New Music Wednesday: 2AM Club, Hope, Kellee Maize

Always on the hunt for the latest tracks from up-and-coming artists, this week brings three new artists in completely different genres. I think you'll enjoy each one. Love to know your thoughts!

I caught 2AM Club live a few months ago and was blown away by their catchy harmonies and infectious rap interludes. Watch the video for their latest single, "Worry About You" below.



With airy vocals that bring to mind Colbie Caillat and Kina Grannis, singer-songwriter Hope teams up with Jason Mraz for this breathlessly delicate ballad.



Female rappers don't get enough credit. I've received a few emails from Kellee Maize and was impressed by her words and style. Watch the video for "Third Eye" below.



What new songs are you listening to? Let me know!

Source: http://yousingiwrite.blogspot.com/2010/09/new-music-wednesday-2am-club-hope.html

Young and Sexy The Main Drag The Gloria Record Fire Zuave

On the Beach with the Beach Boys!

After another quite a long break (been out of communications range again...) I am very, very happy to return with a huge mania regarding an old favorite of mine, my favorite band of all times ? a favorite that has been with me longer than that one psychedelic power pop band I talk about all the time... Well, I admit being quite illogical in this matter. The truth is that I actually have two #1 favorite bands.


The Beach Boys have been with me since the autumn of 2004. First, I fell in love with the early sound of stuff like I Get Around and Fun, Fun, Fun. Then, I heard Pet Sounds. Since that I haven't been able to say which I enjoy more: the early cheerful rock'n'roll energy or the later orchestrated gorgeousness. These are two worlds quite different from each other, but the four-part harmonies are excellent everywhere. I guess I am just not the kind of person who undermines good-sounding and entertaining stuff just because there is also something more sophisticated available.

I saw the Beach Boys live for the first time in Helsinki in 2006. It was a concert performed by Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and a group of very skilled musicians. Then, I had a similar experience just little over a week ago. Well, it wasn't all that similar, actually. The 2006 concert was arranged at a huge indoor arena in November and this more recent concert on a beach in southwestern Finland by a lake in July. The concert was originally supposed to happen in Yyteri by the sea but was moved to another more outlying place called Eura.

I don't know why this concert wasn't booked to Helsinki. A lot more people would have come... I was a bit worried about the attendance before the concert. But once the band stepped on the stage I couldn't worry anymore. There were lots of people there, dancing like crazy in front of the stage all through the gig.

I soon joined these lovely people and danced through the endless cavalcade of old Beach Boys hits ? songs many of which were almost 50 years old but when are we really going to stop needing happy, carefree rock'n'roll songs - and loving especially these ones? The Beach Boys music is still as current as ever because it was written to make people smile and forget about all the bad things at least for a while. Everyone needs to have some fun every now and then... So, why not have fun with one of the most talented rock'n'roll vocal groups that has ever existed?

In the 1960s, and that day, the Beach Boys sung songs about surfing, cool cars (even love songs to cars!), and pretty girls. However, I don't think the songs need to be interpreted literally. Simply said, the Beach Boys music is like a celebration of doing what you enjoy. Enjoying life and all that it can offer! Catching a wave can easily be seen as a symbol of feeling good and mighty in any situation, and succeeding in something you wish to succeed in ? to cut a long story short: fulfilling your dreams.

Little things like saying to somebody in music that if I did it then you can do it too, what ever your ?do it? might be (Brian Wilson commentary for Friends remastered)

So, the concert was a blast. Mike and Bruce had again very good musicians with them and the four-part harmonies sounded as fresh as ever. I was very impressed by the vocal performances: those guys really seemed to be able to transform into Brian, Carl or Al Jardine! It was a good thing that they had included a few non-hit songs in the set as well (!). I enjoyed everything from Surf City to Getcha Back. Bruce gave a nice performance of God Only Knows. The psychedelic songs (Good Vibrations, Heroes and Villains) sounded really good and also stood out. What a curious feeling to think for yourself (even though you already have listened to it countless times): is this music really from the same band that performed those primitive car songs?! It also became clear that the Beach Boys have recorded many, many great cover versions of popular songs and given them a good Beach Boys treatment. After the concert I got Mike Love's autograph. I bet I don't have an autograph by anyone more famous!

Now, let me tell you about a dream of mine... As you already guessed, I would like to see all living original members of the Beach Boys performing together. In fact, just seeing Brian Wilson would be such a pilgrimage to me. I'd better monitor Brian's tour schedules and if he ever comes to Northern Europe again...

More Beach Boys blabber to come. I'm feeling BB manic.

Source: http://thoughtsonmelody.blogspot.com/2011/07/on-beach-with-beach-boys.html

Two Spot Gobi The Trolleyvox Immaculate Machine Tahiti 80

The Joensuu Gospel

Although shoegaze is probably not really mainstream kind of music ? definitely not in a small country like Finland ? Joensuu 1685 has gained quite a lot success. Due to this success even I decided to check out what it was all about. But as usual, other things got in the way and I never really got around to concentrate on the self-titled debut album, released by Bone Voyage (a record company led by 22 Pistepirkko guys) in 2008.

Joensuu 1685 was considered to be one of the most important indie bands in the release year of the debut album. The band was also one of the most popular live acts at Lost in Music festival the same year. I remember attending the gig and enjoying it quite a lot despite the very strange power shortage at the end... The band consists of Markus and Mikko Joensuu who are brothers, and non-related Risto Joensuu who just happens to have the same last name.

For a three man band Joensuu 1685 makes a whole lot of noise ? that noise is very pleasant to any open-minded rock lover's ears, though. I have finally been listening to the Joensuu 1685 album properly and I enjoy everything about it. There is a lot of charm in its dynamics, heavy but nice rocking psychedelia and interesting sounds. All in all, I would call it a masterpiece of both modern sound and recording technology. Lead singer-guitarist-Farfisa player Mikko Joensuu is an openly spiritual person which shows in songs like (You Shine) Brighter Than Light and Electric Ocean Sailor. The spiritual aspect definitely gives an interesting vibe to this music.

Crystal Light is one of the most fascinating things here: a seven-minute song of noise, monotonic driving kraut beat and a thick vocal effect. Compared to this song Kill/Shot/Love, Sick City, and Baby, Baby, Baby are somewhat easier to the ear, practically quite catchy pop (or rather rock) songs. Nothingness also has that monotonic kraut vibe but the song is a lot more slow and calm. At first it sounds a bit threatening but soon transforms into one of the most blissful melodies I have heard in some time. The transitions between songs on this album have been rendered very carefully. Amazing, perfected sounds and fascinating songs make this, in my opinion, an A+ album.

Joensuu 1685 has been on hiatus during the past couple of years. The Joensuus have been working on a different project called Siinai and debut album Olympic Games came out in July 2011. Siinai describes its own music as new age, which may not sound all that appealing to some people... In fact, you can just as well describe the music as instrumental kraut rock with massive soundscapes. I was very impressed by Siinai's performance at Monsters of Pop festival a few weeks ago. Mikko Joensuu also played a solo gig (which I sadly didn't see) at the same festival. I hear there was some really good solo material performed. Maybe a solo album is on the way?

For now I will stick to Joensuu 1685 and check out Siinai's album later when I am once again in need of something different and refreshing.

Joensuu 1685 at MySpace
Siinai website

Source: http://thoughtsonmelody.blogspot.com/2011/10/joensuu-gospel.html

Hello Saferide The Rain The Rocketboys Bryan Scary

Sloan, Rural Alberta Advantage, Ohbijou, Bonjay @ The Great Hall, Toronto (December 21, 2011)

  Sloan @ The Great Hall: photo by Michael Ligon

Update [December 25/2011, 1:38 am]: Review now up. Merry Christmas! Now have to wrap some presents

Thinking back to 1995 when Sloan headlined CFNY 102.1 FM's Edgefest 3 festival at Molson Ampitheatre, billed as their farewell performance, Sloan had called it quits. Their most recent album at the time had been their second full-length Twice Removed, released a year prior in 1994, and arguably to the some was the band's finest album. But a year after Edgefest 3, the band reunited to release their third full-length, 1996's Once Chord To Another, and as they say the rest is history, with the band continuing to this day as one of Canada's most respected musical outfits. It was "Once Chord To Another" which Sloan chose to play front-to-back for Toronto charity COUNTERfit (an Ontario Ministry of Health and City of Toronto funded injection drug harm reduction program) at a show at The Great Hall organized by Toronto band Fucked Up. The promise of such a performance was more than a tantalizing factor for many who snapped up tickets for the sold out event. And as a bonus, the opening bands lineup was none too shabby itself, with an all Toronto supporting acts lineup featuring Bonjay, Ohbijou, and The Rural Alberta Advantage.

Electro-dancehall duo Bonjay featuring dynamite vocalist Alanna Stuart and programmer extraordinaire Ian ?Pho? Swain were definitely the odd man out on the bill and did their best to warm up the small yet devoted early attendees. I'd caught about half the set as I myself had been running late. I chose to hang back during the remainder of their set which may have worked to my advantage as the beats and vocals sounded superb from where I was standing. As soon as their set was over, I made my way to the merch table and ended up purchasing one of the limited edition show posters and then I ducked out of the venue to put said poster in my car before returning about 20 minutes later.

It's been a number of years since I've seen live nor paid attention to Toronto's Ohbijou. I was always a fan of the band's melancholy, string-laden, indie-pop sound but as a live entity had usually been disappointed with their laid-back stage presence. Now on album number three with this year's released Metal Meets, which I still have yet to hear although I'm assuming they were playing songs off of at The Great Hall, it seems the band is flexing a little more muscle these days. With the Mecija sisters, vocalist Casey and violinst Jenny, both wearing black (Casey wearing a black hooded cloak even), I'd swear the band had gone goth, and even they haven't they're definitely heavier, hence the album title Metal Meets perhaps. The band seems to strike their instruments harder, and play louder, Casey even going-into guitar-face and strumming her guitar furiously at times. Ohbijou still maintain their recognizable melancholy pop sound but this time with more oomph, and it's working wonders for them.

Since the release of their first full-length "Hometowns" in 2008, Toronto's The Rural Alberta Advantage have gradually been achieving a most fervent fanbase within Toronto, Canada and beyond. RAA were a band who'd in their early days regularly played shows at the tiny Embassy in Toronto but more recently have been headlining at midsized Toronto venue, Phoenix Concert Theatre. It'd been a few years since I'd seen RAA live when they played the third stage at 2009's Virgin Festival Toronto, the same year that American indie label rereleased their debut album Hometowns. Earlier this year, the band released their second album Departing which by my own procrastination had never gotten around to picking up. Given this gap in my RAA experience, it was nice to again see the band live. If you're familiar with the band's propulsive acoustic sound based around drums, keys, and acoustic guitar, then yes, not much has changed but that is a good thing. The band played a bit more ragged than usual ["Edmonton" in particular, seemed a bit more sped up and less rigid than on record] but overall reminded me why they're one of the best current bands in Toronto.

Beginning with Fucked Up's Damian Abraham announcing Sloan on to the stage, a la the beginning of One Chord To Another ("Will you please? welcome to the stage? SLOAN!"), the band erupted into lead off track "The Good In Everyone" and proceeded to play the entire album front to back. Second track "Nothing Left to Make Me Want to Stay", never a single but which should have been in my opinion, remains one of my favourite tracks on the album and I was singing along to much of it. You could feel the crowd energy surge on the punky "G Turns to D" and later on the urgent "Anyone Who's Anyone" (whose lyrics "Everyone who's played a part, We're all together now, Everyone who's played a part, stand and take a bow" sounded so appropriate that night). Other highlights included the three person horn section on "Everything You've Dong Wrong" and "Take The Bench", the former also benefiting from the crowd singalong. The Jay Ferguson-sung "The Lines You Amend" also garnered a favourable reaction from the crowd and a further crowd singalong. I cannot remember if I'd ever heard "Can't Face Up" live but regardless of guitar flub during the Patrick's solo which he freely admitted, hearing it that night was like listening to if for the first time, and when Patrick belted out the chorus it was sublime.

While the occasion of the night was to play One Chord To Another, the encore was a treat unto itself. Kicking off with one of my faves from Twice Removed, "Snowsuit Sound", then Fucked Up's Damian come on to stage perform a punky / hardcore number which I did not recognize which had Damian and Chris vocally playing one another then lead to some physical horseplay between the two. The next song "500 Up"(from their debut Smeared) was a pure joy to hear regardless of the mic problems that plagued drummer Andrew Scott's vocal parts. The piece de resistance to the encore and the night was the surprise appearance by Toronto's own Leslie Feist, who played added guitar for what was an energetic rendition of the band's song "She Means What She Says". Wow. What started out as Sloan agreeing to play a special charity show turned out for me in coming full circle with the band; the show revived, at least temporarily, the pure euphoric rush I once had for them. I guess that is what we call nostaligia but damn it sure feels good. After all, they are a band that has a song called "If It Feels Good Do It". Thanking the crowd at the end, Chris remarked that they came to Toronto as a Halifax band, but more and more are feeling like a Toronto one. And this another reason why Toronto is one of the best cities in the world.

Photos: Sloan, Rural Alberta Advantage, Ohbijou, Bonjay @ The Great Hall, Toronto (December 21, 2011)
MySpace: Bonjay
MySpace: Ohbijou
MySpace: Rural Alberta Advantage
MySpace: Sloan

Source: http://mligon08.blogspot.com/2011/12/sloan-rural-alberta-advantage-ohbijou.html

The Mood Statistics Starlight Mints Lois

Review -- The Magnetic Fields, Bachelorette @ Sound Academy, Toronto (March 30, 2012)

  Stephen Merritt @ Sound Academy: photo by Michael Ligon

Sorry for the lateness of this posting. I'll first point you towards The National Post, Sticky Magazine, and The Panic Manual who were also at the show.

Can I say I both enjoyed the show but was disappointed. The Magnetic Fields last played Toronto in February of 2010 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, a show I enjoyed very much. But before I get to this current performance, it was New Zealand artist Annabel Alpers who goes by the moniker Bachelorette opening up the show to maybe a half full venue. I'd arrive with her already a bit into her set. At first I didn't think much of it, but soon I started to enjoy her brand of electro-pop which seamed to be a seamless mix between the icy-cool synth-pop of Ladytron with the Krautrock / drone influence of bands like Stereolab and Broadcast, Alpers vocals in the same deadpan vein as Broadcast's late Trish Keenan or Ladytron vocalist Helen Marnie. With computer generated images projected behind it was fitting visuals for Miss Alpers mathematically-precise tunes.

But back to The Magnetic Fields. It was bound to be a letdown, the band this time around playing the dreaded Sound Academy, a venue that required it's audience to stand [unless I guess if you were in the second level VIP section] and whose acoustics were no where close to the acoustics at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The occasion of their trip to the city this time around was the recent release of their new album entitled Love at the Bottom of the Sea with a bevy of great song titles like "Andrew in Drag", "The Horrible Party", and "I've Run Away to Join the Fairies" all included in the band's new-album heavy setlist. With the same / similar acoustic setup(piano, guitar, cello, ukelele, etc.) as their previous show in Toronto back in 2010, the band played delicately with lead vocal duties traded from song to song between Stephen plus members Claudia Gonson, and Shirley Simms, with Merritt singing most of what most might consider his 'depressing' songs while, Gonson seemed to have the more humourous ones [eg. "Quick"] and Simms adding a bit of twangy timbre to songs like the wonderful "Plant White Roses". On comparison to their previous Toronto show in 2010 there was less banter between songs, which in my opinion detracted from the overall enjoyment of the show. As Merritt cheekily exclaimed at one point between songs in his deadpan baritone "Here's another depressing song". It was purely sarcastic remark but on the other hand, without the banter to break up the pacing of the set, I couldn't help but feel the dreariness rear its head. If not for the pristine pop melodies, the whole set would just be a total downer. But then that dichotomous nature of The Magnetic Fields, who on a basic level, whose music can be described as depressing love songs and sunny pop melodies, is precisly what appeals to its audience. Nowadays, I feel the The Magnetic Fields have broadened their audience further than they have before, but in the past I'd say without a doubt that their audience consisted primarily of indiepop aficionados, music geeks, and other assorted misfits. To this last point, The Magnetic Fields is and will remain one of music history's greatest outsider bands. So overall a great set musically, though the comforts and acoustics of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre as well as the greater amount of banter at that show, were sorely missed this time around.

Photos: The Magnetic Fields, Bachelorette @ Sound Academy, Toronto (March 30, 2012)
MySpace: Bachelorette
MySpace: The Magnetic Fields

Source: http://mligon08.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-magnetic-fields-bachelorette.html

Novillero One Night Only (band) Chris Walla The Silly Pillows

RhoDeo 1121 Sundaze

Hello, alas big money grabbed the cup tonight, Chelsea had just one corner in 2 hours of play, they used that well as from that Bayern concentration lapse they equalized 3 minutes from time. Bayern haven't been in great form and had some minor chances but they couldn't get thru and when they finally did 7 min from time, no time to build control as games always get hectic towards the end. To make matters worse Robben missed a penalty in extra time. Again Chelsea couldn't believe their luck this championship season, I can understand those that believe a higher power cleared the way for them. Maybe it was the Drogba voodoo ? Such a pity too for Tottenham as now they lose their place in next season's Champions ball.

Some great 'big sky' sundaze coming up you should really check this out if Explosions in the Sky is new to you a chance to really get into it.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

With a reputation for a scathingly intense live performance  Explosions in the Sky was touted early on in their career as the next phenomenon in moody and dynamic instrumental indie rock � la Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Emperor! The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies," and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows. They primarily play with three electric guitars and a drum kit, although band member Michael James will at times exchange his electric guitar for a bass guitar. The band's music is instrumental and completely devoid of vocals.

Originally called Breaker Morant, Explosions in the Sky was formed in Austin, Texas in 1999. Drummer Chris Hrasky is from Rockford, Illinois, and the rest of the band hails from Midland, Texas. The new name of "Explosions in the Sky" came from a comment Hrasky made in reference to the noise or sight of fireworks when they left KVRX on the night they played their first set and recorded their first track, "Remember Me as a Time of Day", that would be released on a compilation. Their 2000 debut album, How Strange, Innocence, was locally distributed in the form of CD-Rs. Rehearsal footage is featured on the feature film Cicadas, which won an Austin Film Festival award.

The quartet of Texas kids, made up of Mark Smith and Munaf Rayani on guitars, Michael James on bass, and Christopher Hrasky on drums, was signed for its first release on Temporary Residence Limited after half a listen to their demo, which was submitted by the American Analog Set with a brief note saying "This totally f*cking destroys."

They garnered a small amount of media attention with their second album, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, due to rumors linking it to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The band denied any connection in interviews. The album art shows an airplane with the caption "This plane will crash tomorrow." There were false reports that the last track was called "This Plane Will Crash Tomorrow" and that the album was released on September 10, 2001 in fact the album was released on August 27, 2001.

After being contacted by Brian Reitzell, Explosions in the Sky wrote the soundtrack for the 2004 film Friday Night Lights. Despite having access to rare equipment in the studio for that project, the band kept to their songwriting style in creating original material. Their album The Rescue was written and recorded in eight days as part of the TRL Travels in Constants series. As such, the album was originally only available at the band's live shows.

Explosions in the Sky's fifth studio album, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, the title is a summarization to the conclusion of The Catcher in the Rye in which the main character Holden advises the reader, "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody." The song titles of the album make allusions to the many themes in the novel, having to do with the normality of fear, lack of social stability or place in society, emotional discord, and loneliness.  It debuted February 20, 2007, and exists as both a one-disc version and a two-disc special edition featuring remixes by multiple artists. On April 26, 2011, the band released their sixth studio album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

Explosions in the Sky's music features quite often in documentairies . tv shows, commercials


***** ***** ***** ***** *****

The members of Explosions in the Sky may just be four soft-spoken guys from Texas, but here they simply tear everything apart. Combining influences from classic rock to metal to goth, the band creates instrumental soundscapes that can turn from all-out destruction to heartfelt, dreamy melodies in the blink of an eye. The result is a musical journey that leads listeners through the entire range of emotion without even needing words. "Greet Death" matches a crunchy Dinosaur Jr. hook with warm Cure-esque bass grooves. "Moon Down" chimes and twists through ten minutes of calm night, leaving the listener with the feeling that something awesome is sure to happen. Closing with a grand, 12-minute-long "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept," a song that moves from Sonic Youth to Joy Division to Explosions in the Sky. Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever is nothing short of awe-inspiring and one of the best records of 2001.

Explosions In The Sky - Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever (flac 287mb)

01 Greet Death 7:19
02 Yasmin The Light 7:03
03 The Moon Is Down 10:02
04 Have You Passed Through This Night? 7:19
05 A Poor Man's Memory 6:04
06 With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept 12:04

Explosions In The Sky - Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever (ogg 108mb)

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Explosions in the Sky's second effort takes a more studied, even lush approach to the literate chaos of their 2001 debut. But put on your sad sack thinking cap now, because Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place is a contemplative and heady rush of masterful melancholia. Its six songs are multi-minute, slow motion workouts of gentle electric guitar plucks and subtle/sudden washes of percussion -- they're still instrumental, but as lyrical as anything in the indie rock universe. "Only Moment We Were Alone" turns on a simple, melancholy guitar figure, the drums shifting from insistent catch-up mode to a studied march built to introduce the next layered crescendo. Explosions in the Sky doesn't shift as suddenly or jarringly here; the quartet has applied more structural predictability this time out, but is still quick about setting the sad butterflies in your stomach to fluttering. "Memorial" is the album's meditative heart. It begins so quietly, reduced to brittle landscapes of tone. Lightly chiming guitars drift in, like the echoes of church bells off in narrow city streets. Then, like each of the album's movements, it surges forward in a rush, like the overtures of Sonic Youth separated, dried, and ultimately lengthened in the blistering Texas sun. The final blast of distortion and staccato drumming is Earth at full bittersweet bluster. "Your Hand in Mine" ends things as they began, with a pair of determined guitars picking out a melody that's both pretty and pretty damn heartbreaking.

Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (flac 230mb)

01 First Breath After Coma 9:33
02 The Only Moment We Were Alone 10:14
03 Six Days At The Bottom Of The Ocean 8:43
04 Memorial 8:50
05 Your Hand In Mine 8:17

Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (ogg 101mb)

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This Austin, TX-based quartet consciously seeks what is meandering and beautiful. If there is a strategy behind their music as revealed by 2001's Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever and 2003's The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place, it's that beauty seeks tension to resolve itself and find itself even in seeming chaos. This music featuring layered guitars, piano, bass, and drums begins with melody and more often than not ends with it, no matter how far from the quiet and even halting lyricism the band wandered into at the beginning. While the surface of Explosions in the Sky's sonic sense of labyrinthine adventure can seem similar, the manner in which they get to the center of each piece is not. "It's Natural to Be Afraid" begins with subtle dissonance and the guitars emerging out of quiet chaos with sounds and pianos playing slowly and contrapuntally. It takes over 13 minutes to wind up, down, and around again, but it's an exercise that is rewarding for a patient listener -- or if you simply want to close your eyes and go with it. Ultimately, there is real growth here, subtle and unpretentious as it is. All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone is another gorgeous exercise by Explosions in the Sky. How can listeners not need more music by a band that seeks beauty over everything else in its subtly expanding sonic universe? And here with the bonus disc with well worth remixes to explore.

Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone (flac 513mb)

01 The Birth And Death Of The Day 7:49
02 Welcome, Ghosts 5:43
03 It's Natural To Be Afraid 13:27
04 What Do You Go Home To? 4:59
05 Catastrophe And The Cure 7:56
06 So Long, Lonesome 3:40
 remixes
07 The Birth And Death Of The Day (Jesu Mix) 9:48
08 Welcome, Ghosts (Adem Mix) 6:24
09 It's Natural To Be Afraid (The Paper Chase Mix) 6:53
10 What Do You Go Home To? (Mountains Mix) 10:23
11 Catastrophe And The Cure (Four Tet Mix) 8:33
12 So Long, Lonesome (Eluvium Mix) 5:40

Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone (ogg 198mb)

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Source: http://rho-xs.blogspot.com/2012/05/rhodeo-1121-sundaze.html

Razorcuts Kate Nash Ivy Malajube

If It's Not Scottish It's Crap (20 Great Bands From Scotland)

On this Wednesday, let's give a quick look at twenty bands from Scotland with a song a piece for each one. I've always had a soft spot for bands from Scotland, lately I've been digging a little bit of the new album from The Twilight Sad. So below is a list of 20 Great Bands From Scotland. It's in no particular order, think of it more of a playlist. Each band's song has a link to a Youtube video and at the bottom is a link to Spotify (if you can get it to work...then hats off to you). And in the words of Mike Myers on SNL...If it's not Scottish, It's Crap!

_____________________________________________________________________________

20 Great Bands From Scotland:

 1. Artist: The Beta Band
Random Song: Dry The Rain (1997)
Origin: Edinburgh
Formed:1996
Ripped from Wikipedia: The Beta Band were a British musical group formed in 1996. They were critically acclaimed and achieved a cult status. Their style was described as being "folktronica", a blend of folk, electronic, rock, trip hop, and experimental jamming. The Beta Band disbanded in 2004 but during the course of their career, they were hailed by both Radiohead and Oasis. 

2. Artist: Primal Scream
Random Song: Kowolski (1997)
Origin: Edinburgh
Formed: 1982
Ripped from Wikipedia: Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie (vocals) and Jim Beattie and now based in London. Their 1991 album Screamadelica broke the band into the mainstream. Despite multiple lineup changes, the band has remained commercially successful and continues to tour and record. 

3. Artist: Cocteau Twins
Random Song: Carolyn's Fingers (1988)
Origin: Grangemouth
Formed: 1979
Ripped From Wikipedia: The Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals. The original members were Elizabeth Fraser (vocals), Robin Guthrie (guitar, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass guitar), who was replaced by Simon Raymonde (also bass guitar) early in the band's career.

4. Artist: Average White Band
Random Song: Cut The Cake (1975)
Origin: Dundee
Formed: 1972
Ripped From Wikipedia: Average White Band (also AWB) is a Scottish funk and R&B band, who had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million selling song, "Pick Up the Pieces".

5. Artist: Simple Minds
Song: Waterfront (1983)
Origin: Glasgow
Formed: 1978
Ripped From Wikipedia: Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s.

6. Artist: Frightened Rabbit
Random Song: The Modern Leper (2008)
Origin: Selkirk
Formed: 2003
Ripped From Wikipedia: Frightened Rabbit are a Scottish indie rock band from Selkirk, formed in 2003. The lineup consists of lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and lyricist Scott Hutchison, guitarist and bassist Billy Kennedy, guitarist Andy Monaghan, drummer Grant Hutchison and guitarist and keyboardist Gordon Skene. Since 2004 the band has been based in Glasgow.

7. Artist: Jesus and Mary Chain
Random Song: Snakedriver (1993)
Origin: East Kilbride
Formed: 1983
Ripped From Wikipedia: The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid. They released a string of albums, singles and EPs between their 1983 formation and their 1999 breakup, and gained notoriety in their early days for short sets and violence that became common at their live shows. In 2007, the band reunited.

8. Artist: Teenage Fanclub
Random Song: Star Sign (1991)
Origin: Bellshill
Formed: 1989
Ripped From Wikipedia:  Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band's sound relies heavily on chiming, Byrds-esque guitars and harmony vocals. As well as being compared to the Byrds, Teenage Fanclub have also been compared to Big Star, Neil Young, and Dinosaur Jr. Although often pegged as alternative rock, the group has incorporated a wide variety of elements from various music styles in its songs.

9. Artist: Franz Ferdinand
Random Song: The Dark Of The Matinee (2004)
Origin: Glasgow
Formed: 2002
Ripped From Wikipedia: Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, becoming one of the few Scottish bands or artists to do so. They have been nominated for several BRIT Awards in the UK, and have won an NME Award. With their three studio albums, the band sold over 3 million albums worldwide in 2009.

10. Artist: Aztec Camera
Random Song: Somewhere In My Heart (1988)
Origin: Glasgow, East Gilbride
Formed: 1980 
Ripped From Wikipedia: Aztec Camera were a Scottish New Wave band from the Glasgow suburb of East Kilbride, formed in 1980 and centered around teenage singer-songwriter, Roddy Frame. Their album Love was among the nominations for Best British Album at the 1989 BRIT Awards. 

11. Artist: Big Country
Random Song: Fields Of Fire (1983)
Origin: Dunfermline, Fife
Formed: 1981
Ripped From Wikipedia: Big Country is an internationally-renowned Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife in 1981. The height of the band's popularity was in the 1980s, although it retained a cult following for many years after, including the release of several further titles. The band's music was most recognizable for the sounds it infused with Scottish folk and martial music styles, as well as for playing and engineering their guitar driven sound to evoke the inspirational spirit of bagpipes, fiddles and other traditional folk instruments.

12. Artist: Travis
Random Song: Turn (1999)
Origin: Glasgow
Formed: 1990
Ripped From Wikipedia: Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy (lead vocalist, guitar, piano, banjo), Dougie Payne (bass guitar, backing vocals), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) and Neil Primrose (drums, percussion). They named themselves after the Harry Dean Stanton character Travis Henderson from the film Paris, Texas.

13. Artist: Belle and Sebastian
Random Song: The Blues Are Still Blue (2006)
Origin: Glasgow
Formed: 1996
Ripped From Wikipedia: Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996.
Belle and Sebastian are often compared with bands such as The Smiths^, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et S�bastien, a 1965 children's book by French writer C�cile Aubry, later adapted for television and an anime. Though consistently lauded by critics, Belle & Sebastian's "wistful pop" has enjoyed only limited commercial success.

14. Artist: The Waterboys
Random Song: A Girl Called Johnny (1983)
Origin: Edinburgh
Formed:1983
Ripped From Wikipedia: The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The early Waterboys sound was dubbed "The Big Music" after a song on their second album, A Pagan Place. This musical style was described by Scott as "a metaphor for seeing God's signature in the world."

15. Artist: Mogwai
Random Song: 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong (2001)
Origin: Glasgow
Formed: 1995
Ripped From Wikipedia: Mogwai are a Scottish post-rock band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), John Cummings (guitar, vocals), Barry Burns (guitar, piano, synthesiser, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass guitar), and Martin Bulloch (drum kit). The band typically compose lengthy guitar-based instrumental pieces that feature dynamic contrast, melodic bass guitar lines, and heavy use of distortion and effects.

16. Artist: Boards Of Canada
Random Song: In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country (2000)
Origin: Edinburgh
Formed: 1986
Ripped From Wikipedia: Boards of Canada (commonly abbreviated BoC) are a Scottish electronic music duo consisting of brothers Mike Sandison (born June 1, 1970) and Marcus Eoin (born July 21, 1971). They are signed with Warp Records and have released several works on that label with little advertising and few interviews, while also having an elusive and obscure back-catalogue of releases on their self-run Music70 label.

17. Artist: One Dove
Random Song: White Love (1993)
Origin: Glasgow
Formed: 1991
Ripped From Wikipedia: One Dove was a Scottish alternative dance music group active in the early 1990s, consisting of Dot Allison, Ian Carmichael and Jim McKinven, a former member of Altered Images.

18. Artist: Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
Random Song: Perfect Skin (1984)
Origin: Glasgow
Formed: 1982
Ripped From Wikipedia: Lloyd Cole and the Commotions were a pop band that formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1982. Between 1984 and 1989, the band scored four Top 20 albums and five Top 40 singles in the UK.

19. Artist: Nazareth
Random Song: Carry Out Feelings (1976)
Origin: Dunfermline
Formed: 1968
Ripped From Wikipedia: Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock band, founded in 1968, that had several hits in the UK in the early 1970s, and established an international audience with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog. Perhaps their best-known hit single was a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts", in 1975.

20. Artist: The Twilight Sad
Random Song: Another Bed (2012)
Origin: Kilsyth
Formed: 2003
Ripped From Wikipedia: The Twilight Sad are an post punk band from Kilsyth, Scotland, comprising James Graham (vocals), Andy MacFarlane (guitar), and Mark Devine (drums). The band describes their sound as "folk with layers of noise," and music critics have described the band as "perennially unhappy" and "a band that inject some real emotion and dynamic excitement into a comparatively standard template."

Spotify Playlist:

Great Bands From Scotland

Source: http://www.jhostation.com/2012/04/if-its-not-scottish-its-crap-20-great.html

Shout Out Louds Imogen Heap The Unicorns MGMT

Wilco's "The Whole Love"

Wilco's journey to one of America's premier rock bands has been an unusual one. Rising from the ashes of the seminal alternative country band UNCLE TUPELO, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy has been on a mission to see just how odd and obscure he could make his country twang sound. The first three Wilco records play like more commercial versions of the Tupelo sound. Then came "Yankee Foxtrot Hotel". With "Hotel" Tweedy and his revolving band of musicians began melding the rock sound with spacier elements to create atmospheric epics that featured odd instrumentation and more obscure wordsmithing. This continued with "A Ghost is Born" before a slight return to earth with their last record "Sky Blue Sky."

Wilco's latest record, "The Whole Love" continues to seek a middle ground between the original work and the more grandiose dreams of the more recent output. Opening with the 7 minute clicky "Art of Almost" the listener prepares themselves for another listening foray into the unknown. But Tweedy offers us a curveball with the fuzzy bass driven "I Might" as the second song. "Might" plays off like a vintage 60's rock song. "Sunloathe" seems like something from the BEACH BOYS collection of oddities with it's piano tinkling and soft vocals. "Dawned on Me" revels in it's feedback before settling into a nice rhythm and has the sound of a radio single from the heyday of AM radio. "Black Moon" has a dark acoustic guitar line to lead us through Tweedy's song of searching for truth. "Born Alone" glides along a rat-a-tat drum beat before the guitar picks up the track for the ride. The title track, "The Whole Love", is sunny number about a man who knows he is hard to get along with. "One Sunday Morning (song for Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)", could easily scare a listener off at over 12 minutes but it is well worth the investment. Tweedy sounds like a little Bob Dylan ish here as the song seems to wander around a acoustic guitar until it settles in. The band forsakes any studio trickery and plays it straight. What comes is a jam feeling as if they recorded it on the porch of some old southern home in the last summer.

Wilco's latest doesn't have the ambition of "Hotel" or "Ghost" and in many ways is a nod to their past as Uncle Tupelo. Those hoping for the sonic soundscapes of those records will be a bit disappointed. But those of us who take our music with a sense of authenticity will find the record gaining in stature with every listen.

(mp3) Wilco  -- I Might

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/sQBf/~3/TYzKo35MR9c/wilcos-whole-love.html

The Margarets The Promise Ring Rose Melberg Sleepy Township

Darryl Gregory - Big Texas Sky

Darryl Gregory ? Big Texas Sky
2012, Emptyhead Musikwerks

Darryl Gregory has seen it all, from the seedy clubs of 1990?s New York City to the wings of off- and off-off-Broadway shows.  He?s seen the music world from the classroom, the orchestra pit and behind the boards.  Even relatively settled now with a wife and children, Darryl Gregory continues to create.  Gregory?s latest album, Big Texas Sky, is an eye-opener for both the power of music and the power of spirit.

?Aunt Jean?s Piano? is a quiet lament of a relative called home too soon.  The song opens with a duet hymn in classic mixolydian harmony, before Gregory transitions into a loving tribute to a beloved aunt who inspired a life-long love of music.  It?s a heart-tugging song full of love and grace, played in a reverent country arrangement.  ?Anywhere But Here? is a classic country anthem about a young lady stuck in a small town full of small dreams.  It?s a solid story song, full of wailing pedal steel guitar and a hope for something more.  Gregory shows his vocal limitations here but holds his own.  Techno, rock and blues come together on ?Workin? Man?, with slide guitar and an Industrial percussion style underlining a classic country/blues story song told by a man punching the clock so his lady can have the finer things.  The song is catchy but seems a bit out of character here.

?How Do I Tell Her? is a soliloquy from a man who has lost his job, and is agonizing over how to tell his wife that life has suddenly changed.  Love redeems all here, but the song cuts to the deepest insecurities of an old school working class man.  The melody flows like water, and you could easily imagine this tune in a movie or a countrified musical.  ?What About Love? seemingly continues the story line, with the couple giving up their ties to worldly means and simply living.  It?s a recognition of all that is truly important, with love being the currency they share.  Gregory?s songwriting here touches deep to heart and human spirit in this moment.

?Elegy For An Old Man? takes the story tellers soliloquy form to another level; an autobiographical sketch of a life well lived.  There is something magical in the story telling here, as Gregory invokes thoughts of Gordon Lightfoot.  The song follows the life arch, retrospectively, of a man ready to sail off for the great beyond but telling his tale one more time before he leaves.  This is a ?wow? moment for Darryl Gregory, and it wouldn?t be at all surprising to see this song picked up by other artists and covered over time.  Gregory winds down Big Texas Sky with ?Prayer & Allelujah?.  Starting out in somewhat contemplative fashion, Gregory kicks it up into a classic southern gospel barn burner that will have you on your feet and shouting to the skies.

Darryl Gregory is a pleasant surprising; showing strong compositional abilities and a talent for storytelling that is rare.  While Gregory?s voice is somewhat limited in its comfortable range he doesn?t let it get in his way, singing with the sort of confidence and strength that has powered the careers of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot and others.  Big Texas Sky ranges as wide as the red dirt it reflects, as Darryl Gregory leads listeners through inspiration, confidence, loss, rebirth and celebration.  It?s a wondrous journey, authentically human and fervently told.  Here?s hoping Darryl Gregory has more where this came from.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more at www.darrylgregory.com.  You can purchase Big Texas Sky directly from Gregory?s website, or through the e-tailers below.

Amazon MP3                 CDBaby (CD & MP3)          iTunes

Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed. Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com.

Source: http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2012/05/darryl-gregory-big-texas-sky.html

The Love Language Hayden Holy Fuck Pigeon Detectives

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!

Another year is about to end, and I guess It's now time to leave 2011 and It's memories. YUP!! This is my last blogpost for this year.....HELLO 2012!! This coming year is another Leap Year so It will be my Blog's 2nd Leap Year in the Blogosphere. MORE SURPRISE BLOGPOSTS this upcoming year that I'll try to create in my free time. Interesting Blogpost Header Photo? YUP!! Some bits of my collection again for viewing. It has been a very busy and successful year 2011 for me and I'm really looking forward to 2012 and what lies ahead. I thank the LORD for all the blessings he had given me and my family this year 2011 and always praying for a brighter year ahead. THANKS also to you guys, my Dearest Blog Readers, who once in a while still have time to visit my humble blog "The Doctor Is In". Like what I have written before my blog ever since is "OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER DUPLICATED". Hopefully these Copycats have a peaceful conscience this coming 2012. Ha Ha Ha!! GREAT YEAR for NEW WAVE CONCERTS here in MANILA and getting ready for some upcoming concerts. WHEEEW!! I do hope these Bands/Artists that are reported to be performing here in MANILA this 2012 will all push through. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 EVERYONE!! Be sure to be SAFE this NEW YEAR'S EVE guys!! TAKE CARE of your Upper and Lower Extremities!! MAG-INGAT sa PAPUTOK KABAYANS!!!!!!!!! MANIGONG BAGONG TAON!!!

I'll leave you with a Classic Song from U2 and that's "NEW YEAR'S DAY" and it's the "TOP OF THE POPS" version.



HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

Source: http://docmuzic.blogspot.com/2011/12/happy-new-year-2011.html

The Pastels Miou Miou The Postmarks Kings of Convenience

CHIRP Radio Podcast: Active Child (Plus a Ticket Giveaway!)

Source: http://chicagoindieradio.org/chirplog/2588/chirp-radio-podcast-active-child-plus-a-ticket-giveaway

Statistics Starlight Mints Lois The Little Ones

Republican Primary Results 4.24.2012

New York Primary

Romney - 62.4%
Paul - 15.7%
Gingrich - 12.9%

Pennsylvania Primary

Romney - 58.0%
Paul - 13.2%
Gingrich - 10.5%

Rhode Island Primary

Romney - 63.2%
Paul - 23.9%
Gingrich - 6.1%

Connecticut Primary

Romney - 67.4%
Paul - 13.5%
Gingrich - 10.3%

Delaware Primary

Romney - 56.5%
Gingrich - 27.1%
Paul - 10.6%

Source: http://otterlimits.blogspot.com/2012/04/republican-primary-results-4242012.html

The National Yo La Tengo The Grenadiers Grizzly Bear (band)

The Twilight Sad = If The Cure Were Scottish

Bands have to show their influences. This can be done in a subtle way (a guitar line here, a vocal phrasing there) or more overtly (See Interpol and The Editors aping of JOY DIVISION for their entire careers). THE TWILIGHT SAD straddle the middle of their influence showcasing of THE CURE. I'm sure these lads from Scotland didn't set out to ape the kings of doom and gloom as much as they did when they began recording their third album, "No One Can Ever Know", I imagine they were just looking for new ways to express their sound without rehashing their first two records. I'm also not saying its a bad thing that they did. What results is part mimicry, part homage and part ownership of new sound of their own.

The opening "Alphabet" kicks in with an eerie synth line as lead singer James Graham bleeds with a lost love who may or may not be dead. This is followed by "Dead City" which sounds like an outtake from "Wish" right down to the heaving bassline and clanky percussion. "Sick", the current single, exchanges out real drums for a skippy electronic beat and a staccato guitar line. Graham uses his accent to great effect rolling his "r"s with gusto to add to the off putting sound. The song builds to a nice crescendo adding synthesizers washes at the end. "Don't Move" is the closest thing of the record to an out and out CURE rip off, sounding almost beat for beat like "Fascination Street" without Robert Smith's yelping to give it the urgency it needs. "Another Bed" breaks up the pattern with a dance rhythm than when remixed will be an Edinburgh club banger for the rest of the year. At first it is seems out of place but after repeated listens it make sense to lighten the mood a little bit. The ending drone of "Kill It In The Morning" has a KILLING JOKE feel to it but ends with an uplifting chorus that is anthemic in the context of the whole record.

I admit I missed the boat a bit on these guys, I saw them a couple of years ago when they played the US with FRIGHTENED RABBIT and WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS. If the Rabbits are easily the most commercial of the Scottish acts right now and WWPJ have a punk ethos that drives them, THE TWILIGHT SAD are trying to strike a chord with the more misanthropic youth of the world. This record may just allow them the room to make that happen.

(m4a) The Twilight Sad -- Alphabet  

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/sQBf/~3/wPiIv8bY6TA/twilight-sad-if-cure-were-scottish.html

Tiga Mazzy Star The Margarets The Promise Ring

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!

Another year is about to end, and I guess It's now time to leave 2011 and It's memories. YUP!! This is my last blogpost for this year.....HELLO 2012!! This coming year is another Leap Year so It will be my Blog's 2nd Leap Year in the Blogosphere. MORE SURPRISE BLOGPOSTS this upcoming year that I'll try to create in my free time. Interesting Blogpost Header Photo? YUP!! Some bits of my collection again for viewing. It has been a very busy and successful year 2011 for me and I'm really looking forward to 2012 and what lies ahead. I thank the LORD for all the blessings he had given me and my family this year 2011 and always praying for a brighter year ahead. THANKS also to you guys, my Dearest Blog Readers, who once in a while still have time to visit my humble blog "The Doctor Is In". Like what I have written before my blog ever since is "OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER DUPLICATED". Hopefully these Copycats have a peaceful conscience this coming 2012. Ha Ha Ha!! GREAT YEAR for NEW WAVE CONCERTS here in MANILA and getting ready for some upcoming concerts. WHEEEW!! I do hope these Bands/Artists that are reported to be performing here in MANILA this 2012 will all push through. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 EVERYONE!! Be sure to be SAFE this NEW YEAR'S EVE guys!! TAKE CARE of your Upper and Lower Extremities!! MAG-INGAT sa PAPUTOK KABAYANS!!!!!!!!! MANIGONG BAGONG TAON!!!

I'll leave you with a Classic Song from U2 and that's "NEW YEAR'S DAY" and it's the "TOP OF THE POPS" version.



HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

Source: http://docmuzic.blogspot.com/2011/12/happy-new-year-2011.html

Missy Higgins Tiger Trap Georgie James The Pastels

Bry Webb and The Providers, Doug Tielli @ The Music Gallery, Toronto (February 4, 2012)

  Bry Webb @ The Music Gallery: Photo by Michael Ligon

It's been quite a slow start to the year concert-wise for me but, it was the Bry Webb show[the earlier of the two shows] at The Music Gallery in Toronto just over a week ago that finally broke that dry spell. Subconsciously I think I'd been pondering going to this show for a while as I'd recently been listening to Bry's old band The Constantines and having heard good things about his solo album entitled Provider (the plural of which was the name of his backing band) I snagged a ticket for the early show.

Toronto singer-songwriter Doug Tielli opened the show with a selection of songs backed by his reverb-drenched guitar-playing. Doug's vocals were reminiscent of the melancholiness of Mark Kozelek but also at times approached the breathiness of Antony Hegarty (of Antony and The Johnsons). Still, Mr. Tielli was not without a sense of humour during his brief set and while there may have been an element of humour in his choice of covering the song "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", his performance of the song was also quite sincere and remarkable.

After a brief intermission, it was Bry's turn. Oh I forgot to mention, that when I'd first arrived to the venue, I came just after Doug Tielli had begun his set and as I approached the doors to enter the room, it was Bry himself who opened the door for me, and so as I entered I wished him a good show. And a great show it was. With his backing band augmenting the stripped down instrumental sound with pedal steel, stand up bass, and lap steel and with the grit of Bry's vocals and his strummed guitar playing, it was a sublime set of acoustic folkiness that enveloped the acoustics of the intimate church surroundings. "Asa", the name of his son who inspired it, was represented of the languid, country-tinged folkiness of the evening, putting me quite at ease and comfort on that cold February night. On a side note, Bry bantered between songs that his son couldn't even make it to the early show because even the early show was too close to his bed time. It was only the main set's closer "Ex-Punks" (for which Bry brought on one more person on stage to play drums) which approached anywhere close to the urgency of his previous Constantines' work - if anything it felt a bit of a teaser, for there's no doubt in my mind The Cons will rise again, but in the meantime we have Bry's solo efforts to lavish over. With a little less than half an hour until the second round of music of the night was suppose to start, I didn't think there'd be an encore, but Bry and The Providers did come back to play a cover of the The Mills Brothers' sentimental (and perhaps politically-incorrect nowadays) "Smoke Rings". I swear I heard a chuckle or two when Bry sung the chorus, "Puff, puff, puff, puff your cares away, Puff, puff, puff, puff night and day".

Photos: Bry Webb and The Providers @ The Music Gallery, Toronto (February 4, 2012)

Source: http://mligon08.blogspot.com/2012/02/bry-webb-and-providers-doug-tielli.html

Georgie James The Pastels Miou Miou The Postmarks