Wilco (The Road Dogs)

It’s been a busy year for our Wilco boys and it doesn’t appear that the pace is going to let up anytime soon; Even after a host of stellar summer festival dates, late-night appearances, and the release of their all together fine Wilco (The Album). (Incidentally, the band scored its highest Billboard placement ever charting at #4 the week of its release with nearly 100 000 copies sold.) That’s quite a feat for a band that streamed online the record weeks prior to its release. Critics posited that it could drastically affect sales of the record. Pffft, what do they know? It’s called ‘building a buzz’ people…

Well, the happy Wilco ‘buzz’ continues in October, when Wilco will be hitting mostly the Midwest and South of this part of the world. The tour will include Farm Aid appearances with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, a performance in Toronto at Massey Hall (road trip Blair W?) and two shows in their native Chicago.

The hardest working band in show business? Absolutely.

Tour Dates below:

10/01 Iowa City, IA - University of Iowa
10/02 St. Paul, MN - Roy Wilkins Auditorium
10/04 Maryland Heights, MI - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (Farm Aid)
10/06 Kansas City, MO - The Crossroads
10/08 Cedar Park, TX - Cedar Park Center
10/09 Dallas, TX - The Palladium
10/10 Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre
10/12 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
10/14 Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
10/16 Ann Arbor, MI - Hill Auditorium
10/18 Chicago, IL - UIC Pavillion
10/19 Chicago, IL - UIC Pavillion

Got Someffin'

A couple weeks back, Austin Texas quartet Spoon surreptitiously released their EP “Got Nuffin’” to anxious fans awaiting new music from the band. The release coincided with their headlining three nights of their own SPOONX3 music festival at the popular Austin outdoor venue Stubb's. Good news today that all three nights were recorded in glorious multi-track HD and are now available in MP3 or FLAC format for purchase via Spoon's website. Collectors can now purchase all three nights for fifteen bucks or pay seven for the individual nights. After perusing the setlists the former option might be the best bargain for your money considering the songs were varied greatly from night to night. Having seen Spoon a number of times I can tell you their live performances are always top-notch and this would be a welcome addition to anyone’s digital music library.

The Most Amazing Thing I've Seen Today Part II

During their Bedrooms and Backstreet tour, the Wooden Sky stopped by the Open House Arts Collective in London, Ontario and played a wonderful backyard set. Lucky for us they recorded some of it. This video, produced by Stuart Thompson, Sam Allen and Matt Devlin is indeed the most amazing thing I've seen today.

A lovely reminder of a magical evening of music.

Jesus Loves the Mountain Goats

John Darnielle (the Mountain Goats) writes music that is positively divine. His recorded output is guaranteed to thrill, to compel, and for me - even to educate. (I really knew so little about Reggae superstar Dennis Brown until he enlightened me on The Sunset Tree.)

So news that the new Mountain Goats album The Life of the World to Come is coming out October 6th via 4AD created a little old-fashioned excitement for this blogger today. According to an internet posting from head Goat John Darnielle the album was recorded earlier this year. Once again, the record finds Darnielle working with familiar friends Jon Wurster on drums and Peter Hughes on bass. As well, the recording will feature string arrangements from talented Canuckian Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy).

Curiously all of the songs are named after Bible verses. Download or listen to the new track "Genesis 3:23" here.

Darnielle explained the record's sacred themes briefly:

It's twelve new songs: twelve hard lessons the Bible taught me, kind of. More than that I'd want to wait to say until some people have heard it, which won't be long. Will there be more news soon, quite soon? Like, next week, even? Oh yes there will!"

Until then, here's the full tracklist:

The Life of the World to Come

01 1 Samuel 15:23
02 Psalms 40:2
03 Genesis 3:23 (Download here)
04 Philippians 3:20-21
05 Hebrews 11:40
06 Genesis 30:3
07 Romans 10:9
08 1 John 4:16
09 Matthew 25:21
10 Deuteronomy 2:10
11 Isaiah 45:23
12 Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace

Amen

Monsters Descend on Toronto!

No, this is not some terrible mutant spawn borne of Toronto’s garbage heaps and ongoing municipal workers strike. Far from it- these Monsters are far gentler and wield only acoustic guitars and impressive harmonies. The Monsters of Folk is in fact the curious moniker for the new collaborative supergroup that features M. Ward, Conor Oberst, and Jim James (My Morning Jacket). The group has recorded their self-titled debut recording, and it will be released on September 22nd through Shangri-La.

Click here to sign up and receive a free download of their excellent new song “Say Please”.

Dates have been now been confirmed for a huge Fall tour. Regretfully these monsters will not be landing in Hong Kong to kick things off; choosing instead Vancouver on October 13th, to make their monstrous tour debut. The Monsters of Folk will then gently terrorize the North American continent until mid-November, including a stop in Toronto at Massey Hall on the second of that month. From there, they will hit up Europe before concluding the tour in Belgium on November 22nd.

Monsters of Folk tour dates:

10/13 Vancouver, British Columbia - Orpheum
10/14 Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
10/15 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
10/17 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
10/18 Los Angeles, CA - The Greek Theater
10/20 San Diego, CA - Spreckels Theatre
10/21 Phoenix, AZ - Orpheum Theater
10/22 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
10/28 Omaha, NE - Holland Center
10/29 Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
10/30 Chicago, IL - Auditorium Theatre
10/31 Louisville, KY - Louisville Palace Theatre
11/2 Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
11/3 Boston, MA - The Orpheum
11/6 New York, NY - United Palace
11/8 New York, NY - Beacon Theater
11/9 Philadelphia, PA - Academy of Music
11/12 Stockholm, Sweden - Philadelphia Church
11/14 Berlin, Germany - Huxleys
11/15 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
11/17 London, England - Troxy
11/18 Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre
11/19 Koln, Germany - E/Werk
11/21 The Hague, Netherlands - Crossing Border
11/22 Antwerp, Belgium - Crossing Border

If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone

Since discovering Toronto’s The Wooden Sky a few months back, I’ve been anxiously awaiting their latest full length release. Today I was fortunate to receive a preview copy of that release entitled If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone, (due to hit the streets on August 25th.) Well worth the wait, this one is a decidedly less boisterous affair than their previous effort and demonstrates a marked growth for the band. Growth best characterized by attention to detail, musicianship and keen lyrical beauty. This is a band clearly honing its craft and absolutely getting it right. The Wooden Sky deftly draws on elements of folk, country and rock with this record and the results are stunningly gorgeous and very original. “Something Hiding For Us in the Night” and “Oslo” shine with a conspicuous organic charm that any band would be proud to call their own. An early front runner for favourite record this year, If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone will mightily impress. Who knows, the Wooden Sky might just be your next favourite band.

Gavin Gardiner, Andrew Wyatt, Simon Walker, Anissa Hart, Peter Krpan, Andrew Kekewich (the Wooden Sky) has set out on a cross-Canada tour this month to lead up to the record’s late August release. Dubbed the “Bedrooms and Backstreets Tour”, the band will be playing cities big and small and some places slightly off the well worn club path. The entourage will roll in to play on Gavin and Wyatt’s Rooftop in Toronto tonight and in London on July 24th. The band will be playing at Patterson’s Backyard.

From the band’s Facebook fan page:

This summer, we're going to be heading across Canada doing a different tour than we're used to doing. We have nearly 30 dates, and the large majority of them will be free of charge and in alternative venues such as house parties, backyards, campfires, in gondolas and even in canoes. We're pretty excited. We'll be playing songs from our new record If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone (which comes out in the fall) as well as a good selection of older songs. Hopefully we'll be stopping by somewhere close enough to you that you'll be able to come out!

Here's The Dates - More Details Coming Soon!

19 Jul Royal City Park Gazebo Guelph, Ontario
21 Jul The Grist Mill Waterloo, Ontario
23 Jul Gavin and Wyatt’s Rooftop Toronto, Ontario
24 Jul Paterson’s Backyard London, Ontario
25 Jul The Ford Plant Brantford, Ontario
26 Jul The Phog Lounge (Outside/Inside) Windsor, Ontario
29 Jul Levi’s Backyard Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
30 Jul 510 Patio Calgary, Alberta
2 Aug Waterfont Gazebo Nanaimo, British Columbia
3 Aug TBA Victoria, British Columbia
4 Aug Peak2Peak Gazebo Whistler, British Columbia
5 Aug John Rogers Park Vancouver, British Columbia
6 Aug Backyard Party! Banff, Alberta
7 Aug In Canoes On Water! Banff, Alberta
8 Aug Edmonton Folk Festival Edmonton, Alberta
9 Aug Edmonton Folk Festival Edmonton, Alberta
10 Aug Carl’s House Regina, Saskatchewan
12 Aug Ragpickers Winnipeg, Manitoba
13 Aug Black Pirate’s Thunder Bay, Ontario
14 Aug Arcadia Coffee House Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
15 Aug Jon`s House Sudbury, Ontario
16 Aug Black Sheep Inn Front Patio Wakefield, Ontario
17 Aug Canteen Ottawa, Ontario
19 Aug Karl’s Backyard Quebec City, Quebec
20 Aug La Chasse Galerie Lavaltrie, Quebec
21 Aug TBA Montreal, Quebec
22 Aug TBA Peterborough, Ontario
23 Aug The Woodlawn Ajax, Ontario

The Wooden Sky make a stop in London on their "Bedrooms and Backstreets" Tour across Canada.

They will be showcasing songs off their new album (released on August 25th) "If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone". The cross-country tour will roll through London on July 24th. The band will be playing at Patterson’s Backyard.

Opening up will be Evening Hymns and London's Handsome Dan and his Gallimaufry. This show is Pay What You Can and will be outside (weather permitting) Bring your own LAWNCHAIR (and refreshments!)

The Wooden Sky (Toronto)
Evening Hymns (Peterborough)
Handsome Dan (London)



Lastly, I have a copy of the band’s limited edition tour only EP courtesy of themusebox and the Wooden Sky to give away to one lucky reader. Leave a comment and or drop me a line sean dot thisispop at gmail dot com and tell me the name of the Wooden Sky’s forthcoming release and you might just win it.

Race for the Prize - 2009 Version

Nominations for 2009 Mercury Music Prize Announced

Tis the season of the music prize dear reader and the venerable British version was announced earlier today. The judges who preside over the annual Mercury Music Prize are soon to commiserate in an attempt to figure out the best album by a British artist in 2009. The methodology behind the award’s designation is a closely guarded secret, with a handful of music industry types deciding who should win the prestigious award.

The prize of £20,000 (approx. $36,200 C) is considerable, and will help out any artist in these recessionary times. The favourites to win this year are Florence and The Machine and Kasabian, although Bat for Lashes, Glasvegas and The Horrors have all got a good chance of taking home the prestigious award.

The winner of the prize will be announced on September 8th. The full list of nominees reads as follows:

Florence and the Machine – Lungs
Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Bat for Lashes – Two Suns
La Roux – La Roux
Glasvegas – Glasvegas
Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy
Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
The Horrors – Primary Colours
Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew
The Invisible – The Invisible
Led Bib – Sensible Shoes
Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men

Any ideas on whom you think will take the purse this year? I think that Florence and the Machine will be hard to beat.

Back to the Future - Virgin Festival Ontario Resurrects 1990

At long last the lineup for the Ontario edition of the 2009 Virgin Music Fest was announced today. The two-day festival, this year will take place in Burl’s Creek Park near Barrie ON on August 29th and 30th. Nine Inch Nails will top a list of headliners that also includes Franz Ferdinand, Grizzly Bear, Pet Shop Boys, Sloan, Our Lady Peace, Ben Harper & Relentless7 and the Pixies. (I suspect Counting Crows may have all ready been booked elsewhere) In fairness it is exciting to see Grizzly Bear and the Rural Alberta Advantage on the ticket.

Tickets go on sale Saturday (July 18th) at noon through Ticketmaster and the Future Shop, with weekend passes going for $99 and VIP weekend passes for $275.

For more information about the passes, transportation to the site and other Virgin Festival business, you can visit the festivals website.

More acts are expected to be announced as the date approaches, but here is the initial lineup for Virgin Festival Ontario:

August 29:

Ben Harper & Relentless 7
Pixies
Franz Ferdinand
Paolo Nutini
Grizzly Bear
Mates Of State
Sloan
Lights
Plants and Animals
Down With Webster
The Rural Alberta Advantage
Iglu And Hartly
Anjulie
Candy Coated Killahz

August 30:

Nine Inch Nails
Pet Shop Boys
Our Lady Peace
N.E.R.D.
Cold War Kids
Mutemath
Mew
Thunderheist
Coeur De Pirate
The Von Bondies
Datarock
Hyper Crush
Trouble Andrew
Silver Starling
The D'Urbervilles
Sean Kingston
Melonie Fiona
The New Cities

Home County Folk Festival 2009 Edition

Sunfest 2009 has come and gone now but the fine Forest City summer festival fun continues. This time it’s one of this city’s oldest music traditions, the Home County Folk Festival in downtown Victoria Park in London, Ontario.

This year organizers are inviting everyone to “Come Experience the Fusion” at London’s longest running FREE admission music festival. A summertime tradition for the past 35 years the festival brings together generations of music fans and performers whilst transforming the park into an exciting family celebration of music, dance and the arts. With over 132 performances, you’ll be energized by the fusion of sounds from regional, national and international talent in folk/rock, blues, bluegrass, Celtic and Acadian.

With an incredible line-up for 2009, professional artists and new styles of folk will be showcased at the park and at late night ticketed venues throughout downtown London. While at the park, take in the sounds and witness the dances that celebrate Canadian artistic roots. You can stroll between the performances and enjoy over 150 crafters and artisans while sampling a variety of foods. Come picnic with the family or visit the Small Folk Fun Area for a variety of free kids entertainment, games, crafts, music, and the Small Folk Fun Stage.

The festival runs from July 17 -19, 2009! I for one can’t wait for Elliot Brood; Always a concert highlight!

Full Artist Line up and schedules


Some of the artists performing at Victoria Park & Late Night Venues

Jill Barber www.jillbarber.com
Matthew Barber www.matthewbarber.com
Allison Brown www.allisonbrown.ca
Alistair Brown www.alistairbrown.com
Betty & The Bobs www.davidwoodhead.com/BettyandtheBobs
Elliott Brood www.elliottbrood.ca
Andrew Downing www.myspace.com/andrewdowningmusic
David Essig www.davidessig.com
The Dixie Flyers www.dixieflyers.ca/
Dust Poets www.dustpoets.com
Fraser www.myspace.com/listentofraser
Little Miss Higgins www.littlemisshiggins.com
Sam Hurrie www.myspace.com/samhurrie
Lindsay Jane www.myspace.com/lindsayjanemusic
Connie Kaldor www.conniekaldor.com
Paul Langille www.myspace.com/paullangille
David Leask www.davidleask.com
Emma Lee www.emma-lee.com
Anne Lindsay www.anne-lindsay.com
Good Lovelies www.goodlovelies.com
Troy MacGillivray www.troymacgillivray.com
Andy Magoffin www.myspace.com/andymagoffin
Murray McLauchlan www.myspace.com/murraymclauchlan
Danny Michel www.dannymichel.com
Luke Nares www.myspace.com/lukenares
Jory Nash www.jorynash.com
New Cumberland www.newcumberlandband.com
Joel Plaskett www.joelplaskett.com/
The Tim Posgate Hornband www.guildwoodrecords.com/
The Sadies www.myspace.com/thesadies
Mike Stevens www.mikestevensmusic.com
Rick Taylor www.ricktaylormusic.com
Madison Violet www.madisonviolet.com
The Undesirables www.myspace.com/undesirables

Tim Woodcock www.myspace.com/rocknbluesman

Hallelujah! Would You Please Shut Up

It seemed inevitable to me but news today confirmed that poet-singer-songwriter-author-ladies man-monk Leonard Cohen has asked for a brief respite from new versions of his classic “Hallelujah,” arguing the large number of artists covering the song and its frequent appearance on soundtracks amounts to overkill.

“I was reading a review of a movie called Watchmen that uses it, and the reviewer said, ‘Can we please have a moratorium on ‘Hallelujah’ in movies and television shows?’ and I kind of feel the same way,” Cohen told the Guardian . “I think it’s a good song, but too many people sing it.”

I had posted earlier this year about the ubiquity of "Hallelujah" Most recently the song provided the soundtrack for the sex scene in Watchmen and actually employed Cohen’s own version of the song, one of the few times Cohen’s original has been used in recent years. Since Jeff Buckley covered the song on his 1994 album Grace “Hallelujah” has taken on near mythical status. Helping out as well were renditions by the U.K.’s X Factor winner Alexandra Burke and American Idol Season Seven finalist Jason Castro. Kate Voegele, k.d. lang and Rufus Wainwright have also covered the song in the years since its original 1984 release.

Can you say over-saturation dear readers? Cohen could not be any more correct, it really is time to give this one a rest. Then again, Cohen can’t be complaining about the extra royalties that have been begotten from “Hallelujah”, especially considering he was forced to tour after a lengthy hiatus because his former manager made off with most of his assets.

What are your thoughts? Any other songs deserved of moratorium status?

Polaris Prize Shortlist Announced

The day has finally arrived to reveal the 2009 Polaris Prize Shortlist! Let the real prognosticating begin. (And you thought last year was a tough one to pick.)

Without further adieu the shortlist is...

Elliott Brood - Mountain Meadows
F*cked Up - Chemistry of Common Life
Great Lake -Swimmers Lost Channels
Hey Rosetta! - Into Your Lungs
K'naan - Troubador
Malajube - Labrinths
Metric - Fantasies
Joel Plaskett - Three
Chad Vangaalen - Soft Airplane
Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms

Figured that no name Leonard Cohen guy wouldn't stand a chance...

LOLA Festival Returns

Summer holidays can sometimes wreak havoc on a bloggers news cycle but I would be remiss if I were to leave this item unmentioned. In the better late than never department - some terrific London Ontario music news.

The artist listing for the fourth incarnation of the London Ontario Live Arts Festival (LOLA) has been announced and as always it looks pretty fantastic. Final Fantasy, Akron/Family, Bruce Peninsula, Polar Bear, A Horse and His Boy, Canaille and Nihilist Spasm Band, NOMO, and the University Of Western Ontario New Music Ensemble are some of the musical acts that will play the London Ontario Live Arts Festival (LOLA) from Sept. 17th to 19th.

Free concerts and programming will once again be held in London's Victoria Park and over three days.

“By turning night into day, day into night – warping time and space metaphorically and psychologically – the artists of LOLA 2009 will generate visions of brilliance and darkness that will challenge the senses and ignite the imagination,” states Paul Walde, Artistic Director for LOLA.

LOLA 2009 will once again free concerts in Victoria Park, feature art exhibitions throughout the city's downtown area and the Forest City Gallery, along with a downtown light-based installation that will transform an entire city block.

More information about the festival is available on the LOLA website.