5 Enjoyable Blog Postings I Read This Week

1. Chromewaves Wilco's decision to start their own label
2. Aquarium Drunkard  Apex Mannor's debut cd
3. BLOG TO  Another sweet local mixtape
4. Torontoist  The collapse of CKLN
5. Gizmodo  Hiding your ugly computer chords

Yesterday's Show

Yesterday, Hayden and I once again brought the ruckas to CHRY 105.5 fm.
Lot's of soul, lots of indie, some lies, a discussion of Wilfred Laurier  and a valuable lesson that if you pair songs that don't really work you can claim it's a juxtaposition.

                                                                                                                              

pt 1

pt 2

Digging with Tom ( The Flamin' Groovies- Slow Death)

Slow Death captures the LA based Flamin Groovies at a turning point. Caught between their 50's rock and roll obsession and their later faux British invasion phase they churned out a proto punk record that sounds like a cross between the Stones and the Sonics.It was the first for vocalist Chris Wilson, and the cover doesn't make any false promises in advertising "high octane rock and roll". Not many bands were playing as fast and gritty as the Flamin' Groovies back then and few can match their frenetic energy today.

Today's Show (Live ON CHRY 105.5 FM)

Once again Hayden Simpson will be gracing the airwaves to help me through 2 hours of awkward pretentious banter and music. There's going to be lots of new themes, possibly some botched cues, and most likely some rambling that goes absolutely nowhere.
Themes for the Show Today
Moldy Oldies
Double Down
Fun Fact
Derivatives
Freshly minted


TG

Lucky Number 7 (Zeus Hot Under the Collar)

Once again proving that band's save their best songs for vinyl only singles is Hot Under the Collar. The song is originally a King Tobiass track and has become a concert highlight and staple for Zeus.  Zeus might not be the new incarnation of the Beatles, but they could be the new incarnation of Canada's Beatles the Guess Who (except much much better). Is this their "These Eyes" check it out below and decide if it's worthy of a Maestro rap remix.

On the Horizon (The Babies: The Babies)

The Babies are composed of Cassie Ramone from the Vivian Girls and Kevin Morby of Woods. They play highly unambitious catchy garage rock with male-female harmonies. I don't mean to sound offput when I describe them as unambitious, most garage rock is highly unambitious (Ty Segall aside) and that's what brings me back to it. It's dirty fun rock and roll and you catch a nice dollup of it on their self titled record out February 8th.

Video of the Week (Andre Ethier Cop Killer)

Andre Ethier needs to stop torturing us and release a new album already, no more singles Andre no matter how fantastic they are.(check out Running of the Bulls, and Promising Rainbows) Here he is singing a song about a horse that kills a cop and the hijinx that ensue.(including a tongue and cheek Jay Z reference) Check out Andre blatantly copping Dave Byrne when he sings "Cop Killer" below with his fantastic backing band Steamboat. (also due for a new full length)

Last Week's Show

Here is last week's show. Once again it features the talented co hosting of Hayden Simpson. It Started off Rocky(at one point I said "So the Folks"???), but ended up Appolo Creed (*In Rocky 1 ) This week's show is hopefully going to be like Paulie's Robot in Rocky 4.
"Yo could you turn your robot down"
Classic!


http://www.mediafire.com/file/h3x1ez58im198dd/CHRY%20Logs%20012011_200001.MP3
http://www.mediafire.com/file/fb29bvbw9w9cjnx/CHRY%20Logs%20012011_210001.MP3

Jayhawks Reunite, Fly Again!

Last Week the Jayhawks kicked off their Reunion Tour in Toronto at the Phoenix. Far from coming off as a nostalgia act, they played songs off their classic album's Tommorow The Green Grass and Hollywood Town Hall with youthful vigor.(although Mark Olson looked extremely worn out by the end of the set, but that also could just be his everyday look) If you get a chance to see the band be prepared to be impressed with the seamless harmonies of Mark Olson, Gary Louris, Tim O'Regan and Karen Grotberg.   They're planning on releasing a new album this year and if the new songs they debuted are any indication the album is going to be less folk inclined and less upbeat than their earlier material.
Here is a clip of the band playing Blue on the original John Stewart Show. Luckily for the members of the band, they've given up their rather peculiar fashion sense seen in this video.

Lucky Number 7 (Calm Down It's Monday)

       7" Heavy Snow and Nice to Come Home released in 2009 captures Fred Squire between Shotgun and Jaybird and his new folk inspired solo career ( see the recently released March 12).   The record has Squire teaming up with frequent collaborator Julie Doiron under the name Calm Down it's Monday. The 2 Calm Down It's Monday songs on the split (Julie Doiron contributes 2 solo songs ) are electric slow burners that any fan of Shotgun and Jaybird, Squire, Doiron, or really any good Canadian indie rock should track down.

On the Horizon (Go Go Boots-The Drive By Truckers)

On February 15 Everyone's favorite Southern rock revivalists the Drive By Truckers release a new record Go Go Boots. Rumour has it the record will delve into the Truckers love of Southern r&b and include covers of blue eyed soul legend Eddie Hinton. They certainly have the chops to be a great soul band  they've backed up Booker T and Betty Lavette, but still I'm sceptical how it will all turn out. That being said, I was sceptical of a concept album about Lynyrd Skynyrd and I turned out to be flat wrong on that one.

Below is a live take of the single.

Video of the Week (Greg Cartwright Bound to Let Me Down)

Whether it's with Reigning Sound, the Compulsive Gamblers, or The Oblivions (to name only a few) Greg Cartwright continuously delivers r&b flavoured garage rock that flat out rules . His new band the Parting Gifts features member of the Ettes,  the Greenhornes, and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.
Here is a video of him performing the standout track Bound to Let Me Down off their debut Strychnine Dandelion. Afterwards Greg chews the fat literally.

Digging With Tom (The Pointed Sticks- Perfect Youth)

Every Wednesday I'm going to recommend a non recently released album that I think is worth tracking down. The First Instalment ie this week I'm going to recommend The Pointed Sticks classic Perfect Youth.   The Pointed Sticks were a 70's punk band from a Vancouver signed to legendary punk imprint Stiff Records (Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Ian Drury). Perfect Youth was their only full length record and unlike much of the Stiff Records output it isn't marred by extremely dated production. The record was produced by Bob Rock who drastically turned course on his career when he stopped producing good records such as this one and a large chunk of the Metalica catalogue and put his talents to work on 311, Simple Plan and Cher.

Sounds Like: Superfriendz meets the best of Hot Hot Heat with a little bit of The Clash thrown in for good measure
http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Youth-Pointed-Sticks/dp/B0009IW8H6

New Soundz (Shotgun Jimmie-Late Last Year)

Is it the single for the new album? The contribution to his upcoming split 7" with Joel Plaskett? just a random myspace posting? Does it matter?
http://www.myspace.com/jimjimers

Upcoming Show

Does garage+soul+awkward ramblings= a tolerable 2 hours of radio?
Find out live on Thursday from 8-10 pm on CHRY 105.5 FM

Half Of My Best Of 2010 Show

Because only half of it is worth listening to. (IE I accidentally deleted the first half of the show off my USB key)
Featuring the competent co-hosting of Hayden Simpson.

Listen to Ep 1: Awesome French Band Ruin's Perfectly Good Radio Rant