Hey now — If you're reading this, then you might
be (slightly) interested to learn that I didn't contribute to the world in any special way during the last couple of weeks. I spent 15 days with my lovely wife overseas, vacationing in the United Arab Emirates, Amsterdam and Prague. Three different places with varying attractions.
I hate to think of my carbon footprint, what with all the flying.
In terms of live music, I saw or heard little. The only licensed established I visited that had music performance was a bar in Dubai that had a questionable mandate, given all the provocatively dressed women mingling around seeking the company of men, presumably in exchange for monetary consideration. The entertainment included a fine, young female singer performing songs from the likes of Celine Dion and Cher. She was backed up by a young fellow on guitar who stood behind a keyboard and computer full of programmed sounds. Cheesy, but it was appropriate for the environment.
Later, in Amsterdam, I dropped a coin into a hat belonging to a Spanish guitarist, who, along with his partner who played the flute and other like instruments, entertained about a dozen people seated at an outdoor eatery. A giant leap from the previous bar singer, so I made sure to take a picture. They did a fine job singing sparse-sounding Spanish folk music to a crowd that didn't appear that interested. Oddly enough, I spotted them a day later at a music shop.
Okay, enough about me and my trip — onto some interesting stuff........
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Check out October Sky at The Club at The Exchange tonight. These dudes from Montreal have a really neat punchy rock sound. It's fresh and full of neat hooks. And having some Quebec influence in Regina is a good thing, if you ask me. I listened to a CD of theirs a year ago, and really liked it. I'm puzzled as to why they aren't better known. Tres bien indeed.
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There's been lots of excitement over the new AC/DC CD,
Black Ice, which is out today. I keep reading that it's available only at Wal-Marts, but I'm not sure whether that applies only to the U.S. The reviews I've read say that the band has served-up more of the same, which is certainly a good thing. I am a big fan, but the band's best music is behind them. I've never been a fan of "Thunderstruck" from
The Razor's Edge and the albums that came after it. Albums like
Fly on the Wall, Flick of the Switch are really underrated. As much as I like Brian Johnson, I'll likely remain in the Bon Scott camp.
I'll post a comment or two in the coming days after giving
Black Rain a listen. However, I worry that it will be a tad polished for my liking. I'd like to be wrong.
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While we're on the subject of CD releases, Regina's Sylvie has a new CD coming out on Tuesday. They have been getting some serious consideration from radio stations and clubs from across North America of late — they are currently in the middle of a tour that's taking them across Canada and into the eastern United States. They played in Regina most recently when they opened for Vancouver's Said The Whale this month.
Today, however, is your lucky day. Check out details on this link for information on how to check out the album
Trees and Shade are Our Only Fences online before the actual disc comes out. Last opportunity is today.
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The fabulous men that make up Into Eternity, Regina's best metal band, is worthy of another mention.
Time is ticking toward the band's Nov. 1 gig at The Exchange -- it will be a reunion of sorts since axeman Tim Roth will return for the show, even though he stayed in Regina to tend to some personal things while the rest of the band is touring across North America with sub guitar player Sean Maier. It might be interesting if Sean and Tim perform together. Anyway, Into Eternity singer Stu Block gives us a nice update from the road on the band's site......
http://www.intoeternity.net/news.phpAlso, have a gander at this — a publication called The Hawk talks about Into Eternity's participation in the Iced Earth tour, and makes mention of band's difficulties and how it's been affected by cancer......
http://media.www.sjuhawknews.com/media/storage/paper763/news/2008/10/01/Entertainment/Iced-Earth.Reunite.With.Former.Vocalist.For.Current.Tour-3463787.shtml--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those who might be interested, here's a list of the big winners of the Western Canadian Music Awards announced Sunday night.....
Outstanding Aboriginal Recording: Tracy Bone, No Lies.
Outstanding Blues Recording: Little Miss Higgins, Junction City.
Outstanding Children's Recording (Tie): Googol Power, Crazy 4 Math. The Kerplunks, The Kerplunks.
Outstanding Contemporary Christian/Gospel Recording: Steve Bell, The Symphony Sessions.
Outstanding Classical Composition: Elizabeth Raum, Dark Thoughts (How Bodies Make Ecstatic Marks).
Outstanding Classical Recording: Jasper Wood, A Child's Cry from Izieu.
Outstanding Country Recording: Paul Brandt, Risk.
Outstanding Francophone Recording: Ariane Mahryke Lemire, Double Entendre.
Outstanding Instrumental Recording: Bob Evans, 4 on 6.
Outstanding Jazz Recording: Altered Laws, Metaphora.
Outstanding Pop Recording: The Liptonians, Self-Titled.
Outstanding Rock Recording: State of Shock, Life, Love & Lies.
Outstanding Roots Recording - Duo/Group: Twilight Hotel, Highway Prayer.
Outstanding Roots Recording - Solo: Corb Lund, Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier!.
Outstanding Urban Recording: Souljah Fyah, Truth Will Reveal.
Outstanding World Recording: Alex Cuba, Agua Del Pozo.
Outstanding Independent Album: The Weakerthans, Reunion Tour.
Songwriter(s) of the Year: The Weakerthans, Reunion Tour.
Video of the Year: The Weakerthans, Civil Twilight.
Hall of Fame: Senator Tommy Banks, Spirit of the West.
International Achievement Award: Feist, k.d. lang, Nickelback
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Kudos to the author of the first (publishable) comment to Regina Riffing.....Here's what Henri Fondula said in response to my blog about Grind House, the new Friday night metal show on The Wolf.....
Why isn't there a metal STATION in Regina? Regina has a big metal community, and these people spend MONEY.... on shows, t-shirts and gear... heck, a lot of them are still buying CDs. But in general they're turning the radio off. There's an untapped market there. But we have MULTIPLE country stations (I know... this is Saskatchewan, but still.... ), two "hard rock" stations that miss the point, and of course Pop and Pop Lite. CBC and the community station are the only things different on the air, but neither is tapping the untapped metal market during the times of day that people actually listen to the radio. I know plenty of blue-collar types who love their metal, are stuck with only a radio at work, and thirst for something different than what the "hard rock" stations are offering.
You make some fine points — and I'm not just saying that because you're the first to post a comment to my little blog here. You are correct on all points, especially with regard to the issue that the local metal market has little representation on radio. I suspect that if a radio station played "all-metal, all the time," it would go out of business in short order. The metal community is a big one here in Regina, and a passionate one, but the numbers wouldn't sustain a listenership that would be attractive to advertisers.
I think in the case of the Wolf, whether we like what they do or not, we need to encourage and otherwise patronize the stuff we do like. The Wolf just might be barking up the right tree here — the station will soon learn about the local metalheads, what they like and what they don't. They will also see how advertisers take to this show. I suspect that the best we can hope for is to help keep the show alive by listening to it, and helping spread the word to friends, family, and better yet — anyone wanting to buy an ad.
Remember, there are many option on satellite radio — I'm a big fan of Nair Nation, the 80s rock show on Sirius. There are several other hard rock stations that will appease most listeners while waiting for their Friday nights to roll around again. These shows are short on context and they aren't exactly local, but there's enough variety to appease most of us.
Back in Regina, it's silly to criticize the Wolf's new show — it's a step in the right direction, and one that no other station is willing to take.
Sadly, I haven't heard the show. I've seen most of the song lists, and it's a real mishmash of stuff, which is likely the best way to go. Here's hoping it evolves.
In the meantime, if you're reading this Henri Fondula - drop me an email at andrewmmatte@hotmail.com — and I'll send you a prize for being the first-ever comment-poster to Regina Riffing.
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That's all for now — see you here tomorrow.
A.M.
