tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30079389798627177492012-02-16T04:28:53.852-08:00Charlottetown to Victoria -- rock from rock to rock! The latest and greatest news and features from artists and bands, with a focus on Canadian indie.Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comBlogger3141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-62588180202406147272011-08-28T19:48:00.000-07:002011-08-28T19:48:28.494-07:00

CLICK HERE if you're not redirected in a few seconds, ... or CLICK HERE for archived E&TS posts from prior to March 2011.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-82714556704674319172011-03-08T15:05:00.000-08:002011-03-08T15:05:01.860-08:00

Hello cherished readers, earbuds & ticket stubs has undergone a makeover! After a few months of consideration, it became clear that E&TS had outgrown its training wheels and needed to adapt to fit the times. Namely, to allow its sole contributor (yours truly) time to sleep and eat sometime during my upcoming 7 year stint as a MA/PhD student. Let me outline some of the house cleaning that’s been

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-80273528218663757442011-03-03T14:50:00.000-08:002011-03-04T06:27:51.989-08:00

Vancouver's Mother Mother has (quietly) released a new video for their song "The Stand" from their yet-to-be-released album Eureka. The video captures the song (and listeners' reactions) quite aptly... Rorschach tests, phallic symbols, strait jackets-- "everyone's f*cked and they don't even know." Enjoy!

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-63385979842446930482011-02-22T18:16:00.000-08:002011-02-22T18:16:26.056-08:00

Last I heard, Toronto rapper Derek Christoff was hard at work trying to decide on a new moniker. In the meanwhile, you can enjoy the latest offering under his most commonly known name D-Sisive -- Jonestown 2: Jimmy Go Bye Bye. Jonestown 2 follows the format of the excellent 2009's Jonestown, which was also released free online. Go to D-Sisive's Bandcamp page for the free download!

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-3109211583174162512011-02-17T09:14:00.000-08:002011-02-17T09:14:26.043-08:00

Courtesy of Pitchfork, here's the video for The Besnard Lakes' "And This Is What We Call Progress" from their second full-length album The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-86572851223621900132011-02-14T07:06:00.000-08:002011-02-14T07:06:02.313-08:00

This new video by the Foo Fighters for a song off their yet unnamed record is cracking me up. Along with Arcade Fire's Win Butler's neon kitten sweater, this makes for a good week in rock apparel. So far, there's been few details about FF's upcoming album. However, you can watch them play it in its entirety over at Consequence of Sound.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-87593881854094103902011-02-13T20:53:00.000-08:002011-02-13T22:12:31.794-08:00

What else is there to say? Congratulations on winning the Best Album of the Year Grammy Arcade Fire!!! Here's the triumphant video below.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-63128973604864578272011-02-13T02:04:00.000-08:002011-02-13T02:04:19.921-08:00

Arcade Fire are currently in Los Angeles preparing for their performance at the Grammys telecast (tomorrow morning for me), where they've been nominated for Album of the Year, Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance by a group or duo for "Ready to Start." While in LA, they dropped by the station KROQ and played "Month of May" and "Ready to Start" live on air, acoustically. But

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-63389728424021876562011-02-12T18:43:00.000-08:002011-02-12T18:43:52.315-08:00

W2 Storyeum in Vancouver will host Utopia Festival on March 5, 2011 to coincide with the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day. Proceeds to support W2's Second Annual Girls Creative Tech Summer Camps. The event will feature Peaches as keynote speaker, and showcases by Isis and Tanya Tagaq and many others. You won't want to miss this if you're a lover of beats! Here's a quick

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-90577120720262844882011-02-12T01:18:00.000-08:002011-02-12T01:18:28.103-08:00

Cynical laments about Valentine's Day are dime a dozen. This video by Vancouver's Hilary Grist, however, shows that sometimes it's nice to embrace the emotionality of this spring holiday and see what it inspires. In this case, a lovely little ditty with a video that will make you smile. If you like the song, you can download it for free from Grist's website. While you're there, you can also send

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-20741740140783927602011-02-09T20:46:00.000-08:002011-02-09T20:46:14.400-08:00

From his sophomore album Nice, Nice, Very Nice... Dan Mangan overcomes functional fixedness. A young alcoholic is born. Video below!

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-23719465078704594532011-02-08T08:27:00.000-08:002011-02-08T08:27:44.409-08:00

The incredibly dreamy Toronto crooner/rocker Peter Elkas is set to release his third solo album on February 22 named Repeat Offender (New Scotland Records). If you head over to Exclaim!, they've got the lead single "Cool Thing to Do" for free download. The album cover above alludes to Elkas' day job as a dog walker-- seriously, can this story get any better? Watch an R3TV episode featuring

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-16826927384845043152011-02-07T18:44:00.000-08:002011-02-07T18:44:06.623-08:00

(for more details, click the poster)

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-12567256310856129852011-02-07T09:12:00.000-08:002011-02-07T09:12:59.819-08:00

Vancouver emcee Shad has released his latest video for "Keep Shining" off his Polaris short-listed album TSOL. I'm thrilled that one of my favourite tracks from my favourite album of 2010 has received the video treatment... but does anyone else find it ironic that the video still denotes Shad speaking for these women? What do you think?

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-17709668534118459822011-02-07T08:26:00.000-08:002011-02-07T08:26:56.162-08:00

I have a confession to make. I once listened to UK DJ James Blake's cover of Feist's "Limit to Your Love" 16 times in a row. It's fair to say that I'm enthralled by his voice and restrained but pulsating style. Blake has just released his self-titled debut full-length after a string of heralded EPs and singles. One of the only downsides about my extended vacation abroad is not being able to get

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-50723414777823948032011-02-06T07:53:00.000-08:002011-02-06T07:53:57.910-08:00

Armistice is the brand-spanking new project of Beatrice Martin (Coeur de Pirate), and Jay Malinowski (Bedouin Soundclash). Enjoy their first, Mexican-infused single "Mission Bells." Armistice || Mission Bells from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-61036695945214083772011-02-04T07:37:00.000-08:002011-02-04T07:37:47.731-08:00

A big thank you to you kind readers who have nominated earbuds & ticket stubs for the long list of CBC Radio 3's Searchlight contest for the best music website in Canada! I'm overwhelmed and very grateful. You can vote for your favourite music websites here. You can vote once per day. I know I will be using that opportunity to vote for the many great sites that support Canadian music. Like Justin

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-30628274363394960292011-02-01T09:21:00.000-08:002011-03-01T20:34:08.302-08:00

[edit March 1: Congratulations to winners Zeus (Album of the Year), Hannah Georgas (Emerging Artist of the Year) and Michou (Artist of the Year)!] In non-Juno Awards related news, the 2011 finalists for the XM Verge Music Awards have been announced. Among them are earbuds & ticket stubs favourites Zeus, Hannah Georgas, Tegan and Sara, Arcade Fire, and more in the three categories: Album of the

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-90111061977699713552011-02-01T08:57:00.000-08:002011-02-01T08:57:24.735-08:00

Live presenters of the 2011 JUNO Awards nominees press conference pose for a group photo (L-R): Tanya Kim (ETALK), Ed Robinson (CARAS), Susanne Boyce (CTV Inc.), Melanie Berry (CARAS/The JUNO Awards), Johnny Reid, Keshia Chante; Bottom Row, members of Karkwa and Broken Social Scene The 2011 Juno Awards nominations were released Tuesday morning and include many of earbuds & ticket stubs

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-20662143140033336412011-01-21T16:17:00.000-08:002011-01-23T21:44:05.410-08:00

Both videos are for songs from their respective upcoming albums, HR!'s Seeds and The RAA's Departing. Hey Rosetta! - "Yer Spring" The Rural Alberta Advantage - "Stamp" (courtesy of Rolling Stone)

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-15366424265691236142010-12-30T17:50:00.000-08:002010-12-30T17:50:01.180-08:00

Joel Plaskett at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver back in 2009. Halifax singer-songwriter/rocker Joel Plaskett played a one-off show on December 28 2010 in Victoria while he's on the west coast visiting extended family. The sold out 200 person audience in the quaint, lovely little St. Ann's Auditorium were treated to solo guitar (or $5 keyboard) renditions of material from his solo career, songs

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-10562786425768986022010-12-30T11:52:00.000-08:002011-01-10T23:29:33.323-08:00

Vancouver's Mother Mother announced that their third full length album, EUREKA (Last Gang Records) will hit stores March 15, 2011 worldwide. Tour dates to follow and will be announced soon. In the meantime, here is the track listing for EUREKA: 1) Chasing It Down 2) The Stand - streaming now at exclaim.ca! 3) Baby Don't Dance 4) Original Spin 5) Born In A Flash 6) Simply Simple 7) Problems 8)

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-74354162332447487232010-12-30T09:30:00.000-08:002010-12-30T09:30:00.561-08:00

CBC Radio 3 has recently launched a recurring playlist challenge, the "ehList," which switches themes every week. For the past week, the challenge was to create a "diamonds in the rough" playlist, which would recommend undiscovered or underplayed artists to the staff at Radio 3. Naturally, I compiled a list of a few artists who have piqued my interest. Some old, some new, some borrowed, some

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-74715710903581487782010-12-22T23:29:00.000-08:002010-12-22T23:31:10.944-08:00

Shimmering Stars is a Vancouver 4-piece that plays dreamy, harmony-laden pop. The low production quality gives their singles a distant quality, as if you were overhearing a band practice next door. I recently had the pleasure of recording a Track of the Day over at CBC Radio 3, featuring their song "Sun's Going Down." You can download that over at Radio 3. Shimmering Stars cite as their

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-13824212033915928052010-12-21T17:41:00.000-08:002010-12-21T17:41:50.414-08:00

2010 had seen the release of many great albums by both long time veterans, as well as relative newcomers. With all that being said, the cream floats to the top, and certain albums stand out as definitive, both musically and personally. Some end up drilling into your mind and taking residence there, informing and adding colour to your life. Below are those albums for me in the past year. I'd love

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-72398883072871098682010-12-20T16:21:00.000-08:002010-12-20T23:17:01.368-08:00

2010 was amazing for live music in Vancouver, most notably due to the Olympic games and its twin component the Cultural Olympiad in the earlier part of the year. With all that being said, the cream floats to the top, and certain shows stand out as definitive. There's always those few shows that you mention over and over to friends, those "and when so-and-so did this... I FREAKED OUT!" moments

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-81170225185456111182010-12-18T12:32:00.000-08:002010-12-20T00:11:47.112-08:00

Joel Plaskett Emergency (photo: Brenda Lee) That's what I like to see! Joel Plaskett Emergency played to a hometown crowd at Halifax's The Seahorse on December 17. My friends over at The Broken Speaker caught a video of him mentioning that the band has been churning out new material for their 3 night stint, before busting into a mandolin-led song possibly named "Lethal Weapon." True to form,

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-42483646437519474462010-12-17T00:08:00.000-08:002010-12-17T00:08:57.678-08:00

Welcome to PART 6, the home stretch of Canadian Hip-Hop: A Bright New Day. This Special Feature originated as my final research paper for the World Pop Music class at UBC. Don't forget to check out: Part I: Canadian music context, research sources Part II: influences on Canadian hip hop, especially from our neighbours to the South Part III: history of Canadian hip hop as well as the 4 major

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-11596756002520298562010-12-15T20:47:00.000-08:002010-12-24T16:13:08.384-08:00

The copyright of this totally doesn't belong to me. I have 8.1 hours worth of Christmas and holiday music on m hard drive as this blog post is being written, and a good chunk of that is free and by a lovely host of Canadian indie artists. So for you and your family's entertainment this holiday season, let me share with you some of these free holiday mix tapes, singles and albums fundraising for

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-54050695468035016952010-12-09T01:19:00.000-08:002010-12-09T01:19:24.359-08:00

Welcome to PART 5 of Canadian Hip-Hop: A Bright New Day. This Special Feature originated as my final research paper for the World Pop Music class at UBC. Don't forget to check out: Part I: Canadian music context, research sources Part II: influences on Canadian hip hop, especially from our neighbours to the South Part III: history of Canadian hip hop as well as the 4 major styles Part IV: the

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-82154971647801497212010-12-04T12:35:00.000-08:002010-12-04T12:35:45.569-08:00

Vancouver Is Awesome Inc is a community-based, incorporated non-profit organization dedicated to spreading a positive message about the city of Vancouver and the arts and culture within it. Founded, edited and maintained by folks who live here and who truly love our city and the many communities fostered here, we deliver lighthearted yet thoughtful news through our blog, Facebook, Twitter, in

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-71320843131762542172010-12-02T16:15:00.000-08:002010-12-02T16:15:58.705-08:00

Welcome to PART 4 of Canadian Hip-Hop: A Bright New Day. This Special Feature originated as my final research paper for the World Pop Music class at UBC. Don't forget to check out Part I, which sets out the Canadian music context, as well as my research sources. Part II talks about influences on Canadian hip hop, especially from our neighbours to the South. Part III notes the history of Canadian

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-22579074616384802712010-11-29T14:16:00.000-08:002010-12-02T15:46:06.470-08:00

Welcome to PART 3 of Canadian Hip-Hop: A Bright New Day. This Special Feature originated as my final research paper for the World Pop Music class at UBC. Don't forget to check out Part I, which sets out the Canadian music context, as well as my research sources. Part II talks about influences on Canadian hip hop, especially from our neighbours to the South. There's also a corresponding playlist

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-11147983029236379312010-11-24T23:52:00.000-08:002010-12-02T15:45:48.004-08:00

Welcome to PART II of Canadian Hip-Hop: A Bright New Day. This Special Feature originated as my final research paper for the World Pop Music class at UBC. Don't forget to check out Part I, which sets out the Canadian music context, as well as my research sources. There's also a corresponding playlist to go along with the feature, which you can listen to here on CBC Radio 3. Enjoy, and let me

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-4303946174869820652010-11-23T20:51:00.000-08:002010-12-02T15:47:23.289-08:00

Rapper Shad K, one of my favourites. (Photo: Brenda Lee) Welcome to the first Special Feature on earbuds & ticket stubs on Canadian hip hop, titled A Bright New Day, which originated as my final research paper for the World Pop Music class at UBC. There's also a corresponding playlist to go along with the feature, which you can listen to here on CBC Radio 3. Enjoy, and let me know what you

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-53532530280394878992010-11-18T17:16:00.000-08:002010-11-18T17:16:20.146-08:00

Arcade Fire's latest video is for the title track of their latest album The Suburbs. The video is directed by Spike Jonze, and I'm not going to ruin it for you, but it's eerie. P.S. in case you're not weirded out enough, the band has also linked to an article about the Georgia Guidestones in their latest blog entry. Check it out here.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-17011403343943861472010-11-14T20:07:00.000-08:002010-11-14T20:07:11.352-08:00

Arcade Fire appeared on NBC's Saturday Night Live last night, November 13 2010. They performed two tracks during the show as well as appearing in a skit. According to excited tweets, they also performed a couple of songs after taping was over. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) We Used to Wait And their cameo appearance in this SNL skit Videos courtesy of The Audio Perv.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-52659299884998289642010-11-14T19:42:00.001-08:002010-11-14T19:42:10.129-08:00

Thanks to the heads up from my friends over at Sticky Magazine (a great Toronto publication), I bring you two amazing clips from Toronto's The Wooden Sky's homecoming show at Lee's Palace. Or rather, what happened after their sold-out homecoming show, where they got their fans to party with them in the back alley of the venue, then took the raucous crowd down in the middle of a busy city street

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-49718792550324973812010-11-09T00:52:00.000-08:002010-11-15T22:24:28.983-08:00

Henry and the Nightcrawlers is Henry Alcock-White-- bassist, guitarist, songwriter. Collaborator and member of Vancouver bands Bend Sinister and The Zolas. As the photo above may imply, he's probably also a sombre, poetic guy with a romanticist streak. But with his fingers crossed behind his back. When you first pop Alcock-White's debut full-length 100 Blows into the stereo, what's evident

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-27744683954871398812010-11-06T17:03:00.000-07:002010-11-06T17:09:24.316-07:00

As previously alluded, I had the pleasure of contributing to i(heart)music's annual list of Hottest Canadian Acts. The top 33 list is now up, and I think you'll find that the top end of the list comes as little surprise, and judging by the amount of comments under each artist, there was great consensus between voters. Only one of my top 10 choices didn't make it in: the wonderfully warm and

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-50160205668280998712010-11-03T22:15:00.000-07:002010-11-03T22:15:37.468-07:00

This is pretty fricking rad. The Sadies opening for Fucked Up on Halloween 2010 at the Garrison... as mummies! Please note the tie.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-78576181387745277132010-11-01T16:44:00.000-07:002010-11-01T18:49:09.206-07:00

This is a list of the artists that topped my list for 2010, which of course required too much trimming and more than a bit of twitter participation. Compiled for i(heart)music's annual Top 100 list, which should be released within the next week. The list is in descending order. Who were your top 10 in '10? 10. K’naan - The only reason K’naan is not number 1 on this list is because his album

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-80755395709617697392010-11-01T16:26:00.000-07:002010-11-01T16:26:04.631-07:00

Peak Performance Prize finalists Said the Whale and Aidan Knight (2nd from left), joined by Jeremy Fisher (5th from left) and Hannah Georgas (far right) as part of the Malahat Revue. Today at 3:15 Pacific time the top 5 PEAK Performance Project artists were announced on the air by 100.5 The PEAK’s Peter Schaad and Carmen Cruz and Music B.C.’s Bob D’Eith. The Top 5 PEAK Performance Project

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-45021431363830733492010-10-28T01:19:00.003-07:002010-10-28T01:19:19.200-07:00

This. Is. AWESOME.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-46209202524724757692010-10-20T23:35:00.000-07:002010-10-27T23:38:25.144-07:00

"Wow" is a term that Toronto's Diamond Rings should be used to hearing by now. That was the first word that stumbled out of my mouth when I first heard John O'Regan's solo project (he's also the frontman of The D'Urbervilles), namely the infectious electro-pop track "Wait & See." Butting heads with Sony/BMG for an unwarranted pull-down of his low-budget first video for "All Yr Songs" garnered

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-21140044282399700542010-10-12T22:48:00.000-07:002010-10-12T22:48:19.389-07:00

I've been addicted to this beautiful cover of Feist's "Limit to Your Love" by James Blake, a British producer whom frankly I knew nothing about. For the past week, I would open my browser, click on the link to the track and listen to it once or twice before carrying on in whatever work I'm doing. It's chill, it's moody, it's got a shoulder-dipping bass beat. And now there's a video to accompany

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-44069532169537031742010-10-09T13:37:00.000-07:002010-10-09T13:38:32.835-07:00

Montreal's Arcade Fire blew the ceiling off the Pacific Coliseum when they took The Suburbs to Vancouver on September 28, 2010. The show was at once inspiring, spiritually uplifting, cathartic and a fucking riot. Simply amazing. There's a whole lot more I could say about the show, but this review of their LA show by LA Times summarizes pretty much everything I can say very succinctly and

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-74348259015897544152010-10-08T20:33:00.000-07:002010-10-08T22:41:33.024-07:00

Hi lovely readers, Despite taking a blog hiatus, I, of course, am still buried in the sheer immensity of Canadian music both new and old. And I've made some mix tapes while procrastinating from studying and my duties as a research assistant. If you have an idea for a mix, feel free to comment below, on one of the mixes, or drop me an email! Here are 3 recent mixes I've made. These and other

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-42385766314571929532010-09-22T00:04:00.000-07:002011-01-28T06:07:42.180-08:00

Hello blog readers and Google searchers, Thank you for your amazing support of earbuds & ticket stubs throughout the past 2 years. This is not a goodbye; however, the only contributor and webmaster -- myself -- has to focus on entrance exams, applications for graduate schools and scholarship deadlines through the fall and winter. In 2011, I will be traveling extensively. Any blog posts right up

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-76578496830479532492010-09-09T00:10:00.000-07:002010-09-09T00:10:38.031-07:00

After a night of camping and air mattress-aided sleep, it's time for Day 2! Read about Live at Squamish Day 1 here. Brenda: We got to the festival grounds just as the first notes of You Say Party’s “There Is XXXX (Within My Heart)” sailed through the air. Although the sound set up was rocky in the beginning, the crowd soon could hear Becky Ninkovic’s warm, gritty voice alongside her bandmates’

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-78401360061338507662010-09-08T22:54:00.000-07:002010-09-08T23:52:50.986-07:00

Join us at our proverbial table as we discuss our highlights of this year's inaugural Live at Squamish music festival, which took place on September 4-5, 2010. Alex (of Anders) Cameron and myself, together with a couple of other friends, spent a lovely weekend up in Squamish, B.C., just half an hour outside of Whistler and an hour from downtown Vancouver. Alex: After much anticipation, Labour

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-48371044321312363662010-09-08T22:19:00.000-07:002010-09-08T22:19:35.753-07:00

Before there was Broken Social Scene, there was K.C. Accidental. The lo-fi bedroom recordings of BSS’s founder/vocalist/guitarist Kevin Drew and multi-instrumentalist/studio mastermind Charles Spearin, K.C. Accidental – a mostly post-rock instrumental project –laid the foundation for the Toronto collective’s sprawling expanse in the form of two self-released albums made at the end of the 90s:

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-74434634787776975922010-09-01T23:52:00.000-07:002010-09-01T23:52:30.364-07:00

Nicely done, skater boy. Vancouver's Black Mountain releases the music video for "The Hair Song," which hails from their upcoming album Wilderness Heart (September 14). Hmm... wilderness, that's apt. Be amongst the first to pre-order the album and you'll get it autographed too. A few tour dates below. October 31, 2010 Toronto, ON - The Phoenix November 1, 2010 Montreal, QC - La Tulipe

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-26643581828867673582010-08-31T16:58:00.000-07:002010-08-31T16:58:10.778-07:00

Vancouver's Jonas Shandel (also of Headwater) has released the video for a track from his lovely self-titled debut, named "Drinking the Water." I had only kind things to say about the album, which you can read here. On a stormy Vancouver day such as this, this video and song have a way of transporting me back to the lazy summer noon-time when I laid on the grass, listening to Headwater's

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-81398356665805684152010-08-24T20:43:00.000-07:002010-08-24T20:43:23.945-07:00

Great Lake Swimmers will release a new track this week honouring fishermen and families affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. "Ballad of a Fisherman's Wife" was written and produced in Toronto and will be released online at www.swimdrinkfishmusic.com. "'Ballad Of A Fisherman's Wife' was written after hearing, with great dismay, news about the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-20266808667367710152010-08-23T14:14:00.000-07:002010-08-23T14:16:19.478-07:00

Aww. This video reminds me of all those summer days I spent as a camp counsellor. The hazy glow of Two Hours Traffic's latest video for "Happiness Burns" seems to be an ode and a send-off to those blurry days of summers past. The track is from their 2009 release Territory. Enjoy!

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-30422886580140770552010-08-23T14:04:00.000-07:002010-08-23T14:04:16.231-07:00

Luke Doucet's new album, Steel City Trawler, will be released August 31st in Canada and September 21st in the U.S. on Six Shooter Records. On his fifth full-length, Luke Doucet turns to classic themes of place, love and "the existential labyrinths of human understanding." With first-time producer Andrew Scott (Sloan) at the helm, Steel City Trawler is equal parts classic rock and roll and

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-59759230579761632172010-08-23T13:48:00.000-07:002010-08-23T13:48:39.960-07:00

This is too funny. Vancouver favourites Said the Whale grab a bunch of their friends, including Hannah Georgas, Dan Mangan, Bend Sinister, We Are the City, The Awkward Stage, Analog Bell Service, 41st and Home, Parlour Steps and The Zolas to serenade their favourite local Triple-A format radio station, 100.5 The Peak. In their own words, In these tough economic times, no one has been affected

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-71779686878918615962010-08-20T15:19:00.000-07:002010-08-20T15:19:38.412-07:00

Mint Recording artists from Vancouver, The Pack a.d. are leaving the fires of B.C. and heading back on tour yet again. This time in Canada. In order to celebrate they are offering up free downloads of fan favourites at the myriad of live shows they have played since releasing their critically acclaimed and chart topping third album We Kill Computers on April 27th. Free Downloads: MP3: “B.C. is

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-88621571833757540132010-08-20T13:55:00.000-07:002010-08-30T14:36:49.505-07:00

Photo: Brenda Lee Hot on the heels of the August 10th U.S. release date of his Polaris Music Prize nominated album Nice, Nice, Very Nice, and almost a year to the day the album came out north of border, Dan Mangan announces Canadian fall tour dates. From churches to halls to theatres, the “Peculiar Travel Suggestions” tour will see Dan and his band perform at some of the most beautiful and awe

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-958167321756535282010-08-20T13:43:00.000-07:002010-08-20T13:43:50.613-07:00

Belfast, PEI's Paper Lions and Regina, Saskatchewan's Library Voices have teamed up for a co-headlining tour sponsored by CBC Radio 3 starting on September 28, 2010. Paper Lions will hold down headline duties in the East and Library Voices will headline on the Western leg of the tour. Most of the dates will be supported by Vancouver favourites Bend Sinister. Tickets are on sale now. Library

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-55330586679082048002010-08-20T13:15:00.000-07:002010-09-22T10:57:58.227-07:00

BC music fans! Live at Squamish Festival would like to help you kick off the school year (or whatever you have going on in the fall) with a outdoor musical extravaganza. On Labour Day weekend, at the Logger Sports Grounds and Hendrickson Fields in beautiful Squamish, BC, you can "whip it" with Devo, party with You Say Party, rock out with The Decemberists, and much more. Other performers in this

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-7652157408636732892010-08-20T12:33:00.000-07:002010-08-20T12:33:17.383-07:00

Merge Records has finally uploaded Arcade Fire's live video for "Ready to Start" from their latest excellent album The Suburbs after it floating around the web for a couple of days. In black and white, the video captures the intensity of the band's live performance in stark contrast. Enjoy! Related links: my review of The Suburbs.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-72313355223726719022010-08-16T13:32:00.000-07:002010-08-16T13:32:43.095-07:00

Now THAT's a show to take a date to. Vancouver-based indie pop darling Hannah Georgas, after wrapping up a summer full of festival dates and touring with the entity known as the Malahat Revue, has announced she'll be hitting the road with Toronto pianist/crooner Royal Wood. They'll be doing a series of theatre shows, from BC through Ontario. She will be opening for Wood on the East leg of the

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-71120907744101096352010-08-15T02:14:00.000-07:002010-08-15T10:38:17.405-07:00

How do I review a maximally hyped album by a critically and mass-adored band? All I can do is go about it from my own perspective and add to the loud, enthusiastic chorus singing equally the band's praises and along to the anthemic choruses of "Rebellion (Lies)" and "Wake Up." Montreal's Arcade Fire released their third full-length album The Suburbs after months of rumbling hype and great

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-28490846435641023932010-08-10T21:36:00.000-07:002010-08-10T21:36:19.985-07:00

Owen Pallett will be releasing A Swedish Love Story will be available on 10” and digital download. The first 20 pre-orders will also receive a bonus Lewis Takes Action 7". "To contrast Heartland's convoluted record process, and also to cut myself a break, I recorded this EP in New York City over a week, using not much more than my violin, my Moog, a bass and a drum kit. It's closer in sound to

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-87999256138731336362010-08-10T12:54:00.000-07:002010-08-10T12:57:01.413-07:00

Possibly my favourite track from Toronto's Broken Social Scene's latest, Forgiveness Rock Record. Film company Strike Anywhere Films made this video a couple of months back as a spoof, according to Pitchfork, but the band liked it so much they adopted it as the official music video. Enjoy!

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-37887997748423913522010-08-10T12:06:00.000-07:002010-08-10T12:06:44.456-07:00

BreakOut West is proud to announce the nominees for the 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards. The awards will be presented in Kelowna on Sunday October 24th, and for the first time in their eight year history, they will be broadcast in English on CBC Television and in French on Radio Canada. Vancouver B.C.’s Chilliwack will receive this year’s Hall Of Fame Award the same evening while The Industry

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-17844029966943154222010-08-08T00:42:00.000-07:002010-08-08T00:44:35.328-07:00

Two heavy-weight acts are landing in Cumberland on August 14 and 15. K’naan and Broken Social Scene are this year’s headliners at The Big Time Out. Toronto's Broken Social Scene are making Cumberland their only Canadian stop this summer before heading on tour in the US. Like BSS, Somali-Canadian hip hop artist and poet K’naan has earned a pair of Juno awards and drawn glowing reviews for

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-15533602119748858502010-08-05T12:02:00.000-07:002010-08-05T12:02:05.814-07:00

Montreal's Arcade Fire has released a few videos of their secret house shows, interspersed with scenes of the band going around having a jolly ol' time, in the build up of their live Youtube-streamed show at NYC's Madison Square Garden tonight. It will be broadcast on their Youtube channel at 10pm ET / 7pm PT. Arcade Fire is touring to support their latest release The Suburbs, which was out on

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-3420957635739851852010-08-04T17:28:00.000-07:002010-08-04T17:28:29.797-07:00

The always eclectic and creative Hawksley Workman collaborates with Oscar and Genie Award-nominated animator Christopher Hinton to create the video for "(The Happiest Day I Know Is A) Tokyo Bicycle." The track is from the album Meat, which was included on the 2010 Polaris Long List. His new album, Milk, is set for release on August 10, 2010.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-31449701679713791752010-07-29T17:09:00.000-07:002010-07-30T01:35:00.382-07:00

With two Polaris long-listed bands, how can you lose? Vancouver's Yukon Blonde and Toronto's The Wooden Sky team up to tour across Canada, from Vancouver to PEI. Vancouverites willing to brave the fireworks crowds will be able to catch YB play a free show as part of the ShoreFest series prior to the Celebration of Lights fireworks display at English Bay. To hype you up, here is a track each

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-77735193287628038412010-07-28T00:50:00.000-07:002010-07-28T00:50:29.798-07:00

Bahamas performs "Sobering Love," which is as of yet unreleased. Bahamas, Calexico and Alex Cuba cover Prince's "Purple Rain." It was glorious. Matt Epp melts a few hearts with his lovely ballad "This Old House." The Deep Dark Woods perform their hit from CBC Radio 2's SongQuest, "Charlie's (Is Coming Down)." For more live recordings like these, check out my Youtube channel.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-11586695613974681992010-07-28T00:38:00.000-07:002010-07-28T12:56:08.168-07:00

Montreal-based Timber Timbre is the brainchild of Taylor Kirk, and he recently joined us at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival to discuss his experiences in festivals across Canada, as well as his perchance for dark, moody shows. Accompanying Kirk on tour are musicians Simon Trottier (Ferris Wheel) on lapsteel and autoharp, and Mika Posen (Forest City Lovers) on violin. He described how playing

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-79732855654615507882010-07-27T16:35:00.000-07:002010-07-27T16:35:43.881-07:00

Jason Collett is set to embark on a nationwide run of solo acoustic dates slated for the fall of 2010. Dubbed "The Undressed Tour," Jason will make his way diligently across Canada from tip to tip - including his first ever appearance in Newfoundland - starting October 14th in Peterborough, ON. And to coincide with the tour, Jason will release a special collection of previous works, each

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-53450215671710638182010-07-26T15:15:00.000-07:002010-08-02T22:51:50.358-07:00

St. John's six piece Hey Rosetta! have announced tour dates that take them from their hometown, to China, to a cross North American tour. The last time they were in Vancouver, they were opening for Stars, and the audience actually booed when an encore wasn't granted. Needless to say, Tim Baker and crew are a band that you need to catch live. Tour dates: 8/6 St. John's, NL - Bannerman Park (

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-35528308711615390362010-07-25T21:38:00.000-07:002010-07-25T21:38:26.059-07:00

Below is the video for the second single off Toronto's Broken Social Scene's latest album Forgiveness Rock Record. The album is short listed for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize. Short synopsis of video: BSS's sound, larger than life, destroys museum. Thanks to AUXTV for the video.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-20107681196373659192010-07-20T17:34:00.000-07:002010-07-20T17:34:52.687-07:00

Hawksley Workman will release Milk, the follow-up to his Polaris long-listed Meat, on August 10 2010. The album, which thematically is linked with lust of all sorts, features collaborations with Tosha Dash (Candy Coated Killahz), Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) and Shad, who makes a cameo appearance on the track "Some People." Hawksley Workman - "Not Your Parents' Music": -----

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-61375957218647431612010-07-20T00:20:00.000-07:002010-07-20T00:30:41.275-07:00

The 33rd annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival, held at beautiful picturesque Jericho Beach, wrapped up last night with lanterns, song and dancing. The weather fully cooperated and there were many sunkissed and sunburnt happy faces in hats and bikinis. My best estimate in terms of attendance is ~4000. There were many in attendance who have traveled from other parts of BC, including Vancouver

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-82240166777296290842010-07-16T11:06:00.000-07:002010-07-16T11:06:16.505-07:00

Toronto-based Broken Social Scene has released a video highlighting the myriad of global issues and conundrums that are wrapped up in a meeting such as the G20 in Toronto, including objectification of men and women, right to protest and assembly, poverty, weapons proliferation, responsible governance and the culture of oil. With so many questions unanswered and packed up in just under 4 minutes,

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-48208520213732259972010-07-16T10:49:00.000-07:002010-07-16T10:49:37.709-07:00

Siskiyou is the music of Colin Huebert in collaboration with Erik Arnesen. Huebert was the drummer for the Great Lake Swimmers up to 2007, and Arnesen is the current guitarist for the Swimmers. Their self-titled album will be released on September 7 2010 by Constellation Records. Huebert, according to the press release, captured recordings of the album "inside stairwells, bathrooms, hotel rooms,

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-57010600405684822052010-07-11T20:20:00.000-07:002010-07-11T20:23:16.948-07:00

You can think of Surrey Fusion Festival as the suburbs' answer to Vancouver Folk Music Festival. This is the second year I've been aware of it happening, and the second year that it's fallen on the same weekend as the VFMF, this year on July 17-18. If you're not going to be able to make it to Jericho Beach for the Folk Fest, make sure you check out the free events and shows that are happening

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-35224449272673045222010-07-11T17:20:00.000-07:002010-09-22T10:58:58.930-07:00

The 33rd Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival is taking place at picturesque Jericho Beach in the heart of Vancouver next weekend. This festival, the largest one that takes place in the city, incorporates 3 days worth of folk (and folk-related) artists from all over the world with a laid-back west coast mentality, with stages overlooking tree overhangs and ocean. There will be concerts

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-63016513394933989112010-07-09T17:05:00.000-07:002010-07-09T17:05:00.945-07:00

Vancouver-based darling Hannah Georgas has released the music video for single "Bang Bang You're Dead" from her debut full-length This Is Good. The animated video is created by Ian Langhor and infused with producer Jeremy Fisher's signature quirkiness. Georgas is currently on tour through BC with Fisher and others on bike-- check out more details and dates here. Or check out the interview I did

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-75998398569778977952010-07-07T10:36:00.000-07:002010-07-07T10:36:14.040-07:00

Lovely little tune by Toronto rapper D-Sisive from his album Jonestown, which was released digitally for free via Bandcamp (and still is!). The track features some sampling of Coconut Records' song of the same name.

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-4835148306984764292010-07-06T12:03:00.000-07:002010-07-06T12:03:52.896-07:00

The Golden Dogs’ new song “Permanent Record” was recently selected by actor Elijah Woods for his “Elysium” charity compilation. The compilation is available exclusively on iTunes and all the bands, which also includes Vancouver's Black Mountain, have donated their music for children who are battling serious medical conditions. The track is also available on their upcoming album, Coat of Arms

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-5199935943620937952010-07-06T10:54:00.000-07:002010-07-06T11:26:59.802-07:00

The Polaris Prize 2010 shortlist: The Besnard Lakes (The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night) Broken Social Scene (Forgiveness Rock) Caribou (Swim) Karkwa (Les Chemins De Verre) Dan Mangan (Nice, Nice, Very Nice) Owen Pallett (Heartland) Radio Radio (Belmundo Regal) The Sadies (Darker Circles) Shad (TSOL) Tegan & Sara (Sainthood) I'm FIRMLY in the Shad camp. A big congratulations to

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-65381643044684492942010-06-30T20:25:00.000-07:002010-09-22T11:00:39.377-07:00

psst... it's always easier to just follow me on Twitter. Matt Mays and band will be in Charlottetown, PEI this weekend for a gig with Bachman Turner and Great Big Sea. Other shows in July include a solo show in Wolfville, NS on July 30 at Muir Murray Estate Winery and a FREE Natal Day show (with the band) at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth on July 31. Mays recorded a song  called "Queen of

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-2990622822734038332010-06-29T10:50:00.000-07:002010-06-29T10:50:07.292-07:00

The Wilderness of Manitoba (above) is set to bring When You Left The Fire To Vancouver with the support of St. John's The Mountains & The Trees, otherwise known as Jon Janes (right). Both are promoting new albums; while the former saw their debut full-length released on June 22, the latter will see his debut I Made This For You released August 10, 2010. The Wilderness of Manitoba, hailing from

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-81890346892866348702010-06-28T12:34:00.000-07:002010-06-28T12:34:59.212-07:00

Lucky Nova Scotians. On July 1st, at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, NS, Dartmouth Crossing presents a free show for Canada Day. It’ll be filled to the brim with great music, fireworks... and did I mention it's free? There will be events all over the Halifax Regional Municipality. Wear your best 'red & white', and enjoy a pancake breakfast, sing Oh Canada from the top of Citadel Hill, watch the

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-44157231113742131292010-06-27T19:35:00.000-07:002010-06-30T20:27:37.639-07:00

UK neo-soul artist Jamie Lidell made the Monday night crowd at Vancouver's Venue Nightclub throb and bounce with his soulful wails and throbbing beats. And it's just as well that I wasn't able to capture any shots of the man and band, because he was so energetic, running from one side of stage to next, that I'm not sure my point-and-shoot could've handled it. Lisa Christiansen of CBC Radio 3

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-8888953154855434702010-06-23T12:03:00.000-07:002010-06-23T12:03:55.207-07:00

Black Mountain's third full-length album Wilderness Heart is due out on September 14, 2010. The album cover reminds me way too much of this straight-to-dvd cinematic gem, which by the way, is amazing and awful at the same time. Knowing the Vancouver-based psychedelic rock band though, the album should be considerably more amazing than awful. Track Listing: The Hair Song Old Fangs Radiant Hearts

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-46149750084845847542010-06-23T10:50:00.000-07:002010-06-23T10:50:33.093-07:00

Hailing from Calgary, eclectic folk/country/rock band Ghostkeeper are celebrating their Polaris Music Prize long-list nomination by offering up two songs off of their self-titled debut for download. They're going on the festival circuit this summer and you can see them all across western Canada. Sarah Houle, drummer (and vocalist) for Ghostkeeper, has made a video for the track "Spring Fever."

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-57775070127355629562010-06-22T00:12:00.000-07:002010-06-22T00:12:01.305-07:00

Toronto band The Balconies are pleased to present five tour dates in support of War Child's Busking for CHANGE initiative. Kicking off in St. Catharines at SCENE Music Festival on June 27th, The Balconies will stop in to different city centers to raise awareness and funds for War Child with support from local bands and friends. October 2008 marked War Child's first Busking For CHANGE event in

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-41471033492522515402010-06-21T23:26:00.000-07:002010-06-21T23:26:49.277-07:00

The Five Ghosts, the new studio album from Canada’s beloved STARS is available in stores as of today, Monday June 21. It's available in all sorts of ways that you like your music, including deluxe packs available on their website. The album is truly excellent. It sees the self-proclaimed melodramatic pop band mellowing down and integrating the rock elements of their earlier albums with the

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-72447949024051783162010-06-21T23:03:00.000-07:002010-06-21T23:04:09.744-07:00

Abbotsford new-wave band You Say Party! We Say Die!, whom have recently suffered the loss of friend and drummer Devon Clifford due to a brain hemorrhage, have released their first public statement regarding the future of the band. Firstly, they have decided to continue as a band, renamed You Say Party out of respect for Devon's death. Krista Loewen, their keyboardist and vocalist, has decided

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-54202741200484869042010-06-18T12:37:00.000-07:002010-06-18T12:37:56.015-07:00

Must you know the song names prior to your purchase of Arcade Fire's third full-length album? Probably not, but here they are anyways. Pre-order the album here and get the 2 already released tracks "The Suburbs" and "Month of May" immediately. 01 The Suburbs 02 Ready to Start 03 Modern Man 04 Rococo 05 Empty Room 06 City With No Children 07 Half Light I 08 Half Light II (No Celebration) 09

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-13868703246006733692010-06-17T18:20:00.000-07:002010-06-17T18:20:12.420-07:00

Congratulations to all the long list nominees, including many earbuds & ticket stubs favourites! Please note, my picks all got in, so I'm quite pleased. At this point, the jury will now take this list and vote again to come up with the Short List, which will be announced July 6 from the Sky Yard of the Drake Hotel in Toronto live on Sirius 86 and CBC Radio 3. If you don't know what the Polaris

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-15911053776511440642010-06-13T20:48:00.000-07:002010-06-13T20:48:40.499-07:00

Self-proclaimed melodramatic pop band Stars have announced that their fifth studio album The Five Ghosts, following their much adored EP Sad Robots, is now streaming in full at NPR.org. It will stay there until the album's release on June 22. I talk about them too much already, you only need to scroll down to see more Stars news. Just go over and take a listen!

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007938979862717749.post-17073894270784489602010-06-04T20:40:00.000-07:002010-06-07T14:25:18.053-07:00

FREE STUFF Audio Blood does North by North East Festival! Get a FREE MIXTAPE including artists such as Dinosaur Bones and Leif Vollebekk. On top of that, Audio Blood is celebrating NxNE by throwing a free, invite-only party at the top of the CN Tower with The Balconies (one of my favourite finds this year), Hollerado and The Meligrove Band playing. Go to their website to win tickets! NEW

Brenda Leenoreply@blogger.com