In the fall of 2006 I saw Shotgun & Jaybird play in my hometown of Oshawa. It was the only time I ever got to see them play, but it really changed my life. I’ve told the whole story here before, but in fewer words, that was the night I discovered the great festival that is SappyFest, which I had the pleasure of attending in 2008, 2009, and again just this month. It’s actually the end of the month now – I’m not sure what’s taken me so long to get down to writing, but if I wait any longer no one will care anymore.

This year for SappyFest I decided to go for an entire week instead of the usual 3-4 days. Part of the reason I went for longer was so that I could just relax in a nice environment, but I also wanted to check out more of Ok.Quoi?!, an arts festival that happens each year in the week leading up to SappyFest. I went to a roundtable discussion about public art installations, listened to some live experimental music, saw a ton of amazing short films and animations, and even participated in the “Consensus Bus” (a free bus trip open to anyone, but everyone who comes has to agree on the destination).

Of course, SappyFest itself was another fine 3 days of music, with a whole lot of my friends and favourite bands playing this year that was a given, but there were also a few new discoveries along the way. I had planned to shoot a lot of video during the festival, but of course, once I’m having fun I tend to “forget” my camera when I go out… but I did manage to capture two bands from the first night. Neither band should need any introduction for readers of this website as I’ve shot them both many times before.

Toronto’s best party band Steamboat played to a packed mainstage tent in what I believe was their first out-of-town gig! The response from the crowd was enthusiastic, and the band had another chance to get people dancing when they did another set (with plenty of special guest vocalists), closing out the festival on Sunday night at George’s Fabulous Roadhouse.

Finally, here’s Attack in Black playing a few songs. Lots of new material in their set, really hope they record them and make another album.

Here’s a video of Attack in Black playing a new song at this year’s SappyFest. Highlight of my summer.

One year ago this month, I posted a video on my blog that I shot of Attack in Black playing at SappyFest 2008. I didn’t know it at the time, but that video was really the start of Morning Noon Night. It took me a few months to realize that it might be interesting to have an entire blog dedicated exclusively to live videos, but once I did there was really no turning back. I’ve uploaded almost 100 videos now, and with this month being the unofficial one-year anniversary of this blog it seems like a good time to go through my video vault and post some never-before-seen gems. The first one I’ve got for you is a song I shot this past August at SappyFest! On the last day of the festival in the middle of the afternoon we all packed into the Vogue Theater to watch Snowblink. It was about 300 degrees in there – people were literally sticking to the seats. Anyway, the band invited a bunch of their friends to come sit on stage and clap and ring bells, and once they all started playing it really didn’t matter how hot it was in there. Grab their newest album Long Live… because it’s gorgeous!!

After his set at this year’s SappyFest, I said, “Jon-Rae, wanna go play a song for me in the marsh?” and he said, “Sure Colin.” Once we got there, he told me that the marsh was haunted by an old woman with a lantern. He decided upon “Ghostsong” from his album Knows What You Need, which seemed appropriate. What you can’t see in the video is there were a couple skater kids watching from down the boardwalk. Once we were done filming, we started walking back to town, and as we passed them they told Jon-Rae how beautiful his song was. Yeah, it is pretty beautiful.

I didn’t end up shooting much video while out east. In fact, I brought about eight tapes but only shot 60 minutes worth of footage. It’s kind of hard to party when you’re carrying around a bunch of gear, and my main intention at SappyFest was to have a good time (and I ended up having the time of my life) so it ain’t such a big deal that I only got a couple videos. Here’s $100, who I’ve seen more than any other band this year, playing with their newest recruit, my old homie from Oshawa, Jeff Peers. They’re running through a great tune written by Rick White, who is also sitting in with them for this number. I’m pretty stoked ’cause Ian is playing the electric guitar. It’s all my dreams coming true. Enjoy.

As for me, I’m leaving in a few hours for Kingston, where I’ll be shooting a music video with PS I Love You. I’ll be sticking around the limestone city all weekend for the Wolfe Island Music Festival. Come say “Hi!”

One of the first bands I saw this year at SappyFest was The Harbourcoats, the still-sorta-new-because-they’re-relatively-unknown band led by Bry Webb from the Constantines. It was a really nice way to kick off the festival and definitely had me humming the songs to myself all weekend. This wasn’t my first time seeing Bry playing away from his regular gig – I remember hearing at least one of these songs when he did a set at the Three Gut Records 5th anniversary party years and years ago at the Tranzac, and I’ve subsequently seen him play on a few other occasions leading up to last Friday. Joining him this time ’round was Mike Feuerstack (aka Snailhouse) and my old pal Jonas Bonnetta (aka Evening Hymns). The songs were subtle and majestic, showcasing Bry’s powerful voice in a whole new way. I’m super excited to hear their forthcoming record, too bad no one knows when it’s coming out. Maybe I should look into getting that Constantines acoustic EP they put out a few months back to hold me over. Which reminds me: if anyone from Arts & Crafts is reading this, can you please press it to 10″ vinyl and send me a copy? What’s with this digital-only foolishness?

Anyway, while watching the video, please try to ignore the crowd chatter and shaky camera work and just appreciate the song. Doesn’t it make you want to hold somebody?

A few years later now, late 2006, I head to the Velvet Elvis to see Julie Doiron play. At this point I’m not really a fan, I’ve only heard a few songs, but I knew she was one of the bigger acts to play our town so I went. Also playing was some band called Shotgun and Jaybird. No clue who they are really. I’d played one or two songs on my radio show to promote the concert, but didn’t know their story. Opening up the show was Will from the Constantines solo, so that gave me another reason to go. Anyway, Shotgun and Jaybird went on and I fell in love with them. It’s true. It was one of the sweetest sets of music I’d ever seen. Their whole approach to playing was so charming. The way the different band members interacted, how they spoke to the audience, the way they played their songs, all so fantastic. They had two CDs for sale that night – an EP and their new full-length album. I bought them both and still listen to them regularly, they never get tired. The band split up a few months after I saw them, and it was sad at first, but they’ve all gone on to make great music in other capacities. Plus, they left me with one great show and a perfect little discography.

I’m not sure when I first met Steve Lambke. I think I met him with my friend Mitch at Lee’s Palace seeing the Cons when Mitch got him to sign his show poster. However, the first time I really spoke to Steve was when he played solo in Oshawa at this old bar, Catch 22. Not many people were there, so I took it as an opportunity to go speak to him. Steve plays in the Constantines, so naturally I wanted to have a few words with him. He was very friendly to me, and when he played he even dedicated one of his songs (Windy Road) to me! It was a great feeling to know that guitar player in my favourite band is a nice person.

That night Shotgun and Jaybird played the Elvis, I was able to chat with all of them for a while. One of the band members, Jimmie (aka. Shotgun Jimmie) told me about how he was originally from the Durham Region but now lived out east in a town called Sackville in New Brunswick. I may have mentioned how I’d been to Sackville once before, when I was a young kid. Anyway, Jimmie and I kept in touch on the internet, and I learned more about his town of Sackville and about the music festival him and the other folks in Shotgun and Jaybird had just started the previous August called SappyFest. A year or so later when Jimmie was releasing his solo album, he went so far as to hand deliver me a copy in Oshawa! What a great guy!

Last Spring I was in my last semester of College. It had taken me three years but I’d finally made a good friend in my program named Dale. I think the only reason we started talking was because I noticed he was listening to the Weakerthans one day. Nevertheless, we quickly became friends and started sharing music. One of the first bands Dale got me into was a band I’d heard of but had never listened to called Attack in Black. He let me have their album ‘Marriage’ and I enjoyed it enough on my first listen, but I couldn’t fully connect with it at that point. It wasn’t until a few weeks later when I went to go see the Constantines that their music really made a connection. You see, Attack in Black opened up that show and I was front and center (I had to have a good spot for the Cons). I was still on the fence about them at that point, but seeing them play made me a fan. I thought their songs sounded way better live than on the record, and they were really great performers too. Since then I’ve gotten their second album ‘The Curve of the Earth’ which has become one of my favourite albums.

Everything came together this past August. I finally made it out to Sackville for SappyFest. I camped out in a tent on Jimmie’s farm. The night I arrived there, there was a big campfire. That’s when I realized Steve was also staying there, as were the guys in Attack in Black, so I got to meet them. That whole week was amazing, and it made me appreciate all these individuals so much more. I feel lucky to know all of them, as they all make music that really means a lot to me.

I started writing this post simply to tell everyone about the new record label they’re starting called You’ve Changed Records. They’re releasing Jimmie’s new album ‘Still Jimmie’ on March 10th, and an Attack in Black/Baby Eagle (Steve’s solo project) 12″ on April 14th. I’m so goddamn excited. Go to their website and listen to Mind Crumb.

I made this last night in a fit of passion. Hope you like it.