Candy, radio and a fundraiser

Hello fans....

The weekend is officially upon us -- and that means it's time to let down our hair, enjoy a bunch of adult beverages and head to the clubs. If you need some ideas, see the previous post. My advice is to stay out of the movie theatres -- seeing the movies when they come out on DVD is cheaper anyway. Plus, you can have a beer and enjoy some popcorn that's not overpriced.

It seems the Thursday night show at the MacKenzie Art Gallery was nothing short of awesome. I wasn't there -- I was stuck at work until late, but I was told by an enthusiastic music lover that the concert was everything it was supposed to be, and then some. The free event featured music from Library Voices (pictured) Rah Rah and We Were Lovers. The evening was catered by Dessart, which meant free candy for the crowd. So, not only was the evening the perfect opportunity to see three good bands for free, the audience was also treated to complimentary Pixie Stix, Razzles, Bottle Caps, Nerds, Tootsie Rolls, Sweet Tarts and Jelly Bellies.

I'll be certain to let you know when the gallery hosts another Thursday evening show.

For those who will be listening to the radio tonight should turn the dial to 106.9 The Wolf. Grindhouse, the station's hour-long show dedicated to heavy metal, will feature another Matte's Metal Minute. I am in full radio mode, which means I think I'm getting better at my delivery and production. I am already working on upcoming Metal Minutes. Tonight's Matte Metal Minute puts a spotlight on the return of the awesome Toronto metal band Piledriver. So, listen in, it only takes a minute. Actually, listen to the whole show. It's great.

And finally, local music fans can help Library Voices make some money to help recoup their losses suffered when some thieves broke into their van in Vancouver and made off with thousands of dollars worth of gear. The fundraising gig is on March 27 at The Exchange. Other performers include Volcanoless In Canada, Andy Shauf and Matt Goud (formerly of Means). Tickets are $15 at the door.

So, there are two reasons to see this spirited group -- they're terrific live and they need our help. They are also accepting donations of music equipment.

Here's a copy of an email I received today. Have a great weekend. See you here on Monday.

A


Library Voices, a ten piece indie pop band from Regina, had their van robbed while on tour in Vancouver last week. The group lost over $10,000 worth of equipment.

After a long winter drive through the mountains and headlining a capacity concert @ The Media Club in Vancouver the band parked the van on a well lit street and headed in for some much needed sleep. The next morning (literally only a few hours later) they discovered that thieves had taken bolt cutters and chopped away all of the metal on their trailer that secured their "unbreakable" padlock. Instruments stolen included a saxophone, a guitar, heads and speaker cabinets, a vintage tom drum, an accordion, about a dozen pieces of percussion, and countless cables, effects pedals, and microphones. In the spirit of rock and roll, the group has rented/borrowed enough equipment to continue touring but the incident has proved to be a giant setback and are hoping the community pulls together to support an evening of live music - which in turn will help them replace a portion of what was stolen.

Library Voices has curated a diverse evening of music, pooling musicians from all over Saskatchewan to join the festivities. Estevan, Carlyle, Yorkton, Balgonie, Moose Jaw, Regina, and Saskatoon will be represented on stage.

The band prides itself on it's unique and diverse instrumentation - and so at this time they are also bowing their heads, with their tails between their legs and announcing that they will graciously accept any donations of old and unused instruments you may have cluttering up your garage or storage rooms. They solemnly swear that every donation will make an appearance on an upcoming recording. (contact: michael@youngsoulrecords.com)

Library Voices was recently featured in Spin Magazine as an "unheard band you NEED to hear now". Since forming in spring of 2008 the band has also toured the country twice, performed at the Western Canadian Music Award, Regina Folk Festival, Canadian Music Week, Ness Creek, and Calgary's Sled Island Festival. They have also received airplay in the UK on the BBC, won an award from CBC Radio 3, and their debut EP, Hunting Ghosts, charted nationally on college radio and CBC. The group recently wrapped up a full length album to be released in the summer of 2009.

Friday March 27
@ The Exchange (2431 8th ave, Regina, Sk)

A special fundraiser concert featuring:
Library Voices
Volcanoless In Canada
Andy Shauf
Matt Goud (formerly of Means)

Doors at 8:00 PM

Tickets are available at the door for only $15.00

contact: michael@youngsoulrecords.com

CBC Radio 3 posted a plea by the band to the thieves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWQDgEm4RMA



Stories regarding the robbery can be viewed here:

http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=129&csid2=844&fid1=36794

This weekend in music

Hello fans...

For those of you who think there's never any decent live music in Regina, I present this weekend in the Queen City. If you can't find anything that interests you this weekend, then I might suggest that you're off your knob.

I picked a great weekend to resume my weekend music rundown duties. I am sorry for missing the last couple of weeks.

My pick for the weekend is the Thursday night show featuring Library Voices, Rah Rah (pictured) and We Were Lovers at the MacKenzie Art Gallery. This is part of the gallery's new occasional Thursday night music series. And the best thing is that it's free. Three excellent local bands - for free. You can't beat that.


THURSDAY:
- Library Voices performs with Rah Rah (pictured) and We Were Lovers at the MacKenzie Art Gallery at 7:30 p.m. This is a free event.
- Chris Henderson plays the first of three nights at The Pump Roadhouse.
- Conrad Bigknife performs at The Whistle Stop (Casino Regina - Coffee Shop Series).
- Kory Istace vs. the Time Pirates and Tabby Grass and the Down Home Boys perform at The Lazy Owl, University of Regina.
- Textbook Tragedy performs with The Holly Springs and Disaster at Centennial Hall in Lumsden.

FRIDAY:
- Arkells and The Walking Eyes perform at The Drink.
- Chris Henderson plays the second of three nights at The Pump Roadhouse.
- Women with The Harmoniums perform at The Club. 7:30 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.
- Rehashed, Blacklisted, Kleins96, Life in Hand, Urindump. - 8 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.
- God Made Me Funky at The Distrikt. Doors open at 9 p.m. $8 cover.
- Conrad Bigknife performs at The Whistle Stop (Casino Regina - Coffee Shop Series).
- We Were Lovers and Sylvie perform at at O’Hanlons
- Country singers Gord Bamford and Jessie Farrell perform at the Casino Regina Show Lounge.
- Jordan Cook performs the first of two nights at McNally’s.


SATURDAY:
- Num performs at The Drink.
- Sisters for Sisters, a benefit concert for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, featuring Brittany Kraus, Louisiana Jane and the Zydeco Hurricane, Bev Zizzy, Little Miss Higgins at Regina Performing Arts Centre. Advanced tickets available through Performing Arts Centre box office.
- Big Nothing performs at the Gaslight Saloon.
- Chris Henderson plays the third of three nights at The Pump Roadhouse.
- Jordan Cook performs the second of two nights at McNally’s.
- Conrad Bigknife performs at The Whistle Stop (Casino Regina - Coffee Shop Series).
- Regina Symphony Orchestra’s Mosaic Masterworks Concert Series presents: Tickling the Ivories - with guest artist Angela Cheng (piano) at Conexus Arts Centre, 8 p.m.

Create your own band

Hello there fans....

I totally had fun with this today while I watched TSN's hockey trade coverage. And I also stole this from Regina's Skip Taylor. I am certain he won't mind me spreading this fun little project.

You will see that I am excited about Capra's debut album "In Honour of a Critic."

Here's how you do it... with thanks to Skip.

I urge you to email me your projects. If you need some Photoshop help, please send me your details and if I have time, I'll put together what I can.

HERE'S WATCHA DO!

And seriously.. Don't cheat.. that's what makes this so dope!!

1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

CD releases today

Hey fans...

I read somewhere that the temperature in Regina was going to rise above the freezing mark today, which cetainly is enough to give all Reginans a reminder that winter doesn't last forever. Anything to hang on to is a blessed thing -- we'll be basking in the sun and mowing our lawns in no time.

Today marks the long-awaited release of "No Line On the Horizon" from U2. I've always thought U2 was overrated, but I usually lose any sort of argument I have with serious fans of Bono and The Edge, so I won't bother mount a similar argument here. The band is playing every night on the Letterman show this week. I caught Monday night's show and the song and performance were a tad yawn-inducing. We'll see of they pick things up later in the week.

And it seems even the rock Gods that make up U2 understand that adding value to their product is the best weapon in the battle of cyber-pirating. Fans can buy a plain CD release of "No Line on the Horizon" or they can get one of the other four packages. There's the limited box set that includes a DVD and hardcover book, the "digipack" edition with a fold-out poster and rights to download a U2 film, the 60-page magazine version and the limited-issue vinyl double LP.

U2, "No Line On the Horizon", (Interscope)

Various artists"Watchmen: Music From the Motion Picture", (Reprise)

Neko Case, "Middle Cyclone", (Anti)

Raul Malo, "Lucky One",(Fantasy)

Rush, "Retrospective 3",(Atlantic)

Boston Spaceships, "Planets Are Blasted" (Guided by Voices)

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem In Person at Carnegie Hall: The Complete 1963 Concert" (Sony)

Justin Townes Earle, "Midnight at the Movies" (Bloodshot)

Bela Fleck, "Throw Down Your Heart, Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3: Africa Sessions" (Rounder)

Ian McLagan and Bump Band, "Never Say Never" (R.E.D.)

Buddy and Julie Miller, "Written in Chalk" (New West)

Nashville Pussy, "From Hell to Texas" (Steamhammer)

Alan Parsons Project, "Vulture Culture: Original Recording Remastered" (Sony)

Arvo Part, "In Principio" (ECM)

Prodigy, "Invaders Must Die" (R.E.D.)

Tierney Sutton, "Desire" (Telarc)

Thin Lizzy, "Still Dangerous: Live at the Tower Theater Philadelphia" (VH1)

Various Artists, "The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 11B: 1971" (Hip-O)

Soundtracks and scores:

"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" (Lakeshore)

"Watchmen: Original Motion Picture Score" (Reprise)

Video Killed The Radio Star

Hello friends.....

Well, I won't say that I'm exactly surprised, but I'm pleased to learn that so many people listen to The Wolf. It makes sense that the station does pretty well in the ratings, but it would be interesting to learn how many people listen to The Grindhouse, the station's hour-long show dedicated to heavy metal.

The show's host, Evan Baran, has been great to work with -- Matte's Metal Minute was christened a few weeks ago and it's been really fun contributing to the show. On Friday, I urged listeners to call local movie theatres in hopes they might host the April premiere of Flight 666, the Iron Maiden documentary produced my Sam Dunn. I did some calling around and learned there are no plans afoot to show the film, so perhaps they could be enoucouraged if they knew there was a demand. So, consider yourself similarly encouraged.

This week is a good one for metal fans. At the Exchange on Friday night, Rehashed, Blacklisted, Kleins96, Life in Hand and Urindump share the stage in what will be a very loud evening.

That's it for now - check back tomorrow, will ya?

A