Coming Up on (CBC Radio 2) Canada Live: Hannah Georgas, Jeremy Fisher, NQ Arbuckle, Chantal Kreviazuk & More

Every weeknight CBC Radio 2 brings you live music from all over Canada. A friend at Radio 2 is good enough to pass the schedule on to me so that I can pass it on to you. Coming up this week - starting tonight (Monday, Novmber 2)

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Monday, November 2, 2009
concert 1: Hannah Georgas
recorded at St. James Hall in Vancouver
Hannah Georgas [GEORGE-us] describes herself as a "quirky, highly-sensitive, whimsical, and yet extremely serious Vancouver-based singer/ songwriter who will one day win over Jack Black and take his hand in marriage." Now that is a life plan! Hannah opened for Jeremy Fisher on his tour and proved she's someone to keep an eye on. But don't wait, check out her spunky folk sounds now!
concert 2: Jeremy Fisher
recorded at St. James Hall in Vancouver
Jeremy Fisher just keeps getting better and better. Wonderful songs that you can't stop humming are a great place to start. But with this concert, Jeremy shows the wonderful rapport he can have with his audience. They laughed, they clapped, they cheered him on. A wonderful concert capturing a wonderful musician in top form. Folk, pop and good times.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
concert 1: Bia
recorded at the Théâtre de la Ville [tay-AHTRUH duh la VEEL] in Longueuil [lohn-GAY], Quebec.
Brazilian-born, Montreal-based singer Bia [BEE-ah] encompasses the true meaning of "world artist." Singing in French, Portuguese and Spanish, Bia has been performing and singing for well over a decade. Her fifth studio album, Nocturno, saw its English Canada release in May 2008, and it's filled with sensual vocals accompanied by her trademark acoustic guitar, as well as bossa nova and samba beats. As the days get shorter and colder, enjoy this music that hints of hotter climes.
concert 2: DMBQ
recorded at the D.F. Cook Recital Hall in St. John's, Newfoundland
Billed as the best contemporary jazz band in Canada the DMBQ (Davidson, Murley, Braid Quintet) wrapped up their national tour with a breathtaking concert at the D.F. Cook Recital Hall in St. John's. The frontline features Tara Davidson and Mike Murley on horns, plus pianist David Braid. These three have won an armful of awards as leaders of their own groups, and now with the dynamic rhythm section of Jim Vivian [VIV-ee-in] on bass and Ian Froman [FROH-man] on drums, this gifted band of players and composers are defining the sound of Canadian Jazz. Hot! Hot ! Hot!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009
concert 1: Julian Fauth
recorded at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto
Julian Fauth [FOUTH, rhymes with "mouth"], 2009 Juno Award winner, is a Barrelhouse Blues Man who is never far from a piano. When Canada Live caught up with Julian at The Dakota Tavern in Toronto he had just come from another gig. When he arrived he headed straight for the piano. He didn't leave that piano for hours. When he finally did decide to stop playing, he quickly announced he was off to another all-night gig. The man seems addicted and once you hear him play you can't help but become addicted too.
concert 2: Chloe Albert
recorded at the Epcor Centre's Engineered Air Theatre in Calgary
Edmonton singer-songwriter Chloe Albert performs solo as part of the TransCanada Alberta Music Series - a mini festival held every spring in the Epcor [EP-core] Centre's Engineered Air Theatre. Chloe's debut CD "Dedicated State" earned her the Canadian Folk Music Award for "New Emerging Artist of the Year" in 2008.

Thursday, November 5, 2009
concert 1: Chantal Kreviazuk
recorded at Jackson-Triggs Estate Amphitheatre in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Winnipeg's Chantal Kreviazuk [shan-TELL kreh-vee-AH-zuk] has become one of Canada's top music artists, and in October, she released her latest CD called "Plain Jane". Chantal performed songs from that new release in an intimate outdoor setting, in front of a sold out crowd, at the Jackson-Triggs Estate Amphitheatre in Niagara-On-The-Lake. Joining Chantal for the evening was Kevin Fox on cello & guitar and Karen Graves on violin, and Canada Live was there to bring you all of the magic and fun.

Friday, November 6, 2009
concert 1: Little Miss Higgins
recorded at the Regina Performing Arts Centre
By day, she's Jolene Higgins, but by night, Little Miss Higgins haunts the halls of this great land with her stunning vocals and country blues sound. She effortlessly transforms simple stories of life on the prairies into chilling tales and heartwarming adventures. Little Miss is joined by Foy [rhymes with "boy"] Taylor on guitar and stomp box and Joey Lorer [LORE-er] on bass. This show was recorded at the Regina Performing Arts Centre on International Women's Day and presented by Sisters for Sisters - an extension of the Grandmothers for Grandmothers movement started by Stephen Lewis.
concert 2: NQ Arbuckle
recorded at the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, Quebec
NQ Arbuckle's charismatic frontman Neville Quinlan [KWIN-lin] wields an battered black acoustic guitar and strums it with enough force to rival any electrified six-string! His gritty vocals are backed by tight twin brothers Mark and Peter Kesper [KESP-er] on lead guitar and drums and everybody's favourite bass player, John Dinsmore. The audience was truly the fifth member of the band--like at any NQ Arbuckle concert; they were in fine form heckling and singing along.

Concert Review - Hey Ocean! at Telus Studio Theatre

Originally posted here.

Tonight (September 17), Hey Ocean! played at the Telus Studio Theatre at University of British Columbia's Chan Centre. The show was phenomenal as per usual. More polished than the 3-4 previous times I've seen them... as the set was being recorded by CBC Radio 2; The beautiful albeit somewhat formal setting of the theatre must've helped as well.

The mood was somewhat subdued compared to other shows of theirs. The amount of dancing was about 87.43% less (approximately) and the cat-calls as well. Except for of course, me, who should really be carted around from show to show to make loud noises when it is lacking.

David Beckingham, the guitarist, even mentioned that it was a huge change from playing bars on their tour, to a quiet (but really appreciative) audience in their hometown.

Ashleigh Ball was in top form tonight, lilting her playful voice high and low, spitting rhymes interspersed in their West Coast-inspired set harder, better, faster, stronger. (thought I'd use a more positive Kanye reference.) Her family was in the audience cheering her along, as well as at least one member of local band Said The Whale, whom can be expected to be at any given show in Vancouver.

Hey Ocean! played hits from both their debut Stop Looking Like Music and their sophomore album It's Easier To Be Somebody Else. Their set was also interspersed with new material for their upcoming album, which is still in the process of being written.

Particular favourites from the set for myself included Uh Oh, a new song which I've heard live a couple of times, which is a catchy tune that references hipsters and the infamous Adbusters article about them (or us?). 15 Words is great when Beckingham is sober enough to get the riff right, which was the case tonight. Bicycle is a stripped down little ditty about love and love lost. Beatboxer is always fun and infectious, and Jolene had fantastic harmonies. (Is this the same Jolene who also haunts Jeremy Fisher?)

Another point of note is the new drummer. They've got one, at least temporarily. The last time I spoke with bassist Dave Vertesi (also of local band Topless Gay Love Tekno Party) he had mentioned that this one has promise, and is currently their touring drummer. Unfortunately, I didn't catch his name, but he seemed quite in sync with the rest of the members. After showing off his chops in an extended drum solo, he also proved that he can match the rest of the formidable band in terms of musical skill. This is important, as the biggest draw to Hey Ocean!, besides Ashleigh Ball's captivating presence and singular voice, is the driving and diverse rhythms that compels shoulders to sway and feet to dance. Here's hoping the band will find that percussive match soon, if they have not already found it in this current drummer.

Hey Ocean! is coming to a city near you! Below are some upcoming tour dates, including a stint in the United States. (Playing with Joel Plaskett in Pop Montreal?! Nicely done! Stacked show.)

18 Sep 2009 21:00	The Gateway	Calgary, AB
19 Sep 2009 21:00	Louis’ Pub	Saskatoon, SK
20 Sep 2009 20:00	WCMA Awards	Brandon, MB
23 Sep 2009 20:00	Phog Lounge	Windsor, ON
24 Sep 2009 20:00	Call the Office (All Ages)	London, ON
25 Sep 2009 20:00	The Bombshelter Pub - U of W	Waterloo, ON
26 Sep 2009 20:00	Paddy Flaherty’s	Sarnia, ON
29 Sep 2009 20:00	Algonquin College	Ottawa, ON
30 Sep 2009 20:00	The Ale House w/ Joel Plaskett	Kingston, ON
1 Oct 2009 20:00	Club Soda w/ Joel Plaskett (Pop Montreal)	Montreal, QC
2 Oct 2009 20:00	Blacksheep Inn	Wakefield, QC
3 Oct 2009 21:00	Montreal House	Peterborough, ON
7 Oct 2009 20:00	M Room (Manhattan Room)	Philadelphia, PA
8 Oct 2009 20:00	Piano’s (10 PM)	New York, NY
14 Oct 2009 20:00	M Room	Philadelphia, PA
15 Oct 2009 22:00	Piano’s	New York, NY
17 Oct 2009 20:00	The Rivoli	Toronto, ON
21 Oct 2009 20:00	M Room	Philadelphia, PA
26 Oct 2009 20:00	Uptown Bar	Minneapolis, MN
7 Nov 2009 20:00	NACA West	Portland, OR