Monthly Archives: August 2010

New Artist Beall Releases So-So Rockabilly Effort

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Laurence Beall – The Huntsville Sessions
Self-Released

About fifteen years ago, while most of the music-loving fans in the world had discarded the poodle perms, black leather pants and the gaudy turquoise and silver baubles associated with hair metal to embrace the slackerisms and flannel workshirts associated with grunge, a different sort were looking at huge belt buckles, cowboy boots, and pedal steel guitars. These folks were encountering, then hopping aboard the alt.country trend, a musical sub-genre championed by the likes of Uncle Tupelo, Jayhawks, Eric Ambel, Blue Rodeo and many other lesser-known acts. While grunge was known as bare-bones, meat-and-potatoes rock with no frills, the purveyors of the alt.country trend took “bare bones” a bit further, with most adopting a sound best described as Johnny Cash on meth as performers and devotees yearned for the perfect blend between traditional country circa 1958-1965 and rock and roll derived from the days of Sun records revved up with a post-punk modern feel. Though grunge also had a primitive feel, it had it’s own sound. In contrast, while the best alt.country and roots bands filtered their music through the prisms of punk and post-punk, an equal amount were enamored with simply striving to emulate their ’50′s and ’60′s heroes down to the bent notes on their paisley Telecasters. Though bands of this nature were found mostly on the second-tier, even the edgiest bands such as Uncle Tupelo showed their indebtedness to their heroes from Nashville on their sleeves and were careful not to stray too far from their country inspirations. It was the same catch-22 which modern blues players find themselves. How much do they honor their past and provide a touchstone to fans, while still blazing a trail and progressing their music so new generations will find elements to enjoy?

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Last Call Chernobyl: A Metal Cinderella Story

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Who’s ever heard of a Cinderella story in metal? Well, one band out of the East Coast of Canada, Halifax to be specific, has truly proved that the underdog can wear the metal horns, and represent a contingent of metal fans and musicians from back home.

It all began when Last Call Chernobyl entered the 2010 Battle of the Bands, sponsored by Nova Scotia Music and Vans Warped Tour. LCC entered the battle among many other East Coast metal bands, but by winning over the unfamiliar crowds and judges their destiny was written in stone. Continue reading →

From Coachella to The White House, Yo Gabba Gabba! are hotter than ever and hitting the road to tour North America

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If you don’t know of Yo Gabba Gabba! – You’re missing out. If you do know of YGG!, but think it’s all child’s play – You’re wrong.

What started out as a children’s television show in 2007 has become a true cultural phenomenon, as the YGG! crew is now loved by college students, adults, and hipsters worldwide. Why? How? It’s simple really. YGG! always manages to snag the best musical guests (they even played Coachella this year!) Think Weezer, DEVO, Of Montreal, Hot Hot Heat, MGMT, The Ting Tings, Snoop Dogg, The Killers, The Roots, and oh so many more! Now their YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! Tour is hitting the road and coming to Canada September 4 – 19.

Montreal, (Monday, May 31, 2010) — Fresh off a triumphant sold-out tour debut, a headlining performance at The White House, a critically-acclaimed, chart-topping album, and an appearance at Coachella that garnered rave reviews from spectators and media alike (Video), DJ Lance Rock and the cast of YO GABBA GABBA! are heading back on the road with YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! to play to enthusiastic fans in Canada. Today’s hottest live show for families will tour Canada from September 4 to 19. YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! is produced by S2BN Entertainment in association with Wildbrain Entertainment and The Magic Store and presented by DKD Events.

Champions on the stage and in the community, the Gabba Gang will partner with Child Find and The Missing Children’s Network to further their efforts to bring home missing children in Canada. In addition, $1 from every ticket sold for YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! will be donated to the local Child Find affiliate and The Missing Children’s Network in Montreal.

VIP packages with premium tickets and meet and greets will also be available. For complete tour, ticket information and VIP packages, visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com.

The state-of-the-art production features music, singing, dancing and animation.  The show is an interactive experience that offers audience members of all ages the opportunity to witness their favorite characters come to life.  Joining the characters on stage will be hip-hop legend Biz Markie to teach kids how to beat box with “Biz’s Beat of the Day”.  Special guests will join the party on stage for the Super Music Friends Show and Dancey Dance segments.

Released in October, 2009, YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME Volume 1 topped kids and overall music charts at iTunes (#1 kids album), Amazon (top 5 kids album) and Target sales, which reached more than 40,000 copies in only 6 months since its release. YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME was picked as one of 2009’s top holiday gifts for toddlers by both PARENTS magazine and the popular Mom web destination MomLogic.com.  YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME Volume 2 will be released on iTunes and will hit shelves nationwide this September.

Dates, venues and ticket prices are subject to change.

About Yo Gabba Gabba!
Yo Gabba Gabba! premiered in the U.S. on Nickelodeon in August, 2007 and currently ranks as one of the most popular children series on television.   Yo Gabba Gabba!, was voted as one of the best new shows on television by TIME magazine, won a BAFTA Award in 2008, was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Television” Award by the Television Critics Association, and is a two-time Emmy nominee. The series airs three times a day, seven days a week on Nick Jr. and in Australia, Canada, Israel, Latin America, New Zealand, South Africa and the U.K.

Yo Gabba Gabba! infuses retro-style and beat-driven music to teach simple life lessons through music. The series stars DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson) and a cast of colorful characters, including: Brobee, the little green one, Foofa, the pink flower bubble, Muno, the red Cyclops, Toodee, the blue cat-dragon and Plex, the yellow robot. Today’s most popular names in movies, television, music and sports flock to guest star in the groundbreaking show, including Jack Black, Rachel Dratch, Melora Hardin, Tony Hawk, Biz Markie, Jack McBrayer, MGMT, Mark Mothersbaugh, The Roots, Andy Samberg, Amy Sedaris, The Shins, Amare Stoudemire, The Ting Tings, Jimmy Eat World and Elijah Wood, among others.  Yo Gabba Gabba! toys, apparel and other merchandise are sold in stores nationwide in the U.S. and have skyrocketed in popularity.  Yo Gabba Gabba! is recommended as a trusted program for preschoolers by The Smart Television Alliance, a non-profit organization comprised of leading non-profit children’s media organizations including Common Sense Media, Parents’ Choice Foundation, Parents Television Council and Coalition for Quality children’s Media: KIDS FIRST!.  Visit www.yogabbagabba.com.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR COMES TO CANADA IN SEPTEMBER FOR SINGING & DANCING AND TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL CHILD FIND AFFILIATE

Saturday, September 4 – Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto

Sunday, September 5 – Place des Arts, Montreal

Wednesday, September 8 – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Edmonton

Thursday, September 9 – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary

Sat. & Sun., Sept. 11 & 12 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver

Tuesday, September 14 – Brandt Centre, Regina

Wednesday, September 15 – MTS Centre Theatre, Winnipeg

Saturday, September 18 – John Labatt Centre, London

Sunday, September 19 – Scotiabank Place, Ottawa

$1 From Every Ticket Sold To Benefit Local Child Find Affiliates and The Missing Children’s Network

Compared to everything from cereal to Pink Floyd, Final Flash prove why they are nothing but Final Flash

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“Hey man the wild is calling / Together my friend out there for more.” Joey Chaperon Cyr, lead singer of Montreal-based rock quintet Final Flash, could not have illustrated the band’s music better. A mystifying mix of classic and psychedelic rock, their debut album, Homeless, immediately transports you from your living room couch to the middle of an enchanted redwood forest. Joey’s voice and lyrics call out to something beyond humanity, and the hypnotic sounds emanating from Andre Bendahan (bass), Alexandre Girard (guitar), Mathieu Bourret (keys), and Maxime Hébert (drums), take the listener there. Songs like, “When the Day Turns Black,” “The Black Flame in me is a Red Flame in You,” “Welcome to the House on Fire” and, my favourite, “We Leave the Forest,” leave you wanting more. I caught up with the band just before they opened for Juliette Lewis at Montreal’s Cabaret du Mile End.

Q: I’ve been following you guys for the past year and from the first time I saw you until now, the band has really come together. What is it that has allowed you to gel so quickly?

Andre: A lot of shows, more synergy being created between us. [As a new band] everyone was focused more on their own instruments and I think now everyone is able to hear what everyone else is doing … getting into that vibe where we are all uniform. We are able to push the songs more. We are getting better and better, but there is still a lot of room to grow. Continue reading →

CD Review: The On Fires “Betrayer”

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For the last few years, The On Fires have split their time on the road between their home area of Australia and Europe, where they are developing a following. With two continents covered, The On Fires were ready to spread to North America. For that to happen, the band went about recording a new release. They are currently promoting that new release entitled Betrayer.

Musicians Maxine Harman and Marty Xenoff make up the base for the Australian rock band. In the band, Harman is the keyboardist/singer, while Xenoff is the guitarist/singer. But unlike many of the ever-increasing number of duos that exist out there in the music industry today with just two musicians, Harman and Xenoff call upon other musicians to help fill out the band’s sound so they don’t end up sounding hollow. Continue reading →

Punk pioneers Pennywise ready for Canadian stint: September 3 – 17

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PUNK PIONEERS PENNYWISE READY FOR CANADIAN STINT
TOUR BEGINS SEPTEMBER 3 IN QUEBEC AND WRAPS UP SEPTEMBER 17 IN VANCOUVER
BAND IS REINTRODUCING ITSELF WITH NEW LEAD SINGER ZOLI TEGLAS

August 24, 2010—California South Bay punk stalwarts Pennywise, a main stage standout on this summer’s Vans Warped Tour, with Zoli Teglas of Orange County’s Ignite as the band’s new and permanent vocalist, will be taking its act across the Great White North during a brief Canadian tour kicking off September 3 in Quebec and wrapping up on September 17 in Vancouver. Continue reading →

CD Review: Sunfields “Palace in the Sun”

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In the fall of 2007, four Montreal musicians travelled together to a small fishing village of less than 700 people in Northhamptonshire, U.K. Inspired by their surroundings and experiences, they began to write music and, a little over a year later, Sunfields was born. This past spring, their debut album, Palace in the Sun, was completed in the band’s home studio in Hudson, Quebec, and was released on August 17 through their brand new label, Field Recordings. Continue reading →

Paul McCartney Really Is Dead: The Last Testament of George Harrison

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In the summer of 2005, a package arrived at the Hollywood offices of Highway 61 Entertainment from London with no return address. Inside were two mini-cassette audio tapes dated December 30, 1999 and labeled The Last Testament of George Harrison.

A voice eerily similar to Harrison’s tells a shocking story: Paul McCartney was killed in a car crash in November of 1966 and replaced with a double!? British intelligence, MI5, had forced The Beatles to cover up McCartney’s death to prevent mass suicides of Beatle fans. However, the remaining Beatles tried to signal fans with clues on album covers and in songs.

Until now, the “Paul Is Dead”  mystery that exploded worldwide in 1969 was considered a hoax. However, in the film Paul McCartney Really Is Dead: The Last Testament of George Harrison, the mysterious voice on the tapes reveals a secret Beatles history, chronicling McCartney’s fatal accident, the cover up, dozens of unknown clues, and a dangerous cat and mouse game with “Maxwell,” The Beatles’ MI5 handler, as John Lennon became increasingly reckless with the secret. The voice also claims that Lennon was assassinated in 1980 after he threatened to finally expose “Paul McCartney” as an imposter! Continue reading →

Little Beirut on their Bush connection, Fear of Heaven, and the dream of playing puppet shows with Spinal Tap

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Little Beirut, a rock/pop quartet hailing from Portland, Oregon, is breaking new ground with its new album, Fear of Heaven, due for release September 4. I recently got to chat with bassist John Hulcher and, contrary to the band’s provocative name, was met with an awesome down to earth attitude and witty sense of humor, and discovered why “Little Beirut: Not weirding you out since 2005” may very well be the band’s motto in the future.

Q: To start, how and when was Little Beirut born, and why did you choose that name?

A: To start, we were born just like any other band, having been dropped on a doorstep by a stork. Our stork was a serious rocker, though a real good dude. Edwin and Hamilton have been writing together since college. Their previous incarnation moved to Portland because they heard it was a great town, dragging twenty people and some cats and dogs with them. Continue reading →

Rock and Roll Photo Essay: The Scorpions Live in Concert

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The infamous Scorpions front line!

Scorpions
Molson Amphitheatre
Toronto, Ontario
June 27, 2010

I’m gonna date myself here. Back in 1981, I had just moved to a town called Prince George BC. Desolation Boulevard. Being the young extrovert I always was, I quickly hooked up with the neighbourhood partiers, young as we were, and dove headlong into the toxic realm of partying to the soundtrack of the new wave of metal that was pounding our eardrums.

One of my buddies found a tape. Remember those? The chunk of plastic with two rolling wheels of low quality, magnetic tape running in between? Just checking. So he finds this unmarked, home made tape with some of the best tunes we’d ever heard in our lives. We spun this thing relentlessly but no matter what, we couldn’t figure out who this mystery band was.

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