Song of the Day: November 02, 2015 - "Filthy" by Classified

Despite there being a line in this song that says "Don't need no feature on the blog", I decided to feature this new Classified track, "Filthy", as our Song Of The Day.

The rapper has a new album coming out in January and this video just came out the other day, and on the 6th (of November) the lead track "No Pressure", which features Snoop Dogg, will also be released.

Tour dates have also been announced and include a show on February 27th and the Commodore, and 28th at the Vogue Theatre.

Classified - Filthy (feat. DJ Premier) [Official Video] Directed by Harv - 235 Films Pre-order Classified's new album "Greatful" (January 15, 2016) and receive Filthy instantly! Pre-order packages available at: http://www.classifiedofficial.com iTunes pre-order: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/greatful/id1049441640 For more Classified music check out: http://classifiedofficial.com http://facebook.com/classifiedmusic http://twitter.com/classified http://instagram.com/classifiedhiphop

Song of the Day: November 01, 2015 - "Dirty Blonde (Live Acoustic)" by Arkells

Arkells recent released an acoustic version of their song "Dirty Blonde" off of the (Gold!) record High Noon.

The story behind it is pretty fun and sweet, and I'll post it below, and they made a video to go along with it that includes scenes from a wedding and the Harvest Picnic in Hamilton. While it's a beautiful video and an excellent version of the song, my favourite part has to be where Tim almost totally loses his drumstick on a failed flip [it's at 2:40 - just to draw even more attention to it, sorry Tim.]

Here's the story from Max as posted over on Communion Music:

"In August my old roommate and friend Mike got married to his partner Laura at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, down the street from the apartment where we used to live. The only trouble is that it was the same night as Harvest Picnic, a hometown festival we were headlining alongside Gordon Lightfoot. To make the best of this tricky situation, we went to the wedding from 3-8pm, hustled over to the festival from 8-11, and returned to dance the night away at the wedding after we finished our set. I was also honoured to be asked to played the first dance for Mike and Laura.

We've partnered with our friends at Communion to premier the video. To us, the essence of Communion evolves around the singer-songwriter spirit. This version of Dirty Blonde sounds the way it was originally written: on an acoustic guitar."

- Max Kerman, Arkells

PS The band is performing in Vancouver in February, two back to back shows at the Commodore.

From The Study Music EP, available now. (link) Study Music is the acoustic companion to Arkells' latest LP High Noon. (link) Catch Arkells on tour: http://www.arkells.ca/live/ Directed & Shot: Korey Schaefer Camera Assistant: Dan Carruthers Special thanks to Mike & Laura for getting married and appearing in this video. Congrats!

Song of the Day: October 31, 2015 - "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en" by The North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative

I can't believe this song is ten years old this year. Released October 11, 2005 by an all star lineup calling themselves North American Halloween Prevention Initiative, "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" is a charity single that pokes more than a little fun at "Do They Know It's Christmas?".

All proceeds of the song were donated to UNICEF, and according to the official press release, the song "stems from a frustration with other benefit songs' misguided, somewhat patronizing attitude, and Western-centric worldview."

So just how "all star" was the lineup? Well, let's have a little rundown, shall we? 
Win Butler & Régine Chassagne of Arcade Fire
Beck
Buck 65
David Cross
Liane Balaban of Dessert
Devendra Banhart
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
Feist
Gino Washington
Syd Butler of Les Savy Fav
Nick Diamond & J'aime Tambeur of Islands
Malcolm McLaren
Nardwuar the Human Serviette
Peaches
Dntel
Jenny Lewis & Blake Sennett of Rilo Kiley
Roky Erickson
Chris Murphy of Sloan
Asya & Chloe of Smoosh
Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth
Russell Mael of Sparks
Subtitle
Steve Jocz of Sum 41
Tagaq
Anna Waronker of that dog.
Dan Boeckner & Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade
Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Arcade Fire's Win & Regine + Redd Kross' Steve McDonald + Beck + R.E.M.'s + Joey Waronker + Buck 65 + Rilo Kiley's Jenny & Black + David Cross + Roky Erickson + Devendra Banhart + Sloan's Chris Murphy + Elvira, Mistress of the Dark + Smoosh's Asya & Chloe

Song of the Day: October 30, 2015 - "Beauty In These Broken Bones" by Red Moon Road

When our friends over at Fritz Media suggest something, usually it is worth checking out. Which was once again the case when I listened to today's Song of the Day. 

Red Moon Road is a Winnipeg band that recently released their third album Sorrows and Glories, and this video is a beautiful performance of their song "Beauty in These Broken Bones". Filmed live in studio, it is just a group of people clapping & stomping for percussion, and Sheena Rattai's voice soaring over them for a haunting gospel-esque song. And as I understand it, it was all done on the first take!

You can catch them playing tonight! at the Rogue Folk Club (aka St James Hall).

Red Moon Road (and friends) performs "Beauty in these Broken Bones" from the their upcoming Studio Album "Sorrows and Glories" (Set for release September 11, 2015) Live at the Private Ear Studios, Winnipeg MB, Spring, 2014 www.redmoonroad.com Filmed and Edited by Mike Latschislaw Sound Engineering/Mixing/Mastering - David Travers-Smith, Found Sound Productions

3am Playlist #18: Razorblades In Apples

EEK! IT'S HALLOWE'EN!...well, almost.

It's definitely that time of year, and I know I've been dressing up for events since Monday (Lurleen from The Simpsons, and the girl in THIS video for Then & Now).

Now there are a whole bunch of shows coming up for Halloween weekend, which I'll detail below, but if you just want to get into the Hallowe'en spirit, or need playlist for your pumpkin carving party or werewolf bar mitzvah, then you're in luck. I, along with Kirk and Jess, have compiled a list of the spooky, the eerie, the loud, and the just appropriately titled, song for all your all Hallows Eve needs. - CLICK HERE or THE IMAGE ABOVE TO HEAR THE PLAYLIST!

Now, as for Halloween shows, this is what we've found:

Friday:
- "PEAK-A-BOO" with Five Alarm Funk and Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party + BESTIE & The Can I Live DJ’s @ Vogue Theatre
- Come Friday's 4th Annual Hallowe'en Tribute Party - Medium Cool AS the Pixies, The Flintettes AS Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Tim the Mute AS Jonathan Richman, Sex With Strangers AS Duran Duran

Saturday:
- A Sumner Brothers All Hallows Eve VII at the Wise Hall - w/The Sumner Brothers, Rawk Löbster (B52 Tribute), Punkaoke and Devil In the Wood Shack
- Glory Days Halloween VII - Strathcona Science Society Serial Stress Solution Social Cult Barn Party
- Halloween at the Fox Cabaret - Lost Girls, the LOVE Deejays, Costume Contests, A Haunted Cinema and much more

Song Of The Day: October 29, 2015 - "Jenny Come Home" by Andy Shauf

Back to our regularly scheduled songs of the day! (Thanks to everyone who attended Then & Now!)

I've been waiting to be able to post this new Andy Shauf song for a while now. I really enjoy it, and it reminds me of Coconut Records, and I could totally see it being on the next Wes Anderson soundtrack. 

Oh and big congrats are in order as he was also just signed to Anti Records and Arts & Crafts!
Take a listen to "Jenny Come Home" below:

"Jenny Come Home" by Andy Shauf Download on iTunes: http://apple.co/1RMp9YK Written and produced by Andy Shauf Mixed by Rob Schnapf Mastered by Mark Chalecki at Little Red Book Mastering Official Site: http://andyshauf.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/andyshauf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andyshaufmusic

Song Of The Day: October 28, 2015: "Big Change" by JP Maurice

I really wanted an excuse to use this photo again (I took it) and having JP Maurice's "Big Change" as our Song Of The Day, on this, the morning before THEN & NOW at the Wise Hall, felt right.

Funny enough we were going for the Janet Jackson cover of Rolling Stone magazine from 1993, and all the Little India boys (who are also performing) were born that year. Serendipity.

JP killed his set at Fortune for the final Peak Performance Project showcase, and I'm excited to have him be part of THEN & NOW. "Big Change", today's song, is his latest single, but I'm excited to see if anything "NOW-ier" comes out at the show, and even more excited for the "THEN" song, as his catalogue of music runs deep. 

SEE YOU TONIGHT AT THE WISE HALL!

Song Of The Day: October 27, 2015 - "Friday Night" by T. Nile

It's so close! One more day to go 'til Then & Now, and today we take a look (a listen?) to an older song from T. Nile. 

I'm quite glad we got her to perform, since she has a pretty interesting progression as an artist; her 2006 debut album At My Table had a rootsy vibe to it, but over the years she has evolved her sound to something more akin to "electro-folk", as heard on last year's Tingle & Spark. 

This is a song from that first album, called "Friday Night". See her (and everyone else) Wednesday night at Wise Hall!