W♥M

Ghostly Kisses at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (05 Jun 2024)

06/05 Ghostly Kisses with Kroy at 7th St Entry Ghostly Kisses Setlist Heartbeat Calm Down On & Off Never Let Me Go Ocean Golden Eyes Call My Name Such Words Keep It Real Crimson Silver Screen Where Do Lovers Go? Blackbirds The City Holds My Heart -- Encore -- Empty Note Back to Black (Amy Winehouse cover) Stay Read More Ghostly Kisses Canada’s Ghostly Kisses (Margaux Sauvé and Louis-Étienne Santais), are touring in support of Darkroom… stopping by the 7th Street Entry, in Minneapolis, on June 5, 2024. …

Canada’s Ghostly Kisses (Margaux Sauvé and Louis-Étienne Santais), are touring in support of Darkroom… and their very first Minneapolis appearance took place at the 7th Street Entry, in Minneapolis, on June 5, 2024.

Montreal’s Kroy (singer, songwriter, and composer Camille Poliquin) opened the show. She thanked us for showing up early to see her play her set… She was excited to be on the road, because when she first saw that Ghostly Kisses was about to go on a promotional tour, she basically begged them to let her open for them.

Songs on Kroy’s set included a few new songs, such as “Defender”, since her debut solo album Scavenger came out in 2016 and she’s due for a new record soon. She’s thinking perhaps a new album will come out in August 2024.

For her song, which she called “Satinsatan”, she laughed and said she first performed the song at a church… which shows her kind of ironic sense of humor.

Kroy ended her brief 30-min set with one of her earliest single, “River.”

Ghostly Kisses closed out the show. They had a circular cloth backdrop with backlighting to create a darkness theme. Or I suppose a “Darkroom” theme. The mood and lighting plays with silhouettes and shadows… the only thing missing is a fog machine to help create the atmosphere.

Margaux Sauvé is very soft-spoken, and when she does speak, she does have this Canadian-French accent. She tells us that before Darkroom, she was in a different place. She was studying psychology and for some reason her focus wasn’t on books and lessons, but on creativity and writing music on the piano and violin (which she does play for us using the instrument on some songs). So, she took a different direction, and ended up putting together the Darkroom project.

It was their first time in Minneapolis, but based on the fans who showed up for support, I’m sure they’ll come back again.

Remaining tour dates:

June 07 - Denver, CO @ Globe Hall

June 08 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court

June 11 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza

June 12 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios

June 14 - San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar

June 15 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo

1 / 6

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Ghostly Kisses at 7th Street Entry (05 Jun 2024)

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Gordon Lightfoot

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

R.I.P. GORDON LIGHTFOOT

Gordon Lightfoot, the Canadian singer-songwriter whose many hits included “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and “Sundown,” died Monday evening at the age of 84, of natural causes at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, spokesperson Victoria Lord said.

Just weeks ago, he had canceled all 2023 dates due to growing health concerns. In 2021, he postponed dates after suffering a fall at his home, which led to surgery, but was back a few months following, to re-open the renovated Massey Hall in Toronto. Prior to that, we caught him live in Minneapolis, shortly after returning to stages after a heart scare, so declining health had followed him for over the last decade.

Lightfoot was born in Orillia, Ontario on November 17, 1938, to parents who owned a local dry cleaning business. He first performed publicly in 4^th grade singing an Irish lullaby which was broadcast over his school's public address system. He would also sing in the choir of Orillia's St. Paul's United Church under the direction of choirmaster Ray Williams, who taught him how to sing with nuance and style and at the age of twelve, he won a singing competition and made his first of numerous appearances at Massey Hall.

His track and field and football skills as well as scholarly aptitude earned him scholarships at McGill's Schulich School of Music and the University of Toronto.

All the while, he pursued a musical career as well, eventually signing in the mid-60’s with Albert Grossman as a manager, who represented many name acts of the day, and would begin recording for United Artists.

Lightfoot would sign to Warner Bros/Reprise in 1970, which began his long string of hits, first breaking through with “If You Could Read My Mind” and going on to receive sixteen Juno Awards and nominated for five Grammy Awards, among numerous other accolades.

Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, and in 2012, Lightfoot was inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Lightfoot wed for a third time in 2014 and his last studio release was 2020’s Solo.

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Jo Mersa and Randy Begg (Wednesday)

Read More Jo Mersa Special guests Jo Mersa, son of Stephen Marley, and Black Am I. The tour will be kicking off in celebration of what would have been Bob Marley’s 70th birthday year …

Joseph Marley, aka Jo Mersa Marley, son of musician Stephen Marley and the grandson of reggae legend Bob Marley has passed away at the age of 31. Currently, no cause of death was given.

According to New York Post, “the Jamaican American reggae artist was allegedly found unresponsive in a vehicle, according to an initial tweet by journalist Abka Fitz-Henley on Tuesday.”

VP Records CEO Chris Chin adds, “We are deeply saddened to hear the news about Jo Mersa’s passing... our prayers are with his wife and daughter, and the Marley family at this difficult time.”

We did see Jo Mersa, who opened up for Damian and Stephen Marley in Sep 2015.

We also got an announcement that Randy Begg, founding drummer of the Canadian music group Wednesday (not to be confused with Wednesday 13 or the popular Wednesday television show), had passed away at the age of 71 on December 20th.

According to his biography, he was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and started his drumming career in the late 60s. By 1967, he met Paul Andrew Smith, and that set the road to becoming Wednesday. Their biggest hit was a cover of “Last Kiss”, taken from their debut album in 1974. They were then nominated for a Juno Award for Most Promising Group and Best-Selling Single of the Year, the following year.

Due to the confusing common name, they changed the spelling of their name to Wenzday in 1976 and scored their second biggest hit with a cover of Elton John’s “Loving You Baby”.

Paul Andrew Smith says, “Randy’s insatiable love for music and performing was only surpassed by his infectious friendship, which touched everyone he met. He was always giving, always there when needed. He loved people, and I will miss him greatly.”

Read more Musicians who died in 2022

[28 Dec 2022] Black Stalin (Trinidadian calypso musician), 81 Leroy Calliste aka the Black Stalin has died. The 81-year-old bard passed away this morning at his home in San Fernando. … via loopnews.com

[28 Dec 2022] Linda de Suza (Portuguese singer), 74, COVID-19 Teolinda Joaquina de Sousa Lança had been transferred to hospital on Wednesday "for respiratory failure" and was "positive for Covid-19". In her career, she has sold millions of records, mainly in France. … via lemonde.fr

[27 Dec 2022] Jo Mersa Marley (Jamaican-American musician), 31, asthma attack Joseph “Jo Mersa” Marley, son of musician Stephen Marley and the grandson of reggae legend Bob Marley, has died. He was 31. … via nypost.com

[27 Dec 2022] Harry Sheppard (American jazz vibraphonist), 94 Houston jazz legend Harry Sheppard, a vibraphone virtuoso who played with Billie Holiday and Benny Goodman, dies at 94. … via houstonchronicle.com

[26 Dec 2022] Alain Bernheim (French classical pianist), 91 We learn today, December 27, as we celebrate Saint John, the passage to the Eternal Orient of the Very Illustrious Brother Alain Bernheim (1931-2022), French pianist and eminent specialist in Freemasonry … via 450.fm

[26 Dec 2022] Lars Lönndahl (Swedish singer and actor), 94 Sweden's first teen idol, the singer Lars Lönndahl (Lasse Lönndahl) has died, DN reports … via nyheter24.se

[26 Dec 2022] Alexander Shevchenko (Russian singer, composer and producer for Alsou), 61 Today, the founder of the musical group Alsou "Architects" Yuri Davydov announced the death of a former member of the group Alexander Shevchenko. The singer died at the age of 62 … via monavista.ru

[24 Dec 2022] Mampintsha (South African kwaito musician for Big Nuz), 40, stroke Mampintsha of hit group Big Nuz has died. He was 40. According to reports, the South African musician died on Saturday after suffering a stroke last week. … via news24.com

[24 Dec 2022] Madosini (South African musician), 78 Mpahleni who is popularly known as Madosini passed on Friday at St Mary’s Hospital in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, after a long illness, a family statement said. … via sowetanlive.co.za

[23 Dec 2022] Maxi Jazz (English musician for Faithless), 65 Maxi Jazz was the lead vocalist in Faithless, a trance group best known for hits such as Insomnia and We Come 1. He also performed with the likes of Tiesto, Dido, Robbie Williams and Jamiroquai, and toured with his own group, Maxi Jazz and the E-Type Boys. … via sky.com

[23 Dec 2022] Massimo Savić (Croatian singer for Dorian Gray), 60, lung cancer The sad news was also confirmed by the record company Aquarius Records. Massimo died in the Vinogradska hospital, where he was treated for lung cancer. ... via total-croatia-news.com

[22 Dec 2022] Thom Bell (Jamaican-born American songwriter, arranger and record producer), 79 Philadelphia’s own Thom Bell has passed away. He was 79. ... via blackamericaweb.com

[22 Dec 2022] Big Scarr (American rapper), 22, drug overdose The death of Memphis rapper Big Scarr is not considered suspicious, police said Friday. According to the Memphis Police Department, Scarr, whose real name was Alexander Woods, died Thursday. He was 22. ... via fox13memphis.com

[21 Dec 2022] Harvey Jett ( American guitarist for Black Oak Arkansas), 73 Harvey Jett's passing on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 has been publicly announced by Harris Funeral Home Inc in Madisonville, KY. … via legacy.com

[21 Dec 2022] Bilqees Khanum (Pakistani classical singer), 82 Renowned singer Bilqees Khanum passed away in Karachi on Wednesday after a prolonged illness. Her funeral prayers will be held at Imam Bargah Khairul Amal on Thursday. ... via tribune.com.pk

[20 Dec 2022] Randy Begg (Canadian drummer for Wednesday), 71 We got an announcement that Randy Begg, founding drummer of the Canadian music group Wednesday (not to be confused with Wednesday 13 or the popular Wednesday television show), had passed away at the age of 71 … via weheartmusic.com

[20 Dec 2022] Iain Templeton (British drummer for The La's) The drummer of Liverpool’s Britpop collective Shack has passed away. ... via louderthanwar.com

[20 Dec 2022] Anton Khabibulin (Russian guitarist for Tantsy Minus), 44 The guitarist of the musical group "Dancing Minus" Anton Khabibulin has died. On December 20, the team announced this in social networks. ... via iz.ru

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

News: Morrissey Cancels First Six Canadian 2019 Dates

Morrissey Canada 2019 Tour Dates Read More Morrissey This is somewhat old news, but Morrissey is working on an all-covers album called California Son (produced by Joe Chiccarelli and will be released by BMG), according to the official .…

Sadly, I have to report that Morrissey had to cancel six Canadian dates on his upcoming tour, which does not bode well as he just announced a 2019 US tour.

What’s odd about this recent cancellation (the day before the show was to take place), was that a fan posted this cancellation information on April 11th… but it wasn’t officially announced until earlier today via an email to ticket holders (see message here).

The venue and Morrissey’s team definitely knew about this problem at least two or three days earlier, but they waited until a day before to make the announcement.

The other strange thing is that if you go to Morrissey’s official website, Facebook, or Twitter, there’s absolutely no mentioning of the cancellations. I think their PR team is trying to keep things under the rug and avoid backlash from the fans… but let’s be honest, you guys knew this was going to happen, right?

Great way of kicking off the 2019 tour.

Beautifulpigeon writes:

Apr 14-15 Vancouver, BC - Orpheum Theatre, Apr 17 Calgary, AB - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Apr 18 Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Apr 20 Saskatoon, SK - TCU Place, Apr 22 Winnipeg, MB - Centennial Concert Hall

These dates have all been cancelled.

Cancellation Message for Vancouver, April 14

Your event is still on, but it's rescheduled.

Due to a medical emergency stemming from an accident incurred while traveling in Europe, Morrissey will be forced to postpone his performances in Vancouver to October 14th and 15th, 2019.

Spirits are high and the artist is on the path to a swift recovery. All tickets will be valid for the new date and exchanges will not be necessary. Thank you for your understanding.

Morrissey looks forward to making his long-awaited return to the city and wishes to deeply thank everyone for their patience. All remaining dates on Morrissey’s tour will resume as planned, commencing in Toronto on Friday Apr 26.

Rescheduled
Morrissey
Orpheum Theatre
Monday, April 15th 2019 - 8PM
NEW DATE: Tuesday, October 15th 2019 at 8:00PM

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

The Pack A.D. in Electra Woman and Dyna Girl

Read More The Pack A.D. We are covering Canada's The Pack A.D. at the Turf Club next Wednesday. Local band Fury Things are set to open the show. Expect the duo to play tracks from their new album Do Not Engage … The Returned The Returned, originally French title Les Revenants, was described as "The Walking Dead with Brains". This is clearly an inaccurate description, despite the clever zombie/brains analogy. The Returned …

I was watching the 2016 reboot of Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (based on and noticed that there were some posters of Vancouver bands in the background, notably The Pack A.D., The Evaporators and Nardwuar the Human Serviette.

The Pack A.D.’s poster is a show poster for a local venue in the month of May. The image used is taken from their EP We Kill Computers, which came out in 2010.

The Returned (US) A&E

This isn't the first time that I spotted The Pack A.D. in the background - I distinctly remember seeing a Pack A.D. and a Low poster on the first episode of The Returned (US version).

There's an explanation for this, I believe this film and television show were filmed in Vancouver, Canada, and that someone on the production team is a big Pack A.D. fan, and did their best to sneak in these posters.

As for Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, the film’s alright. If you’re a big fan of Mystery Men or the underrated The Specials (James Gunn’s 2010 film), you’ll find a lot to like about this goofy “super-hero” film.

About Electra Woman and Dyna Girl:

Crime fighting duo Electra Woman and Dyna Girl are small-town heroes with no real powers. After a cleaning up of their little city, these two super friends are about to make it to the big time. Swept up in the star-studded glamor of Hollywood, Electra Woman (Grace Helbig) soon finds everything she's ever dreamed of: fame, fortune, a new arsenal of high-tech gadgets, the attention of every super-stud in town - but Dyna Girl (Hannah Hart) wonders what price must be paid for her newfound stardom? When the city falls into crisis, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl must battle evil dilemmas, growing egos and - of course- supervillains. If they want to save the day, they'll have to save each other first.

Directed by Chris Marrs Piliero

Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2016)

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Random Recipe @ Pianos, New York 01/28

Setlist Whistle19 Gondola Joy Monsters&Swords Shipwreck (remix) I don't want to want you Beautiful Connections Big girl Sultan Dimples Shining Star -- Encore -- (Medley of songs) Tour Dates 01/31/14 Quebec City, QC @ Le Cercle 02/26/14 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda Video Read More Canada Broken Social Scene, that band consisting of three thousand band members, including Feist, Amy Millan (Stars), Emily Haines (Metric), Brendan Canning, etc., well it looks like Jason Collett of BSS …

“Let’s get naked.. but not too much, ‘cause some of my family is here.” Opening words from Montreal band Random Recipe at NYC’s Piano’s Thursday night.

Random Recipe

To say their band name accurately describes their music would be just that: accurate. Often difficult to pigeonhole, the band, led by Frannie Holder and Fab with childhood friends Liu-Hong Ha and Vincent Legault, creates a mixture of genres: beat boxing, electronic, rock, hip hop, and more. One song will have acoustic guitar, the other steel drums. Some songs chill you out like “I Don’t Want to Want You” from their “Shake it! Bake it!” EP, while others make you want to dance with parachute pants like “Sultan” from their recently released album, Kill the Hook. Holder’s voice (when not rapping) is a bit of Feist and a bit of Dracula from the puppet musical in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and it compliments Fab’s beat boxing, rapping vocals.

Aside from their music, Random Recipe have great showmanship. They dance on stage to their music, make eye contact with the audience (seriously, it makes a difference), and jump around the stage to play different instruments. At one point, Holder goes off stage into the “circle of darkness” as Holder calls it (the unoccupied space right in front of the stage) and carries Fab horizontally across her shoulders to create their own crowd surfing. (see video)

Fab

What makes them memorable performers though is the humor and fun they bring in the way they present themselves. The banter in between songs is pretty hilarious, too.

Three-fourths into the show, Holder wonders aloud why no one has bought them shots yet (don’t worry, they received two rounds not long afterwards), which prompts a woman to yell back, “What do you want?”

Drinking Jameson

“Jameson!” Holder responded. “C’mon you should know that. You’re my aunt!”

After an encore with a mash-up of songs like Reel 2 Real’s “I Like to Move It” (which Fab brought a pretty good imitation of the Cookie Monster-like voice in the original) and Destiny’s Child, “Say My Name,” Fab closed the set reminding the crowd that they’re from Montreal.

“We don’t live in igloos, but we like igloos.”

Random Recipe at Pianos, New York (01/28/2014)

justina ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ randomrecipe.ca

O Canada: Rah Rah, Great Big Sea, Indian Handcrafts, Le Vent du Nord, and Said the Whale

Read More Rah Rah You know my theory about repeating band names - they are easy to remember (just like Duran Duran, Ra-Ra Riot, Gang Gang Dance, Tapes 'N Tapes, etc). If you have three words, it's even better ....

Read more Canada.

RAH RAH
rahrahband.com

I've mentioned Rah Rah before, but what I didn't say is that I confused this band with Ra-Ra Riot. Rah Rah is a sextet from Canada.

Rah Rah's latest album, The Poet's Dead, just came out today (October 22, 2012), via Hidden Pony Records.

They're currently in the middle of their tour, so I will swinging by their Minneapolis show, after my Gold Fields/Diamond Rings show at 7th Street, to see them and report back.

10.23 Chicago, IL @ Double Door
10.24 Cedar Falls, IA @ The Hub
10.25 Iowa City, IA @ Blue Moose Taphouse
10.27 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
10.30 Seattle, WA @ High Dive
11.28 Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar

Note: The Fine Line Café's policy is there are no re-entries, so as the night goes on, it will get more crowded... Unless people leave early.

GREAT BIG SEA
greatbigsea.com

Great Big Sea is one of Canada's most beloved bands. As I previously mentioned, the band plays about 300 shows a year (having seen them a few times at the Irish Fair.)

It is no surprise that for their 20th Anniversary, the band will once again kick off a 2013 tour, starting in Anaheim, California. As part of the celebration, expect their very first Greatest Hits 2-CD set called XX, to come out October 30th. Fans may want to wait November 27th for the ultra deluxe boxset.

GREAT BIG SEA 20th Anniversary Tour - US dates

MAR 05 - Grove of Annaheim - Annaheim, CA
MAR 06 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
MAR 07 - Alladin Theater - Portland, OR
MAR 08 - The MooreTheater - Seattle, WA
MAR 19 - The Fitzgerald Theater - Minneapolis, MN
MAR 20 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
MAR 21 - The Waiting Room - Omaha, NE
MAR 22 - The Boulder Theater - Boulder, CO
MAR 23 - The Boulder Theater - Boulder, CO
APR 14 - The Center for the Arts - Buffalo, NY
APR 16 - Michigan Theater - Ann Arbour, MI
APR 17 - The Warner Theatre - Washington, DC
APR 18 - Keswick Theatre - Philadeplhia, PA
APR 19 - Town Hall - New York, NY
APR 20 - The Wilbur Theatre - Boston, MA
APR 21 - The Wilbur Theatre - Boston, MA
APR 23 - Flynn Center - Burlington, VT
APR 24 - State Theatre - Portland, ME

INDIAN HANDCRAFTS
indianhandcrafts.net

Just announced today, but you can stream the entire Indian Handcrafts' forthcoming album, Civil Disobedience for Losers, today at spin.com.

Indian Handcrafts are a Canadian power-duo (drummer/vocalist Brandyn James Aikins and guitarist/vocalist Daniel Brandon Allen) and that Civil Disobedience for Losers album is coming out October 30th via Sargent House.

An interesting note about recording the new album, Allen explained that he had to record with a broken hand, "The doctor said if you go and record that's your problem if it gets worse. It was a little painful some days, but because of being there in the surroundings it was easy to get around that. It healed fine."

That's commitment.

Currently on tour:

10/27 Barrie, ON @ Fitzy's By The Bat 11/02 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern 11/10 Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts* 11/11 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom* 11/12 Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus* 11/13 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East (Downstairs)* 11/15 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom*

11/16 Detroit, MI @ The Magic Stick* 11/17 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean* 11/19 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater* 11/20 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge* 11/21 Boise, ID @ Neurolux* * with Red Fang & Black Tusk

LE VENT DU NORD
www.leventdunord.com

Quebec's Le Vent du Nord (The North Wind) is releasing Tromper le temps ("Fooling Time") in the US on November 3rd.

Hurdy-gurdy player and songwriter Nicolas Boulerice explained why it's important to play traditional music in a modern world, "We are part of 2012, just like everyone else. But we think we can bring historical things more into the day to day discussion, so we can talk about what happened in the past. That is why we have always been very close to historical subjects and images, because we play traditional music, music that is often connected to the separatist movement. We aren’t always talking explicitly or directly about the issues that matter to us; we always take the detour via history."

Catch them on their US tour in support of the album in November:

11/03/2012 Austin, TX - Austin Celtic Festival 11/04/2012 Austin, TX - Austin Celtic Festival 11/09/2012 Eugene, OR - Jaqua Concert Hall 11/10/2012 Forest Grove, OR - Pacific University 11/11/2012 Portland, OR - House concert

11/13/2012 Crescent City, CA - Crescent Elk 11/15/2012 Bozeman, MT - Montana State 11/16/2012 Ogden, UT - Weber State 11/17/2012 Los Angeles, CA - Théâtre Raymond 11/30/2012 Nelson, NY - Nelson Odeon 12/01/2012 Nelson, NY - Nelson Odeon

SAID THE WHALE
saidthewhale.com

The last time this Vancouver band was in Minneapolis, they had a hip hop support and previously, they had a jazz band open up! So what's in store for this Juno Award-winner band this coming November 8th at the 400 Bar? Event listing shows The Lesser Jackson on the bill. The Lesser Jackson is a classic 60's & 70's soul cover band. It should be an interesting night.

Anyway, Said The Whale is heading back on tour in support of their album, Little Mountain, out now via Hidden Pony Records.

Nov 8 - 400 Bar - Minneapolis, MN
Nov 9 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
Nov 10 - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines, IA
Nov 11 - Firebird - St. Louis, MO
Nov 13 - White Rabbit - Indianapolis, IN
Nov 14 - Howler's Coyote Café - Pittsburgh, PA
Nov 15 - The Saint - Asbury Park, NJ
Nov 16 - M Room - Philadelphia, PA
Nov 17 - Pianos - New York, NY
Nov 18 - TBC - Boston, MA
Nov 20 - Beachland Tavern - Cleveland, OH
Nov 29 - The Vera Project - Seattle, WA

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

O Canada!

Read more Oh Canada!.

Read More Cadence Weapon Rollie Pemberton is better known as Canadian rapper Cadence Weapon. He's released his second album, Afterparty Babies,...

CADENCE WEAPON
cadenceweaponmusic.com

Rollie Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon, is back with a new album, Hope In Dirt City, and an upcoming tour. The album came out May 29th via Upper Class Recordings.

I am familiar with his album Afterparty Babies, which I liked because of it "drowned in pop culture". The album's been pretty influential, having been inducted to the Hall of Fame during Canada's National DJ Awards, the Stylus Awards. Apparently according to his press release, he's credited for introducing hip-hop to Edmonton. I guess they don't listen to the radio in Alberta.

I haven't had the chance to listen to the new album, but all the evidence is pointing to a mature sound. It sounds like the album is more production and incorporates live instrumental sounds and samples, because as Pemberton puts it, he wanted to "achieve a listenable, honest approach to integrating a live band … I wanted to have a live feel, but I didn't want to sound like the Arsenio Hall band. I wanted to make it ambiguous between where the sample ends and the live band begins.”

Speaking of which, it should be fun to see him live. I don't know what my plans are for the July 4th holiday, but I'll try and catch him at 7th Street in Minneapols.

06/11 - Neumos - Seattle, WA* 06/12 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR* 06/14 - The Independent - San Francisco, CA* 06/15 - The Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA* 06/16 - Casbah - San Diego, CA* 06/19 - Larimer Lounge -Denver, CO 06/21 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL* 06/22 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH* 06/23 - Lee's Palace - Toronto, ON* 06/25 - La Sala Rossa - Montreal, QC*

06/26 - Brighton Music Hall - Allston, MA* 06/27 - Bowery Ballroom - New York City, NY* 06/28 - MHOW - Brooklyn, NY* 06/29 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA* 06/30 - Rock & Roll Hotel - Washington, DC* 07/03 - 7th St. Entry - Minneapolis, MN* 07/28 - Interstellar Rodeo - Edmonton, AB 08/10 - Dooryard Festival - Woodstock, NB *with Japandroids

Men Without Hats - Head Above Water Read More Men Without Hats After forty years, Men Without Hats, are still an excellent band. Known in America as a one-hit-wonder band for "Safety Dance", but I have to say, I love them anyway.

MEN WITHOUT HATS
menwithouthats.com

I'm not going to lie, I took a trip up to Canada to see this band live. They were awesome. While I don't recall them doing new songs on the live set, the band's been apparently writing new material for an upcoming album, Love in the Age of War, to be out June 12th via Cobraside Records. The digital version will be available weeks earlier (June 5) on all the digital outlets.

If you were keeping score, this is Men Without Hats' first album release in 10 years.

Tracklisting for Love In The Age of War

1. Devil Come Round
2. Head Above Water
3. Everybody Knows
4. The Girl With The Silicon Eye
5. This War (Intro)
6. This War
7. Your Beautiful Heart
8. Live And Learn
9. Close To The Sun
10. Love’s Epiphany
11. Love In The Age Of War

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

W♥M115: God Help the Girl

W♥M115 (11 mins) Listening options: Archive.org: W♥M115

I won't be home this weekend, heading up north - where there probably won't be any internets.....

Before I go, I thought I'd drop this off: I've previously heard the single "Come Monday Night" by God Help the Girl, but never really got around to picking up the actual album - that is until a few months ago - when I was in Canada. I saw they were selling the album for $1.99. No sale, no clearance, that was the regular price. I couldn't believe it, I picked up all the copies they had in the store.

God Help the Girl

Like most album, there are some duds, but the majority of the songs are actually good - if you're into that sweet-girl-vocals thing. The few male exceptions, Stuart Murdoch and Neil Hannon, they are there to help sing and move the song along, not take the spotlight.

This is also a concept album, which few albums these days do, it's about a girl and her relationship (or lackof). You get a sense when you're listening to the little stories that this could be a great afterschool special.

Anyway, well worth the $1.99.

1. Act of the Apostle (Catherine Ireton)
2. God Help The Girl (Catherine Ireton)
3. Pretty Eve in the Tub (Stuart Murdoch and Catherine Ireton)
4. A Unified Theory (instrumental)
5. Hiding Neath My Umbrella (Catherine Ireton and Stuart Murdoch)
6. Funny Little Frog (Brittany Stallings)
7. If You Could Speak (Catherine Ireton, Anna Miles and Stuart Murdoch)
8. Musician Please Take Heed (Catherine Ireton)
9. Perfection as a Hipster (Neil Hannon and Catherine Ireton)
10. Come Monday Night (Catherine Ireton)
11. Music Room Window (instrumental)
12. I Just Want Your Jeans (Asya)
13. I'll Have to Dance with Cassie (Catherine Ireton)
14. A Down and Dusky Blonde (Dina Bankole, Catherine Ireton, Celia Garcia, Brittany Stallings, Asya)

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NXNE: Thursday (06/16/11)

NXNE is finally over. Compared SXSW, the various NXNE venues were all over the map. Some were clump together, but for the majority of locations, you had to take the Transit everywhere! This can prove to be a problem, especially during rush hour (and drinking hours, because of the overpopulated taxis in the city). Still, for what it was, it was still relatively a minor problem.

Due to sleep and recovery, I was only able to recap the "major" bands, so now I'll concentrate on the smaller bands/various random events that went throughout the day. Big thank you to everyone (Flip, M for Montreal, NOW, NXNE staff) for welcoming us to Toronto. I had a wonderful time, and if I can afford it, I will attend again in the future.

All I Want Is More Than I Ever Had by Colin Medley

Thursday daytime started with a meet & greet at Sneaky Dee's for Flip Publicity, who really know how to throw a great party. Did not stay too long because I wanted to head back to the hotel, where a few blocks from there was another NXNE party and book launch, courtesy of Pop Montreal. Unfortunately, due to poor public transport and time restraints, I could not attend. The party was mostly for Colin Medley's first book, All I Want Is More Than I Ever Had, which is a collection of photographs that Medley took on tour with his band PS I Love You.

Instead, what ended up happening was walking to the Hyatt to hopefully see Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) get his NOW Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award. The waiting and buildup time was incredible, only to have Wilson show up and gone in under 30 seconds! Blink and he was gone!

To be fair, we were warned that Wilson was in a rush on his way to his first-ever Canadian tour. I don't know if he had a limo waiting or what the big deal was, but I felt the whole thing was a bit rude and a brush-off, especially considering that NOW Magazine clearly devoted a lot of time and energy putting this together. I gently crossed his name off my itinerary of bands to see for Saturday.

Brian Wilson receives NOW Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award, Toronto (06/16/11)

Evening, I had high expectations to see either Goldenboy or Luyas or DD/MM/YYYY or The Dig, but with transport and overcrowded venues, I did not end up seeing any of those bands. The only decent show was at Lee's Palace, to catch Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield, so we got there just barely in the nick of time to see Washo again.

How to Tame Lions Swallow 80 Miles Want (Rufus Wainwright cover) The Hardest Part I Believe You Liar Cement Shivers (Nick Cave cover) Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air (Paul Kelly cover)

Megan Washington (aka Washington), did a different setlist from her previous night at Supermarket. Between the two performances, I have to say that Supermarket was more fun, due to the fact that she spent a lot of time talking and telling stories about her songs. Her show at Lee's Palace was strictly "by the books" as it were.

As you can see from the setlist I've laid out for you, she did three cover songs. The last (Paul Kelly) was done in acapella and it was perfect for a very quiet room.

Kevin Seconds is the founding member and lead singer for the 80s punk band 7 Seconds, who had their moment in the sun when they were signed to Sony Records in the mid-90s. The band is still around, complete with the original Kevin Seconds and his brother Steve Youth.

Kevin's live show was understandably a little less than hardcore punk, and I am assuming he did material from his solo work. He sure seem to have a lot of stories about being his travels and his experiences and he generally was happy to be back in Toronto (apparently his band have come through town many times).

Kevin Seconds ended his set with an optimstic "Happy Beginning" song, from his last release, Good Luck Buttons.

Washington at Lee's Palace, Toronto (06/16/11)		Kevin Seconds at Lee's Palace, Toronto (06/16/11)

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