Tag: Canada

New Canadian Releases – October 2011

I missed a few weeks due to vacation.  This will be a lengthy, yet abbreviated edition of new Canadian music, encompassing October 2011.

First we will see and hear Rich Aucoin and his new release “We are all Dying to Live”.  Out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Rich has a unique alternative sound.  The featured track is “Push” and features Rich handling all the roles in the band.  Good video, interesting tune.

Next up is Current Swell and their album “Long Time Ago”.   The band is out of Victoria, BC and can be labelled as new roots style.  The attached video is a track called “Young and Able”.  An excellent tune, and added to my iPod s I type this.  I predict that we will hear more from this band.

My third entry is from Hamilton, Ontario based rock outfit, Arkells and their new disc “Michigan Left”.  Another highly regarded and talented Canadian group, this band will be around for a while.  The attached track is called “Whistleblower”.

My 4th and biggest release for the month is Calgary’s Feist.  Her new album is titled “Metals”.  the first single released is “How Come You Never Go There”.  The attached is Feist live, performing the single on David Letterman.

We next visit with the son of Canada’s legendary Leonard Cohen, Adam Cohen.  Adam released his album “Like a Man” and I have to say he has some of his father in his music, yet it is definitely his own.  The attached video is a live version of “What Other Guy”, played at CBC3’s Studio 211 sessions.  A great song by any measure, worth the listen.  The potential is here to be a major talent.

Red Rider = A Canadian Classic

Tom Cochrane May 10 2003 Ottawa Canada Tulip F...
Image via Wikipedia

So, the million dollar question for today is, who was Tom Cochrane before he was..well, Tom Cochrane.  The answer is that he was the force behind 70’s band Red Rider.  The band was formed in the late 70’s by Tom and Ken Greer and generated a series of major hits throughout the 80’s.  Their album “As Far As Siam” enjoyed major success on both sides of the US-Canada border.  The attached video “Lunatic Fringe” was a hit and was featured on “Miami Vice”, an early adapter to fusing music with television series.

The band itself changed over the years, eventually becoming Tom Cochrane and Red Rider as Tom became more vital to the band’s success.  Their string of it’s carried all the way in the late 80’s when Tom went out on his own, becoming a major player with the release of “Life is a Highway”. Their final album “Symphony Sessions”, a recording with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was released in 1989.  The band has reformed (as have many old time bands) and has done some touring in the past few years as Tom Cochrane and Red Rider.

Related articles

On the Road – Winnipeg, Ottawa, Mont-Tremblant and Montreal

Just a quick note.  We have spent a few days in Winnipeg, then Ottawa and Mont-Tremblant.  We are currently in Montreal for a few days then off to Quebec City.  So far, the trip has been spectacular.  We are so happy to have made he decision to head for Mont-Tremblant prior to Montreal.  The Laurentians are beautiful at this time of year.  I have uploaded a couple of pictures and will do some full posts over the next few days (I hope).

 

Parliament Buildings

We took a boat tour along the Ottawa River, very pretty, although the foliage has not quite changed yet in this part of the river.  The Parliamentary Library is a beautiful bit of architecture.

 

The top of Mont-Tremblant

 

We took the ski lift to the top of Mont-Tremblant.  As you can see, Lori found a shop up there.

 

Canada – We’re Number 1….For Reputation

Happy Canada Day, Eh?
The Flag of Canada

It is not polite to brag, I know, but once again Canada leads the way in another world poll.  This time, in a survey of 42,000 respondents from around the world, Canada has been named the country with the best reputation.  Sweden was second and Australia was third.  I am proud to be Canadian, one of the best places on Earth.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Canada+best+reputation+world+study/5470361/story.html?tab=PHOT

Related articles

New Canadian Releases – September 27, 2011

Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah Slean opening...
Sarah Slean

Our first new release is by Dan Mangan.  The album name is Oh Fortune and was released today.  Born in Smithers, BC and now living in Vancouver, Dan is an indie-folk-rock singer songwriter.  This album is his third as he steadily grows in popularity.  The video is the song “Rows of Houses” from the new album.

The second new release is by Canadian alternative band “Cuff the Duke” and is titled “Morning Comes”.  Hailing from Oshawa, their sound is kind of country folk mix in the style of Blue Rodeo.  The video is a cut from the album “Count On Me”

The Barr Brothers, are a Montreal based rock band and just released their self titled album.  They are not an in your face band and their music is very lyrical and though out.  The video is a lve version of “Beggar in the Morning” off the album.  As you will see, it is very laid back, but nicely done.

Our 4th entry is from Juno nominated artists, The New Cities.  Their latest album is called “Kill the Lights” and the attached video is “Heatwave” off the album.  This Trois-Rivieres pop band is riding a wave of popularity with the release of this, their second album.  Their music has been featured on “Gossip Girl” and “So You Think You Can Dance”.

Our final entry is a new release by Pickering, Ontario’s favourite songstress, Sarah Slean.  This is Sarah’s 11th album (6th studio).  Her first album was released in 1997.  She has cultivated a large following in Canada.  The video attached is titled “Set It Free” and is a catchy number that will continue to win new fans for her work.

Related articles

Blood Sweat and Tears = A Canadian Classic

David Clayton-Thomas performing at Gulfstream ...
David Clayton Thomas

Through the vagaries of Canadian content regulations, the band Blood Sweat and Tears became Canadian, although the only member (and not an original member) of the band who is Canadian (born in the UK) was David Clayton Thomas, the singer on most of their hits.  The band was originally led by Al Kooper (not Alice Cooper) and was formed in the 1960’s.  Harry Nilsson sang on their album “Child is Father to the Man“, which contained such classics as “Without Her’ (Nillson) and “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know”, by Al Kooper.

After this album, the band underwent a radical line up change as Al Kooper left the band.  Original members Bobby Colomby and Steve Katz began a search for a new singer and based on a recommendation by Judy Collins, who had seen him sing, hired David Clayton Thomas.  Thus, Blood  Sweat and Tears began their career as a Canadian icon.  Their first album as the reformed group, “Blood Sweat and Tears” was a major hit, even beating “Abbey Road” out as album of the year at the 1969 Grammys.  The album contained the hits “You Made Me So Very Happy”, “Spinning Wheel”, and “And When I Die”.

The band has undergone many changes in its lifetime and still maintain a heavy touring schedule.  David Clayton Thomas had 3 stints with the band, 1968 to 1972, 1974 to 1981 and 1984 to 2004.   The band spawned a new genre of rock, outside the acid rock and anti-establishment types of the era.  The bands in this grouping included Chicago, Ides of March and Atlanta Rhythm Section to name a few.

The video is a live version of Spinning Wheel, recorded in 1969.

Related articles

Listening to Canadians – Michael Kaeshammer

Michael Kaeshammer performing at the 2009 Wate...
Michael Kaeshammer

Michael Kaeshammer, German born, he moved to Canada at age 19.  In Germany, he studied classical piano, and the discovered boogie woogie in his early teens.  He toured extensively on his arrival in Canada in 1996, playing jazz an blues festivals across the country.  My personal experiences with him consist of a discovery on CBC2 and a concert Lori and I went to a few years back.  The concert was in a 400 seat theatre in Calgary and was phenomenal.  Good story.  We heard he was coming and checked out ticket availability.  There were a handful of single seats still available, so we figured it was a lost cause.  Lori tried once more, 2 days before the concert and, unbelievably, the person on the other end of the phone says, yes, of course, we just had 2 seats open up in the FRONT row.  Lori scooped them right then and sure enough, we were in the front row, about 6 feet from the drummer, the same drummer as in the video.

Michael puts on a great concert, very personable guy with a great feel for the audience.  The back and forth with the other band members was excellent.  A thoroughly enjoyable experience.  If you have the chance to see him play, do it.

His current tour dates are:

UPCOMING SHOWS

Date City Venue Country
09/23/11 Cerritos, CA Cerritos Centre for the Performing Arts United States
09/24/11 Pleasanton, CA Firehouse Arts Centre United States
09/26/11 Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Theatre United States
09/28/11 San Diego, CA Anthology United States
09/30/11 Kirkland, WA Kirkland Performance Centre United States
10/01/11 Portland, OR Jimmy Mak’s United States
10/02/11 Redmond, OR Redmond High School Auditorium United States
10/06/11 Madisonville, KY Glema Mahr Centre for the Arts United States
10/07/11 Chattanooga, TN Hunter Museum United States
10/08/11 Franklin, TN Franklin Theatre United States
10/14/11 Sault Ste Marie Algoma Fest Canada
10/20/11 Montreal L’Astral Canada
10/22/11 Ottawa, ON National Arts Centre Canada
11/04/11 Boothbay Harbor, ME Opera House United States
11/05/11 Fryeburg, ME Leura Hill Eastman PAC United States
11/07/11 Minneapolis, MN Dakota Jazz Club United States
11/09/11 Evanston, IL SPACE United States
11/11/11 Ashland, OH Hugo Young Theatre United States
11/12/11 Greenville, OH Henry St Clair Memorial Hall United States

 

Related articles

Prisoner Whose Name I Will Not Say Is Dying

Roman executioner Giovanni Battista Bugatti (&...
Image via Wikipedia

Convicted child rapist and killer, Clifford Olson (have to name him so you know who I am talking about) is dying of cancer in his prison.  I normally am undecided about death penalties, but this is one guy that should have been executed.  I only hope that the cancer he has is extremely painful and very slow moving.

More at the link.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Updated+Child+killer+Clifford+Olson+dying+cancer+victims+families/5436177/story.html

Related articles

New Canadian Releases – September 20, 2011

elliott brood @ westfest

I am adding a new weekly posting, usually on Tuesday, that will highlight new releases by Canadian artists.

First up is Elliott BROOD and their new album “Days Into Years”, released on September 20, 2011.  This 3 piece band is out of Toronto, Ontario.  Mark Sasso plays harmonica, string instruments an handles the lead vocals.  Casey Laforet handles backup vocals, guitars and bass pedals.  Stephen Pitkin plays drums and does some backup vocals as well.  their music is self described as “death country”.  I would call it more of alt-country with pieces reminiscent of Blue Rodeo.  This release marks their 4th album, their first “Tin Type” was released in 2004.  The cut featured is called “Northern Air”.

Next up, The Midway State released a single this week, a remake of Bryan Adams classic, “Run To You”.  An interesting and very well done version of one of Adams best songs.  Another band out of Toronto, they have released 2 albums and an EP since 2007. The band was nominated for 2 Junos in 2009.

Other notable releases this week are

Rock and Roll Romance by “State of Shock”  Alternative rock.

Unpersons by “The Pack A.D.”  Fusion of garage rock and blues, with tones of Jack White.

Fire/Water and EP released by “Yukon Blonde”.  Great band, just couldn’t find a video.

See you next week.

Related articles

What Was Once Home Is Now A Destination – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Saskatoon skyline at night
Saskatoon at Night

We spent 15 absolutely brilliant years in Saskatoon and Martensville, Saskatchewan. We made many, many friends in our time, including a whole bunch of the lifetime variety.  We love heading back to “the scene of the crime” at every opportunity.  Saskatchewan, and Saskatoon are among the best kept secrets in North America.  I can, with startling accuracy, tell if a person is from Saskatchewan  as they have a certain way about them, and I hope some of it rubbed off on us.

The tale I am telling here is a visit we made with our young cousin Lauren, from merry old Englandland.  She was here for a 6 week visit and one of things we did with her was take a trip to Saskatoon to both show her where we had spent some time living and to visit the Sasktel Jazz Festival.

First treat for Lauren was the drive, 6 and a half hours from Calgary to Saskatoon.  They just don’t understand these distances in England, or sitting in a car for that long.  It turned out she enjoyed the drive and was surprised at how not boring it was.

Arriving in Saskatchewan

Once arrived we did some touring around.  After all, I own this town.

I Own This Town

We took a walk up 21st St towards the Midtown Mall area.  They take the Jazz Festival very seriously in Saskatoon.  The downtown turns into one giant stage with music everywhere.  The streets are even renamed for the duration.  It was one of the best things about living in downtown Saskatoon when we lived there.

Jazz Street, Saskatoon, Sk

As we continue down 21st, we turn and look at one of the coolest hotels I have ever stayed in, or seen, the Bessborough Hotel.  An old railroad hotel, it was built in the 1930’s and has a palatial air about it.  The Jazz Festival main stage is in the Garden at the rear along the South Saskatchewan River.  One of the best places I have ever been to listen to great live music.  We have seen Divine Brown, Jacksoul, Little Richard, Carlos Del Junca, Colin James, Jack Semple, Kool and the Gang amongst others at this venue and loved every one of them.

Bessborough Hotel

We used to sit across the street from the hotel at the Spadina Free House, on their deck, on Saturday afternoons and count brides. Our record was 7.  The hotel, the river park and the bandstand are favourite locations for wedding pictures.  Nothing better that a cold brew on a hot day with that building as a backdrop.  Its architecture is so unique that it actually cause a hazard at times during the year.

Heads Up

By this time in the day, the girls were getting kind of bored of shopping and found something interesting that they could do while doing that female bonding thing.

Lori and Lauren Look To Bond

And finally, the music.  Not a great video, but hey it’s just a post. Kool and the gang performing live.

We completely enjoyed this trip and especially liked being tourists in our old home town.  Great place, great summers, great music.  If you have a chance, see Saskatoon during the Jazz Festival.

Related articles