We saw The Wailin’ Jennies at Hugh’s Room last night. As ever, their harmonies were beautiful, but what amazed me was their one piece in unison. They were so close that it didn’t just seem to be the one breath, but as one heartbeat. Wonderful stuff.
Archive for the ‘choons’ Category
the antidote to autotune
Monday, October 22nd, 2007oh and i went to high school with him too
Friday, October 19th, 2007now this is a live music photoblog: rahimlive.
as tents
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007Whoa, the Camp Combo rocked Mitzi’s Sister - in fact, they are still rocking it, as I had to head back home.
Nichol brought his enormous Leslie speaker which added to the ‘jazzeh’ sound of the evening. It was worth lugging it down.
Update: Fred Spek was kind enough to let me post the recording online:
Fred Spek’s Camp Combo - Mitzi’s Sister, Toronto - 2007-10-16 (early set).
sound of a brand new world
Thursday, October 11th, 2007I’m liking In Rainbows. But sick of folks kvetching about the perfectly adequate bit rate.
Thinking of torrenting flacs made from the mp3s under the guise of a perfect bootleg. Would look forward to the musos banging on about the much improved fidelity. Losers.
But that would be too much work. Mustn’t betray the expectations of society on my generation.
Mr Dolby — eww!
Thursday, September 27th, 2007I’m a big fan of Thomas Dolby, and I don’t even mind admitting that it was one of his songs that initially got me thinking about what to do with my life (“… etch out a future of your own design”, and all that) . I got Thomas’s Live in Chicago DVD, and was a bit shocked by the visuals he used for wind power:
Those are some old wind turbines. This would be a bit like going for some modern computer imagery, and plunking for a picture of a VIC-20.
I mean, eww - those blades are filthy!
Ken
Thursday, September 27th, 2007I just heard some music by Ken Reaume - and I need to hear a lot more.
there is no enemy
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007I finally got to see Thomas Dolby play live last night. A real brass section (the Jazz Mafia Horns) really added to Thomas’s all-electronic sound. Good show!
wee hairy beasties
Sunday, September 23rd, 2007We saw The Aliens at Lee’s Palace last night. Shame the place was only half full (have people really forgotten about The Beta Band?), but it was a great show. They’re really high-energy live. Gordon has big hair!
most 70s book cover ever
Sunday, September 23rd, 2007Floaty-haired woman motif? Check
Happy couple riding a horse? Check
Elaborate, possibly ill-advised, used of perspective? Check
Fashions suggesting high polyester content? Check
Friends, I give you Mel Bay’s Fun With The Dulcimer:
now then?
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
a serious omission
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007Yeah, so I got to age 38 before I ever heard Neil Young’s Harvest. Sue me. And all because Nichol is teaching me The Needle & The Damage Done on guitar.
And I can add Old Man to my list of “Songs I thought were recent originals, but are in fact old covers”. Thought it was a Wailin’ Jennies original (I know, I should read liner notes). I thought the same of Disguises (original: The Who; cover: Of Montreal) and Waterloo Sunset (original: The Kinks; cover: Robyn Hitchcock).
those are no murder ballads, son
Wednesday, September 5th, 2007I was hoping to like Nick Cave’s Murder Ballads a lot more than I do. He treated the standards as if saying, “wow, lookit me, I’m real bad!”.
What gives real murder ballads their impact is the gentle, matter-of-fact delivery: listen to Henry Lee on Harry Smith and they might as well be singing a lullaby. Cave murders them with zero subtlety. Doesn’t help that he has tiny squeakerette Kylie (pr. Minog-YEW) on the crew.
Just don’t call me a damsel, okay?
Sunday, August 5th, 2007
I bought an Appalachian dulcimer yesterday. It’s beautifully made by Peter Cox of Waubaushene, Ontario. The top is a slab of old pine that was originally a rafter in an old farmhouse.
Despite its initial unusual appearance (played on the lap, modal frets, four strings - two of which are in unison - tuned ddAD), it’s extremely hard to make an unpleasant noise with one. Part of its charm is that it’s very quiet (so only those nearby are annoyed - and since Catherine’s away …), but you can also pick out simple tunes easily. Less than a day after getting it, I’d picked out a recognizable version Speed of Things, my favourite-ever Robyn Hitchcock song.
Peter recommended the book In Search of the Wild Dulcimer, which I’ve discovered is available online from the author’s site.
easily amused
Saturday, August 4th, 2007I’m in Cambridge, at the Mill Race Folk Festival. The weather’s great, it’s a good event (just saw Enoch Kent [!]), but what’s really holding my attention are a number of big fish with orange tails rootling about on the riverbed of the Grand. They’re leaving pleasing silt trails.
More from The Cackle Sisters
Thursday, August 2nd, 2007WFMU’s Beware of the Blog has even more from my favourite Old Weird America artists today: The DeZurik (Cackle) Sisters. Your money back if you don’t love them.
the first family of folk
Wednesday, August 1st, 2007The Carter Family recorded their first session 80 years ago today. Here’s Wildwood Flower, which they recorded in 1928.
What’s That Tune???
Sunday, July 29th, 2007Andy wants to ID some tunes; can you help him? What’s That Tune???
All Official Announcements!
Thursday, July 26th, 2007Keep September 25th Clear …
Wednesday, July 4th, 2007Uncle Dave on ill-advised facial hair
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007Look at that man with all the hair around his mouth
Like he swallowed a mule and left the tail hanging out
- I’ve Got The Morning Blues
