Wednesday, November 28th Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Tori Amos (featuring Damien Rice) - The Power of Orange Knickers - The Beekeeper (2005)
Sarah Slean* - Mary - Day One (2004)
Regina Spektor - Better - Begin to Hope (2006)
Tegan and Sara* - Take me Anywhere - So Jealous (2004)
Corin Raymond* - Three Thousand Miles - Record Lonesome Night (2004)
Laura Cantrell - Not the Tremblin' Kind - Not the Tremblin' Kind (2000)
Jason Collett* - Tiny Ocean of Tears - Motor Motel Love Songs (2003)
Keri McTighe* - When I Ride my Bike - i'm somebody too (2004)
Barley Wik* - Highway 3 - beyond the down (2006)
Corb Lund* - Hard on Equipment (tool for the job) - Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! (2007)
Elliott Brood* - The Bridge - Ambassador (2005)

7:00-8:00
The Tragically Hip* - Long Time Running - Road Apples (1991)
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - When your Mind's Made Up - Once Soundtrack (2007)
Stars* - What i'm trying to say - Set Yourself on Fire (2004)
The Pinch* - Break a Smile? (2003?, local)
Novillero* - The Hypothesist - aim right for the holes in their lives (2006)
Travis - Flowers in the Window - The Invisible Band (2001)
Matty Powell & the Resonance* - Hope - The Ness Creek Sessions (2007, local)
The Heartstrings* - Orchard Morning - self-titles (2007, local)
Xavier Rudd* - Better People - White Moth (2007)
Animal Collective - Unsolved Mysteries - Strawberry Jam (2007, dedicated to Travis)
Mother Mother* - Oh Ana - Touch-up (2007)
Immaculate Machine* - Broken Ship - Ones and Zeros (2005)
Cuff the Duke* - Remember the Good Times - sidelines of the city (2007)
Maybe Smith* - Open War - Animals and Architects (2007, local)

Stars - November 22, 2007

It was a chilly night to be waiting on the sidewalk for a show to start, but over 800 Stars fans trekked through the snow for the first show of winter. By the time we got in to The Odeon, Miracle Fortress had started their set. It was decent and I'm becoming more and more a fan of bands with multiple drummers.

The stage was all decked out in real flowers and one could only hope the show would prove to be as just lovely. The good thing, it was. Despite the crowded fans all trying to find a place to stand, see, and dance, it was a very enjoyable show. There was a positive vibe in the air as we all realized that winter is here and we now have to wear winter jackets that need to be checked, but we might as well make the best of it and enjoy the night.

The highlights of Stars was all the songs they played off of Set Yourself on Fire and when Amy Millan crowd surfed. I thought that her dress was going to be pulled all the way up over her head, but she got back to the stage before that happened and before she had to sing the next verse. She's got talent, I tell ya. The end of the show was really exciting when I got to see many familiar faces on the stage to sing the last few notes with the band. The members of Carbon Dating Service and Pearson, both local bands, looked like they were in heaven as they sang their lungs out for the last few minutes of the last song. It was really good to see.

All-in-all, a great show... Stars really put a lot into the whole show and it was obvious that they came ready to play and party!

Crystal's rating: 8/10

Konono No. 1

I had heard about Konono No. 1 from the Aquarius Records online CD reviews so I was pretty excited to see them at Coachella. Their set was basically one long song of world beat music. The place was packed and everyone had a smile on their face. One couldn't help but dance to their intoxicating sound of thumb pianos and drums. It was exhilarating, even on the last day of the 3-day, 40+ degree sweltering hot, marathon concert.

Here is a collage of photos that I took that day:


(click on this for a better look)

Stay tuned for more "collages" and show reviews. The Ween review is coming up!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Hawksley Workman* - When these Mountains were the Seashore - A Treeful of Starling (2006)
Feist* - Mushaboom - Let it Die (2004)
Serena Ryder* - Again by you - Unlikely Emergency (2004)
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights - 100 Days, 100 Nights (2007)
Megan Lane* - One Word - Purple and Blue (2003)
Konono No. 1 - Nsimba and Nzuzi - Live at Couleur Cafe (2007; photos will be posted later today)
Megan Lane* - Story - Wrapped in Plastic (2006)
Hank Williams III - Mississippi Mud - Lovesick, Broke, and Driftin' (2002)
Hand Williams Jr. - Both Sides of Goodbye - Out of Left Field (1993)
Dar Williams - I Won't be your Yoko Ono - Out There Live (2001)
The Heartstrings* - Song about me Belle - self-titled (2007)
Po' Girl* - 9 Hours to Go - Home to You (2007)
Xavier Rudd* - Twist - White Moth (2007)

7:00-8:00am
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly - Once Soundtrack (2007)
Christine Fellows* - Saturday Night on Utopia Parkway - Nevertheless (2007)
Marissa Nadler - Thinking of You - Songs III: Bird on the Water (2007)
Iron and Wine - Each Coming Night - our endless numbered days (2004)
The Decemberists - Apology Song - 5 Songs EP (2007, 2002, 2001; the album has 6 songs!)
The Decemberists - July, July! - Castaways and Cutouts (2002)
Tegan and Sara* - Knife Going in - The Con (2007)
Stars* - The Night Starts Here - In our Bedroom after the War (2007)
Stars* - Elevator Love Letter - Heart (2003)
Immaculate Machine* - Dear Confessor - Fables (2007)
Sloan* - Pen Pals - Twice Removed (1994)
Ween - Your Party - La Cucaracha (2007)
The New Pornographers* - Mutiny, I Promise You - Challengers (2007)

Wednesday, November 14th Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Martha Wainwright* - This Life - Self (2005)
Wailin' Jennys* - Beautiful Dawn - 40 Days (2004)
Sarah Harmer* - Almost - all of our names (2004)
Crooked Creek* - Rasta Prairie Man - Lucky Stone (2000, by request)
Hawksley Workman* - A Moth is not a Butterfly - Treeful of Starling (2006)
Carolyn Mark* - Happy 2B Flying Away - Nothing is Free (2007)
Neil Young* - Beautiful Bluebird - Chrome Dreams II (2007)
Grizzly Bear - He hit me - Friend EP (2007)
Modest Mouse - Never Ending Math Equation - Building Something Out of Nothing (1999)
The Weakerthans* - Confessions of a Futon Revolutionist - Fallow (1997)
Smashing Pumpkins - That's the way (my love is) - Zeitgeist (2007)

7:00-8:00am
Sloan* - She Says What She Means - Navy Blues (1998)
The Black Keys - Your Touch - Magic Potion (2006)
Hot Hot Heat* - Let me In - Happiness Ltd. (2007)
The Sadies* - What's Left Behind - New Seasons (2007)
Little Miss Higgins* - I'm Gonna Bake my Biscuits - Cobbler Shop Sessions (2005)
Great Lake Swimmers* - I will never see the sun - self-titled (2003)
Feist* - So Sorry - The Reminder (2007)
Bella* - Didn't Mean to Break our Love - Bella/Columbus EP (2006)
Liz Phair - Whipsmart - Whipsmart
Tegan and Sara* - Hop a Plane - The Con (2007)
Cuff the Duke* - The Difference Between Us - Life Stories for Minimum Wage (2002)
Cuff the Duke* - Surging Revival - Sidelines of the City (2007)
Elliott Brood* - The Bridge - Ambassador (2006)
Tegan and Sara* - Knife going In - The Con (2007)

Wednesday, November 7th Playlist!

Also, don't forget to vote today in the provincial election!

Artist - Song - Album (extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
The Cracker Cats* - Yer Sure Purdy - Livin' on the Run (2005, local)
Be Good Tanyas* - Ootischemia - hello love (2006)
Deep Dark Woods* - Bakersfield - self-titled (2006, local)
Serena Ryder* - Hiding Place - Live EP (2002)
Carrie Catherine* - Promises - Green Eyed Soul (2007, local)
Feist* - Brandy Alexander - The Reminder (2007)
Immaculate Machine* - Secret Affliction - The View EP (2003)
Novillero* - Morally Deficient Business - Aim Right for the Holes in their Lives (2005)
The Ride Theory* - My Girl June - In this City (2005, newly named Young Rival)
Marissa Nadler - Sylvia - Songs III: Bird on the Water (2007)
Christine Fellows* - The Spinster's Almanac - Nevertheless (2007, John K. Samson does backup vocals on this track)
Regina Spektor - Your Honor - Soviet Kisch (2005)

7:00-8:00
Cuff the Duke* - If i live or if i die - Sidelines of the City (2007, coming to Saskatoon on November 17)
Sunparlour Players* - Talk it to Death - Hymns for the Happy (2007)
Elliott Brood* - Oh Alberta - Tin Type (2004)
The New Pornographers* - Myriad Harbour - Challengers (2007, by request)
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Who do you Love? - Living with the Living (2007)
The Weakerthans* - Tournament of Hearts - Reunion Tour (2007)
The Acorn* - Oh Napoleon - Glory Hope Mountain (2007)
Carolyn Mark* - Happy to B Flying Away - Nothing is Free (2007)
Barley Wik* - the bells did ring - beyond the down (2006)
Of Montreal - Volcaic/undrum to muted da - Icons, Abstract Thee (2007)
The Unicorns* - Jellybones - Who will cut our hair when we're gone (2003)
Spiral Beach* - Made of Stone - Ball (2007)

Modest Mouse - November 5, 2007

Despite being extremely ill, I went to the Modest Mouse concert at The Odeon last night. There were two opening bands before then Modest Mouse hit the stage. The first opening band was nondescript and borderline boring. However, Man Man was the second band and they were fantastic. They came on stage adorned in all-white outfits, face paint, and messy hair. All of the members of the band sang and did crazy things. Their stage presence was amazing and they were extremely high-energy. It was really just as much a theatrical performance as a musical one. While the band was good, I knew that this was not a very friendly crowd as people pushed, pulled, and elbowed their way in front of people in order to try to get a "good spot"... presumably to see Modest Mouse.

Because I stand at just under 5 feet tall, I always try to get near the front for concerts and there were lots of tall, inconsiderate guys. So I got near the front by using my master crowd-timing techniques. We stood there patiently waiting for Modest Mouse to make their grandiose appearance. However, the crowd was a rowdy one. When Modest Mouse finally did take the stage, the crowd went crazy. People were literally pressed up against each other. As my partner pointed out, it was no "Rage against the Machine at Coachella," but to me it might as well have been. It was uncomfortable for a short period of time, but I learned to let go of my personal space wants and just went with the flow. At least I did that until the crowd loosened up a bit and we could actually breathe. That is when the show really started for me.

Modest Mouse... what a band. I have many thoughts and opinions on them and their performance. First of all, I don't care what band you are, but if you take 5 minutes to get on stage after the lights go out, you're an asshole. Plain and simple. Secondly, their new album is not even close to my favorite one and after the show, I was not inspired to give it another chance. Thirdly, their performance wasn't the greatest - they weren't very tight as a band (except for the two drummers, who were amazing) and Isaak Brock's vocals were pretty weak. Also, there were more than a few sound mistakes made.

After they were done the first set, I wondered whether they would come back on stage. My partner was excited when Modest Mouse took their sweet time getting back because it was the first real encore he's seen in years. For me, the best thing about them taking so long to come back for the encore was the song they played, "Satin in a Coffin" (or known to me as the "Are you Dead or are you sleeping?" song) I never would have imagined that they would play that song and it was a welcomed surprise. They also played a decent version of "Float On" during their first set. Their encore was about three or four songs long and it was the best part of the show, in my opinion.

One other highlight was when Isaak Brock told a girl in the audience to "Fuck off" because she took a picture of a girl* who had passed out from being pushed up against the railing at the front and he gave her the finger too. I thought it was cool of him to be so aware of the crowd and speak his mind, but that is kind of their attitude. They are super rock stars... but in my opinion, they don't have the show to back it up.

All-in-all, a mediocre show and a terrible crowd. If they come back, I'll probably sit that one out... or I'll just go with even lower expectations.
Crystal's rating: 5.5/10

*I talked to the passed out girl before MM took the stage and her and her boyfriend had driven here from Edmonton for this show... so I really hope she's okay

Serena Ryder - November 1, 2007

I must admit that I was not super stoked on going to this show, but a friend of mine had an extra ticket. So I decided that I might as well check her out one last time.

It's not that I don't like SR, it's just that she is played on Top 40 radio stations and I have lost a lot of respect for her. Now that she has a band and a pop album, she's just not as good as she used to be. Maybe I'm being an indie snob and I know that it's good for her, but I miss the way it used to be: just Serena, her guitar, her attitude, her love to sing, and her amazing voice.

The first time I saw her was at Lydia's back when smoking was allowed in bars. She had the crowd hanging on her every note. It was an amazing thing to watch in such a normally loud venue. When I saw her for the second time, also at Lydia's, I got to interview her for the local university newspaper. So I showed up really early to get the interview in before the show started. I walked up to her and told her who I was. She took me upstairs where the bands hang out. We chatted about where she grew up and how she got here while she chain-smoked and drank some sort of alcohol. It was the best interview I've ever been a part of. She was very laid back and cool. I could see that part of her on this night, but I couldn't help but think in my mind that she was too cool for the passive crowd that barely even bopped their heads at the Lakeview Church. I wish I could re-interview her now about how she feels about her newfound "success."

I must admit that we were very late for the show and had missed half of her set by the time we got there, but I couldn't believe how deadpan everybody was. If it wasn't for the unmistakable sound of Serena Ryder's voice, I would have thought we were at the wrong place. Her band is pretty all right. However, her drummer messed up noticeably twice and the organ has GOT TO GO! It made her sound like the kind of easy listening that is only heard in elevators... not good. I mean, she has such an amazing voice... why let an ORGAN drown her out? It was disappointing to say the least - and I came into it with low expectations.

So all-in-all, a predictably disappointing show for me.
Crystal's rating: 3/10