Part 3 of Joel Plaskett Interview - tomorrow on CKCU

Hey Folks - if you have been following my radio program, the Thursday Morning Special Blend, you have already heard the first two parts of my interview with Joel Plaskett at the Ottawa Folk Festival last August. Tune in tomorrow to hear the final instalment, where Joel talks about opening for Paul McCartney in Halifax, what it's like for him to perform, his relationship with other artists, and his role as a young musician in an early wave of indie rock which has changed subtantially over time.

Plaskett, of course, is an acclaimed Canadian artist, the very recent winner of four Music Nova Scotia Awards, and a wonderful person. Check out this great interview with him tomorrow, shortly after 8:00 a.m., on FM 93.1 in the Ottawa area, or online at http://www.ckcufm.com/.

(Image taken by Ingram Barss)

NxEW Interview on CKCU

This morning I was interviewed on CKCU (Ottawa) by David Yazbeck (who also happens to write for the site) about NxEW.ca, what it's all about, where it comes from and all those good things. If you missed it, and you're interested I've got it right here.

Download It or Press Play

North by East West on CKCU Tomorrow Morning

Tomorrow morning on the Thursday Morning Special Blend on CKCU, Justin Beach will be talking about this blog and choosing a tune or two to play. Tune in to CKCU online at www.ckcufm.com or in Ottawa at 93.1 FM after 9:00 to hear the conversation between Justin and me about why NxEW was started, why it's so important, and what you can do to get involved.

And for Joel Plaskett fans, tune in to the same show during the first hour, around 8:35 or so, and you can hear the first instalment of my interview with Joel last August at the Ottawa Folk Festival. Great timing, too, since Joel's latest record "Three" has just been nominated for the Canadian Folk Music Awards in the categories of Contemporary Album of the Year and Solo Artist of the Year.

Chris MacLean and Dave Bidini - Great Canadian Music Tomorrow Morning on CKCU!

Tomorrow morning I am very happy to have two great Canadian artists on the Thursday Morning Special Blend on CKCU (FM 93.1 in the National Capital Region, http://www.ckcufm.com/ online).

Chris MacLean is an accomplished, award-winning singer-songwriter who lives in the West Quebec Hills just north of Ottawa. After spending 8 years with world music ensemble Galitcha, Chris decided to pick up on her solo career again. With the help of veteran songwriter and producer Ian Tamblyn, Chris has just released Feet Be Still, a beautiful collection of fine folk songs performed with grace and beauty. Says Ian Tamblyn of her work:

“One of the things I like best about Chris Maclean’s work is its levity; even when singing the most serious song there is still a sense of light in the work. It begins with her voice which is unmistakable, clear and ethereal all at the same time. There is something too in her melodies which always return to an uplifting theme even though the song may touch upon some sorrow. And then there are her lyrics which are more often than not redemptive and positive, particularly on her new CD Feet Be Still. All in all Chris’ work seems to be about a lightness of being and grace while walking through a very complicated life. Feet Be Still.”

For her efforts, Chris won the 2008 Colleen Peterson Award for Songwriting. Chris will be in the studio with me tomorrow just after 8:00 a.m., where we'll talk about music and hear her perform a song or two. I hope to do a review of her latest CD here in the future.

Dave Bidini is an icon of the Canadian indie music scene, a former member of seminal group the Rheostatics, and an accomplished author. Readers of this blog know how much we love the Swim Drink Fish Music Club, with its innovative use of Canadian Music to raise money for clean water initiatives. Dave has just contributed 30 songs - you saw that right, 30! - to the SDFM Club, which you can access with the dirt (no pun intended) cheap annual membership of $9.99. Dave explains on their website what he did and why he supports the SDFM Club:

"This is me around my 4 track cassette recorder, the triceratops of home recording devices. I limited myself to 4 tracks to expedite the breadth of the project, having to meet the demands of the Waterkeepers. A lot of the songs are about living close to water -- youthful summers on Toronto Island; a misspent teenagehood hanging out at the Leslie Street spit; as an adult sailing with my dad out of the Etobicoke yacht club -- as well as the fucked up polluted soup that is our city's lake. Through this series of lo-fi demos -- I did them quickly, over two days -- I wanted to call attention to SDF and the Keepers, whom I've known and worked with for a long time, and who are doing great and estimable work in the face of deteriorating environmental conditions. Almost all of the pieces here were created through the 'instant song' technique -- basically writing and singing whatever came into my head -- although a few were more obviously crafted. Whatever the case, enjoy, and please help support the Waterkeepers. I do and will and will continue to, evermore."

After 9:00 a.m., I'll talk to Dave about his contribution to this great initiative, and see what else is going on in his career.

James Keelaghan Interview - Tomorrow on CKCU!

James Keelaghan is one of Canada's most loved and recognized singer-songwriters. Intelligent, emotional, funny, passionate, and hard-working, Keelaghan has that unique gift of conveying compelling stories about real people with beautiful melodies and songcraft. He is truly one of Canada's treasures.

I had the pleasure and privilege of interviewing James at the Ottawa Folk Festival last month (where he put on several fantastic sets). I will be doing a more detailed post about James here in the future, based on that interview and a review of his latest record, House of Cards (available on Borealis Records).

However, you can hear the full interview tomorrow on my radio show, the Thursday Morning Special Blend on CKCU. In the Ottawa area you can listen via the radio waves at 93.1 FM. Elsewhere, you can stream the show through http://www.ckcufm.com/. The show starts at 8:00 a.m., and the Keelaghan interview should air somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00.

Great Lake Swimmers Interview

This interview was originally played on CKCU FM 93.1 in Ottawa on the June 23rd edition of the Tuesday Morning Special Blend which airs every Tuesday morning from 7-9am. It was originally posted on the shows website which can be found here.

The new album, Lost Channels, by The Great Lake Swimmers was one of ten albums included on the short list for the 2009 version of the Polaris Music Prize. On June 19th they played a show in Ottawa at First Baptist Church located at the corner of Elgin and Laurier. Prior to the show I spoke with the lead singer and songwriter for the band, Tony Dekker. The interview can be found below. In the interview we talk about a cover version the band did of Neil Young and Crazy Horse's song "Don't Cry No Tears". I have included videos of both songs below.

Listen to the interview.

At the end of the interview I throw to the song "I will never see the sun" from the band's self-titled debut album. Since this isn't live radio you can hear the song by clicking here.

Ken Workman & the Union: This Union Has Strong Roots

Listening to the brand new debut CD from Ken Workman & the Union made me wonder about the idea of 'roots' music. I always assumed it was a reference to music born in the USA, where many of the roots of rock and roll have grown for so long - countryish yes, but echoes of Memphis too, a bit of Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta - all those great midwest/southern music centres. Songs from the soul.

But there are plenty of Canadian musicians who perform in this genre, and perform well - home grown as BC bud but incorporating influences from across the continent. And that's really the key: this style of music is truly continental in scope - music from North America. And Canada has plenty of great roots musicians to be proud of.

Whatever the tag, Ken Workman & the Union nail it solidly, and well. Their first, self-titled CD is an excellent effort from a band whose members have been honing their chops in and around small bars and clubs in the Nation's Capital and Eastern Ontario. These boys have day jobs, and they play live music around schedules that include work, kids, houses, and just plain ol' living. Which means they play music because they LOVE it. That's the best kind of music - and this CD proves that in spades.

All the tracks are originals from Workman, each one a meditation on the simple things in life - love, the road, moving on - and the most complex things at the same time. Workman distills these paradoxes into well-written, melodic tunes - songs meant to be listened to, not just heard. And while these tracks are rooted in lives, this CD cries out for live performance. No surprise there: the tracks on this CD were recorded pretty well live off the floor (at Dave Draves' Little Bullhorn Studios).

The focus of the record is Workman's smoky, whiskey soaked voice - very much like Steve Earle without the twang, a little Tom Cochrane energy, and Gordon Lightfoot sentiment - all the soul and genuine commitment to the craft of a songwriter. "This Train Goes Home" is a great opener - with a train-like drum beat, and Bakersfield sound guitar, this track is a lovely introduction to this fine music, with solid percussion from Ian Cook (the Cutmen) and Sean Burke, and wonderful keys and organ courtesy of Tom Pechlof. (The CD also features guests Jeb Bond - drums, Dan Deslauriers - bass, Don Kenny - drums and vocals, and Greg Harris - bass)

Mid-paced "Centennial Girl" recalls Springsteen, with an arena stomping chorus that deserves a crowd that big, but for now will likely be reserved to such fine venues as Irene's Pub and the Elmdale House Tavern. And that is the way it should be - this is people's music - heartfelt and genuine, and meant to be enjoyed with a [quite a few] pints of local brew in the company of good friends and music lovers. The Steve Earle comparison is strongest on "'Til It Comes Around", a pretty track with strumming guitar and rollicking piano, a down and out but I am still gonna make it theme, and a great organ/bass break that sets the stage for hope: "....Go back and take a right where you took a wrong...."

"Highway One" starts with a gorgeous piano/organ combo, then the soft lilt of Workman's guitar strumming kicks in, and the voice shifts gears as well. Workman stretches the vocal range here, and it sounds great. A loner's song for sure - I'm thinking the highway may not be a physical road but a mental state - no doubt the refrain of many hard-working musicians. "Here We Go Again" is one of the strongest tracks on the record. A song about love, for sure, and you can hear the longing in the voice, the beat, the back up vocals, and the lyrics: "Give it shot, cuz it just might be your last. And the next one won't be along for a while. Do I try and be myself for the first time?"

"The Healing" should get some radio play - this is a summer shimmery tune with a great vocal line and marvelous harmonies - think the Jayhawks for sure, but the keys still evoke Springsteen and Jackson Browne. Closer "Lonelytown" wraps up the record with the loner theme - and once again Workman's fantastic voice carries this song, but not without the solid, tuneful backing of his band. Radio friendly for sure, this one is meant for playing LOUD in the car, windows down, rain or shine, on the highway going faster and faster.

I found it hard to complete this review because each track deserves a comment: this is a solid record with no weak songs - and that's where the Terry Brown story comes in. Anyone in their 40s who listened to great Canadian music as a teen is familiar with Rush, and Ken Workman is no exception. Workman identifies Rush as a 'big influence' when he was a teen, and no one could hold those great record covers without seeing the name 'Terry Brown' identified as a producer. Workman and bandmate Ian cook decided to look up Brown, with the hope that he might recommend someone from the Ottawa area to help out with the record.

But Brown liked the songs, and took a direct interest in the project. Then the band thought that he could work on a couple of songs - maybe the most radio friendly - to give them that extra polish. To Workman's surprise, Brown was "completely blown away, which blew [him] away". He couldn't just choose two tracks. So they set aside the business stuff and worked on making a great record. Brown eventually mixed all the songs - with stellar results. Like any great roots record, each of the instruments is there holding down the song, but they blend in a way which is seamless and whole.

As much as you'll like listening to this CD - preferably loud and a few pints into the evening - you're really gonna want to hear this music live, as it should be. That's exactly the way Terry Brown and Dave Draves have captured this great roots rocking band. In Ottawa, you have two chances to see them live in July: at Bluesfest on July 17th (Blacksheep Stage) and at Tucson's on July 24th (the official CD release show - co-sponsored by my radio station - the Mighty 93.1 FM - CKCU). The band has also had some success at C'est What in Toronto, and I'm told they are working on gigs there in July and August.

Great Canadian Music on CKCU Tomorrow Morning

Pardon me for the self-promotion, but we've got a great show tomorrow on the Thursday Morning Special Blend on CKCU (FM 93.1 or ckcufm.com) featuring some fantastic Canadian artists.

Just after 8:00, I'll have Ken Workman and Ian Cook in the studio to talk about the great new roots rock release from Ken Workman & the Union. They're playing at Irene's Pub on Friday night along with the Woodrunners. It'll be a great rocking show, and I hope to post a review of the CD here soon.

Later in the first hour, we'll be talking about HeiferFest, a great initiative to raise funds for those in need in the developing world. HeiferFest, which takes place on May 30th, will feature two great Ottawa acts: Sadie Hell and Dave Snider Sings (former Clock Strikes Music). From the Sadie Hell website:

The music has been described as "huge with key changes, disconnected parts and hollers – a kind of Bohemian Rhapsody for the post-screamo set" ~ Fateema Sayani, March 1st, 2007, The Ottawa Citizen. The band's sound has been referred to as "emotionally raw, cello-laden" ~ Chris Whibbs, November 30th, 2006, Ottawa Xpress. Chris later reviewed a live show in which he remarked "Sadie Hell got things off to an appropriately dramatic start, as vocalist Ben Welland’s beautiful strumming and guttural howl felt perfect in the enclosed, and somewhat creepy, setting. So formidable was that voice that the missing cellist was hardly noticed" ~ April 2007, Exclaim! Magazine.

Indeed! And Ben Welland has given me a couple of unmixed tracks from the upcoming Sadie Hell CD which I hope to play.

Then, after 9:00, Ottawa blues diva Amanda Rheaume will pop into the studio to talk about her new EP - Kiss Me Back, which is being released at what will be a fantastic set on May 29th at the Capital Music Hall.

The EP's release follows 5 months of anticipation for Ottawa fans, who were given a glimpse of the new material at the Live 88.5 Big Money Shot grand final last December. Since then, Amanda has taken her new songs to Rock Beach Recording Studios in Vancouver, where she perfected them with producer Jeff Dawson (State of Shock, Daniel Powter, Kelly Rowland). She emerged from the sessions in April with a new 6-song EP, and an unbridled sense of enthusiasm.

[And did guest vocals on John Allaire's latest!] If we're lucky she'll play a tune in the studio as well!

Tune in for a great show!

Ottawa Punk Band Snatchback Live on CKCU

If you want to hear some local Ottawa skatepunk performing live in studio, then tune in to the Thursday Morning Special Blend on CKCU tomorrow just after 8:00 a.m. Snatchback will be playing live, talking about their tunes and pumping their upcoming tour supporting SNFU. From the band's myspace page:

a skate punk band not limited by genre or 'the scene'. we play what we want and what we love. and goddammit we are good at it. highly competent strings backed up by amazing drums, fast, heavy, 'balls out' skatepunk. we have songs that girls will love, songs that punks will love and generally something for everyone seeking relief from the 'mainstream'. we have an upcoming release on our own label 'snatch vinyl' and are hitting the studio hard for our second album in mid may.

Caveat here: the Thursday Morning Special Blend is my radio show, but I love having live bands in the studio. You can listen to CKCU in Ottawa at FM 93.1 or anywhere on the internet at ckcufm.com.

Live Music in the Nation's Capital on CKCU

Carleton University based CKCU FM - the Mighty 93.1 on the radio waves and ckcufm.com on the net - was Canada's first campus-based community radio station. For over 30 years, CKCU has been a source of innovative and wide-ranging programming. For music fans, one of the best programs to check out is Charles Anthony's Ottawa Live Music. Ottawa Live Music airs every Thursday night at 11:00 p.m., and features a set of live, in the studio, music from a wide variety of musicians, many of whom are from the Ottawa area. You'll hear folky singer/songwriters, metal, punk, pop, country, blues and much much more.

I know the CKCU studio very well, and space is tight for a proper live show. But Charles Anthony does a fantastic job of getting great and interesting acts in there and setting up a decent sound output for maximum enjoyment. Of course, with shows live and on the radio, if you're enjoying a tune then you can call in and let Charles know. Once I was even patched through to the artist to chat about a song she had just performed.

Don't worry if you can't stay up that late, or you miss a show - Charles has a great website which provides mp3 files of previous performances. He's also in the process of converting these mp3 files into the superior Ogg Vorbis format, and has many of them available right now. The list of performers is amazing, and includes some of my favourite Canadian musicians: The Acorn, Big Jeezus Truck, Black Boot Trio, Department of Foreign Affairs, Lindsay Ferguson, Sarah Hallman, Lynne Hanson, the Scarlett Fever, Andrew Vincent, Brock Zeman.... The schedule for the next few months features Chachi on Acid, Tanya Janca, the Bible All Stars, and more.

Charles tells me that he is setting up a new and improved website. You can check it out right here, though it is still a work in progress.

For great live music from awesome Canadian artists, listen to Ottawa Live Music whenever you can, Thursdays at 11:00 p.m. on CKCU - 93.1 FM in the National Capital Region, and online at ckcufm.com.

Marc Charron's Hard Work Pays Off

Marc Charron is a workhorse of a singer/songwriter/musician. In a recent facebook posting, Marc noted that, since July 2004, he has performed over 1000 shows, on 6 Canadian tours, 3 Western tours, one Australian tour (with Seismic), and one Eastern Canadian tour (with Lure). But then, in what is either a lament or a challenge, Charron notes "YOU still haven't seen me play..."

I've seen Marc Charron play. I've been most fortunate to have him perform, too early in the morning for most musicians, on my radio show, the Thursday Morning Special Blend on Ottawa's CKCU. His performances are always spirited, well crafted and fun. He's a great performer.

Charron's new record is entitled Coming & Going. It's been generally available at some of his shows in a pre-release form, and I am fortunate to have a copy. Coming & Going showcases the classic Canadian musician: child of the road enjoying the trip, experiencing love and heartbreak on the way, with a longing for home. In contrast to most of his solo shows, this record features a full band, with guests including Eric Grosvenor, Chris Bartos and Stuart Watkins. This is Charrons's first full studio record, and it shines.

"Snowy Frost"'s light acoustic strumming beat, and sing-a-long "doooo do do do do do do" chorus, perfectly captures the cool light inherent in the title, while evoking the loneliness of the road - whether you're on it or not. While "Canaday I Oh" features fine instrumentation with lovely strings, the beat and the strains of the violin also turn your mind to the vastness and difficulties of this land, especially for a DIY solo musician, with a chorus of sounds that seems as primitive as the wind. "Sun Breaks" maintains the outdoor theme, with references to simple Ottawa Valley life, this time using a standard, mid-tempo rock beat. But the acoustic melody breathes pleasant sunlight into the song, and we know exactly what it means when the sun breaks.

The standout track is "Just Like That". Listeners to my show, and Ottawa fans, have probably heard the original, stripped down version of this song (from the Collector's Item EP), which featured simple acoustic guitar melodies and a belting beat from Charron himself. But on Coming & Going, Charron takes full advantage of the band, which perfectly wraps the simplicity of the original track in a much grander setting. The strings here provide wonderful support to the tune, but Charron throws a curve ball mid way through, shifting into a funky reggae beat and back. Themes of the road, the outdoors, and perseverance are there as well - with stunning results.

Go see Marc Charron perform. Bring a friend. Buy his new CD. Of course, Charron is further evidence of the great live music scene we have in and around Ottawa. He has a lot of gigs in various places over the next number of weeks. These are 'cover' shows, but be sure to ask Marc to play some originals - you'll thank me. Check his myspace page for dates and locations.

Marc Charron Live Halloween Night!!!