Bands Undone: Bonjay

Let’s get dancing on November 19th with Toronto duo Bonjay.
They will be making an appearance for Canteen’s Bands Undone*.
The Q&A and small intimate session will begin at 5pm.

The duo consist of:

• Alanna on vocals
• Pho on DJ and beats

On the November 20th they will be playing a full show at the Eri Pan-African Cultural Central.

So check out this duo and have a fun time with their music.

If you are from the media, Radio DJ or a music blogger contact karaj22s@gmail.com about this.
But if you aren’t but really want to see them just send a e-mail to Bands Undone.
*Bands Undone is an in-store media session series involving exclusive sessions with indie acts – inviting bloggers, journalists, and other key people for a small stripped down performance and Q&A.

Bands Undone: Parlour Steps

The Vancouver band Parlour Steps will be making an appearance for Canteen’s Bands Undone* on November 16th.
They will be doing a Q&A and small intimate session at 6pm.
If you are from the media, Radio DJ or a music blogger contact karaj22s@gmail.com about this.
But if you aren’t but really want to see them just send a e-mail to Bands Undone.

The band consist of:

• Caleb Stull: voice, guitar
• Julie Bavalis: bass, voice
• Rees Haynes: guitar
• Robert Linton: drums
• Alison Maira: keyboards, voice

Here are two tracks from them you can listen.
To get a familiarity of what they sound like.
Little Pieces

Bleeding Hearts

*Bands Undone is an in-store media session series involving exclusive sessions with indie acts – inviting bloggers, journalists, and other key people for a small stripped down performance and Q&A.

Ohbijou interview/shoutout + St.Francis

Didn’t get to see Ohbijou on November 7th due to the various shows happening that night.
But here is a review from it from another site.
But I managed to do a short interview with two members of Ohbijou which you see in this photo.
Got to Babylon when the show was finished.

Here is the two minute audio interview which I asked about their favorite tracks in Beacon, what they love about Ottawa and shoutouts.
Not sure if the audio is good quality since I just did it inside Babylon with the loud music playing in the background.

As a bonus I got Casey to do a shoutout for some people.

Here is a youtube clip of the band singing St.Francis.

End of 2009 Suggestions

Starting today, I want to compile a list of albums,songs and music videos of 2009.
At this time mostly the albums coming out now are either Greatest Hits or Christmas tunes.

So far I have five in my list that came out in 2009.
Decided who is my number 1 slot.
I would like to have some input.
So please make a comment and tell me who I should put on the year end list for 2009.
Maybe in time send me a CD in the mail.
Good or bad, it will be interesting to find out.
I should do one for myself and do one for fans (don’t know how I will pull that off, so someone help me with that!).
On December 31st, I will make a page for the year that was 2009 in music.
For now I made a poll for the albums you think was the best in 2009.
Also you can do repeat voting too.

2009 Hottest Bands in Canada (My Top 10)

Its the time of the year that i(heart)music does the Hottest Bands in Canada.
Click here for the full results.
This is their fifth year while this is my second time doing this.
Here is my top 10 form 2008.

For those that want to cheer or jeer. Please make a comment.
Here is my top 10 for 2009 who is considered the hottest.

1. Basia Bulat



2. Joel Plaskett



3. Bruce Peninsula



4. Handsome Furs



5. Said The Whale



6. The Ghost Is Dancing



7. Japandroids



8. The Rural Alberta Advantage



9. The Balconies



10. Green Go

I have to say that seven of the nominees was in the Top 30.
It was also a hard decision on who I wanted to put down in my Top 10.
Someone wanted me to put down Dog Day (who I never heard and seen live) which I changed to The Rural Alberta Advantage.
Overall I am surprised to who is #1 in the Hottest Bands in Canada this year.

YOWzas!: Review

Raw Sugar Cafe is beginning to be Ottawa’s hubcentre for Music Coffeehouse.
YOWzas! was created for OCFF to show off what Ottawa has got to offer in the music scene.
It was a nice afternoon of great music while you have a nice cup of coffee or tea.
It was hosted by Kelp Records and Beaus.
Playing there were:
That’s The Spirit

Matt Ouimet (who replaced Sarah Hallman)

Winchester Warm

Chris Page

I missed out Jill Zmud and Leif Vollebekk (but I already saw him the night before)

Halabisky’s Uprising – State Of Emergency (Review)

Today in the mail I got this CD from Dave Halabisky.
If you don’t know who him, he plays saxophone for the band Sadie Hell.

Here is the blurb from his Myspace:
“The no-nonsense debut album “State of Emergency” is the first album that Dave has made outside of a band setting and also marks his first efforts in engineering and mixing. Recorded in Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver and Stockholm between 2007 and 2009, “State of Emergency” features collaborations with Moka Only, Amalia Townsend, Atherton and Sadie Hell.”

This album is a mix of indie Nu-Jazz, hip-hop and experimental.
Surprised that Moka Only did a collaboration on the track More/Less.
Nice to hear a collaboration with Sadie Hell. Sounds different from what I’ve heard from Ben Welland’s vocals but its good to have something in studio format.
Loving the instrumental jazz tracks, feels like you are transported to a summery place.

Best track:

• Rebellion #1
• More/Less (feat. Moka Only)
• Hunting The Hunter
• State Of Emergency (feat. Amalia Townsend)
• Rogue MF
• Selfish (Would You Do It Again) [feat. Sadie Hell]
• Marching To The Tick Of A Bomb
• Bite Off Your Spine (Featuring Atherton)

Pop Montreal: Day 4

Saturday was the busiest day for Pop Montreal.
Being my last day to attend this festival, there was alot of bands and musicians that I saw.
The Passovah Pop Montreal BBQ had to be moved to the Green Room due the rainy weather.
Playing at the Green Room which I saw:
Cotton Mouth

Green Go

Parlovr

The D’Urbervilles

Missed out Holger because I wanted to check out the Happiness Project on 5202 Hutchinson which is across from the Ukrainian Federation.
Went to Cagibi to see Kyrie Kristmanson.

Went to Casa del Popolo and saw:
bocce

Forest City Lovers

Went to La Place Ubisoft: Espace Reunion and saw:
Parlovr

Homosexual Cops

Think About Life

Pop Montreal: Day 3

The third day of Pop Montreal was my favorite.
I got to see:
East Meats West BBQ
Tune-Yards

Adam & The Amethysts

Diamond Rings

The Coathangers

No Gold

Makeout Videotape

Japandroids

Pop Montreal: Day 2

Day 2 of Pop Montreal was a fun night.
I went to four different venues which were:
Club Soda to see Hey Ocean! and Joel Plaskett Emergency

Metropolis to see Fever Ray (Photos are on Guttersnipenews)
Jupiter Room to see Said The Whale
Petit Campus to see Flecton Big Sky