Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best for the New Year. Lay those resolutions aside and just do.





The video:

"Happy" by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins

Does it get more lovely than Jenny Lewis?

New York, New York

Monday January 10, 2011: Tony Scherr at the Jalopy
Wednesday January 12, 2011: Caveman, Teen (members of Here We Go Magic) at the Mercury Lounge

Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Trudeaumania

Creation "Making Time"

1966 was a good year

Do Make Say Think and Dakota Revue gig; Tuesday December 28, 2010

Yesterday was one of the most exciting musical evening I've had in a while.

I adore DO MAKE SAY THINK. A swift reminder why I love music

"Never Forget You," by the Noisettes

Noisettes in French means hazelnuts. I have the greatest memory with my cousin in France just eating hazelnut chocolates like crazy. A fabulous way to broaden my French vocabulary.

How can you feel like crap listening to this song?

'Transatlanticism'

I love you to pieces.

"What's in the Box?" Music Festival

DO MAKE SAY THINK DO MAKE SAY THINK DO MAKE SAY THINK!

"Illuminated," Arto Lindsay

This bloke is fifty seven!!!!

"Elegiac," Jon Hopkins

One of my dream jobs is to select music for TV shows and movies. In watching Sex and the City last night I stumbled upon the following gem. It has a slight Zero 7 vibe to it. The whole Petrovsky relationship in that series has a trip hop soundtrack to it.

Apparently, Jon Hopkins has worked with a pile of people that you are definitely familiar with such as Imogen Heap, David Lynch, Brian Eno and Coldplay.

'Obsessive Consumption,' by Kate Bingaman-Burt

To celebrate some serious thinking on a very unserious day like boxing day. I ironically bought a book by a woman who for a year or so documented everything she purchased by doodling. Incredible:

Doug Paisley, "End of the Day"

The Black Keys 'Brothers,' album of the year

'Pierrot le fou'

Colour!!

'Album of the Year,' Tim Kasher

Beach House 'Teen Dream,' album of the year

The Raveonettes "The Christmas Song"

Amazing:

Jason Collett, Daytrotter

Does it get any better than this?

Leonard Cohen, "Suzanne"

I can't help but think of Bright Eyes' "Nothing Gets Crossed Out" for the female back up vocals -

George Harrison, 'All Things Must Pass'

Whenever I talk about Harrison with my Dad we both sort of get a warm fuzzy feeling inside both of us. It's completely unspoken of, but I know it's there.

He always refers to Harrison's All Things Must Pass as the first Beatles solo album to really take off. He's right.

All Things Must Pass is stunning through and through. If you haven't bought or downloaded it yet, get on it!

John Martyn, "Couldn't Love You More"

Don't know much about John Martyn but I really like the song "Couldn't Love You More." A tune a pal recommended.



Turns out I've probably heard it before at the Lisa Hannigan show:

Best Coast, "Boyfriend"

The answer to Girls' "Lust for Life." Best Coasts' "Boyfriend." When I bought the album, I asked the guy at Soundscapes what he thought about the album. He responded: "Yeah, it's good." I then asked him what it sounded like and he responded: "That '90s sound..." Really weak response but I needed some kind of affirmative coaxing to justify the blind purchase.

I like the rough sound, girl vocals and yes it does have a bit of a '90s sound to it.

On Covers, specifically Carole King's

I had a great moment this morning when I realised the tune "One Fine Day" was written by the one and only Carole King! I know it best by the girl group the Chiffons.





For one of my Christmas gifts, I'm putting together a cover album for a dear friend of mine. I normally hate covers but she put this idea forward a couple of years ago as a gift to her father. Well, guess what? She's getting it now! This is definitely making it!

Beth Orton

Beth Orton is one of those artists that I've always noticed, and even bought a few albums real cheap but never got around to listening to them. She's amazing. She experienced a fair bit of fame in the late '90s, early 2000s. She's 40 now.

Watch out Feist, Cat Power and Liz Phair.

Kiersten Holine, "God Only Knows"

A YouTube superstar after being published in Rolling Stone mag as something to be talked about. I love her! She's absolutely wonderful, great voice good taste in music (by her cover choices). Give her a go:

Paul Simon, "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover"

This tune has such a brilliant narrative throughout:

The Rolling Stones, sentiments

I'm a Beatles girl at heart, but I love the edge that the Rolling Stones sported so well. The Beatles were always so damn sweet!

I'm feeling the Stones today.

Beatles Art

Amazing Beatles poster! I don't think i'd buy it, but it's a cool idea just the same!

Mississauga

No amount of good music will make me like living in Mississauga!!!!

The Shins 'Oh, Inverted World'

The Shins' opener to the album 'Oh, Inverted World' is one of the best openers I know of. What a great start.

Coldplay's 'Parachutes' is a very close second.

Neko Case

I can't think of a stronger female singer than Neko Case. With that being said, I read her very hesitant article in the literary journal called Poetry and felt a little at ease with all my academic insecurities.

My Flaming Hamster Wheel of Panic About Publicly Discussing Poetry in This Respected Forum

BY NEKO CASE

When I was asked by Poetry to write an article for them I was ecstatic. I was flattered. I felt important! I agreed immediately. About twenty minutes after sending my e-mail of acceptance I paused to triumphantly sharpen my claws on the bookcase when I noticed the blazing, neon writing on the wall. It said: YOU'VE NEVER EVEN PASSED ENGLISH 101 AND EVERYONE WHO READS THIS MAGAZINE WILL KNOW IT. Why do I care? I'm not sure. I think it's because I don't want to let poetry down. Poetry is such a delicate, pretty lady with a candy exoskeleton on the outside of her crepe-paper dress. I am an awkward, heavy-handed mule of a high school dropout. I guess I just need permission to be in the same room with poetry.

I think the fear began in about fifth grade. Right off the top they said poetry was supposed to have "form." Even writing a tiny haiku became a wrestling match with a Claymation Cyclops for me. (I watched a lot ofSinbad.) We aren't too cool for poetry; it's the other way around. At least that's the impression I took from public school. The fact that these feelings would remain into adulthood is ridiculous. We all have the right to poetry! How could I still think it's for other people? Smarter people. What's doubly confusing is I don't have the same reservations when poetry is accompanied by music. Perhaps I feel that way because there is music all around us — it's the wallpaper of our lives. It's not considered precious in American culture unless a symphony is performing it.

I do know when a string of printed words busts my little dam and the tears spill over and I sponge them up with my T-shirt. I couldn't give you that formula before it happens, it  just hits me like a bat to the face. That's a sweet, hot, amazing, embarrassing moment. It even makes me feel a little included, as if  I have to be "ready for the poetry" for it to be happening.

I can't choose which kind of poetry I like best. Sonnets? Prose? I don't know the terminology. I just blurt out some fragmented gibberish into the vast, woodsy country of poetry. It freezes in midair. Here come some examples now . . .

Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus haunts me. Aaron's death speech is veiled, venomous gospel music. I read it over and over even though I've already memorized it like a teenage girl in love. W.H. Auden scares me under the couch (even when he's being funny). I hold my flashlight on "The Witnesses," with its haunting "humpbacked surgeons/And the scissors man," until my arm shakes, my trusty dictionary in my other hand. Dorothy Parker makes me manic! I can't even make it through the first three lines of "The Godmother" without bursting into tears. Lynda Barry and Sherman Alexie save my life constantly. They battle identity crisis with a sense of  humor and a language that speaks so hard to me because they came from my home, in my own time, and they talk to me in our special parlance. They tell me I'm not crazy because they remember it too. It really is the old Washington State that created my personal brain-picture ABC's. (D is for "Douglas fir.") The same Washington State I can never go back to. Barry and Alexie volunteer to go in my place. Their memories make friends with mine. I can't live without them.

What do these poets have in common? They don't write sycophantic, roman-numeral-volumed postcards to God. They don't get all "love-ity-love-love" either. I get the sense they imagine their audience and want to comfort them. They are so good at it they even have the ability to comfort us with scariness. Sadness too. I think that is a powerful magic. They don't just write poetry either; they are playwrights and painters and singers and novelists.

How can we help them out? I guess we keep on needing them, even if it's kind of a secret. If the poets handed out anonymous comment cards for us shy poetry lovers to fill out so they could get a better idea of what we needed, I would direct them to the Osbourne Brothers' bluegrass classic, "Rocky Top." They say in two lines what poets and writers "Anna Karenina" themselves to death to convey, about a girl who's "wild as a mink, but sweet as soda pop/I still dream about that." If those lines were written about me I could lie down and die. It is perfection. Uncool Perfection.

I'm currently listening to:

Elliott Smith, 'Figure 8'

My silly friend Ted a while back carelessly bought this Elliott Smith album in attempts to get into something great. It for some odd reason didn't strike a chord with him... So after a very brutal evening of continuously asking him for it completely sober and another evening of drunken theft, this CD now belongs to me.

I also stumbled upon this video of Elliott Smith at Lee's Palace twelve years ago, around the time Figure 8 was released. I can't believe I missed that set, shame I'll never see it live. I wonder what sort of camera this bloke had in 1998.

The good soul somehow managed to capture all the songs on video, with decent sound!

elliott smith at lee's palace- toronto, ontario,- october 7, 1998. the setlist went as follows:
1-division day
2-sweet adeline
3-bottle up and explode
4-waltz #2 (xo)
5-pictures of me
6-stupidity tries
7-bled white
8-alameda
9-happiness
10-baby britain
11-speed trials
12-ballad of big nothing
13-independence day
14-say yes
15-condor avenue
16-i didn't understand

Music Lost and Found

I've been a little crushed since I saw Vetiver a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't find their album Tight Knit. My belongings have been all over the place since the big move three or four months ago.

But I am elated to report that I have stumbled upon CDs T-Z, safe and sound. I'm the happiest girl alive right now.

Please hold me to this when I come to you in a crummy mood.

Here are a few selections of the latter half of the alphabet that make the little hairs on my arms stick up:

Beck on The Zombies!!!

Not as good as the original, but it's kind of exciting. Beck is someone that's always on the back burner for me.

The Zombies

I have this memory of when I first got into the Shins five or six years ago. My Dad and I were sitting in an airport and I passed him my headphones playing the brilliant Oh, Inverted World! tune "Saint Simon." He said within seconds of his listen that this band was copying the Zombies. I couldn't help but feel angry because my Dad never likes 'new' music to his ears. By 'new' I mean songs that were written by artists beyond his time. So with that being said, my Dad really enjoys solo projects of artists he loved forty years ago. I suppose he's the fool your hating Robert Plant for, for releasing stuff beyond his years. Maybe a bad example, that Allison Krause/Robert Plant album was in fact pretty good.

My point of this note was to highlight the fact that The Shins really do sound like the Zombies and that The Zombies have crafted truly timeless music.

The Zombies have 3 studio albums that were created in their '60s prime. Most common and best put together is The Odessey & Oracle. Before that came the album The Zombies or in the UK it was titled Begin Here. It's pretty remarkable how much music they had between the two releases, but it really wasn't until Odessey that I feel they really harnessed their sound.

OK, slight tangent, but I find the Zombies' sound to be really easy to listen to, but very different from other '60s bands and bands today for that matter. If you haven't already, you must must must listen to the following songs for your education:

"You Really Got A Hold On Me/Bring It On Home To Me" (A brilliant mash up cover of two very similar songs! I love the longing in his voice, shame he hasn't kept this well in his senior years!)

"I'm Going Home"

"Care of Cell 44" (One of my favourite songs of all time!!)

"Beechwood Park" (A very pretty tune!)

Julie Doiron

How have I just started listening to her this year?

Monotonix

This is the fourth or fifth time (at very least!) that I have missed Monotonix. The Tel Aviv band is known for putting on a hands on, brutal show and I can't help but feel intrigued.

Daniel Martin Moore

You know those albums that you look at and you know you'll love.

Meet Daniel Martin Moore, the latest artist for me to dip my toes into. He's got a Michael Buble glimmer that your mother would like but the Sub Pop label support that give him some edge.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/It_Won_t_Be_Long/2JKE7q

She and Him and Conan do Christmas

I love M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel more than one probably should. Collectively, they've sort of flopped off of my radar for the last little while until I stumbled upon this lovely ditty:



Zooey Deschanel does Christmas very well -

April Wine

Nearly forty years ago when my Dad was in high school, the band that played at his dances was April Wine. It's really unfortunate that the extent of my high school dance music was Keepin' 6.

Q107 plays this about once a day. So does my work.

Phillistine, the Beatles

I'm a total sucker for anything Beatles. The Beatles are truly a timeless band, but hey, you already knew that..

"A Tender History in Rust" by Do Make Say Think

Completely worth it for that little chuckle about a minute into the song!

Doug Paisley 'Constant Companion'

The new Doug Paisley album is incredible. I really prefer it's sound compare to the live gig I saw him play. This is probably because of the country twang that Julie Penner injected into each of his tunes with her violin playing.

Reminds me of 'Lars and the Real Girl'

And the Japanese film 'Air Doll'

George Harrison, Yim Yames

Nice cover Yim Yames...

Blue Valentine

Saw this movie at TIFF in September and I really didn't feel it. But looking back, I'm definitely giving it a second chance. Great trailer -

Jason Collett Basement Revue

Tonight is the first Collett revue spot of 2010. This is my fourth year attending and my ambitious girlfriend and I decided to go to all of the gigs so we didn't miss a thing. I am absolutely thrilled for my evening tonight, I am going to be in good company from every angle possible.

I'm pretty stoked because I'm almost certain in this month I'll see acts like Zeus, a band I can't shake, Doug Paisley and brilliant literary folk.

Reasons like this event really get me going. To me, this is Canada, or perhaps just really myself. Going to these events give me reason to wake up in the morning. A tad dramatic? Yes. But completely true to how I feel.

Get your ass to the Dakota tonight and every Tuesday of the month, if you know what's good for you. Because it sure is.

Beatles, Apple

I am in love with these classic new Beatles/itunes ads. They're very classic cool:

Siskiyou

Siskiyou is a band I recently got into after seeing them open for Sandro Perri. It's also a county in the northern most part of California.

Their great artwork that they scored from real life big foot depictions! Gotta love the pencil crayon/pastel look:

MGMT - "Kids", Joanna Newsome

On Working at a Record Store

I miss working at the Record Store. Throughout high school and a good chunk of university I had the great fortune of working at a couple of record stores.

I miss play copies of albums.

I miss seeing the newest of releases and diving on them first.

I miss talking about music day to day with people who love music as much as I do.

I miss the laid back feeling of the record store atmosphere.

I miss working for Ticketmaster.

I miss first cracks at tickets.

I miss selling movies.

I do not miss Sunrise Records and will never ever shop there again.

I do not miss selling shitty music like that really awful Canadian band with the leadsinger named Chad that I do not want affiliated with my blog.

I know I'm about three years late but I recently dove into MGMT for their song "Kids." It plays at my work once or twice a day and I loooove it. Turns out i've had their CD for a couple of years now without knowing it because it was a play copy that I didn't actually pay for.

Hankerings

I often fall asleep with my phone. I have the good intentions of falling asleep to great music but instead I normally just fall asleep awkwardly with half in headphones and my stupid iphone.

But on the upside, I have these great hankerings where I have to listen to something the moment I wake up. Today it was Zeus and I was completely elated. Great way to greet the day.

Bahamas at the Glenn Gould Theatre; Thursday November 25, 2010

Bahamas aka Afie Jurvanan is an incredible performer. He absolutely blew my mind at the Glenn Gould Theatre with his charm and talent. It was really nice to hear his songs bare, he just played with percussionist Jason Tait of the Weakerthans, very cutely referring to him as Home Hardware because of all the odd instruments and sounds he was making.

I should've made this gig in London too.

Double dose of Zeus in Toronto Friday December 3, 2010 at the Horseshoe and Saturday December 4, 2010 in London, ON at Call the Office

I've discovered I function best on overdrive and stacked busy. Given it can be quite exhausting, I think I'm at my best last minute and jam packed busy. This weekend I was completely at my peak. Last minute and spontaneous. (Shout out to you Tom)

Zeus put on easily one of my favourite shows of the year. As that special time comes around, I begin to think retrospectively. I had the absolute pleasure and good fortune of seeing Zeus both Friday and Saturday. Both times very different but equally as exciting.

The gig on Friday December 3 was at the Horseshoe in Toronto. I wasn't overly excited for this show but I was looking forward to it. Much to my surprise the show was completely sold out which means it was a complete sweat box at the Horseshoe. This is probably my fourth or fifth time seeing Zeus live - hearing all their songs put to life really give me a positive energy. On that note, their songs are incredibly positive and upbeat. Their charisma as both a band and individual players really show in their live performances. I couldn't help but feel completely drawn to them.

We saw the first show in its entirety opening up with "Marching Through Your Head" and closing with "You Gotta Tell Her." The second gig we got there a song and a half late, living spontaneously, missing the opener of what I can only assume was "Kindergarden" and the first part of the "Greater Times on the Wayside"/"River by the Garden" combination. We leapt in as fast as we could to catch "River by the Garden" in its entirety. The crowd at the London show was lively but quite a bit thinner than the Toronto show, which in actual fact I very much appreciate. There's something really lousy about a jam packed sardines show like at the Horseshoe.

My favourite bit of the first show was the band's performance of "Heavy on You." The tune is a Neil Quin song, the youngest member of the band. It's got good drive and momentum to it that keeps me on my toes when I listen to it live, even though I know exactly what's coming next in the tune. I was really happy with the crowds at both shows, they were incredibly into it, but not obnoxiously. Just really great concert etiquette

Here's an early pre-Zeus cut of the tune:

And here's what the tune actually sounds like now:

The thing I love about Zeus is their Beatles like ability to write songs that have a signature sound to the band while being able to sound together. Three of the four members played some serious musical instrument roulette switching it up between guitar, bass and the keys. It's always a pleasure to see them flip flop around between instruments. I've gotten to the point where I can feel what songs their going to play based on what instruments their sitting on.

A really great example of this is the Neil Quin tunes that are still circulating online. Many of the Neil Quin tunes that made it on the Zeus album Say Us were penned lifetimes before by Quin yet they still have a full band comfortable organic feel to them. In addition to the videos below, this is totally worth a peek.

"Kindergarden":

I'm so happy to have stumbled upon this. They played this terrific tune "Are You Going to Waste My Time, Or Be Mine" at both gigs too:

"Anybody ever work a dishwashing job? Anybody ever want to drink cold beers after that job?" Amazing:

Always playing their Genesis cover of the tune "That's All":

I'm not sure what this song's called but they played it at both shows this weekend past:

How can you not feel good listening to Zeus? They put on the best full band live show of any Toronto band I can think of at the moment.

Happenings

In my absence from blogland, you really haven't missed much. I bought a really great compilation of soul music from the south. I'll post a few tracks when I really get around to sinking my teeth into the material. It's quality stuff though I assure!

Tomorrow, I am going to see one of my favourite Toronto bands. It's funny because I have sort of come to call the Darcys my favourite 'local' Toronto act, but I think I'm teetering towards Zeus on this one. All things considered the Darcys are quite a bit smaller than Zeus, but I couldn't help but draw the comparisions. Regardless, both bands put on tremendous shows and both are in the very near future.

Zeus is playing tomorrow night at the Horseshoe Tavern while the Darcys are playing the Silver Dollar Saturday December 18. I was really crossed between seeing the Great Lake Swimmers or Zeus tomorrow night - evidently I have made my decision. Pretty jazzed for Zeus.

I saw Bahamas last week. It was one of the loveliest gigs I have had the pleasure to see in a while. This is in large part because of the cozy Glenn Gould theatre but moreso because Afie Jurvanan is so god damn charming. Charmed completely. Will write more thoughts soon.

Christmas is a coming and I am thrilled to get on with the holiday cheer, I really do enjoy the season. That and my twenty third birthday is coming up! It's going to be grand.

I am absolutely in love with the Arcade Fire tune "Intervention." I know I am two years behind you all, but I just can't get enough of it.

Dark Dark Dark

Just started taking piano lessons! I am completely in love with the tune "Daydreaming" by Dark Dark Dark - lots of piano bits and vocals that are a ton like Thao (of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down).

This was totally a Grey's Anatomy find.

On Harvey Pekar...

Working for the Toronto Jewish Film Festival last spring, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Pekar before he died. I was very fumbly and true to myself, but if I had the opportunity to talk again with him (although I won't), I would chat to him about music because through everything he loathed in his life, music was definitely something he cherished. Jazz particularly.

Allen Ginsberg and 'Howl' (movie and poem)/Music in 'American Splendor'

Beat Generation

Allen Ginsberg

William S. Burroughs

Jack Kerouac

People and things that I have never really known much of. Seeing Rob Epstein and Daniel Friedman's film was pretty inspiring to me because it represents a whole world of literature that I haven't got my hands on yet. In no way do I consider myself a reader by any means. I mean, I try to read as much as possible, but it for some reason doesn't come easy to me.

The film, which was in part produced by Gus Van Sant tackled many of the issues that Ginsberg and the other beat generation thinkers challenged. So many issues that make me really re-evaluate just how many freedoms and luxuries in the twenty-first century, just a mere fifty

years later. My things have changed.

Between the beautiful fifties dress and the exciting content of Ginsberg's poetry, it was a feast for both ears and the eyes. Not to mention James Franco's fantastic portrayal of the late Ginsberg.

I just recently watched the film on the late Harvey Pekar called American Splendor earlier this week. It serves as a perfect mate for Howl, not for its content, but rather how material is presented in film. American Splendor left a fantastic taste in my mouth for a rather miserable person. Whereas Howl gave me some inspiration for fostering a sense of inconventional creativity.

American Splendor highlighted Pekar's love for jazz tunes in both the content of the film and the soundtrack to accompany. Very ornate, lively tunes that serve to gel together his really odd personality. The opening song by Joe Maneri "Panoits Nine" (1963) captured this sense perfectly:

I can't decide if I think Maneri's tune is fantastic or just OK. It's a little too offbeat for my likings, I rather prefer Dizzie Gillespie's "Stardust." A song that proves itself to be timeless - it was released eighty one years ago! Is jazz ageless? Or am I just not well-versed enough in the genre? Probably the latter.

I adore jazz piano, it's such a waste I'm a completely useless performer and musician. This is completely inspiring (and also on the soundtrack):

R. Crumb and His Cheapsuit Serenaders "Hula Medley"! Totally genius. I strongly think that this music is going to make a serious comeback:

Gershwin, one of the few musicians my Grandfather and I can agree on:

The film's version not done by Bessie Smith, but Jay McShann. Smith's version is fantastic, 1923!

Smokey Robinson penned this one, but Marvin Gaye performed it. 1965 -

The Andrew Sisters - 1920 -

Coltrane's take on "My Favourite Things":

I selected the old tunes off of this soundtrack. It's really mind boggling to see how little I actually know about music.

'nuff said, it's time to go do something inspiring on little sleep. Or at very least feel inspired today.

Back in action

I have sound on my computer again! Hooray!

Destroyer

Wowee! Now this one is real good, esthetically talking. I may have to purchase my very first Destroyer album, based on appearances. Who says you can't judge a book by it's cover and hell, if the music sucks on it at least they give you something pretty to look at!

John Vanderslice

What great artwork for his new album which comes out January 25. It looks like it could be a Belle and Sebastian album cover. But most of all, I love the faux wear of the album, it's like aged newspaper!

Emiliana Torrini, Putamayo

My uncle gave me a whole whack of CDs last Christmas and of them was the Putamayo collection titled Women of the World Acoustic. Emiliana Torrini was one of the lovely ladies showcased on the album. I first heard Torrini on Grey's with her tune "Ha Ha."

But I much rather like:

Happenings

So big changes. Finally got a steady internet connection, but just as that happened the sound on my computer gave out. So upkeeping the music portion of my blog may be a little rough - but I will still getcha the goods, I assure.

I have decided to solely dedicate this blog, For The Trees to music and movies. I was considering dividing the two but I simply can't make that split. Their existence in my life is simply instrumental to one another.

BUT, to satisfy waste, my other love in life, I am going to start a blog solely dedicated to waste and it's role in my life. If I can't study it in an academic setting right away, what better, more efficient way to publish it than on a blog. So I will be starting up another blog in the immediate future.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading my page.

Toronto, Saturday, Good Music

If you're looking for something to do on Saturday. The Emmett Ray is having a sweet DJ play her tunes off her laptop. This chick's Jennifer Reinhardt, she DJs as TUFF MEAT. I've been to two TUFF MEAT realted events - the first was badass (At the Emett Ray) and the second was a load of garbage. The difference was Emmett Ray was just music and drinks, the latter was dancing and music. Not so impressed. She's good for the background music.

http://twitter.com/nightowler1

Michigan, Ann Arbor my fall getaway

First time in Michigan. Spent my days and nights in Ann Arbor mostly.

I found three really great record stores in Ann Arbor:

Encore Records
417 East Liberty St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2207

A great small space record store stuff to the brim. This trip I had no interest in buying vinyl because I find it's far too difficult and fragile to bring on the plane, but if I was this is the place I would spend my time in. There seemed to be an infinite supply that I couldn't keep up with. I really dug their CD collection too - displayed by the spines of empty CD cases. I found it a little difficult to look at at times with thousands of titles displayed from the ceiling to the floor. Rolling Stone called this store one of the top twenty five record stores in the US. The guys working there were both nice and very knowledgable.

Wazoo
336 1/2 S State St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2868

I have these moments every so often where I go completely crazy over a store because it looks identical to one in Toronto. This one reminded me so much of Vortex at Yonge and Sheppard in Toronto. It was located upstairs in the heart of UMich's campus and had a good supply of CDs with some records and fewer DVDs. I managed to drop a good $60 in this store over two trips there. They carried both new and used goods - but suprisingly a good used selection. The let down was that their base price is $7.99, which I found was more than most places in Ann Arbor.

Underground Sounds
255 E Liberty Suite# 249
Ann Arbor, MI, 48104

This store was the most genre specific store catered to the indie nerds out there. I found their selection and price to be incredible because they were fairly cheap - CDs averaging for six bucks. Their selection was great because their buyers were picking crap that i'd like. Not what i'd do for my record store. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't carry the bad Canadian band that has a lead singer named Chad that I don't want to be affiliated with my blog in any way. I just wouldn't be so specific. In this case it worked for me, I got an Explosions album for six bucks! Gold.

I was recommended PJ's (617 Packard St # B, Ann Arbor, MI) but I never made it out there.

Dawn Treader (514 E. LibertyAnn Arbor, MI48104) was the finest book shop I've been to in a while. Cheap, below half price book rates that made my trip a very pleasant one. The only draw back of this store is that it's almost impossible to navagate in, so all my finds were more or less pleasant surprises! I will most certainly be back to this store to take in the wonderful old smell of books and to support local businesses. Best find.

Songs to do with Michigan or Ann Arbor, off the top of my head:

This video of Beirut's two second take on the following song:

Ben Kweller at the Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI; Sunday November 14, 2010

Ben Kweller is a very musician, which was well-proved at his gig last weekend. I wasn't so excited to hear him perform solo, but I found myself highly surprised.

You can get a real good feel of his ease of performing a song that he hadn't touched in quite sometime:



This is my fourth time seeing Kweller. After my first time, I felt pretty dejected after taking my father because I couldn't find anyone else to go with me. The deflated feeling was not because I was in the company of my Dad, but rather his remarks after the gig. He told me that Kweller could use another guitarist. I finally feel after seeing this gig that Kweller in my mind has really proved my Father wrong. Kweller is an amazing musician - he boggled between the guitar and the keyboard. I was really happy to hear the tune "Thirteen," "Sha Sha" and "Falling" on the piano. And equally excited to hear "Sundress" and "On My Way" on the guitar. The only song I would've really like to have heard was "Wasted and Ready." He actually acknowledged the song's absence in the brilliant one song encore where he said after the crowd heckling songs they want to hear: "I know you really want to hear tunes like "Wasted and Ready" and XXX but I'll be back soon with Pete Yorn and I'll play all of them for you soon." Very modest and sweet.

"Thirteen":



"Sha Sha (How it Should Be)"



"Sundress"



"In Other Words" - It gets really good at 3:12. Definitely worth a listen!



On another note, I had a real WHAT THE FUCK moment when I found out Talib Kweli took Ben Kweller's chorus from "In Other Words" for his tune "Ms. Hill."

Ben Kweller's take on Kweli's use, he's not so happy - (Maybe he found out about it because they both share "Kwel" in their names. I think I think too much about this stuff!!)





I was stunned by his cover of Neil Young's "Heart of Gold." Harvest is an album that I have recently just begun dipping into, so being completely familiar with the song through and through really made my evening. The minute he practiced played the first harmonica bit, I felt the song.



He does a great cover of The Smashing Pumpkin's tune "Today."



Just skipping on Youtube, I found a bunch of fab covers that Ben Kweller have breathed some life into:

Ghostbusters with Conor Oberst

"Say It Ain't So"

Kweller sold expensive recordings of the entire gig that night. It was a cool set up where they had like twenty burners going on at once! Good fun.

JULIE DOIRON "The Wrong Guy"

It's been so long since I've been truly excited by something new to my ears.

Julie Doiron is a lady that I've dipped into very slowly. I found out about her a year or so ago with the release of her latest I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day. I stumbled upon the incredible tune "The Wrong Guy" which is, I believe, a perfect song.



Live as a medley with "Soon Coming Closer"
Live in New Brunswick
Live with the tune "No More"

Jason Collett at the Church of the Redeemer; Thursday November 11, 2010

Well, it's Rememberence Day. I'm never completely sure what I am to remember. I suppose I'm grateful for being able to live free and as I do. Jason Collett and many others shed light on the fact that we have newer veterans to consider now - the trickling news of Afghanistan victims. Collett mentioned he didn't understand how we were able to fight when we are not set to accept the consequences of losing loved ones. Seems as though little has changed in the last fifty years (Vietnam).

Collett played a beautiful honest set. I felt as though he was talking to me personally the entire time. He talked a lot, a luxury he can't really afford when he has Zeus mirroring his every move. It was really beautiful to hear him play a real, true Collett show. Seeing a show in a church is always a bonus too, i've never seen a bad show in a church before. The Church of the Redeemer has to be the most beautiful church i've been in, in Toronto. The high ceilings give the illusion that its significantly larger than it really is. The space is pretty small and there is only one long, narrow space for concert goers to sit. Plenty of room beyond the pews. In comparison to the legendary Trinity St. Paul's church, this one has more potential space wise - Trinity is jammed so full, you can't squeeze your way in any further.

Collett played a beautiful mash up of songs old and new. I was so happy to hear his Pony Tricks renditions live - they really brought new life to his older tunes. I blamed Stars three or four years ago for releasing Do You Trust Your Friends? I called it a filler album that was just released for the sake of putting material out. I cant really extend the same sentiments to Pony Tricks because he just released Ratatat earlier this year. Collett is not shy to continue playing older material which I love.

Collett shared some pretty brilliant stories that reveal more than I have ever heard him drop. He played the tune Almost Summer at the beginning of the set and he explained the entire story as if we were sharing an intimate heart to heart moment. I loved every bit.

He explained bits of his past life as a carpenter.

And my favourite, he talked about meeting famous women - Karen O in a swimming pool. Sharon Jones over an American joint and learning that Celine Dion has legs like no other woman.

Jason Collett was far more entertaining and charming than Al Tuck. Al Tuck has a super sense of simplicity and ease, it is just such a shame that his songs do not have the charisma that Colletts tunes have. I do like Al Tuck, its just he was playing way out of his league.

Collett, as usual blew my mind and won my heart.

Vetiver and Dawes at the Horseshoe Tavern; Monday November 8, 2010

Vetiver are a band to see live. Andy Cabic, the heart and soul of the band is quite the performer - talking very little keeping true to the music. I really love how fun their sound is. They manage to have both the pop and control that the Beatles mastered. One big difference between this time and the last time I saw them was that this time I was only a couple of feet away from the stage. I feel almost invasively close to the performers. The thing I really enjoyed about the show this time around was being able to see where all the music comes from. Having never played a rock n' roll instrument, it's really hard for me to breakdown what exactly I'm hearing when I hear a tune.

I loved every band member of Vetiver, each had quite the original flare to their playing styles. The bassist wore his guitar high exactly like Paul McCartney. It was even a Hofner bass, the same one McCartney sported as a Beatle.

The drummer was blocked from my view for the majority of the concert. But for every glimpse I got of him he was having a ball. Great presence in his facial expressions and flowy movements.

The guitarist looked like a double for The Social Network leading actor Jesse Eisenberg, except with some serious musical abilities. I never noticed the guitar's presence before beyond Cabic's chords.

There was also a female keyboardist who had very little presence but her bits were as important as anyone else's.

Cabic broke a guitar string on his acoustic and retired it for the rest of the show three songs in. I was really happy to have heard "Rolling Sea" and "Everyday" before his guitar went out of commission. I'm always stunned when bands play there biggest tunes at the beginning of the set. By far, the album Tight Knit is the band's finest piece of work. I really love the effortlessness and ease that the album boasts. It's refreshing but not cheesy like Jack Johnson does so well.

The very modest set opener "Rolling Sea"

The wonderful tune "Everyday" which was featured in a Visa commerical.

This'll be added to my list of regrets, missing this band play Sonic Boom.

I thoroughly enjoyed Vetiver and would certainly see them again.

Dawes were unexpectedly good. This show was the first I've heard of them, ever. They aren't even a band that I could say I have "heard of but not actually have heard musically." The lead singer is easily the glue that holds the fort together - he is super talented. He manages to uphold strong vocals while playing the lead and only guitar bits in the band. What really buttresses his performance is the keyboardist who enforces each supporting guitar bits.

For the longest time I was convinced that the bassist was his brother. I soon found out that it was actually the drummer when the lead singer passed on the vocals to him. His little brother is an unfortunately bad singer, but really put his all in. He however is a crucial part to the layered vocals. Their layered vocals give the band a real country edge, without bleeding into the nu country sound. It gave them quite a bit of depth as a band.

The words that this band mashes together are really great. They sing about trivial coming of age bs that every other band does, but what sets them apart is their ability to story tell. It reminded me of how a Conor Oberst song plays out - often like a read story. I can't help but think of how I know every word to the very story based "Waste of Paint."

"Love is All I Am" (Daytrotter)

"Love is All I Am" (Big Ugly Yellow Couch)

"When My Time Comes"

The lead singer of Dawes sings like Bruce Springsteen. In fact the band really comes off as big Boss fans. The lead singer has the vigour and strength that Springsteen has in his voice.

I don't love Dawes, but I'd definitely buy their album real cheap and I'd see them again for certain!

Do Make Say Think

I was driving home from work, not in the highest of spirits but this tune surprised me on a late night CBC radio show:

I had this great feeling of happiness when my phone told me who it was. Naturally, it was one of my favourite bands - Do Make Say Think. This song is like no song I've ever heard before... but it really inspires me, I hope it has some kind of effect on you as well.

Sandro Perri with Siskiyou at the Music Gallery; Tuesday November 2, 2010

FINALLY! I have seen Sandro Perri play a small but full concert set! It has been three years in the making and I couldn't have rested in a finer place. Tonight's gig was at the very beautiful Music Gallery a tiny church hidden between the elite artist world of McCaul and Dundas and the buzz of Queen Street centre. Most fail to notice its presence but the Music Gallery is fully functioning and attracting greater, more diverse crowds.

I first dipped into Sandro Perri when a co-worker at the record store I use to work at insisted it was on her list of best of 2007. At the time I contested because I hadn't even heard of the guy. I'm pretty excited to say that I feel as though I have a good grasp on his music from all of his material I have slowly accumulated over the years.

I bought Tiny Mirrors about two years ago now after borrowing a friend's copy. It's a very minimal album that really shows how little can come across a lot bigger than one would expect. That's sort of the magical key to Perri's sound - it's so god damn quiet it's practically music for the dead, or sleepy.

I remember I was playing his most accessible song "Double Suicide" a few years back and an old housemate told me it sounded like a dying cat. We didn't really get on too, too well musically... That memory came to me this show and although I took offensively then, I couldn't help but laugh when the dying cat bit was played live perfectly.

Sandro Perri's perfect sound is largely buffered by the Toronto-based musician Ryan Driver. Driver is a very underrated local musician, he's played with Castlemusic and as the mate to Sandro Perri's side project titled 'Double Suicide' - which I'm not sure ever really took off...

I was introduced to this side of Toronto music about three years ago when I dove into Sandro Perri. It's really amazing that there is a growing community that has sprouted out, very subtly, finding homes in less frequented venues like the Tranzac, the Dakota and the Piston. I had the pleasure of full immersion into these bands at the Steamboat record release party at Sneaky Dee's last summer. This show featured Alex Lukashevsky, Old Man Luedecke, Sandro Perri, $100 and Andre Ethier all backed up by Steamboat. At this show, Sandro only played a couple of tunes...

I was pretty stunned by Driver's presence, he spent the entire gig crunched up with his legs folded beneath his bottom. A stance that made me think of the '90s band Sparklehorse's lead singer who had lost his legs by staying in that position overnight. Driver bounced back and forth between the flute and a synthesizer keypad. Perri's music is weird, and I think his weird sound is really perfected by Driver's input into his tunes. Perri and Driver and an incredible ability to communicate with each other musically perfectly duplicating a sound I thought was solely studio crafted.

Despite his horrible posture, Driver is a brilliant flute player. I was stunned that he was sporting an open holed flute, which essentially is a more advanced set up where there are holes on the buttons that are to be blocked by the player's fingers. It's extremely difficult to play because the player beyond just pressing the key actually has to cover the hole with his or her fingers. The sound is much better with an open holed flute. He played the flute on close to all the songs, with the exception of the first song played which was his most accessible song "Double Suicide." He introduced the tune by saying: "This is an old one..." It sounded exactly like the album version, to a tee. Dead cats and all, compliments of Ryan Driver.

I was a little surprised by the set's length, it was just too short. I also only knew one song, the opening tune... They played a ton of new material.

I almost felt the opening act played a set that was more closer appropriate.

The opening act was Siskiyou, lead by a former member of the Great Lake Swimmers named Colin Huebert. His very simple sound and shaky halloween like vocals are backed up by a completely stunning band. The guitarist and banjo player, Erik Arnesen still plays with the Great Lake Swimmers. The drummer Shaunn Watt is absolutely charming on stage, his presence really dazzles the stage. And at the very opposite end of the spectrum, bass guitar/guitarist Peter Carruthers was very inanimate and solemn.

The music was a bit dull at times, but really knew how to pick up. I felt they were at most ease playing covers - their sound felt a lot fuller and lively. Perhaps they were trying to give the tunes the justice they deserved when revisited. They played a great version of a Peruvian folk song that was covered by Simon and Garfunkel in the 1970. I'm pretty certain that the tune they played was "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)," hearing new songs live is always a tricky thing because you remember ringer words only. My ringer word was sparrow and I knew it was a Peruvian folk tune. It must've been this one, originally written by Daniel Almoia Robles. Huebert very modestly introduced the song by saying they were going to play a cover of a Peruvian folk tune, which was also a tune by Simon and Garfunkel - whichever way we chose to understand the song as.

Here's another gem that I found by Simon and Garfunkel containing the word "sparrow."

They played a very wonky revision of "This Land is Your Land" that they titled "This Land." It has slow verses and a booming distinct chorus.

They played a very short encore of about a minute covering a Guided By Voices tune, a band I'm not too familiar with... Huebert very modestly apologised for playing it wrong... Clearly a last minute improv bit.

I like this band's lazy approach. Huebert recorded songs minutes after they were conceived, with little opportunity to go back and alter. These tunes are fresh and on the spot, a kind of lively approach that I felt their live show really needed.

They have an erie sound that seems like it would grow in popularity the way Timber Timbre did two winters ago. If Timber Timbre has a winter sound, this band is definitely and very appropriately a fall band. It's sort of funny, I saw both bands play the Music Gallery, good music, good taste.

Fake Plastic Trees

It wears her out.

Jason Collett

I'm planning a big trip to I have no idea where and I can only find myself excited for the Jason Collett show the day before I jet off.

I can't get enough of the tune "My Daddy was a Rock N' Roller." I've heard him play this one a couple of times live but I finally was able to completely consume myself with it with its release on the album Pony Tricks. I can't seem to find a clip of the tune for you to sample, so you're just going to have to settle with a burned copy of the CD from me or just see him live... or hell buy the album yourself! Well worth the fifteen bucks it'll cost ya.

Instead, I'll leave you with a track from the Fourth Arts and Crafts sampler album. I had this disc forever ago when they put it out... maybe 2005/6. And because I am a good soul and I don't download, I am completely unable to listen to this track outside of the comforts of Grooveshark...

So here it is... The beautiful tune "Gabrielle":