Song of the Day: April 09, 2016 - "My Chinchilla" by CUB

As many people probably know, Christine and I know each other through the CBC Radio 3 community. In the almost-ten years that I've been listening to R3, it has lead directly to meeting a lot of cool people. From all over the country, but also here in Vancouver. Six years ago I was at the Museum of Vancouver for an event that Grant Lawrence and Dan Mangan were a part of when a guy came up to me and tentatively asked "Are you.... kirkofdoom?". I was, he admitted to recognising me from the R3 blog, and introduced himself. His name was Neil van Paridon, or nvp on the blog. 

On March 27, Neil passed away after a four month battle with cancer. His memorial service is today, and that's why the Song of the Day is one of his favourites. Christine and I also wanted to share some words Grant Lawrence wrote on his instagram:

“RIP to the great Neil “NVP” van Paridon (centre) who tragically passed away on Easter Weekend in Vancouver from a brain tumour. Neil was one of the many amazing people who I have met through CBC Radio 3. He was a passionate listener and supporter, and an active, smart, kind, and very funny member of our unique and welcoming blog community. Neil was also an amateur CBC archivist, having more memorabilia and “merch” that we do at the station! Neil’s love and listening stretched all the way back to Brave New Waves, Nightlines, Realtime, RadioSonic, and eventually Radio 3, where he listened actively right up until our final day of live hosting a year ago (and beyond). NVP managed to beat “The System”, figuring out when songs would be played on R3 and for how often, and was a great member of the “YVR3” welcoming committee whenever anyone came to town. His friendship and kindness will be deeply missed and not forgotten. NVP is pictured here (wearing his homemade R3 Rock ‘n’ Roll Movie Club shirt “Dogs Wolves Noise Kick Ass” - a ridiculous Kim Fowley quote he blurted out on our show when Fowley attempted to describe rock ‘n’ roll) alongside friends and fellow Radio 3 listeners. Great times. Thanks for the friendship and support, NVP.”

— @GrantLawrenceCBC https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjLYC5F3o0/

Song of the Day: April 08, 2016 - "Wearing It" by Walrus

There is a new band on the Madic Record roster: Halifax based psych rockers Walrus!

Their new EP Goodbye Something is set for release on the 29th of this month, and their new single, and video, is out now, titled: "Wearing It".

The trippy video has shades of the 60's and the sound is familiar to that of Young Rival. Give the new single a listen, and if you're out east, they maybe be heading your way during their string of tour dates on that end of Canada.

Song of the Day: April 07, 2016 - "BAE" by BESTiE

I feel like BESTiE was holding onto this new single for this unexpected summer-like weather we just got in Vancouver. I mean it's suppose to go up to 23/feel like 26 today!
So I guess what I'm saying is that BESTiE can predict the future, or at least a very specific weather-related bit of future.

In either case the single, "BAE", is out and it's delightful. Check it out below and keep an eye out tomorrow for when we post the video they just released too!

Song of the Day: April 06, 2016 - "Kid Who Stays In The Picture" by Hot Hot Heat

Surprise, Hot Hot Heat is back!

Surprise, Hot Hot Heat are breaking up!

Considering it has been over five years since their last album, Future Breeds, and that there have been several successful spin-off bands (Mounties, Gay Nineties, Fur Trade) I think a lot of people assumed that Hot Hot Heat had just slowly faded away. 

But that is not quite the case, as they are back for one last hurrah. The new, self titled album comes out June 24 on Culvert Music, and will be the band's last album. You can get a taste of the first single below. 

Song of the Day: April 05, 2016 - "Risto's Riff" by Moonface and Siinai

Four years ago, Moonface (aka Spencer Krug from Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Frog Eyes, et al) teamed with Finnish Siinai for an album called Heartbreaking Bravery. I had always assumed it was a one-off collaboration, especially since the last few Moonface releases have been solo piano balladry, which is why I was delightfully surprised when they announced a brand new song last week.

"Risto's Riff" is the lead single to My Best Human Face -- out June 3rd on Jagjaguwar -- and immediately became my favourite song of the year. Krug says about the song:

This song originated with a pleasingly simple riff from guitarist Risto Joensuu, hence the name. For a long time it had a down-tempo, nitty-gritty-rock'n'roll kind of vibe that ultimately left us unable to finish it in a way that we liked, though we weren't exactly sure why. It was like maybe we were making a song for our dads, not ourselves. But then in the recording studio we changed the beat and started playing it really fast instead, and within an hour the music was finished and put to tape. And then we had a round of high-fives. Not literally, but emotionally. Like with our eyes. Eye-fives.
 

Song of the Day: April 04, 2016 - "Xed Eyes" by Holy Fuck

So much new music coming out lately, and when this one landed in my inbox I may have let out an excited squeal.

Holy Fuck has released a new song titled "Xed Eyes" from their upcoming LP Congrats, following up their first single Tom Tom. 

I think I listened to the new song about 5 or 6 times in a row, and it got me up and out of the butt groove I've established in my desk chair.

Tour plans for late spring/early summer include the Field Trip festival in Toronto, and here in Vancouver in Stanley Park as part of the Levitation Festival on June 17th.

Song of the Day: April 03, 2016 - "Murphy's Law" by Chersea

All you need to know about this song is that it features Chersea playing the keytar.

Okay... you probably want to know a little more than that. "Murphy's Law" is Chersea's newest single, and her entry into this year's CBC Searchlight competition. As you can see from the video, the looper has added a couple members into the mix, Chartwell Kerr on drums and Adam Dean on bass. 

In a Facebook post, Chersea said about the song: 

In the wake of several media-laden sexual abuse charges/cases, I was inspired to write this song. It is a discussion between victim and abuser. This is my answer to this socially constructed issue.

Take a listen below! 

Song of the Day: April 02, 2016 - "If This Tour Doesn't Kill You, I Will" by PUP

More new music from Toronto band PUP, that, and this is just a guess here, may have stemmed from the 2 straight years of touring?

"If This Tour Doesn't Kill You, I Will" is the latest single off of the upcoming new release The Dream Is Over (out on May 27).

PUP will (shocker!) be touring this spring starting April 17th in Europe and then heading across North America. The only Canadian date so far is Toronto on May 26th, but fingers crossed when they're on the west coast of the USA, they'll pop back up here.