2010 In Review: October and November

After taking a few months of hiatus from this blog due to an insane amount of (fantastic) work and of course the holiday break, I'm back to write about some wonderful shows I've been able to attend in the months of October and November!  I have definitely been to many many shows, but I would like to write about a few of my favourites.

David Usher @ The Seahorse Tavern, Oct. 25th/10

If you were born before the 90s, I can guarantee that David Usher rings a bell in your head when it comes to names in the music industry.  David was the lead singer in the Canadian rock band Moist and released some solo albums as well; one that of particular popularity being Morning Orbit.  The tracks "Alone In The Universe", along with "Black Black Heart" and others were on constant rotation on radio stations everywhere.  Other songs like "The Music" were also very prominent in the years following.  David Usher did however seem to disappear for a while, leaving those hit songs on your brain's backburner.

In September 2010, David Usher released his seventh album The Mile End Sessions which was completely acoustic and contained acoustic versions of those smash hits as well as new material, including a song that was done in French with Marie-Mai, "Je Repars".  This album release led to a very intimate acoustic tour, played in front of groups of only a couple hundred people all over Canada.  I was lucky enough to catch him play at the Seahorse Tavern, where it was packed to capacity (which is still under 200 people).

David was an incredible performer and storyteller during the entire set.  When he spoke, you could basically hear a pin drop in the venue, which is incredibly different than most shows in the Seahorse; it left me in awe.  His vocals were clean and crisp, and weren't taken over by the instrumental (a very big reason why I love hearing acoustic sets).  It was as if I was listening to the CD itself, only the vibe that he gave out while he sang was unreal.  When he played new tunes, everyone just listened and absorbed the music, swaying back and forth to the melody.  If he played the acoustic version of the hits he used to play (including one from Moist's album), people gladly helped him sing along to the lyrics, despite maybe not hearing the song for as much as decades.  I know I couldn't help but sing along to "Black Black Heart" and "Alone In The Universe", both songs I haven't heard in about 7 years!  Overall, the songs that were sung and the stories he told to go with them were captivating, the laughs he gave us were phenomenal, and I can probably say that I have never met someone so humble despite his massive successes.  After meeting him after the show, he was incredibly polite and very down to earth, which was great to see.  Afterwards, he came back out front to meet with anyone who stuck around, signed autographs, and took pictures.  It was a great end to a lovely evening of talent.  If you see an acoustic show going on in your area, I highly recommend going to see it!  Don't forget to buy your copy of The Mile End Sessions either, because all of the songs are hauntingly amazing.  If you think you know the hit songs, you will be blown away by the acoustic versions: the mood behind them changes completely and it's just like you're listening to a brand new song.  Wow!

For more information on shows or to stream/purchase The Mile End Sessions visit David Usher's official website at http://www.davidusher.com/!

Nova Scotia Music Week in Yarmouth NS, Nov. 4-7th/10

Thursday - Carleton Stone, Carmen Townsend, Alert The Medic
This was my first time ever attending NSMW so I had no idea what to expect.  What I received at the end of this weekend was the most amazing showcases, incredibly informative conference panels, and a bunch of new friends and industry connections.  I got to Yarmouth in the early afternoon on the 4th, and proceeded to check in, relax, and grab a bite to eat.  The ball didn't get rolling until around 9:30pm when a group of us made our way over to the Rodd Grand (the host hotel) to check out some showcases.  First we ended up in the Rodd Grand Ballroom, where I just missed Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers' set but heard great things about it.  Next up was Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel, who had an intense stage presence and electric sound.  I first heard this band a few years ago when they participated in the Battle of the Bands at Smooth Herman's in Sydney.  I loved them then, and I can certainly say I love them now.  They have grown so much and developed their sound to blow a crowd away, while still managing to remain friendly; a trait that I definitely look for in people involved within the industry.  During the whole set, people were up dancing and singing which is always a great experience to be a part of!  Following Carleton's set, I made my way across the lobby to Haley's Lounge to catch Carmen Townsend's set.  As always, her vocals were raw and powerful, which made sure to catch the ear of the entire bar.  There were many people, including myself, on the dance floor just rocking out!  I always love hearing Carmen sing, she's got a voice unlike any I've heard before and a great personality to boot.  I ended the evening at the Rodd Grand Ballroom where I got to hear Alert The Medic rock the stage.  They played "Atlas", my favourite song, so needless to say my night was complete.  Those guys have an amazing energy about them on stage and their music is original and a treat to listen to, especially live, as I've mentioned in previous posts.  Overall, an amazing beginning to NSMW!

Friday - Jason MacDonald, HMV Next Big Thing Finals, Rich Aucoin, Caledonia
Friday itself was a very full day.  It started at 10am where I spent right up until the early evening in the ballroom learning all about the digital age in the music industry at the conference panels.  Very informative session!  I then got myself ready and went down to Rudder's for a nice dinner with some great people and from there we went upstairs to catch Jason MacDonald's set.  With his acoustic guitar and accompanied by Colin Grant on fiddle, Jason set off an amazing performance of his acoustic songs.  It was no mistake this guy was from Cape Breton, and I loved the traditional yet original tunes he played through the whole thing.  There were so many other great acts lined up after Jason, but it was time to head back to the Rodd Grand Ballroom to check out the HMV Next Big Thing Finals.  The lineup?  Writer's Strike (formerly The First Aid Kit), Slowcoaster, Carmen Townsend, The Stogies, and Three Sheet.  I could write about this show for ages because it was just that amazing, however I'll just go with the highlights of that evening.  The Stogies and Writer's Strike, both put forward an energy-filled performance and had the crowd up and dancing.  Slowcoaster brought a huge crowd full of Cape Bretoners who all knew basically every word to the songs and rocked out hard to the music.  The vibe these guys give out is one that's indescribable and I can see them play over and over again!  Three Sheet brought a set that really proved themselves.  The energy and the interaction that they had probably quadrupled the amount they've ever had before!  They were passionate, and they wanted to give the best performance they could muster; and they did it, no doubt in my mind of that.  Finally, Carmen Townsend rocked the place with her amazing performance, which then landed the singer-songwriter the winning spot at HMV Next Big Thing meaning she was off to the UK!

After seeing Carmen's performance, it was off to Dooly's for Rich Aucoin.  For those of you who haven't seen this man perform, with a band or solo, you have GOT to check him out.  I first saw him perform at Evolve last summer, and his performance literally left me speechless.  His genre of music is very different compared to most that frequent the east coast; it could be described as motivational karaoke.  This set is just so interactive and fun that you can't help but sing and dance along even if it isn't your type of music.  Rich's performance at Dooly's was no exception!  He was solo for this, though you couldn't tell because he gave off that much energy.  The whole audience wore 3D glasses and followed the lyrics and videos on the white sheet behind him.  There was dancing, singing, and arms waving the entire time... we even got to play under a parachute in which Rich put himself in the center.  Silly string, glow sticks, and confetti made this set so intense and out of this world that it definitely left you craving more!  It was time I made my way back to the Rodd Grand after this fantastic set to check out the last band playing at Haley's Lounge, Caledonia.  Caledonia's music to me is so fun to listen to.  The band members have a familial connection and it definitely shows in their performance!  One thing about the show I won't forget is watching Zac Crouse play the stand up bass while wearing a headband with a light on it so he could see the frets.  It was used so he could see clearly, but he also inadvertently got my attention and made me watch the whole set.

Saturday - SpinCount/Codapop/Little River Folk Presents: Suitecase 2010, Gloryhound, The Stanfields
After beginning my day at the conference, this time talking about International Exporting, it was time to relax and prepare myself for my last night of Nova Scotia Music Week!  After getting a nice bite to eat, it was time to head up to the 3rd floor of the Rodd Grand Hotel to check out Suitecase 2010, put on by SpinCount (http://www.spincount.com/), Codapop Studios (http://www.codapop.com/), and Little River Folk (http://www.littleriverfolk.com/).  This was a very intimate setting where one could have a beer or a glass of wine, have some appetizers, and listen to singer-songwriters perform a small yet amazing 15 minute acoustic set.  The performers of the evening were Electric City Underground, Christine Campbell, Ashley Condon, Jon McKiel, Andrew Hunter, and Steven MacDougall.  All I can say about this Suitecase is that the music was phenomenal, the hosts were so outgoing and accommodating, and the people attending were just wonderful to talk to.  The end of the Suitecase led to people getting themselves ready for some showcases and having a few drinks in the hotel rooms.  It was time for me to head down to Dooly's which was to capacity I may add, to see Gloryhound and The Stanfield's play their sets.  What a night this was!  Gloryhound came on stage and blew us all away with their stellar original songs and an amazing stage presence.  Their sound is nothing short of rock and roll, which is something that isn't necessarily around much anymore, so it makes seeing this type of performance (leather jackets and all) that much better.  The interaction with the audience was impeccable and they didn't leave a dry seat in the house.  Up next was The Stanfields, who had had some major car troubles back on the west coast and wouldn't have made it back on time if it weren't for the help of their fans donating to save their engine.  It goes to show how many people actually care about them, and they did not disappoint when they got up on that stage.  They belted out that typical drinking song type of music, which is perfect for the end of a night.  Everyone was up jumping around, dancing, and singing along; quite frankly I couldn't believe how many people came out for this show!  It was my first time actually seeing these guys perform, and it will not be the last; I bought a CD and made sure to tell them just how well they did that night.

Nova Scotia Music Week: four days (three of which I experienced) of amazing people, thoroughly entertaining sets and wonderful music.  If you're in the area next year, be sure to come out, you will not be disappointed!  For more information on Music Nova Scotia, visit http://www.musicnovascotia.ca/.

Artists' Websites
Alert The Medic: http://www.alertthemedic.com/
Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers: http://www.andrewhunter.ca/
Ashley Condon: www.myspace.com/ashleydcondon
Caledonia: http://www.caledoniatheband.ca/
Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel: http://www.carletonstone.com/
Carmen Townsend: http://www.carmendtownsend.ca/
Electric City Underground: http://www.electriccityunderground.com/
Gloryhound: http://www.gloryhoundband.com/
Jason MacDonald: http://www.jasonmacdonald.com/
Jon McKiel: www.myspace.com/jonmckiel
Rich Aucoin: http://www.richaucoin.ca/
Slowcoaster: http://www.slowcoaster.ca/
Steven MacDougall: www.myspace.com/stevenmacdougall
Stone Mary (Christine Campbell): http://www.stonemary.com/
The Stanfields: http://www.thestanfields.ca/
The Stogies: www.myspace.com/thestogies
Three Sheet: www.myspace.com/threesheet
Writer's Strike: www.myspace.com/writersstrike

ECMA & Spincount Present, October 2nd/10

What do you get when you take the East Coast Music Association, partner them with radio promotions company Spincount, and include four incredible bands from Nova Scotia (Telfer and Alert The Medic), New Brunswick (Andy Brown), and Prince Edward Island (Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold)?  An unbelievable show that packed the Seahorse as early as 11pm with a lineup out the door!  With a very huge weekend for music in Halifax (Matt Mays and Ian Sherwood both playing at other venues that evening), it was all one could have asked for and more!

Andy Brown started out the night and set the bar for the rest of the evening.  His vocals were devine and the band was tight, everyone was into the sound eminating from the stage.  Next up was Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold, who definitely did not disappoint.  Their performance on stage was top notch and the chemistry was certainly there.  People were dancing and singing along to the words of the songs, which was just great to see.  Telfer, of course, rocked us hard with their funk-inspired music with Tommy Green Jr. taking us along for the ride with his interactive performance.  Finally, Alert the Medic graced us on stage, and their performance was so energetic and hardcore.  There was a bunch of love from the audience and everyone was up and dancing by the end of the night!  Just when I thought those performances couldn't be topped, ALL of the bands got up on stage and sang "All Along The Watchtower"... just whoa.  The vibe they had going was nothing less than phenomenal.

All of these bands were top notch and all have great things ahead of them.  Telfer just left on a cross-Canada tour, Andy Brown just won Test Drive Acoustic by Taylor Guitars as well as the Galaxie Rising Star competition, Alert the Medic are also touring, and Tim & Tian from Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold will be embarking on a tour with the Trews at the end of the month.  Great things ahead for all of these guys, and if you see any of them in your city or town, be sure to see them perform, you won't be disappointed!

www.alertthemedic.com
www.telfermusic.com
www.andybrown.ca
www.timchaisson.com

Test Drive Acoustic 2010: Andy Brown

The Taylor Guitars and Elixir Strings Test Drive Acoustic 2010 contest has been in full swing for a while now, and it's about to wrap up on the 15th of September at 11:59pm EST.  At #1 from day 1, Andy Brown has been hard at work trying to get his fans to participate in the voting process.  The music video on the official site is a song called "Happiness" which is a very light and fun tune accompanied by a storyline of Andy Brown's romance with his Taylor guitar.  It's a great video, and it's no wonder that he's been put in the #1 spot.

With less than 2 days left, Brown is far from ready to let up on trying to get votes.  After having a conversation with him, he emphasized how much he wanted his fans to keep voting and not to think that it's "in the bag".  I find it very refreshing that he's so down to earth and hasn't let the fact that he's been on top since the beginning of the contest keep him from realizing that the contest is still going and he could he knocked out of contention if votes slow down.

On that note, I would recommend to everyone to check out the contest website and vote for this phenomenal New Brunswick musician.  These past 2 years alone, he's released his second album, "False Alarm", and has been nominated for the 2010 Music NB Awards not once, twice, but three times!  Having seen him acoustically play live, he is full of raw talent and energy and is honestly a really humble and genuine guy to talk to.

For more information on Andy Brown, please feel free to visit his website at http://www.andybrown.ca/.  To vote for him in the Taylor Guitars and Elixir Strings Test Drive Acoustic 2010 contest, go to http://testdriveacoustic.taylorguitars.com/BandDetailsVideo.aspx?b=15647&sr=false&bn=Andy+Brown.  You can vote once a day per email address, so feel free to use all of your email accounts for the next 2 days, every single vote counts and I know that this guy thoroughly appreciates everyone doing so!

Deep Roots Emerging Artists' Program Ft. Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold, August 28th/10

After a long day of moving into my new apartment, my parents and I decided to drive over to the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville to check out Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold, who was headlining the Deep Roots Emerging Artists' showcase.  Two of the four finalists played that evening: Liz Furniss and Jesse Potter.  I was disappointed to see a complete lack in audience that evening, but there isn't much one can do about it.  Liz was the first to take the stage.  She started her set with Blind Melon's "No Rain", to which she introduced very nervously.  The chords from the guitar (which was a beautiful electro/acoustic) were quite basic, and I had assumed the song would be quite bland, but once her vocals began I was completely blown away by her projection and tone.  The 14 year old then proceeded to impress me more when she performed an original song that she titled "Spider Alley".  Her use of minor chords made it sound fantastic and her lyrics were well-written.  Overall, her set was very well done, with two covers and two original songs, but I really wish she would have used strictly originals.  The covers just didn't do this girl justice!

Next came Jesse.  I was honestly a little bit bothered by him when Debbie introduced him and warned us that he was sick and may not be able to perform at a maximum level.  When he came on, he then proceeded to tell us about his illness, and that just left a bad taste in my mouth.  He played a song by an artist he taught himself to play guitar from, and it went very well.  If he hadn't mentioned he was sick, I wouldn't have noticed.  He was performing quite well, though a little awkward, until at the end of the song when he whispered "I'm sorry my guitar is out of tune" into the microphone.  After attempting for all of one minute to tune his one string (which, by the way, nobody noticed until it was pointed out), he skipped the two songs he was going to play on that and then went onto another guitar (which was gorgeous by the way) where he played an instrumental called "Funktified".  He did beyond amazing on this song, it was insane to watch him play the way he did and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  His style was totally different from Liz's; he didn't do any strumming at all, while Liz's tunes involved doing just that.  All in all, 17 year old Jesse is a talented musician, but he really needs to work on his attitude if he's going to make it very far in the music business.

After a 15 minute intermission, we were all ready for Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold!  They put on an acoustic performance that night, which would only be my second one I'd have seen, and it was definitely a treat.  It would be the first time my parents would have ever seen the boys play, let alone acoustically, so it was great allowing them to experience something outside of their usual set (they usually play a full rock set).  They started their set out with "Lay Low" the first track of their current album "Broken Hearted Beat".  It was very well played and you could sense the connection of the band.  Their sound just took in the audience, and throughout the whole set, Tim was very interactive with everyone.  He was bantering back and forth, trying to get some conversation going (my parents were excited and surprised to have him say "Oh, there are a few from Cape Breton!" when he asked where everyone was from, though they only met once).  Amongst the songs Tim wrote from the album and his previous albums, the band also played some traditional fiddle and piano tunes, which were so very well executed.  The audience was clapping and carrying on, which is always a wonderful vibe during a live performance.  Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold's performance got them an encore, which was entertaining to listen to, especially after a big story about a previous performance where they thought they  had an encore but were very wrong (it made me chuckle!).  All in all, you could tell these guys loved playing and really tried to include the audience in their passion!  If there was anything bad to say about this performance, it would be that more eye contact with the crowd would be appreciated, though I'm aware the lights probably made it near impossible to do! (For more info, check out http://www.timchaisson.com/)

A great show had by all in the long run of it all, and be sure to head back over to the Al Whittle Theatre on September 10th to see the other two emerging artists, Julie Aube and The Trips, to be accompanied by headliner Ian Sherwood.  Free will donation at the door, and be sure to grab a latte at the Just Us! Cafe on your way in.  For more information on the Deep Roots Co-op visit http://www.deeprootsmusic.ca/ or for information on Ian Sherwood check out http://www.iansherwood.com/.

Crash Karma @ The Paragon Theatre, August 25th/10

When my coworker told me about Crash Karma playing at the Paragon, I was pretty curious to hear how a combination of I Mother Earth's former lead singer, Our Lady Peace's former guitarist, and The Tea Party's former drummer was going to sound.  I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the result of these Canadian rock legends coming together along with Amir from Zygote.

The show started off with a good sized audience, some fans of the old music, some of the new, all super anxious to see and hear these guys play.  The first track Crash Karma played reminded me a lot of something Queens of the Stoneage would play.  It was completely edgy and energetic and I had a blast listening to it!  They proceeded to play a couple more of their new songs, which all had a unique characteristic to them in comparison to the one previous.  It was heavier music than I had expected but I was definitely not disappointed in that.  It was a breath of fresh air to hear songs that weren't essentially the same song with a different tempo or different lyrics; I was very impressed.  Throughout their set they also managed to crank out some of their old songs including "Clumsy" (OLP), "Turpentine" (IME), and "Alive" (Edwin); that song by the way brought back the junior high nostalgia.  Oddly enough, "Alive" has still found a way into my heart 10 years later and it still resides on my iPod.

During the whole show, the band was so interactive with the audience, clapping their hands and jumping around.  At one point Edwin screams "CANADA PRIDE!!" which got everyone going.  It was really awesome!

Post-show I actually had a chance to talk to Edwin (lead vocals) and Mike (guitar).  They were really down to earth guys, you wouldn't know that they had played huge stadiums in previous years in front of thousands of fans.  We had a great chat, I got to ask them a few questions, and we parted ways (but not before signing my arm with a Sharpie, haha!).  I was suprised to hear from them that they actually both enjoy playing the smaller bar crowds as much as packed stadiums.  "I like playing both (venues); they're great experiences.  It's hard to get eye contact in arenas since we're 35 feet away.  Having that (eye contact) reflects on a personal level," says Mike.  In response to the same question Edwin says, "Both are great, because we have a crowd that wants to hear us play.  It's still a thrill!".  They also credit their fans for helping them get to the top; "Canada has great fans!" says Edwin.  Hearing them talk about their past and current careers just made me realize how much they're passionate about creating music and how much they love their fan base!

A truly wonderful evening put on by these guys!  If you happen to see Crash Karma putting on a show in your area, be sure to check them out.  The energy coming off of these guys will definitely give you great vibes and make you rock out to the music!  For more info on the band, check out http://www.crashkarma.com/!

Want to be reviewed/interviewed?

First of all, thanks to those of you who have been paying attention to this site, though it is still very new.  I've been having a lot of fun figuring out what to write about, and though I have some thoughts in mind, I'm more than willing to receive any input or requests!  If you're a musician, music industry professional, promoter, or the like, and would like to be interviewed on an upcoming album/project/single/etc. or would just like your current album/single/show written on, please feel free to send me an email at amandah.turner@gmail.com and we'll get some details on the subject!

In other news, keep checking in as I have a book review as well as a few interviews that will be published in the next few weeks.  Cheers!

Amandah

Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold to Play Deep Roots Concert

Prince Edward Island's Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold will be headlining Deep Roots' Emerging Artists: 'UNEARTHED' show next Saturday, August 28th in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.  The artists chosen by the judges to play at the Al Whittle theatre with Chaisson are Julie Aube (Dieppe, NB), Jessie Potter (Canning, NS), The Trips (Mahone Bay, NS), and Elizabeth Furniss (Berwick, NS).

Twenty-three year old singer/songwriter Chaisson and his band, Morning Fold have been very successful over the past few years with their album 'Broken Hearted Beat' that was released in September 2009.  The album earned them a Pop Recording of the Year nomination at the East Coast Music Awards and won them two PEI Music Awards for Best Pop Recording of the Year and Group of the Year among their many nominations.  They have also played such memorable shows as the Atlantic House at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, JunoFest, the ECMA After Party (as well as several showcases), Canadian Music Week, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, and Evolve Festival.

As for Deep Roots, this community-based organization fosters the musical roots of the area by sharing music through many concerts and showcases as well as its largest one, the Deep Roots Music Festival, which takes place in September.  This festival features local talent from the Annapolis Valley area as well as other performers from the national and international stages.

The show on August 28th will be starting at 7:30pm, doors open at 6:30pm, and admission is by free will donation in support of Deep Roots' Emerging Artists program.

For more information on the show, call Debbie at 1-902-542-7668 or visit their website at http://www.deeproots.ca/.  Information on Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold can be found at http://www.timchaisson.com/ or by emailing info@timchaisson.com.

Brand New Site! Stay Tuned...

This will be up and running very soon!  Stay tuned for reviews, articles, and updates on just about anything or anyone music related.  Cheers, Amandah.