Escapade Music Festival Set Times

Here comes that daunting task of actually deciding which shows to see at the Escapade Music Festival. Being a veteran of large festivals myself, I dread this process and sympathize with anyone who thought buying your ticket was all the work you had to do. You will have to make terrible compromises, often causing nightmares of pain an regret just before the festival. Hopefully most of you will survive this ordeal, despite the stressfulness... Let's be honest, you can't really go wrong.  Check out the set times here:

For more info, go to http://www.escapademusicfestival.com/

Interview: Paper Lions @ Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival 2012

Paper Lions @ Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival 2012

Last night marked the beginning of this year's increasingly popular Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival 2012, and I popped by Mooney's Bay to soak in the evening sun and catch some of this year's bands. What's even better is that these events are free all weekend, which means people of all walks of life can witness some great Canadian bands in action - from families to die-hard fans.

I was most excited to see Prince Edward Islanders Paper Lions, as their ever-growing catalogue of great music captures the spirit of what Canadian indie is all about. After releasing their acclaimed full-length debut Trophies in 2012, their recent EP release At Long Creek has been turning heads and was the #1 most listened to stream on Exlaim.ca. Bringing enthusiasm and on-stage character, these guys rocked the diverse crowd into the night as the warm sun set over the festivities. Plus, seeing kids dancing like no one's business up front is an excellent indicator of a great sounding band... it brought a little warmth to my heart knowing they may be the inheritors of this great Canadian sound in the future. After a fun set in which the crowd was involved with singing a few refrain melodies, I was able to meet Colin, David, Rob and John of Paper Lions backstage and get a few words from a couple of the guys:

Matias: You guys just released you new EP on June 16^th, and you have a full length coming out September as well?

Colin:

That’s right, it’s actually completely finished. September is a very tentative date though, as far as the new release… we’re basically keeping the record in our back pocket for now. Just working out a few logistical things in terms of how we’re going to release it, but yeah hopefully the fall but chances are it won’t be too long from now.

Rob:

It’s hard to say, you never really know even when you’re not releasing another record in the meantime, I mean we’re coming out with stuff in the meantime to push and get out there so we can play that material for people. In the best of circumstances, records never get released when we think they’re going to anyway, so it’s often up in the air.

Matias: What’s the writing process been like with the new album compared to previous releases?

Colin:

Well the latest bunch of songs? One thing we’ve done differently this time around has been lyrically we kind of went back to our childhood. We grew up together, John and Rob are brothers and I lived across the street from them in the rural countryside of P.E.I… so we never really struggled with lyrics but we always want them to be really good, and I guess the best way that we’ve found to do that is to go back to our childhood and dig into some funny stories… it turned out to be a really natural process to sit around and shoot the shit about when we were kids.

Matias: You guys have been touring a lot and playing a lot of shows, what band has been the most fun to hang out with – or do you mostly keep to yourselves?

Rob:

We did a tour with Cake in 2008 and undoubtedly that was the most fun… sold out crowds every night, accommodations we were provided with prior to the show, early evening shows were really nice because we’d finish and be like ‘oh wow, it’s still only 10 o’clock’… so it kind of gave us a taste of what touring might be like as a really successful band - really delightful, that’s definitely my personal favourite.

Colin:

I would totally agree with that. 

Matias: Coming from a small town (Belfast P.E.I.), what advice do you have for musicians or bands form rural or sparsely populated areas?

Colin:

I would just say keep doing it. Whenever we started we kind of had these grand ideas that we were going to be the hugest band on the planet in a couple months time, giving ourselves all these deadlines of band dates like ‘if it doesn’t happen by this time next year, then that’ll be it!’… but we’ve found that little successes every few months was enough to keep us going. So it’s best not to have a set mandate of success and to just be happy where you’re at.

Matias: In your mind, what has been your greatest success as a band?

Colin:

You know, we’ve won some awards and they are nice and all but I think the thing we are all most proud of us this record we haven’t released yet. At Long Creek was a really fun and spontaneous project and we are really happy with the end result, but what we are really excited for is pushing forward the record we worked on in the month of May with our friend Howard Redekopp in Vancouver.  ---

Much thanks to the guys from Paper Lions for their time, hopefully we see them back in Ottawa soon!

Break North Festival 2012 - Opening Night Experience

Independent music is something that is not easily grasped by the masses. I don’t mean to imply that there is anything categorically abstract about it that makes it less accessible to the general public. And I certainly wouldn’t group all indie music together into a genre per se (that is a huge pet peeve of mine), but I’ve always been intrigued by the way in which these bands approach the songwriting process and expose their work to the public. In many ways, there is a double-edged sword to becoming an indie artist. 

On the one hand, there is total artistic freedom with respect to style and composition. Artists have the ability to produce incredible music from their bedrooms, and build hype through music blogs or streaming sites without necessarily spending a dime on physical albums. Many bands create their own mega-specific genre of a sub-genre of a sub-sub genre…, which demonstrates creativity and musicianship in a way that is almost unheard of in the Top 40 world. This creates (in some, not all cases) niche audiences and devout fan bases that are sparse but committed. On the other hand, it is a barren desert of obscurity for most independent artists out there. Just because there is true passion and inspiration in music does not necessarily pave the way for success - it is a difficult process developing a fan base from an already miniscule percentage of the music-listening population. Most offer up their work free to stream and download on sites like Bandcamp or Soundcloud, and allowing the listener to pay whatever price they are willing to fork out for the music. Plus, most venues for music exposure (such as festivals or radio stations where bands can market their sound) have an interest in showcasing artists who are already established. Getting gigs isn’t always easy for the lesser-known ones, and attracting new faces is even more challenging. For me, anyway, this is a big problem.

Enter the Break North Festival. It’s mission is to “showcase independent and emerging Canadian musicians over a four day run of concerts in the National Capital”. It’s purpose is simple - bringing local independent artists into an intimate setting in order to give them exposure as well as provide fans with an opportunity to experience new music in a way that won’t destroy your last paycheque. I spoke with organizer Mark Isbrandt about the purpose and motivation behind the four-day festival. He emphasized the point that there are not many ways for local, independent bands to show off their material to new audiences - a series of shows that bring people to experience new and different music can provide a way for artists to promote themselves and garner some more support.

There are many music festivals in Ottawa, and Mark didn’t shy away from acknowledging the fact that competition is stiff – especially in the summer. He pointed out that there is a lot of diversity in the music scene in the nation's capital, and that having a variety of bands gives the festival an edge over some others. Hosting shows that aren’t genre-specific give the audience a chance to expand their horizons and get a good idea of what kind of local music is out there. With so many larger festivals such as Bluesfest and Folkfest, the intimate atmosphere at Elmdale Tavern and Rainbow Bistro is a refreshing change where musicians and fans can interact more easily.

Little Stella @ Break North Festival

I was able to make it out to the opening night of Break North at Elmdale Tavern on June 14th, and got to see things kick off first hand. Little Stella was the first band to play and their set was a strong start to the festival. Their Canadian folk/rock sound also earned them a spot at the Live 88.5 Big Money Shot competition this year, one they hope to advance through to the later rounds in the coming months. The band was happy to be playing the festival and seemed very comfortable on stage, with all members contributing to a great sounding set. It was nice to meet the guys and hear how excited they are to be playing in front of new people, as they were genuinely stoked to share some of their experiences as a young band and some of their future plans. Hear their EP Songs For Spain and catch them live at Feverfest next Saturday at the Clocktower Pub (Glebe) 9:30 PM.

The night continued with After Funk playing next, a group of young talented guys who made the long trip up from my hometown of London, Ontario. Lead singer Yanick Allwood wasted no time getting the crowd involved, and playing funk/soul music that even got the older bartender lady out dancing. Like me, I heard many people in the audience say how impressed they were with the set, which included a mix of originals and covers of Jimi Hendrix, Beatles, Bob Marley, and Michael Jackson, amongst others.

The Ticket @ Break North Festival

Arms of the Girl played next and performed some of their folk-rock songs off their album Versions of Happiness. They didn’t hold back, as lead singer Carolyn Côté kept the energy going with good stage presence and strong vocals. I met them after the show and they were very down to earth, even nice enough to give me a sample of their music. Check them out June 28th at Zaphod's with Bleeker Ridge. The Ticket closed things out with their original sound and style. Lead singer and guitarist Adam broke a couple strings on the first song, but avoided that brutally awkward pause while waiting for the other guitar by providing some impromptu banter. Throughout the rest of their set, Adam let the guitar do the talking and blew away the audience as both he and Jack (on drums) poured every inch of their soul into the set. I was also totally impressed with the sound at Elmdale too, getting it right in smaller venues is not a common occurrence. Props to sound guys, who don’t get enough credit.

Overall, the night proved to be a reminder of how important these lower-key festivals are for local independent artists. Having the opportunity to meet some of the artists and organizers involved reminded me that so much passion for music as an art form exists at the grassroots level, and that true music lovers have something to gain from being part of an intimate, small-venue festival such as Break North. Not only is it a great way to meet those involved, but fans also become part of the experience in a way that isn’t quite the same at larger shows. For me, the absence of anonymity was a very positive thing – it was as if you could feel everyone listening and have the bands feed off that connection. I hope Break North becomes a regular fixture amongst Ottawa’s festivals, because I think it is necessary to balance the emphasis of larger events with ones that are solely focused on the local. Supporting our independent artists is the only way to ensure Ottawa remains an artistic centre and an ever-growing source of new musical talent in Canada.    

PS I Love You + Army Girls @ Maverick's (08-06-12)

PS I Love You + Army Girls @ Maverick's (08-06-12), a set on Flickr.

Last week PS I Love You and Army Girls took over Maverick's for what turned out to be a great night of loud music. Here are the photos my good friend Brodie Day took at the show. Enjoy!

Ottawa Bands at NXNE 2012

NXNE is one of the best festivals to hear loads of new music, from Canada and around the world. Ottawa continually offers up solid additions to the festival, some seasoned veterans and others new to the event. Here is a list I made of all the Ottawa bands and their shows at NXNE this year, I hope some peeps get out to support our local talent in the big city. Good luck to them!

Amos The Transparent 

June 13, 2012 at 11PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ El Mocambo (464 Spadina)

June 17, 2012 at 11PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Rancho Relaxo (300 College)

Laurent Bourque

June 13, 2012 at 9:00 PM 

@ Czehoski (678 Queen St. W.)

Brokenbridge

June 14, 2012 at 2:00 AM (Event starts at 9PM)

@ Crawford (718 College St.)

Eastborough

June 14, 2012 at 9:00 PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Piston (937 Bloor Street West)

Estan 

June 14, 2012 at 10:00 PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Monarch Tavern (12 Clinton St.)

Hellbros

June 13, 2012 at 2:00 AM (Event starts at 8 PM)

@ The Rochester  (423 College St.)

Tara Holloway 

June 15 @ 10PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Sister (1554 Queen W)

Jack Pine and the Fire

June 15 @ 11PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Cadillac Lounge (1296 Queen W)

Jeremy Fisher 

June 15 @ 9PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington)

Rebecca Kohler 

June 16 @ 9:30PM (Event starts at 8:30PM)

@ Lot 100 (100A Ossington)

Loon Choir

June 13 @ 9PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Boat (158 Augusta)

The Pelts

June 15 @ 1AM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Sister (1554 Queen W)

Shannon Rose & The Thorns

June 13 @ 11PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Central (603 Markham Street)

Silkken Laumann

June 13 @ 11PM (Event starts at 9PM)

@ The Garrison (1197 Dundas St W)

Silver Creek 

June 13 @ 10PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Cadillac Lounge (1296 Queen W)

Silvergun & Spleen 

June 15 @ 11PM (Event starts at 9PM)

@ Bovine Sex Club (542 Queen W)

The Wind Up Radio Sessions

June 13 @ 1AM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Central (603 Markham St.)

Wise, Young & King 

June 13 @ 1AM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Hideout (484 Queen W)

Zoo Legacy

June 16 @ 10PM (Event starts at 9PM)

@ Crawford (718 College Street)

Review: PS I Love You + Army Girls @ Maverick's (08/06/12)

PS I Love You

When I heard that PS I Love You was making a stop in Ottawa, I was determined to check them out and see how good they are live. I got the feeling that they would be one of those bands who would surpass their album sound with a live manifestation of their material. With their 2010 debut Meet Me at the Muster Station garnering attention and acclaim (not to mention a place for them on the 2011 Polaris Prize Long List), Paul Saulnier and Benjamin Nelson are on a worldwide mission to top that with last month's release of their new LP Death Dreams. This album has proven to be a massive success so far, providing listeners with both experimental aspects combined with the style that most of us grew to love on Muster Station. But anyway, this isn't an album review so my suggestion is if you enjoyed Muster Station and are into the garage-rock sound then you have to check out Death Dreams.

So last night PS I Love You played at Maverick's alongside Try Harder & Army Girls. The night started out a little rough as my friend/photographer lost his wallet (still yet to be found), thus causing us to miss Try Harder. I saw Ming of the Photogmusic blog between sets and he said it was great, so it's too bad we missed them but sometimes these things are out of your control.

Army Girls

Army Girls definitely knew what they are doing, even though lead vocalist Carmen Elle being admittedly nervous before the set. Each having been in a number of bands before their current one, as well as collaborating with Ben Cook (Fucked Up producer), their spot as a fixture on the Toronto DIY scene is well-deserved. The duo seems to be an inevitable pairing, combining Andy Smith's dynamic and powerful drums with Carmen's attitude and rawness. They have done what many other up-and-coming DIY artists have, pulling together all different aspects of their musical inspirations and styles to make music that won't be forced into any specific genre or category. They began playing as people were still making their way into the venue, so the crowd was still a little quiet and reserved. Except for that one guy who kept yelling in Carmen's left ear. However, once they started playing the energy level became noticeably higher. Her comfort with the fretboard and laid back demeanor gave the impression of "I'm a bad ass and I'm going to make you love our music", the same kind of edge you might expect from The Kills. Although the vocals and higher guitar tones were difficult to make out sometimes (by no fault of their own), songs such as 'End of Days' and 'White Towel' really set the tone for the night as Carmen seemed to let loose throughout the latter portion of the set. I was really happy I got to see Army Girls perform, especially since I was still kicking myself for missing Try Harder. I get the feeling they will continue to go on doing great things, and hope that they come back to Ottawa soon.

Check out a great Blog T.O. interview with Army Girls here.

When it was time for PS I Love You to take the stage, Maverick's had filled out a bit more. After a 10-minute wait for a piece of equipment, the band cranked the volume and began to play what would turn out to be a powerful set through and through. What originally attracted me to PS I Love You was some similarities with the band Fucked Up with respect to the style and composition of their music. There is an unmistakable punk aspect at the core of both of these bands, but each has transformed their music into something more. The lead guitar punches out arpeggios and riffs that mesh so well with the rhythm and drums, not to mention the vocals that are anything but ordinary. What I also found funny is last summer I could not stop listening to David Comes To Life by Fucked Up, and songs like Queen of Hearts. Fast forward to this summer and I can't stop listening to Death Dreams, particularly the songs Princess Towers, Don't Go and First Contact. There are so many good reasons why Fucked Up won the Polaris Prize in 2009, I see no reason why PS I Love You wouldn't be a contender this year.

Seeing Paul Saulnier showcase his guitar talents on stage live was a treat. No wonder he was voted #99 in SPIN Magazine's Top 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. His style is really unique, making it look easy to do tricks on the upper frets and sing at the same time. His work with the double-necked guitar is masterful. The duo is now a trio, as they added instrumentalist and van-driver extraordinaire Tim Bruton. It seems as though their relentless touring schedule over the past couple years is paying off, as each song was played with perfection and its own complexity. Drummer Benjamin Nelson was in a percussive trance state throughout the show and carried Paul's melodies to the audience all night long. They ended the set with First Contact, which is probably my favourite off the new album. The show was, as expected, amazing. One of the only downfalls was that my friends and I probably have permanent hearing damage. I suppose I can forgive them for this, and maybe I'll be smart enough to buy $1 earplugs at the door next time.

Check out this performance of 'Don't Go' at Studio 211 Session for CBC Radio 2's Drive:

Video: BEACH HOUSE - Lazuli (Official)

Think what you will about music videos, but I still believe that they can be an incredibly effective compliment to a song, or album. Ever since I accidentally flipped to Muchmusic when I was 6 and watched Green Jelly's "Three Little Pigs" (which was horrifying at that age, to say the least) I have been intrigued by what music videos have to offer. Nothing can really replace how the song actually makes you feel when you listen to it, whether it be the bassline, rhythm, lyrics, or a simple guitar riff. However, in some cases - and I say some because the music video world is populated mostly by idiots - the video provides another dimension to the music. Beach House seems to take that quite literally with their video for 'Lazuli' which mostly takes place in the 4th dimension. For some reason it reminds me of 'Paranoid Android', a video which we all know and love. Maybe it is the presence of despairing characters. Or maybe it's because no one has a frigging clue what is happening throughout either.

Nonetheless, I love it. A cool video for an even cooler song. Cheers to director Allen Cordell and his brain.

PS I Love You is almost here...

This Friday, PS I Love You is making its way to Ottawa for what should be an amped-up show at Maverick's. The Kingston duo of Benjamin Nelson and Paul Saulnier have announced a small tour that includes Canadian and US dates. It is also worth noting that Saulnier was voted the 99th Greatest Guitarist of all time by SPIN Magazine. We can expect quite a few new songs off their full-length 'Death Dreams' release through Paper Bag Records, including (hopefully) one of my favourites 'First Contact'. If that song doesn't get you excited for this show I'm not sure what will. Their timely release of the music video for 'Princess Towers' last month sets the tone for these shows, which can be watched below. From what I have heard from Toronto-based openers Army Girls, this should be a great night start to finish.

Check out The A.V. Club's interview with frontman Paul Saulnier, it's a good one.

Weekly Pick: Young Empires - Wake All My Youth [EP]

The time has come to bust out the new playlists and add new tunes that will inevitably become your soundtrack for summer. Well, for me anyway. If you are like me and like to keep things updated on the old ipod, then keep an eye on my weekly picks. I'll be adding new weekly pics in order to keep things fresh, for myself and anyone generous enough to read my blog or visit my website. I'm not going to go into too much depth with these pieces, just give a recommendation and brief overview of what you can expect with said pick.

Young Empires – Wake All My Youth [EP]

Released: Jan. 31, 2012

Toronto's Young Empires have been increasingly making their presence felt. Their new groove-driven, dance-causing, merrymaking debut release 'Wake All My Youth' EP follows indie electro-rock forefathers Passion Pit and Empire of the Sun in creating genre-defying eclectic songs. They released their EP through Pirates Blend, who also represent the likes of Bedouin Soundclash (a long time personal favourite of mine). The EP itself is a logical extension of the original 'Enter Through the Sun' release in 2011, combining synth, beat-laden and bass heavy aspects with raw guitar riffs and stunning vocals. Their songs have also reached top spots on Canadian charts and the Top 15 on The Hype Machine. It is undeniably fun from start to finish. It should prove to be a solid basis from which to create a full-length album in the (hopefully near) future.