liu – floor-tom/cymbal
  • Katherine Watson – flute
  • Christopher Willes - sk1

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Recording: Sean Nicolas Savage

Artist: Sean Nicolas Savage

Song: Heartless

Recorded at Double Double Land ("Silent Shout"), December 9, 2013.

Sean Nicolas Savage - Heartless

Full review to follow. Sean Nicholas Savage is a gifted songwriter and nimbly emotive vocalist — I just wish he didn't have a propensity for taking the stage too drunk or high to really marshal those talents. Careening through some technical problems and becoming a little too unsteady as the set went on, this set gave some glimmers of what we're going to hear on next year's follow up to breakthrough album Other Life. Some folks might take this sort of stage demeanour as poetically raw or (gack!) "authentic", but I just see someone who's holding themselves back.

Recording: Ice Cream

Artist: Ice Cream

Song: Fired Up

Recorded at Double Double Land (Silent Shout), December 9, 2013.

Ice Cream - Fired Up

Full review to follow. The best set at this Monday night Silent Shout came from openers Ice Cream, making just their second live appearance. The duo exuded more cool confidence on the stage this time around (right in line with their brand of icy electro-funk) and promised that some of the recordings they've been making with Ben Cook will be hitting the internet soon.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Concert Listings Roundup #22

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.


Gig of the week:

Bespoken [tape release show!] (Christopher Willes + ensemble / Allison Cameron) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2013-12-10 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Emergents I: Strange Strings / The Music Gallery 2013-12-12 (Thursday) [FB event]

Spectrum: The World Through Frames Without Lenses / The Annex Theatre 2013-12-12 (Thursday) [FB event]

I honestly could have picked a gig of the week for every night this week, so I'll narrow it down a bit to these three. If you've had any interest in exploring the realm of New Music/contemporary classical music, this is your week. Showing that our hidebound genre conventions are getting blurred in new and inneresting ways, all of these shows have strong ties to the "indie rock" world in personnel, attitude, and price point. To wit: the Bespoken gig is a tape release show, the Emergents show is programmed by Mika Posen (known for her work in and alongside The Meek, Timber Timbre, Forest City Lovers and many more), and the Spectrum's show — conceived to "turn a dusty mirror on Millennials" — is topically of-the-moment, including new works like Shannon Graham's "Shit Girls Say". [Aside to New Music presenters: I'm bummed these latter two shows are on the same night! Get cracking on that conflict calendar!]


This week's noteworthy shows:

Silent Shout (feat. Sean Nicholas Savage / Sing Leaf / Ice Cream) / Double Double Land 2013-12-09 (Monday) [FB event]

Army Girls (Omhouse [solo] / LUKA) / Holy Oak Café 2013-12-10 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Black Walls (ANAMAI) / June Records 2013-12-11 (Wednesday – free!) [FB event]

Segger vs Segger (Craig Pedersen) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2013-12-11 (Wednesday)

Moon King (TOPS / HSY) / The Drake Underground 2013-12-12 (Thursday) [FB event]

Jason Collett presents The Basement Revue / The Dakota Tavern 2013-12-12 (Thursday)

This Mess (Fires of Cheektowaga / Culture Reject) / Clinton's 2013-12-12 (Thursday) [FB event]

Telephone Explosion: 6-year celebration (feat. Teenanger / Soupcans) / Sonic Boom Kensington Market 2013-12-12 (Thursday) [FB event]

King Cobb Steelie [Goodbye Arcadia digital EP release show!] (Laura Barrett / Bile Sister) / The Piston 2013-12-12 (Thursday) [FB event]

Wired City Music Festival (feat. Bruce Peninsula / Union Duke) / Adelaide Hall 2013-12-12 (Thursday) [FB event]

No Warning 7" Release Party & Pop Up Shop (feat. "special surprise live act") / Crawford 2013-12-12 (Thursday) [FB event]

Long Winter: Year 2 Volume 2 (feat. Doldrums / Hooded Fang / I am Robot and Proud / Beliefs / Fresh Snow / Nick Ferrio & His Feelings / Demolition / Milk Lines / Omhouse / LLVK) / The Great Hall 2013-12-13 (Friday) [FB event]

Ken Aldcroft, Joe Sorbara, Paul Dutton, John Kamevaar and Glen Hall / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2013-12-13 (Friday – early!)

The Justshows.com 2nd annual Christmas show (feat. Dog Day) / CineCycle 2013-12-14 (Saturday) [FB event]

Sunshowers (feat. Glit Clit / Prince Nifty / Lido Pimienta / HVYWTR) / Comfort Zone 2013-12-14 (Saturday) [FB event]

Blonde Elvis (Hollow Earth / Sissy Boy / New Canadian) / 961A College 2013-12-14 (Saturday) [FB event]

Kith & Kin's Holiday Wassail / The Music Gallery 2013-12-15 (Sunday) [FB event]

Body Help / Holy Oak Café 2013-12-15 (Sunday) [FB event]


Add these to your calendar:

Feint of Hart presents Cock-up On St. Creskin's / Comedy Bar 2013-12-16 (Monday) [FB event]

Audiopollination #13 [first anniversary! – "Joe Sorbara (percussion) is playing six sets with artists hand picked by Casey Sokol, including: Andrew Lauzon, Sean Traczyle, Darlene Cuevas, Ruth Levin, James Atin-Godden, Aniqa Qadir, Victor Xu] / Array Space 2013-12-17 (Tuesday) [FB event]

The Weather Station / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2013-12-20 (Friday – early!)

Saving Gigi X-Mas Bash (feat. Prosimii / Trog / Nick Flanagan) / Saving Gigi 2013-12-20 (Friday) [FB event]

Riverrun / The The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2013-12-21 (Saturday) [FB event]

Long Winter: KIDS (feat. Ali J Eisner / The Woodshed Orchestra / Hooded Fang / Space Chums / Clara Venice / Lido Pimienta / Unfinished Business) / The Great Hall 2013-12-28 (Saturday – afternoon show! PWYC! All-ages + kid-friendly environment!) [FB event]

Dying With Dignity #1 (feat. Surinam) / The Press Club 2013-12-28 (Saturday) [FB event]

AGO First Thursdays: Long Winter Takeover (feat. Snowblink / Doomsquad / Isla Craig / Henri Fabergé) / The Art Gallery of Ontario 2014-01-02 (Thursday) [FB event]

Wavelength 584: The Class of 2014 (feat. Fresh Snow / MASS / Del Bel / Anamai) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-11 (Saturday) [FB event]

Silent Shout: The Class Of 2014 (feat. Jef Barbara / Bizzarh / Nyssa / Lido Pimienta) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-17 (Friday) [FB event]

Mark Pesci presents: The Class Of 2014 (feat. Cellphone / Dirty Frigs / Dilly Dally / Crhymes / Red Mass) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-01-18 (Saturday) [FB event]

The Jim Jones Revue (The Millwinders / Dany Laj and The Looks) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2014-01-17 (Friday) [FB event]

JD Samson & MEN (Light Fires) / The Garrison 2014-01-26 (Sunday) [FB event]

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks (Disappears) / Lee's Palace 2014-02-22 (Saturday)


Consumer notes:

  • The awesome folks over at Girls Rick Camp Toronto have just issued a compilation of music by the bands that were formed at this year's camps. You should grab yourself a CD or a download, and not only check out the city's next wave of talent, but help support their plans for next summer.
  • The folks at Guelph's Pinball sessions keep posting great mini-sets by some really cool bands. A boss session from Marine Dreams dropped this week, and there are also recent efforts from Omhouse and Teenanger — plus way more. These are free to download, so start grabbing 'em now!