Still quite hot and humid, we were grateful for the A/C at Le Petit Campus. My first set in 9 months. How did it go? Maybe a little off-kilter, bent in some awkward spots, but I was happy to visit some of those songs that, although old, I had never played live before. I’ve made a promise to myself to book some shows now that I’m back so I may actually get to the point of improving as a solo act. Got to have goals. The night was presented by the Hangers who filled in the ranks with K-man and the 45s and The Lost Ideas. K-man and I spoke a long time ago about sharing the stage together so it was a pleasure for me to finally have that happen.

My weekend was really about doing pre-production with the Hangers for their next recording. So it was great to start off the weekend by witnessing them put on a spectacular show that brought so many people from the Montreal scene together, both on and off stage. It was yet more proof that the scene there is very real and growing rapidly along with the quality of the bands that have thrown their hats in the ring. I’ve been listening to the (Hangers) demos of 5 new songs, but hearing them live altered how I heard them. After 3 and half hours sleep from an evening of celebration I eagerly listened to the songs again on my trusty discman hearing them with fresh, albeit slightly ringing ears.

It took me 45 minutes to realize that the coffee maker clock was 2 hours ahead, so I went back to bed.

The Hangers are a band who believe in or atleast act on ritual. And as is the case in many cultures around the world for different occasions theirs also is based on food and the eating of it. Julien (the drummer, videographer of the band and cook) whipped up each meal with the ingredients that his band mates brought to the house. Each feast was a gathering of old friends making it an great occasion because that’s what makes them happy. It made it that much easier to understand what drives the group, where the songs come from and helped me get some inkling as to what each musician brings to the table (so to speak). The rest is top secret.

RADIO KONG

1. I ZIMBRA – CAN influenced track by Talking Heads. One of my favourites of Fear Of Music. It contains a lot of the basic elements I love about this period in their music – the interlocking guitar parts, the short bass phrases, the lift with the percussion and the authority of the vocals.

2. Colossal Head – Los Lobos. No secret, I love these Froom, Blake productions. Everything from the loping drums, grinding baritone saxes, fuzzy guitars, atmospheric keys… blah blah. At the time these records they did really sounded different. I think now there are so many interesting records (sonically) that this may not stand out in quite the same way today.

3. Save The Last Dance – The Heptones. I was searching for a french version of this song that I used to have on CD. Didn’t find that, but I stumbled onto this bouncy nugget. A lovely mix of straight time and a swinging shuffle. Not sure who’s leaning which way on this, but the sum is spectacular.

4. Life’s What You Make It – Talk Talk. We were discussing ground bass in the Hangers pre-production. This is a solid example of a moving dramatic piece of pop sitting over an unchanging bass hook (mostly popping out on the low notes of the piano). Not as interesting as their later work, but it still moves me.

5. Machaut: Kyrie 1 – Kronos Quartet. My brother has a copy of this CD. I failed to teal it from him, so until I get my own copy, I enjoy clips off of Grooveshark.

6. Jambalaya – Hank Williams. I have multiple copies of the vinyl version of this song. I’ve accompanied a number of singers doing this, but it never feels this good. It ain’t ska, but the upbeats are ass shaking good!

7. No Aloha - The Breeders. This song plays out like a greeting card to me. It folds in the centre transitioning from this vaguely atmospheric Hawaiian number with some odd phrasing into a pulsing feverish echo of the first half.

8. Her Story – The Flying Lizards. This record which I still have on vinyl was recorded by David Cunninham (of the Lizards) in his living room. Not sure if it’s true, but this record is one of the reasons I became interested in recording.

9. Down In The Hole – Blind Boys Of Alabama. Tom Waits gets covered soooo much that sometimes it causes the eyes to roll. That said, I have clear memories of listening to his live version of this in college over and over again. This version has brought back some of those memories and made it feel fresh.

10. So Tough – The Slits. Most of my Slits collection was purchased in one shot while touring through Winnipeg. This track has them stabbing away at the rhythms while rolling over top on the snare and filling it with their trademark vocal arrangements.

11. Le Repondeur – Les Colocs. This is fresh to me. Staright from several conversations this past weekend about the french language and how it’s used in song – or not. The Hangers sighted this writer as an excellent example of someone who uses french in an inspiring way in his music. Masterful, sometimes playful.

12. Isabelle – jean Leloup. I’ve loved this song for a loooonnngg time. I’m dedicating this one to Isabelle who also took the time to explain to me why it’s so difficult to write songs in french (being from Montreal, I’m sure she’s never heard the reference before -ha!). I think I’m beginning to get it, anyway. Just. Jean Leloup loves to bend the language which may be closer to what often happens in english rock.

13. Joan Of Arc – Leonard Cohen. It’s a love Lenny/ hate Lenny world out there. Another nod to Montreal. The words are set out on the table. Bon appetit.

And finally, The Hangers TV

I am in the thick of complting a 5 song EP with Prince Perry and a little ska version of one of Emma-Lee’s songs, but those may have to wait until next week.

Right now I’m transferring an art show recording (90 minutes worth) that I’d prepared for Dan Heffernan years ago. It was for an exhibition in London, Ontario. May post clips at some point in the near future.

Here’s this Blog’s playlist.

Radio Kong

Who Is It. Bjork continues to have a little place in my heart – it’s a one bedroom apartment, not too spacious, but well kept. Ever since college when I heard her bursts on Birthday by the Sugarcubes. This is from her vocal heavy album, Medulla.

Vicky Verky. I was reviewing my vinyl this past weekend. Thinning out the ranks by a little bit for a garage sale we held early on Saturday morning. As I went through it Argy Bargy hit the turntable. It’s the only record that I own by Squeeze, but a very satisfying plate of pop. This song caught me on the first listen. A story that they roll through at a tremendous pace never hitting anything that resembles a chorus and yet it still screams Pop!

Swan’s Splashdown. I lucked out on the vinyl for this one (The In Sounds From Way Out) along with a number of Moog records that I picked up from a Value Village years ago. This is the prize. No BBQ is complete without a sampling from this bit of genius.

St. James Infirmary. Only recently started listening to Allen Toussaint. A massive oversight. Trying to make up for it. ha.

Lost Fur. The soundtrack to a movie that I haven’t seen yet (Where the Wild Things Are). Not sure why. I like the director. I enjoyed the children’s book. Now I love the soundtrack. Go figure.

Blue Railroad Train. Another oversight. Doc Watson has come up in conversation, credited for songs on a lot of records I’ve had over the years, but I’ve only recently been listening to his music. The tone is perfect.

No Puedo Fenar. Like a lot of people I was introduced to Marc Ribot’s guitar playing through Tom Waits records. Though his playing was always tasty and perfect for those records it’s amazing to here him spread out and draw on other flavours and tones.

Poor Old Tom. I bought this Peter Case record shortly after it came out which is how far back? So many things to enjoy about it, but it’s on this sparse and troubling little number than he made me do a double take. What a story teller.

Trio. I heard this off of my copy of King Crimson’s Young Person’s Guide To… Lent it out and never got it back. This was high school so it’s been a few years (ha). This track which I got to rediscover on Grooveshark made quite the impression back then. It slowly oozed off the vinyl in an almost accidental way. It feels effortless and for King Crimson that’s a breath of fresh air. So much of the material feels “hard” and this was like a pause from that side of the brain. Also, my first time recognizing a Mellotron for what it was on a recording. I believe they (KC) lost it in a fire shortly after this recording.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s the update. Just finished Nicole Christian’s CD. Done. Will be playing upright bass for her CD release show on Sept. 17 at the Bread and Circus (T.O.). The bass wasn’t really part of the musical picture, but as we were getting closer to the end of this project it became clearer that a few low notes would go a long way to grounding it. Here’s hoping.

Just played a show at Lee’s with Prince Perry, this time I was pretending to be the lead guitarist. Ralph Pastore stepped in on Farfisa organ for the first time and it worked out well. We’re in the process of recording 5 new songs which will be done by the end of August.

I finished reading Barnacle Love by Anthony De Sa. It was my transit reading and after just getting back from Portugal I felt drawn to take this book off the shelf. K. had read it months and months ago and recommended it, but it took me a three week vacation to light the fire. Or to fire up the sardines.

Now I’m onto John Irving’s Last Night In Twisted River. Trying to get over the 60 page hump. That being the amount of pages it’s taken me to get into it. Again, I hope. But not referring to, as some might think, some kind of sexual act with the printed word. No, no, no.

Radio Kong Aug 1

Here’s the breakdown on this Blog’s playlist.

First up, HARD LUCK WOMAN by Kiss. I grew up loving this band. I don’t have the same affection for their music as I once did, but there are certain moments that I still hold dear. This was on my neighbour’s copy of Rock’n'Roll Over. It was a failed attempt to repeat the monster ballad that Beth was. This record lacked Bob Ezrin’s touch, but I really love the jangle of the 12 string guitars and the brave tom fill before the fade. ha ha

DAYTRIPPER as played by Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66. That loping piano line, the pulsing kick and the charming accented vocals. Lovin the male echoed “I Found Out”. Go guys go! This album features one of the coolest covers. The suits, the attitude. You’d never know by looking at it that inside the sleeve was piece of pure bouncy happiness. Thanks to Chris Rolfe (White Cowbell Oklahoma) for introducing me to it. It changed my life.

SOLDIER off of the Red Light record by The Slackers. This is one of those songs that transcends the genre of reggae and as usual a blend of several things that make up the band. This I have on vinyl only. No idea if it sounds better than the CD. ha. Each Slackers release has at least two songs that completely blow my mind- songwriting wise. They’re always great, of course.

POLEGNALA E TADORA (LOVE SONG). It’s a crime that I’ve never seen (heard) the Bulgarian Women’s Choir live. This was a song that I first heard when I was in college or shortly after. A little hazy. Hypnotizing.

RING OF GOLD by The Melodians. They just played at Harbourfront, some of Sound One were heading to check out their set so I put on some when I got home. Everything is right. Just enough fuzzy for me.

OVER OUR HEADS. I play this to my nine year old when he’s in a funk. Listen to Mr. Brion, he knows what it’s all about. This is off of the I Heart Huckabees soundtrack – which I love dearly. I keep hearing scores for recent films and think – very Jon Brion of them – or better yet, very Brion-esque. What a pretentious fop I am.

IMPOSSIBLE GERMANY. This Wilco track reminds (particularly the guitar figure at the start) reminds my of Ottawa’s Snailhouse. But I enjoy how Tweedy jams the “impossible Germany” lyric into this song. It’s like he snuck some magazines into class is trying to read them without the teacher catching him. And then they go into that Babe Ruth harmony guitar journey.

CARPET CRAWLERS. This phase of my school boy years followed directly after the Kiss daze. If I even mention Genesis K. rolls her eyes. Never successful convincing girls that I was interested in that this was cool. Because it never was. But s–t, it’s still better than a lot of stuff that was going on in the 80’s. Right? Maybe? A tough decade for music all around. Anyway, it won’t happen again. The electric piano gurgles like a babbling brook with the swish of the rushing hi-hats. It’s all water to me, even if the lyrics are all sex.

OPTOMISTIC VOICES. One of my favourites from this musical. Could do without the dialogue right now, but I wanted to hear those fluffy light Andrew Sisters’ vocals floating over the field of Poppies.

Sending off Nicole’s final track for mastering. Good night.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I ask you.

Here is some music that I’m currently listening to. May it bring you luck.

RADIO KONG

Click here to view the embedded video.

First off, The Thundermonks released their Get Fed EP while I was beached in the Algarve. Josiah Michael Bonnet completed his year long journey, Lonely Man. Hear, Comes The Cavalry AND Wool And Howl have just been mastered and are planning their grueling (though absolutely rewarding) struggle to have their genius see the light of day. Can they do it? Stay tuned as we document their descent into DIY marketing insanity.

Which reminds me. Bri-anne Swan had this lovely little review at Amazon.com

“I saw Bri-Anne playing with just one supporting guitarist in a bar in Toronto (a fundraising event for Multiple Sclerosis) and I was captivated by her voice, her personality and the lyrics of her songs. I bought this CD that evening and it is simply beautiful (although a bit surprising at first to hear a backing band). On this evidence Bri-Anne is surely destined for a great career. The songs are mainly very personal but speak for what most have been through in love and life. And all sung in that captivating voice. Not so much variation in tempo, but each track is perfectly crafted. A real “find” – and one I would not have made if I hadn’t been stuck in Canada because of the airspace closure due to volcanic ash.”

But what am I doing right now?

Up to my knees in the muck. I’m working on Nicole Christian’s blues LP, Prince Perry’s EP, Emma-Lee’s demo recordings and foray into rocksteady (what out!), The Cavaliers, The Expos and have begun work on Nich Worby’s LP – where that leads – I dunno, but it’s great so far. No injuries.

And with that I’ll leave you with a live clip of The Bodysnatchers (named after one of my fave films), from the film, Dance Craze filmed in 1981.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Looked at a pump organ this morning. Needs some work, have to decide whether it’s worth it. Most likley will make the wrong decision. That’s because the other choice will always seem a little special as it wasn’t taken. Know what I mean?

A lot of work to dig into. This week we continued work on the Cavaliers’ project, tackling there new sound. It involves more acoustic guitar and upright piano fueled by Redbull and coffee. It’s something to watch someone pop up on an energy high and then stick around long enough to witness the crash. Me? I’m still a little lagged.

Didn’t bring much music to listen to in Portugal so I pressed play on the record player as soon as I walked through the door. Here are some things that have been playing here.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/playlist/JULY+BLOG/32155730

Emma-Lee caught me up on some of the Youtube happenings such as Double Rainbow. I’ll leave you with this little bit that she also showed me. Oh, the innocence.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s a live clip at the Slaughterhouse.

Click here to view the embedded video.