Tag Archives: Music
Blue Fog Revue
When Rick White asked me to help film the Blue Fog Revue last week, there was no way I could say no. Besides playing in one of my all time favourite bands, Rick is also part of the Blue Fog Recordings family, having released 3 solo albums for the label he helped start close to ten years ago. Some other bands on the label include $100, André Ethier, Castlemusic… basically a bunch of bands I really love. The entire active roster was on the bill last Friday at Lee’s Palace, but if you happened to miss it you can check out selections from the evening on YouTube. I filmed the whole night alongside Rick, and he’s been busy editing the footage all week.
I also bought a digital camera, finally. Maybe I’ll start posting photos?
Baby Eagle at the Horseshoe
Well, it’s the middle of the week, which means it’s time for another video. This week I’ll be featuring Baby Eagle, who opened for Daniel, Fred & Julie at the Horseshoe a few weeks back. What’s there to say about little ol’ Baby Eagle, other than it’s the project of the Constantines’ Steve Lambke, and that he’s great? I guess the first peep I ever heard from him was the last track on the third Cons album (Tournament of Hearts), a ditty called “Windy Road.” It had Steve singing, but instead of the usual scrappy punk song we got a pleasant acoustic number. It was an album highlight for me, so I was happy when he started playing solo shows later that year. Two quick albums in 2006 and 2007 followed by a split with Attack in Black late last year brings us to today. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from him soon – his setlist was all new songs, and it looks like he’s going electric.
Daniel, Fred & Julie at the Horseshoe
Last Thursday I went and saw Daniel, Fred & Julie play at the Horseshoe, the perfect venue to hear them play their gentle folk songs. Last fall when I first caught wind of this project, I immediately knew I’d love the record. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the music these three people make, so to have them team up for a record had me pulling out my wallet faster than you can say “Sackville.” Truthfully, it made sense for them to join forces: Julie played in Fred’s old band “Shotgun & Jaybird,” and when that band broke up, ex-member Shotgun Jimmie recruited Daniel’s band Attack in Black to be his backing band. Attack in Black’s album Years featured guest vocals from Julie Doiron, who in turn covered two of Fred’s songs on her last album.
Are you with me still? If so, please enjoy their song “Runner” from their self-titled debut record, out now on You’ve Changed Records.
Jim Guthrie at El Mocambo
This is a special video for sure. Jim Guthrie hasn’t been playing much lately (in fact, I think I caught his last solo show way back in 2005), so when it was announced that he would be performing at the El Mocambo a few weeks back I got very excited. Jim has been one of my favourite musicians for a long time after I discovered him through his connections with my other favourite band the Constantines (they both used to share a label, the aptly named Three Gut Records). His last album, 2003’s Now, More Than Ever is a masterpiece – 10 perfect songs. Luckily for those of you who haven’t heard it, it’s being reissued very soon (on vinyl!), so please, do yourself a favour and get it. This song presented here is “So Small” from that same album.
PS: My series is named after Jim’s second album (another great record) Morning Noon Night. So now you know!
I Am Robot and Proud at The Tranzac
Another Friday, another night spent in the front room of the Tranzac. On this particular evening it was Kite Hill and I Am Robot and Proud, who were celebrating the release of their new album Uphill City Remixes & Collaborations. I Am Robot is basically the solo project of Shaw-Han Liem, who you may have seen in other Toronto bands over the years including Sea Snakes and Jim Guthrie’s band. This was my first time seeing him play a full set, and on this night he was joined by three other excellent musicians so the songs really came to life. They’re actually departing for a tour of Japan tomorrow, but hopefully they’ll play some more shows this summer. Really great instrumental music.