The Tragically Hip & The Weakerthans are coming to Guelph

In addition to their two shows at Fort York in Toronto at the end of June, The Hip announced this week that they will be playing Guelph Lake Conservation Area (the site of Hillside) on June 18. Tickets are $49.50, on sale tomorrow (March 31).

Update: This show is now sold out.

The Tragically Hip - New Orleans Is Sinking (Killer Whale Tank version) (right click - save as)

The Weakerthans (all files from theweakerthans.org - right click, save as)
Last Last One
Aside
Plea From A Cat Named Virtue

Joe Jackson Tour Dates

Joe Jackson announced last week his upcoming US tour. Here are the dates:

June 12 - Washington, DC
June 13 - Glenside, PA
June 15 - Chicago, IL
June 16 - St. Paul, MN
June 19 - Portland, OR
June 20 - Seattle, WA
June 22 - Saratoga, CA
June 23 - Hollywood, CA
June 25 - Salt Lake City, UT
June 28 - Somerville, MA
June 29 - New York, NY

You may notice that there are no dates scheduled for Toronto, or any Canadian city for that matter. In fact Joe hasn't played in Canada since August 2003, and it's been three full years since he's played Toronto! As you can guess, I'm not happy about this. So I e-mailed his management. Here's a copy.

I see that Joe is touring the US in June, but there are no Canadian dates on this tour. Speaking on behalf of his Canadian fans, this is quite dissapointing. I was equally upset last year, when his tour with Todd Rundgren also missed Canada. Looking at Joe's tour history, he hasn't played Toronto in almost three years (2 April 2003). Is it a cost issue? A scheduling problem? A border or customs issue? Or has Joe simply grown indifferent to Canada?

I've probably seen Joe play about a dozen times over the years, and it's always been a unique and memorable show. It would be great to add to those memories.

If you are equally upset about this, you can contact his management throught his website. I will let you know if I actually get a response.

And since I can't make a post without any music, here are some live selections recorded in 2002 when he reunited the original Joe Jackson Band. These are taken from the bonus disc that came with the Volume 4 album.

All files right click, save as
On Your Radio
Got The Time
It's Different For Girls
I'm The Man

The National Playlist

Last week I made reference to The National Playlist on CBC. I'm sure some of you were saying "What the heck (or expletive of your choice) is The National Playlist?" TNP, as it's often referred to, debuted in November 2005 and his hosted by Jian Ghomeshi. The idea is to create a weekly playlist that mixes old and new tunes rather than a chart of current favourites. This is by no means a definitive chart of the greatest songs, rather a constantly evolving list reflecting different tastes and opinions. Every week Jian is joined by three panelists who are usually affiliated with the music industry in one way or another. There have been musicians such as Jason Collett, Chris Murphy (Sloan), Ian Thomas, Sarah Slean, and Hawksley Workman; music writers such as Ben Rayner, Peter Goddard, and Jason Schneider; and former MuchMusic VJ's Christopher Ward, Rick Campanelli, and most recently Dalton Higgins (aka Master T). Each week each member of the panel will suggest two songs to be added to the list, one current and one classic, and give their reasons why the song deserves to be on the list. At the end of the week, there are eight newly suggested songs that could make the list. Meanwhile listeners can vote for songs on the current list, with the six songs receiving the most votes staying on the chart. The panel debates the new selections then vote for their picks, and the top four vote getters are added to the new playlist. On Monday they start all over again with a new panel.

Here are this week's new entries on the playlist:

When the Sun Goes Down , Arctic Monkeys
The Message, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Cartridge, Shawn Hewitt
The Big Guns, Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins (right click, save as)

Among the songs that didn't make it this week were My Girl by The Temptations, and A New England by Billy Bragg.

The National Playlist can be heard weekday mornings at 11:30 on CBC Radio One, and the countdown can be heard Saturday nights at 9:00 also on Radio One. You can check out the current and past lists at their website (this link will also be up in the links section on the right side of your screen) and vote for your favourite on this week's list.

It's Spring!

In recognition of the first day of spring, I offer a track from one of my favourite albums. From 1986, The Colour Of Spring by Talk Talk.

Living In Another World

Also, The Gandharvas from 1994,

The First Day of Spring

New Music

Since I shared some old favourites in the first post, I thought I'd highlight some current stuff that I'm listening to.

Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit. A great album, perhaps their best. I love how they've incorporated their own sound with a 60's soul sound. What you get is something very reminiscent of some early '80's British music (which itself was infuenced by the 60's soul sound); The Beat, Joe Boxers, early Style Council, or Punch The Clock era Costello. I truly regret not seeing their show last month with The New Pornographers, but after seeing them at Massey Hall in 2003, I felt I would be dissapointed with a show at The Docks. Sometimes venue is everything!

For The Price of a Cup of Tea

also Another Sunny Day (from the Matador Records website)

Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat. I seem to have missed out on much of the American indie scene. I try to be aware of new bands in Canada, and I usually know what's happening in the UK though Mojo and Uncut, but the US remained unknown to me. Rilo Kiley is one of those bands that was unaware of but, from reading other blogs, one I should be listening to. This year has seen side projects from two RK members; guitarist Blake Sennet's band The Elected, and singer Jenny Lewis' album Rabbit Fur Coat. Lewis moves away from alt rock and into alt.country territory, with great success. Her delicate voice is well suited to the sound, reminds me of Neko Case.

You Are What You Love (From the Team Love Records website, where most of the album is available for download.)

Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. How was that for a segue? Many of you would recognize Neko Case as the female lead of The New Pornographers, but that's just a side gig for her, she has a career in her own right. This is her fourth album, and some are saying her best. I haven't heard it all yet, so I cannot comment. I like what I've heard, and I just love her voice.

Star Witness
Hold On, Hold On (both from the ANTI Records website)

Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies. Dan Behar is another contributor to The New Pornographers, but like Ms. Case, he has a day job: Destroyer. Destroyer's Rubies is an eclectic album, quite tuneful at times, but not always an easy listen. This is another album that has drawn raves, and I think it's one that will grow on me after repeated listens. I'll get back to you.

European Oils

Cat Power - The Greatest. Never judge a CD by it's cover. When I first saw the cover for Cat Power's last album, You Are Free, I thought it was a home made disc. While the cover for The Greatest looks more professional, it is even less appealing. Artwork aside, The Greatest is a fine album. Recorded in Memphis as an homage to the southern music she (Chan Marshall) grew up with, the album features musicians that worked with the likes of Al Green, Etta James and Albert Collins in the 70's & 80's. It comes across as a mellow soul, but intospective and honest.

Living Proof

also The Greatest (from the Matador Records website)

By the way, if you like The Greatest, you can vote for it on CBC's National Playlist. Check it out here.

Welcome

Welcome to my music blog, "And Through The Wire". The title comes from an old Peter Gabriel song, and got me thinking about how far we've come from communicating through wires, so it seems appropriate. So why a blog, and why now? I'll admit it, I'm very new to the blog world. It was just a few months ago through John Sakamoto's Anti-Hit List column in The Toronto Star (you may have to register with thestar.com to view) that I discovered the world of music blogs, some of which I'll be linking to in the near future. I had no idea that this network of "music geeks" was out there sharing their music. I had found my people! After reading a few of these blogs, I decided that I could do this, it would give me a chance to share my music in a new way.

I won't have time to do daily posts, so I will likely do my posting on weekends, and hopefully give you a chance to discover something new. To start things off, I'm going to leave you with some songs from a few of my favourite artists.

All files right click, save as
Peter Gabriel - And Through The Wire (link removed)

Joe Jackson - Don't Wanna Be Like That (link removed)
Joe Jackson - Another World (link removed)

The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues (link removed)
The Waterboys - Universal Hall (link removed)

Paul Weller - Bull Rush (live) (link removed)
The Style Council - Headstart For Happiness (link removed)

Chris Brown & Kate Fenner - Never Done (from chrisandkate.com)
Chris Brown & Kate Fenner - Resist War (from chrisandkate.com)