Sobama: Rebekah Higgs Interviews Brian Borcherdt

On Rebekah Higgs Sobama Radio Show today on CKDU she talks about her trip to England, plays some great tunes including some she picked up on that trip and she has a long, long talk with Brian Borcherdt about Holy Fuck, about Brian's past, present and future about the stage invasion at Primavera Sound in 08 (see below) and about his forthcoming free LP of older material pulled from the vaults and nursed back to life.

Download It Here or Press Play:


Holy Fuck stage invasion primavera sound 08

Concert Review : Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees & Dragonette

(First of all: wow. Electro-dance music live. So much better than the recorded stuff. The show last night was a great continuation after seeing Champion and His G-Strings at Rifflandia.)

Now I admit up front I knew neither Dragonette nor Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees well going in to the concert and had little to no expectations. Rebekah Higgs of Ruby Jean is mentioned quite frequently on NxEW, so I assumed good things. A friend had invited me to the concert last minute and he's quite familiar with Dragonette's music, showing an interesting contrast where I knew the opening act while he knew the headliner. This review focuses mostly on Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees.

The show was held on October 17, 2009, and the venue, laconically named Venue (don't you love ironic un-creativity), was originally the Plaza night club. It was quite classy, in fact, which was a nice deviation from many of the Vancouver clubs. There was a high stage, much like the Commodore Ballroom, and similarly has a well laid out floor plan. High ceilings and a balcony enabled a back wall LED light display, as well as a hanging ceiling light displays. Both of those were put to good use during the two sets.

A few notes about Dragonette-- the lead singer Martina Sorbara oozes confidence. She knows how to grab attention and hold it. The crowd, which consisted of everything from screaming club girls to Gucci-sporting men to gamer-looking huge guys, ate up whatever she served during the hour set. It was amazing to be up so close to the front and see the amount of arms reaching and longing to touch her grey body suit or shake her slender hand. Sorbara was visibly pleased and thanked the full house crowd for their full attention and adoration.

Now onto Halifax's Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees. As an opening act, they complemented Dragonette very well, as both bands have strong frontwomen, backed by solid trios of supporting men. They both played electro-dance rock which moved you involuntarily.

Ruby Jean launched into You Don't Miss Me, the one song I was familiar with from CBC Radio 3, as the first song in their set. They then proceeded to blitz and grind through the remainder of songs from their eponymous album.

Although their time slot was quite early (7:30 on a weekend?), which Rebekah apologized for, the area in front of the stage soon filled up with bobbing heads and swinging hips. And with good reason. Rebekah Higgs is a hell of a show-woman, clutching two microphones, swinging her mess of blond hair around, kicking the air, craning her back down where previously thought humanly impossible, punching her suitcase of buttons and pedals... in short, it was amazing. She oozed confidence (and sex appeal!) in a fully sequined blue mini-dress, matched by guitarist Jason Vautour in a leather vest (no shirt) and leather short-shorts.

It was a pleasure watching the band rock out on stage, visibly having fun, with chemistry and what may be sexual tension building up to the (very high) roof. Rebekah thanked the audience frequently for their high energy, and reached out into the crowd quite a few times for audience participation.

I immediately bought their album and shirt after the set, which came to a very reasonable $20, and got to chat briefly with Rebekah, who's really sweet despite (?) her onstage persona.

On stage, Higgs mentioned that this is only the second time that they've played in Vancouver. Well, that has to be remedied. and fast.

For more pictures from last night, visit my Flickr!

Rebekah Higgs: Sobama Episode 6

Rebekah explores the Halifax Noise Scene with Meat Tree, plays another episode of the Maria Bamford Show, plays some of her favorite music and some of your requests.

Listen Here:


or download it here - as always I'll save a copy for when CKDU's archives drop it.

If you missed any check out
Episode 4 & 5
Episode 3
Episode 2
Episode 1

Halifax Musicians Help Make a Movie

Canadian music is more popular than it has ever been, inside and outside of Canada. Smart Canadian filmmakers, who are always strapped for cash and desperate for publicity have figured this out and are incorporating Canadian music into their films.

2007 Ed Gass-Donnelly incorporated an amazing soundtrack featuring Sunparlour Players, Buck 65, the Ghost is Dancing, Shad, and others into his film This Beautiful City

2007 Bruce McDonald, who previously made the rock mockumentary Hard Core Logo (Toronto band Billy Talent takes it's name from one of the characters) convinces Broken Social Scene to score his new film the Tracey Fragments. If Hollywood had any taste this would have been taken the Best Picture Oscar.

2008 Michael McGowan not only puts together an amazing soundtrack of Canadian music for his film One Week but the film also features cameo appearances from people like Gord Downie, Emm Gryner and Joel Plaskett.

Laura Dawe's first feature film "The Inevitability of Something That Once Felt Impossible" may put them all to shame before she's done though.

The film is about three "art kids" who, in the midst of an economic depression and gas crisis, move to a house in the country to try to build a sustainable, self-sufficient life for themselves. The Halifax music community, in support of Dawe, her idea, and the possibility of having films made in the maritimes have latched onto it in an unprecedented way.

Artists like Dog Day, Jane Vain and the Dark Matter, Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees, Jon McKiel, Jenn Grant and others have donated songs to the soundtrack. Beyond that many of the same people are doing what they can to promote the film and holding fundraisers to get Dawe the money to finish making it.

It has been featured on Rebekah Higgs Sobama radio show on CKDU - especially Episode 5 which is devoted entirely to talking with Dawe about the film and trying to raise funds for it.

Jenn Grant has turned her brithday party into a fundraiser for the film.

"My birthday wish this year is to have a music party with lots of friends and cupcakes to help to raise money for Laura Dawe's first feature film so she can finish it. Everyone! is! Invited! Please come. Musical guests will include Ruth Minnikin, Ryan MacGrath, Dance Movie, Daniel Ledwell, John Mullane, Klarka Weinwurm, Rebekah Higgs, Jon Mckiel, Alright Already, Acres and Acres and Zac Crouse. Oh yeah, i am a white ninja and laura is a black ninja. we are going to fight in a dual. i will wear flowers in my hair but she will probably wear evil crystals to try and deflect my awesome powers. It is required that you dress up as either a black or white ninja. eat my words as well as my knife."

Details are at the Facebook Event Page.

Local independent press from the Coast to Herohill have also been lending a hand.

Smart Canadian filmmakers have learned the value of using Canadian music to draw a wider audience but as far as I know this is the first time that Canadian musicians have been so directly involved with the funding and creation of the film. Canadians have recently become more interested in their own stories and their own voices. Perhaps the unprecedented popularity of Canadian music is only the first step toward a more prosperous and prolific Canadian arts and media on the whole.

I've sent a message asking how others can get involved, keep up with the project and make donations to the cause but haven't gotten word yet. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

On Edit: Those wishing to donate who cannot attend the fundraisers can paypal or donate an email money transfer to laura.dawe@gmail.com - There wasn't a permanent Facebook group so I made one (with Laura Dawe's approval - see http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115527373251.

First time filmmaker Laura Dawe and Birthday Girl Jenn Grant ninja it up.

Rebekah Higgs: Sobama Show Episodes 4 and 5

If you've missed either of the last two episodes of Rebekah Higgs last two shows on CKDU I've got them here: Listen to Rebekah spin some great tunes, play some of her favorite comedy and fill you in on going's on in Halifax.

Pay special attention to Episode 5 where Rebekah is joined by Laura Dawe for an extensive discussion of her film "The Inevitability of Something That Once Felt Impossible" and the fundraising efforts that will enable Dawe to finish making it - including Jenn Grant's upcoming Ninja brithday party fundraiser. More info on all of that is over here!

Episode 5

Download it Here

Episode 4

Download It Here

If you missed any of the first three check out
Episode III
Episode II
Episode I

and if any of these ever disappear give me a shout and I'll find a way to get them to you (they are hosted at CKDU right now, but I'm keeping copies.)

Rebekah Higgs: Radio Host Part III

On todays Sobama! radio show on CKDU host Rebekah Higgs talks SappyFest, plays some of the artists that will be there for it, shares some more of her favorite comedy, and interviews the legendary Julie Doiron all in 90 minutes.

Although a part 4 of Rebekah's show has now been scheduled I'll be on vacation, without internet next week and won't be able to bring it to you until after I get back. I've tried but as groovy as CKDU's archive tool is, it can't give me things that haven't been recorded yet. So you'll just have to listen for yourself, next Tuesday from 2:30 - 4 pm Atlantic Time on CKDU.

For now, if you missed today's show you can un-miss it right here:



Or Download it Here.

If you've missed either of the last two see:

Episode 2
Episode 1

Rebekah Higgs: Radio Host the Sequel

Today Rebekah Higgs took her second shot at being a radio host on Halifax's CKDU playing her favorite music and comedy. This episode features an interview with a member of Halifax comedy troop Picnic Face and a plug for Dawe's Fundraising Auction - where they are auctioning paintings to raise money to make a movie.

If you missed Rebekah's Show you can still hear it below (note there is a little extra on either end). If you missed the first one then you can find it here - Just don't miss it next week, she'll be back from 2:30 to 4 Atlantic Time on CKDU.



Or download it there or if the link goes dead get in touch - I'll keep a copy.

If you'd like to see the video that Rebekah played the audio from watch this:

All About Halifax



and if you've been saying to yourself "I really need to listen to more campus/community radio because I'm missing some good shit" then you'll want to check this out!

Rebekah Higgs Makes Radio Hosting Debut on CKDU

You might know her as Rebekah Higgs or you might know her as Ruby Jean - in either case she made her debut as a radio host today on CKDU in Halifax, talked about the Polaris Prize, talked about inventing words, told some drinking stories and played some of her favorite Canadian bands, plus some of her favorite comedy, and had an interview with Jon McKiel (alot of stuff crammed into 90 minutes). Pure Awesomeness!

I've also just gotten word that Rebekah will be doing it again on CKDU from 2:30 - 4 (Atlantic Time) - next tuesday, so put it in your calendar and tune in (from anywhere in the world online if you don't happen to live in Halifax.)

You can download the .pls file (to add it to your iTunes radio stations) at http://ckdu.dal.ca/ckdu-hi.pls!

You can also use this groovy tool - which lets you pick segments of CKDU programming by time slot and stream it or download it (remember Atlantic time zone). That's how I can easily do this:

Listen to Rebekah Higgs Radio Debut (a little extra on the beginning and end)


or download it http://ckdu.dal.ca/20090714.14.39-16.03.mp3. (I don't know how long they keep these archives for - if it doesn't work drop an email to nothbyeastwest at gmail.com - I'll have a copy.)

You might also want to check out this (if you listen to the show you'll know why).

Laura Barrett & Rebekah Higgs - Robot Ponies

Rebekah Higgs' Debut as Radio Host (and other updates)

Tomorrow (June 14, 2009) on Halifax radio station CKDU Rebekah Higgs will make her debut as a radio host. According to Higgs this is only a guest spot, we'll have to wait and see if she picks up the bug or not: If you'd like to tune in Rebekah will be on the air from 2:30 - 4 pm and she's promising that she'll

"...i will be playing a slew of Canadian Music. Including my Top Ten picks for Polaris that are NOT on the Short list.

also on the show, some of my favorite Youtube Sound Clips.

The Gossip vs The News

Phone ins

Picnicface highlights

and an interview with Jon Mckiel!"

More info is available on the Facebook Event Page. If you're in Halifax you can tune in at 88.1 FM, if you're not you can listen online at ckdu.ca!

In other Higgs news I just got word that she'll be playing a free, all ages show in Halifax at noon on Thursday as part of Tunes at Noon. go here for details.

You can also download Rebekah's Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees session at CIUT in Toronto by clicking here!

Rebekah Higgs - Parables

Laura Barrett at Rolly's Garage

It wasn't an official NxNE show but Laura Barrett did a great set at Rolly's Garage in Toronto on Saturday afternoon as part of the Daps Duo / No Shame show. She even brought biscotti for everyone - you may have your favorites from the weekend but how many of them brought you cookies? Also, at one point in the show Rebekah Higgs (who had played earlier with Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees came up and they turned Laura's song Robot Ponies into a duet. More video from Rolly's Garage will be up later but for now ...

Laura Barrett - Wood Between Worlds



Laura Barrett & Rebekah Higgs - Robot Ponies

Huge Live Music Archive (thanks Tyler)

Tyler Wade of Two Way Monologues and Zygiella fame pointed me to an amazing archive of live recordings at soundmann.com. The recordings go back to a Chris Brown and Kate Fenner show in October of 2004. Sadly there is no RSS feed for the site so you'll just have to check it regularly for new stuff but it's all in MP3 format and it's all free.

There are way too many shows to list but they include

The Burning Hell. 2008 Jul 26. Hillside Festival, Guelph ON.



Rebekah Higgs. 2008 Jul 25. Hillside Festival, Guelph ON.



D'Urbervilles. 2008 Aug 17. Dog Day Afternoon, Fergus ON.



Caribou. 2008 Mar 19. Starlight, Waterloo ON.



Forest City Lovers. 2008 Mar 15. 130 King, Waterloo ON



Julie Doiron. 2007 Sep 16. Jane Bond, Waterloo ON



Rock Plaza Central. 2007 Jul 28. Hillside Festival, Guelph ON



and that, as I said barely begins to scratch the surface a little. Dig In!