Tag Archives: Out of this Spark
Jenny Omnichord at the Garrison
My favourite record label Out of this Spark celebrated their 3rd anniversary in January with a concert at the Garrison, with performances from their entire roster: Jenny Omnichord, Evening Hymns, Forest City Lovers and The D’Urbervilles. At the end of the evening, all the bands returned to the stage to play a few songs together, including this one by Jenny Omnichord called “Pain of Maybes.”
Let me tell you a little bit about Jenny Omnichord in case you aren’t familiar with all that she’s done. Her old band, The Barmitzvah Brothers, released five albums between 2000 and 2007. Their last album together, 2007’s Let’s Express Our Motives: An Album of Under-Appreciated Job Songs, is one of the best albums of the last ten years if you ask me. It’s pretty much perfect. Each song tackles a different occupation, from library page to janitor to rodeo clown, using a wide range of styles to capture the essence of each job. Since then, Jenny has released two more full-lengths and a few EPs, her most recent being Charlotte or Otis: Duets for Children, Their Parents and Other People Too, which featured collaborations with Jim Guthrie, Tony Dekker, Shad and many more.
Based off of Jenny’s almost annual output, we should be due for another album this year, and I for one can’t wait! As for Out of this Spark, it looks like it will be a pretty busy year, with new albums from Forest City Lovers and The D’Urbervilles anticipated for the fall.
Friends in Bellwoods 2 at Lee’s Palace, Part 1
I think the only way to properly follow-up a video of Ohbijou is with another video of Ohbijou. It’s been ten days and really, this is all I have! That’s alright though, ’cause this video features a special guest in the shape of John O’Regan, singer of The D’Urbervilles and Pitchfork’s #1 crush. He’s no stranger to this blog either, in fact, he was in the three posts prior to the last one! I really need to befriend some new bands or something.
OOTS “Family Band” at SummerWorks
Wow, what a night. Rushed over to the Theatre Centre on Queen St. after work and this is what I saw. On stage, all my friends, playing together, sounding amazing. In the audience, more friends, freaking out – and rightfully so. Heck, even Frank was clapping along. You gotta give it up for OOTS, bringing people together forever.
Richard Laviolette at the Tranzac
I didn’t get off work until midnight last night, meaning I missed Taylor’s big gig, but I still made it to the Tranzac afterwards for the latest OOTS presentation. Luckily that seemed to be where most people ended up after the Timber Timbre show so I was still able to see some friends, which is key. I missed the first few acts (Chris Yang and Gavin Gardiner) but got there just in time to see Guelph’s Richard Laviolette, whose quiet masterpiece A Little Less Like a Rock, a Little More Like a Home was a favourite of mine a few years back, and who I last saw at SappyFest about a year ago. However, in stark contrast to that show, yesterday Richard was backed up by his new-ish band (well, it was the first time I’ve seen them) the Hollow Hooves, who brought some welcome muscle to his fragile sounding songs. It was a very different performance than I’m used to him putting on, but I liked it all the same.
I ducked out after a few tunes to catch up with some friends outside, but hopefully it’s not another year before I see Richard again.