CLICK HERE FOR BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND MYSPACE LAYOUTS »

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Ladyhawk and Black Mountain - March 29, 2008

This morning I was reflecting with my significant other on the show last night and we were talking about "prog rock." Last night I left before Black Mountain completed its show because I find that there is only "so much" prog rock that I can listen to. So my sig-oth said to me this morning, "Fine then... just give them a bad review on your blog." So to be sure, I want all of you to know that this is not a bad review of the show.

The show started out with Nordic Nomadic playing a couple of tunes to warm up the crowd. His electric folk set was really good and got the crowd in the mood for some upcoming awesome guitar magic.

I have seen Ladyhawk several times in the last couple of years. The first time I saw them, a friend of mine who used to live in Vancouver dragged me out to the show and we stood at the front with about 8 other people. I was hooked. I bought their self-titled album and listened to it obsessively for a while... and still sometimes do. The last few times I've seen them, they have gotten a good crowd. However, last night Amigo's was packed. At 9:30, the sign on the door said, "Sorry, this show is sold out." Always a good sign for this band. Lucky for me, I've had my ticket for a few weeks now.

Ladyhawk's set was awesome. Seriously. So awesome. Such pure, head-banging rock and roll. Awesome lyrics, long hair swung around, jumping off of the bass drum, killer guitar solos, facial hair, and a guitar held together by duct tape. These are just a few of the levels of the show. It was a seriously rocking out set with a good mix of older and new songs off of their latest album "Shots." I talked to the drummer while Black Mountain was playing and I asked him how the tour was going and he said, "It's so awesome. I mean, how could it not... I get to listen to my favorite band every night!" This is exactly why this band is awesome - because they love music, they love performing, and they do it well.

Black Mountain. Woah, what a band. More than a band, it is an ambiance... a feeling. Everyone could feel it as the lights went down and all you see was the green light behind the drum kit and smoke from their smoke machine. We all tingled in anticipation of the greatness that was about to take stage. And then it did. And it was. The haunting female vocals, the intense keyboards, the heart-pumping bass lines, and stellar guitar solos. I had no idea before this show that there were so many buttons and pedals involved in prog rock. I couldn't help but wonder how they remembered what button/pedal made what sound. I'm sure they have that worked out, though... it just was a thought that went through my head before the show.

The reason why I left early was because I was tired and I was not consuming any mind-altering substances, which probably would have made the whole experience even more intense. Black Mountain's show is kind of a mind-altering experience in itself, but it altered my mind to relaxing so much that I wanted to close my eyes and yawn. Overall, a very satisfying experience.

Crystal's rating: 7.5/10

Friday, March 28, 2008

Hawksley Workman - March 27, 2008

Last night's Hawksley Workman show at the Broadway Theatre was not what I expected - it was better!

I went in thinking "This is going to be a great mellow, sit-down show." I left thinking, "Hawksley Workman is a musical genius!" The show was anything but mellow. In fact, it was up, down, sideways, and back again. The whole show was performed like a play: there were different themes for each act and the audience was left wondering, "What is he going to do next." And just when you thought you had the plot figured out, something else would happen leaving you reeling and wondering how it's all going to end.

The show started with Hawksley's band wearing alien antennae while bopping along to what I can only call the "alien rock" that they were playing. Mr. Lonely and Hawksley played a little piano and a little drum kit, respectively. Hawksley changed instruments so often throughout the show that one never knew what he was going to play next. The whole evening was entertaining, light, kind of silly, and completely musically wonderful.

He played a lot of songs off of his latest album "Between the Beautifuls," a few songs off of "Treeful of Starling," some funny cover songs, and I'm assuming some older songs (I'm not very familiar with early Hawksley so I'm not completely sure). He definitely has lots of material to choose from considering that he has 9 albums out! I think he almost played everything he had because he played for over 2.5 hours. It was one of the longest shows I've seen in a while.

Near the middle of the show, Hawksley picked up his acoustic guitar and stood in front of the microphone and sang into the crowd. The whole band followed bringing their unplugged instruments and they played an unplugged, acoustic set of songs. The audience had to be very quiet in order to hear it... they had our undivided attention. It was a lovely part of the show. It was only one part of it before he went back into plugging in his electric guitar and telling storied about going for pasta in his pajamas with his brother in Calgary the day before. A storyteller, he most certainly is.

A highlight from the show for me was when he played "The City is a Drag" and infused it with an alien rock, abbreviated version of "Karma Chameleon" and then a bit of Starship's "We Built this City on Rock and Roll," but then went right back into the end of "The City is a Drag." He knew he was being silly and he obviously enjoyed making the crowd laugh.

Near the end of his show, all of the other band members left the stage leaving only him. He then proceeded to take off his jacket, then his tie, and then his button-up shirt. I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing, but he ended up uncovering a t-shirt that said:
STRIPTEASE
FOR ME
HAWKSLEY
Instead of taking off all of his clothes, he stopped there and put on a bright green coverall-esque jumpsuit, all while singing a song that I wasn't even paying attention to. His band came back all in matching jumpsuits to Hawksley's and they turned into a rock and roll band. It was intense and awesome. At the end of it, they said goodbye a number of times. However, they came back for an encore. The encore was much like the beginning, with the alien rock coming back and just general sound noise with some singing parts.

All-in-all, a great show. I am very lucky to have seen so many great shows in such a short amount of time. I guess when it rains, it pours in Saskatoon.

Crystal's rating: 9/10

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Jason Collett & Peter Elkas - Wednesday, March 26, 2008

There is nothing like being at Amigo's on a "school" night. Before the show started, I saw many people checking their watch for the time and mentally calculating how many hours of sleep they will get before they have to get up for work/school in the morning. Then we all say to each other, "Oh, I hope it starts soon... I have to be up at [ridiculous time of the am] tomorrow!" Last night I replied with "I was up at 5am to do Green Eggs and Ham this morning. I'm so tired!" It's the regular dance at Amigo's during the week.

However, all the thoughts of time and tiredness melted away as Peter Elkas took the stage and won us all over. That guy can SING. I was not familiar with Mr. Elkas before the show, but a friend of mine came to the show just for him. So I stood at the front despite not knowing the words to his songs and smiled at the wonderfulness that was Peter Elkas and his fans. However, the sound guy (who was not Ryan Drabble, Amigo's amazing sound guy) had some difficulty for this first set and made numerous errors. Every time it happened, I said to myself, "Drabble wouldn't have let that happen." But I'm like that. The music itself, though, was awesome. Needless to say, I bought Peter Elkas' CD.

Last time Jason Collett was at Amigo's was also in the middle of the week, but he packed the place then and he packed it last night as well. I love middle-of-the-week-Amigos crowds - they are friendly, not overly drunk, polite, considerate, and really there for the music. Jason came on stage wearing a red and black plaid flannel button-up shirt, tight pants, and his obviously used guitars. However, somehow he gives off an air of being a big rock star. Some people don't like his arrogance, but I like the contrast of how he looks and how he acts, and afterwards I talked to him for a bit and he seemed very down to earth. During his set, he played a great mix of songs off of his new and old albums, including Hangover Days, Parry Sound, I'll Bring the Sun, Pavement Puddle Stars, Pink Night, and These are the Days from his 2005 album. Off of his new album, which I'm not completely familiar with [yet], he played Sorry Lori, Out of Time, Henry's Song, Not Over You, and probably more.

The band that Jason Collett shared with Peter Elkas was a lot more relaxed with Jason than with Peter. Peter said that they had jammed together a few times, but this was their first show together (I think that's what he said, I was blinded by his good looks to completely listen to him). However, the band looked extremely comfortable with Jason and they were really tight with him. I'm sure he demands nothing less. Also, I thought it was great that Peter came on stage and played slide guitar for the whole set with Jason. Ahhh, collaboration.

Of course the crowd wouldn't let Jason Collett stay off the stage after his set, despite the "I have to get up early tomorrow" conversations that they had had not even two hours before. When Jason came back, people started shouting out songs and then I did something that was very out of character for me at shows - I shouted out "We all Lose One Another." He looked at me and smiled and I said smiling, "Plaaaay it!" So he did! It was awesome. Definitely a highlight for me.

The whole show was great and I thoroughly enjoyed both acts. This show is going on my Potential Top 10 Shows of 2008 list.
Crystal's rating: 8.5/10

P.S. Thanks to everyone who came up to me to say that they liked my radio show on CFCR. It is always nice to know that people are listening and appreciate community radio!

NOTE: If you take a quote from this review, please leave a comment letting me know!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (year of release, extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
hawksley workman* - all the trees are hers - between the beautifuls (2008)
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly - Once Soundtrack (2007)
Be Good Tanyas* - hello love - hello love (2006)
The Waifs - Without You - sun dirt water (2008)
Po' Girl* - 9 Hours to Go - Home to You (2007)
Xavier Rudd* - Messages - Food in the Belly (2005)
Nathan* - Gasoline - Jimson Weed (2004)
The Weber Brothers* - You Don't Know Me - Exhibition (2007)
Corin Raymond* - Three thousand Miles - Record Lonesome Night (2004)
Feist* - I Feel it All - The Reminder (2007, Crystals #1 Album of 2007)
Regina Spektor - That Time - Begin to Hope (2006, Crystal's #1 Album of 2006)
Regina Spektor - Poor Little Rich Boy - Soviet Kisch (2005)
Feist* - Mushaboom - Let it Die (2005)

7:00-8:00
Kimya Dawson - Tree Swing - Juno Soundtrack (2007)
Cake - Short Skirt, Long Jacket - Comfort Eagle (2001)
Christine Fellow* - Saturday Night on Utopia Parkway - Nevertheless (2007)
Arcade Fire* - Crown of Love - Funeral (2004)
Immaculate Machine* - Dear Confessor - Fables (2007)
Wolf Parade* - Shine a Light - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)
hawksley workman* - when these mountains were the seashore - treeful of starling (2006)
Sarah Slean* - Euphoria - Baroness (2008)
Scout Niblett & Bonnie 'Prince' Billie - Do you want to be buried with my people? - This Fool Can Die Now (2007)
Jason Collett* - Out of Time - Here's to Being Here (2008)
Jason Collett* - We all lose one another - Idols of Exile (2005)
Jason Collett* - Tiny Ocean of Tears - Motor Motel Love Songs (2003)
Josh Ritter - Mind's Eye - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (2007)

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Feist* - Secret Heart - Let it Die (2004)
k.d. lang* - coming home - watershed (2008)
Tracy McNeil* - Headlong into Nothing - Room Where she Lives (2007)
Buck 65* - Wicked and Weird - Talkin' Honkey Blues (2007)
C.R. Avery* - Hell of a Hotel of Harm
Sloan* - She Says what she Means - Navy Blues (1998)
Novillero* - The Hypothesist - Aim Right for the Holes in their Lives (2006)
Black Mountain* - Stay Free - In the Future (2008)
Ladyhawk* - I Don't Know What You're Saying - Shots (2008)
Regina Spektor - On the Radio - Begin to Hope (2006)
Tegan and Sara* - Knife Going In - The Con (2007)
Feist* - Past in Present - The Reminder (2007)

7:00-8:00
Sarah Slean* - Get Home - The Baroness (2008)
Christine Fellows* - The Spinster's Almanac - Nevertheless (2007)
The Decemberists - Summersong - The Crane Wife (2006)
Jason Collett* - Through the NIght these Days - Here's to Being Here (2008)
Josh Ritter - Guess Again - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (2007)
The Ride Theory (New Rival)* - My Girl June - In this City (2005)
Sunparlour Players* - Talk to Death - Hymns for the Happy (2007)
Hawksley Workman* - All the trees are hers - between the beautifuls (2008)
Kathleen Edwards* - The Cheapest Key - Asking for Flowers (2008)
The Cracker Cats* - Tumbleweed - Livin' on the Run (2005)
Little Miss Higgins* - Radville - Cobbler Shop Sessions (2005)
The Breeders - We're Gonna Rise - Mountain Battles (2008)
Metric* - Handshakes - Live it Out (2005)
Spiral Beach* - Voodoo - self-titled album (2006)
The Breeders - Bang On - Mountain Battles (2008)

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Serena Ryder* - Good Morning Starshine - If Your Memory Serves you Well (2007)
Be Good Tanyas* - Ootichemia - Hello Love (2006)
Sarah Harmer* - Uniform Grey - You were Here (2000)
The Shins - New Slang - Oh, Inverted World (2004)
Josh Ritter - Real Long Distance - The Historical Conquests of JR (2007)
Little Miss Higgins* - Middle of Nowhere - Junction City (2007, local)
Po' Girl* - Cold Hungry Blues - self-titled (2004)
Veruca Salt - Number One Blind - American Thighs (1994)
Spiral Beach* - Voodoo - self-titled (2006)
Tegan and Sara* - Knife Going In - The Con (2007)
The Heartstrings* - Orchard Morning - self-titled (2007, local, by request)
Sarah Harmer - I'm aglow - I'm a Mountain (2005, by request)
Basia Bulat* - Oh, My Darling - Oh, My Darling (2007)
Basia Bulat* - Snakes and Ladders - Oh, My Darling (2007)
Hawksley Workman* - Alone Here - Between the Beautifuls (2008)

7:00-8:00am
Stars* - Your ex-lovers is Dead - Set Yourself on Fire (2004)
Immaculate Machine* - C'mon Sealegs - Fables (2007)
Jason Collett* - No Redemption Song - Here's to Being Here (2008)
Weber Brothers Band - Easy Lovin' - Exhibition (2007)
Luke Doucet* - Blood's too Rich - Blood's too Rich (2008)
Cracker Cats* - Workin' - Empty Bottles 'n' Broken Hearts (2004)
The Unicorns* - Jellybones - Who will cut our hair when we're gone (2003)
Maybe Smith* - Open War - Animals and Architects (2007, local)
Henri Faberge & the Adorables* - Favorite Kisses - self-titled (2005)
Black Mountain* - Angel - In the Future (2008)
Ladyhawk* - Fear - Shots (2008)
Wolf Parade* - You are a Runner and I am my Father's Son - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Scout Niblett & Bonnie 'Prince' Billie - Do you want to be buried with my people? - This Fool can Die Now (2007)
Christine Fellows* - Saturday Night on a Utopia Parkway - Nevertheless (2007)
Sarah Harmer* - Greeting Card Aisle - All of Our Names (2004)
Matty Powell & the Resonance* - Hope - Ness Creek Sessions (2007, local)
Heather Aitken* - Dust on my Shoes - NessEssentials (2005, local)
The Heartstrings* - Big Black Boots - self-titled (2007, local)
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Gone, Gone, Gone (Done moved on) - Raising Sand (2007)
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Follow the Lights - Follow the Lights (2007)
Corb Lund* - Hard on Equipment (Tool for the Job) - Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! (2007)
Hawksley Workman* - All the Trees are Hers - Between the Beautifuls (2008)
The Frames - Rise - The Cost (2007)
Shotgun Jimmie* - Bedhead - The Onlys (2007)

7:00-8:00am
The Black Keys - The Wicked Messenger - I'm Not There Soundtrack (2007)
Black Mountain* - Angels - In the Future (2007)
Wolf Parade* - Shine a Light - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2006)
Josh Ritter - Right Moves - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (2007)
Jason Collett* - Out of Time - Here's to being Here (2008)
The Ride Theory* - My Girl June - In this City (2006)
Beirut - Nantes - The Flying Club Cup (2007)
The Moldy Peaches - Anyone Else but You - Juno Soundtrack (2007)
The Shins - Caring is Creepy - Oh, Inverted World (2001)
Regina Spektor - Poor Little Rich Boy - Soviet Kitsch (2005)
Cat Power - Lived in Bars - The Greatest (2006)
Immaculate Machine* - Dear Confessor - Fables (2007)
Spiral Beach* - Voodoo - self-titled (2006)
Metric* - Combat Baby - old world underground, where are you now? (2005)

Also, on the show I mentioned the controversy about Barbara Walters saying that she "didn't get the Moldy Peaches." I found some clips about the controversy, which originated in BW's Oscar interview with Ellen Paige and The Moldy Peaches playing on "The View." Here are the clips:

The Moldy Peaches on The View is where it started.
The clip that everyone is talking about
Ellen Page singing "Anyone else but you" with Barabara Walters. "I have a guitah..."

According to EW:
"One of the strangest exchanges on Oscar night didn’t occur at the Kodak Theatre, but on Barbara Walters' Academy Awards special. The View doyenne told Juno’s Ellen Page that she doesn’t “get” the Moldy Peaches — even though she booked the semiretired duo to perform their unlikely hit, 'Anyone Else But You,' on her daytime talk show."

Then Barabara makes a funny comment on Conan O'Brien.

Crystallize your Wednesday Mornings!

Crystallize your Wednesday Mornings!
Thanks to Olivia for creating this!