Big Med Playlist for the Big One | Low-Fi – War

Posted by Hal Newman on Dec 28, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana, Music, Playlist for the Big One

After listening to this trio out of Boise ID for the much better part of a day, I’ve turned into a Low-Fi freak. I’d have added all of their tunes to the Big Med Playlist for the Big One however – alas – I’m restricted to a single add so I’m going with the powerful tune ‘War’.

Low-Fi has been together since early 2007. Todd Sloan provides the vox and plays guitar, Josh Gilmore is on bass and Kevin Alspach is on drums.

The band has played more than 250 gigs in the Pacific Northwest. I’m hoping to see/hear them out here on a visit to the Northeast Kingdom one of these days.

Some of their tunes are likely familiar to anyone who has tuned-in to college radio in the past few years.

The song ‘Where You Are’ featured on Showtime’s “The Big C” and The CW’s “One Tree Hill”.

The song Overtime was featured on the Indie Revolution Radio on Show New York on April 11, 2010.

In 2009 “War” was nominated for an Independent Music Award in the category of “Sing Out For Social Action”.

Low-Fi has performed live on KEXP’s “Audio Oasis”, Portland’s KPSU, Boise, ID’s 100.3FM The X & 94.9FM the River and 90.3 FM NPR’s “Music From Stanley Radio Show.”

They have played Taco Bell Arena, Qwest Arena, the Knitting Factory, The Egyptian Theater , Eagle Knoll Winery (Wood River Cellars), Neurolux, and the Visual Arts Collective in the Boise area.

Low-Fi has played with The Whigs, The Helio Sequence, Portland Cello Project, Tao & The Get Down Stay Down, Free Peoples, The Young Dubliners, Doug Martsh, Wild Sweet Orange, Deer Tick, The Physics of Meaning, Finn Riggins, Yeah Great Fine, The Dont’s, Shakey Hands, Tartufi, Horse Feathers, Joe Pug, Nick Jaina, Matt Hopper, Curtis Stigers, Steve Fulton Music…

If you like Wilco you’re going to love this band and this tune.

PS. My second choice for an add to the Playlist for the Big One from Low-Fi would be the first track of their latest CD titled ‘Last Transmission.’ It’s a brilliant bare-bones clean electro-rock masterpiece that never ever gets old. Just buy the whole damned Low-Fi collection and be done with it. You’ll have no regrets.

You can follow Low-Fi online

Upcoming dates

Date	Time	Venue	City
Dec 28, 2011 Wednesday	6:00 PM	The Triple Door – 2011 Love No Love Compilation Release Benefitting New Beginnings	Seattle, WA
Jan 11, 2012 Wednesday	9:00 PM	Flipside Lounge	Pocatello, ID
Jan 12, 2012 Thursday	9:00 PM	Little Bear Saloon	Evergreen, CO
Jan 13, 2012 Friday	3:00 PM	Spotlight Music Lounge	Fort Collins, CO
Jan 13, 2012 Friday	9:00 PM	Alibi	Laramie, WY
Jan 14, 2012 Saturday	9:00 PM	The Mangy Moose Saloon	Teton Village, WY
Jan 20, 2012 Friday	9:00 PM	Tom Grainey’s Sporting Pub	Boise, ID
Feb 17, 2012 Friday	9:00 PM	Diamondz Bar & Grill	Jerome, ID
Feb 18, 2012 Saturday	9:00 PM	The Garage on Beck	Salt Lake City, UT
Mar 10, 2012 Saturday	9:00 PM	Neurolux	Boise, ID
Mar 16, 2012 Friday	9:00 PM	The Daily Grind	Fallon, NV
Mar 17, 2012 Saturday	9:00 PM	The Black Tangerine	Reno, NV
Apr 7, 2012 Saturday	3:00 PM	Grand Targhee Resort (Trap Bar)	Alta, WY
Apr 20, 2012 Friday	9:00 PM	Johns Alley	Moscow, ID
Apr 21, 2012 Saturday	TBA	Hempfest 2012!	Moscow, ID
Apr 21, 2012 Saturday	9:00 PM	Hogan’s Place	Clarkston, WA
May 19, 2012 Saturday	9:00 PM	High Dive	Seattle, WA
Aug 25, 2012 Saturday	TBA	Old Town Block Party!	Pocatello, ID

Big Med’s Playlist for the Big One | Sweet Ray Laurel – Freight Train

Posted by Hal Newman on Dec 27, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana, Music

‘Freight Train‘ from Sweet Ray Laurel is the perfect add to the late night portion of the Big Med Playlist for the Big One. It’s a gorgeously textured lyrical poem produced in musical long-hand.

If I close my eyes I can see the lights of the city blur as we roll down the street on a call for yet another ‘undetermined emergency’ on a Friday night.

I’m a recent Sweet Ray Laurel convert. Their swirling mix of post-punk, reggae, and psychedelic music feels vaguely gypsy-mystic to me. I love that it’s a not-too-comfortable fit. The tunes are a constant lesson in discovery as I revel in yet another layer or sound or lyric I missed the last go-round.

Enjoy the ride on SRL’s Freight Train.

Sweet Ray Laurel has been around since 2003 and call the Ft Mitchell, Kentucky (Greater Cincinnati) area home.

Upcoming dates:

Givers | Saw You First

Posted by Hal Newman on Oct 14, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana, Pop/Rock

Imby turned me on to the Givers ‘Saw You First’ back in August. ‘Keep an ear out for these guys,’ Imby wrote. Imby’s been turning me on to great roots music for the better parts of a couple of decades now. He is never off-base with his recommendations.

Givers ‘Saw You First’ is classic Imby. It’s a great tune by an up-and-coming roots band that calls Lafayette, Louisiana home. Givers is lead singer/guitarist Taylor Guarisco, lead singer/percussionist Tiffany Lamson, drummer Kirby Campbell, trumpet player Josh LeBlanc, keyboardist Will Henderson, and saxophonist/keyboard player Nick Stephan.

Currently touring intensively in support of their album ‘In Light’ [Glassnote Entertainment Group], Givers plays music that works hard to draw you up off your ass and onto your feet. There are touches of Zydeco, Cajun, folk, and soul in the mix.

Dates:

Oct 15, 2011 (Sat) @ The Lyric Oxford (Oxford, MS)

Oct 17, 2011 (Mon) @ Kings Barcade (Raleigh, NC)

Oct 18, 2011 (Tues) @ Black Cat (D.C.)

Oct 20, 2011 (Thurs) @ Terminal 5 (New York, NY)

Oct 22, 2011 (Sat) @ Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY)

Oct 23, 2011 (Sun) @ Middle East Downstairs (Cambridge, MA)

Oct 24, 2011 (Mon) @ The Met Cafe (Pawtucket, RI)

Oct 26, 2011 (Wed) @ Wrong Bar (Toronto, ON)

Oct 28, 2011 (Fri) @ Exit In (Nashville, TN)

Oct 29, 2011 (Sat) @ Bottletree (Birmingham, AL)

Oct 30, 2011 (Sun) @ Voodoo Experience Music Festival (New Orleans, LA)

Nov 05, 2011 (Sat) @ Inrocks Festival/La Cigale (Paris, France)

Nov 06, 2011 (Sun) @ Concorde 2 (Brighton, UK)

Nov 08, 2011 (Tues) @ XOYO (London, UK)

Nov 09, 2011 (Wed) @ Academy 3 (Manchester, UK)

Nov 10, 2011 (Thurs) @ King Tuts (Glasgow, UK)

Nov 11, 2011 (Fri) @ Sage (Gateshead, UK)

Nov 12, 2011 (Sat) @ Constellations Festival (Leeds, UK)

Nov 15, 2011 (Tues) @ Revolver (Oslo, Norway)

Nov 16, 2011 (Wed) @ Debaser (Stockholm, Sweden)

Nov 18, 2011 (Fri) @ Magnet (Berlin, Germany)

Nov 19, 2011 (Sat) @ Motorbooty/Rock ‘N Roll Circus (Hamburg, Germany)

Nov 21, 2011 (Mon) @ Blue Shell (Cologne, Germany)

Nov 23, 2011 (Wed) @ Rotonde (Brussels, Belgium)

Nov 24, 2011 (Thurs) @ Primavera Club Festival (Madrid, Spain)

Nov 25, 2011 (Fri) @ Primavera Club Festival (Barcelona, Spain)

Nov 27, 2011 (Sun) @ Guess Who (Utrecht, Netherlands)

Domestic Crisis Group | The Breaks

Posted by Hal Newman on Oct 13, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana

The Domestic Crisis Group’s song ‘The Breaks’ could well be the anthem for millions of us as we struggle to deal with a failing economy while trying to swim upstream in a world that seems to have gotten much more rugged.

‘The Breaks’ is a short stunning folk-rock-pop song with memorable lyrics and a tune that gets stuck in your head. The video is wonderful – and not just because it was shot almost entirely in and around neighbouring Coaticook QC – but because it’s gentle, touching and features some of the locals in great cameo appearances.

I can’t get enough of this song or the video [produced by Michèle Gauthier]. Both speak to me. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think so.

The Domestic Crisis Group is Genevieve Blouin and Dane Ratliff. When they met in Montreal in 2008, Blouin was working at a corporate PR firm, and Ratliff [from Texas] was an environmental lawyer who’d just relocated to Canada from Europe. Both had well-honed songwriting and musical skills – Ratliff, a classically trained guitarist who’d penned a local hit in Texas and Blouin was a singer who’d worked with the likes of Gordon Raphael (The Strokes) and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins).

Their ‘Two Tired Hearts’ EP was released on August 24 2010 and their latest album ‘Song for a Winter’s Night’ was released on July 1 2011.

Dates:
Oct 15 Alpha Soul Cafe, Ottawa ON
Oct 28 Cagibi, Montreal QC

Here’s the vid in HD

The Domestic Crisis Group – The Breaks from Michèle Gauthier on Vimeo.

Monogrenade | Ce Soir

Posted by Hal Newman on Oct 13, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana, Pop/Rock

Montreal-based Monogrenade’s tune ‘Ce Soir’ is a beautiful pop-meets-roots tune en francais – but, you don’t need to understand french to appreciate the beauty of the music. The stop-motion video for ‘Ce Soir’ produced by Christophe Collette is fairly mindblowing, too.

Monogrenade is Marianne Houle, François Lessard, Mathieu Collette and Jean-Michel Pigeon. They released their first EP ‘Le saveur des fruits’ in 2009 to critical acclaim in Quebec. In 2010, the band signed with Bonsound Records and took third place in Les Francouvertes. They are currently touring in support of their first full-length album ‘Tantale’ which was released on March 1, 2011.

Dates:
Oct 13 Le Cercle, Quebec QC
Oct 14 La Maison de la Culture de Waterloo, Waterloo QC
Oct 22 le divan du monde, Paris France
Oct 27 la coopérative de Mai, Clermont Ferrand France
Nov 5 Mouton Noir, Val David QC
Nov 23 Cabaret La Tulipe, Montreal QC
Dec 1 Le Museum Café, Rennes France
Dec 3 La Rodia, Besançon France
Dec 6 Foyer Georges Brassens/ Place Roger Salengro, Beaucourt France
Dec 7 Hotel Vogue, Dijon France

Madison Violet…The Ransom

Posted by Hal Newman on Oct 11, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana

It’s a stunning Tuesday morning in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. The leaves are painting spectacular colours on the trees and on the ground. And despite the fact that our espresso machine has quietly died, all is right with my world as Madison Violet’s ‘The Ransom’ provides the perfect soundtrack for an autumn country morning.

Madison Violet – The Ransom by True_North_Records

2010 JUNO Award Nominees for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year by a Group, Madison Violet is Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac. Their latest CD ‘The Good in Goodbye’ was released in September 2011 and features an amazing cast of musicians: Joel Stouffer (Dragonette) on drums; Adrian Lawryshyn (Andy Stochansky) on bass; and vocals from Ruth Moody (The Wailin’ Jennys) and singer/songwriter Blair Packham.

The music is Americana meets Canadian roots and there are serious shades of country and folk thrown in for excellent measure. The harmonies are beautiful, the lyrics aren’t forced, and ‘The Ransom’ is a great piece of music to add to your own mixedtape right there.. between Lucinda Williams and Alela Diane.

Currently on the last stage of a European tour in support of ‘The Good in Goodbye’, the duo has sold-out venues across North America and Europe, had the prestigious distinction of touring with Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe, and has shared stages with contemporaries such as Chantal Kreviazuk, Ron Sexsmith and The Indigo Girls.

Dates:

Oct 12, 2011	Bostelmann’s Saal	Frelsdorf, Germany
Oct 13, 2011	Colos-Saal	Aschaffenburg, Germany
Oct 14, 2011	Altes Feuerwehrhaus	Netphen, Germany
Oct 15, 2011	Altes Kino	Olsberg, Germany
Oct 16, 2011	Kulturzentrum Schlachthof	Kassel, Germany
Oct 18, 2011	Stage Club	Hamburg, Germany
Oct 19, 2011	Objekt5	Halle, Germany
Oct 20, 2011	Privatclub	Berlin, Germany
Oct 21, 2011	Immanuel Kirche	Groß Schönebeck, Germany
Oct 22, 2011	Kesselhaus Lager	Singwitz, Germany
Oct 24, 2011	Kesselhaus Kobelmoor	Rosenheim, Germany
Oct 25, 2011	Haus der Kultur	Waldkraiburg, Germany
Oct 26, 2011	Galery F	Pratteln, Switzerland
Oct 27, 2011	Altes Spital	Solothurn, Switzerland
Oct 28, 2011	Eisenwerk	Frauenfeld, Switzerland
Oct 29, 2011	Hotel Murten	Murten, Switzerland
Oct 30, 2011	Synagogue	Wawern, Germany
Oct 31, 2011	Jubez	Karlsrhue, Germany
Nov 2, 2011	Kammerspiele	Ansbach, Germany
Nov 3, 2011	Musiktheatre Rex	Lorsch, Germany
Nov 4, 2011	Kulturkirche	Köln, Germany
Nov 5, 2011	Rätschenmühle	Geislingen, Germany
Nov 8, 2011	Cinema Paradiso	St. Pölten, Austria
Nov 9, 2011	Blumenpark Seidemann	Völs, Austria
Nov 10, 2011	KIK	Ried / Innkreis, Austria
Nov 11, 2011	Buehnenwirtshaus Juster	Gutenbrunn, Austria
Nov 12, 2011	Kitzmantelfabrik	Vorchdorf, Austria
Nov 13, 2011	Altes Brauhaus	Bleiburg, Austria
Nov 14, 2011	Amthof	Feldkirchen, Austria
Nov 15, 2011	Europasaal	Weiz, Austria

Nov 19, 2011	Flare n’ Derrick	Turner Valley, AB
Nov 22, 2011	Arts Station	Fernie, BC
Nov 24, 2011	Art Gallery of Swift Current	Swift Current, SK
Nov 26, 2011	Bragg Creek Community Centre	Bragg Creek, AB
Dec 7, 2011	The Aeolian	London, ON
Dec 10, 2011	Bay School of Art	Collingwood, ON

Slow down, Molasses…Feathers

Posted by Hal Newman on Oct 10, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana, Pop/Rock

Wow. That’s really all that I’ve got here. I’ve replayed ‘Feathers’ three times now and I’m stuck on ‘Wow!’ The tune is a gorgeously layered piece that features a duet between special guest Julie Doiron and Molasses’ lead singer Tyson McShane. There’s horns, guitars, fuzz, feedback and other very cool elements in this absolute keeper of a song.

Slow down, Molasses is an indie rock collective from Saskatoon out on the sprawling Canadian prairies. The expanse of vistas seems to have found its way into the folk-rock music of this 7ish and occasionally 8ish-member band. I will always remember Saskatchewan as the place where I watched a very long freight train cross the horizon end to end under the clearest blue sky I’ve ever seen. The music of Slow down, Molasses would have provided the perfect soundtrack for those moments.

Known to occasionally play a manual typewriter during a live performance, Slow down has been touring in support of their latest CD ‘Walk in the Sea’ which was released in March 2011.

Feathers by Slow down, Molasses

Tyson McShane – Vocals, piano, Guitar, Banjo
Ryan Drabble – space echo, Percussion, Drums
Patrick Schmidt – Vocals, Guitar, Banjo
Jeanette Stewart – Vocals, toy piano, keyboards
Quentin Reschny – Bass
Kristine Eggertson – Vocals, Trombone
Paul Ross – Lap Steel, Guitar
Chris Morin – mandolin, Guitar, & Bass

Dates:
Nov 25 SAIT’s the Gateway, Calgary AB
Nov 26 The Haven Social Club, Edmonton AB
Dec 23 Amigo’s Cantina, Saskatoon SK

Punt Sessions – Slow Down, Molasses from Nick Seagrave on Vimeo.

Lowell Thompson…Last Girl

Posted by Hal Newman on Oct 10, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana, Pop/Rock

Lowell Thompson & Crown Pilot rock. The Burlington VT-based band plays Americana roots rock with straight-ahead guitar hooks and vocal punches that draw you in and get your internal rhythms moving to an entirely different beat. This is essential listening for anyone who has ever called The North Country home.

Lowell Thompson: guitar/vocals
Bill Mullins: guitar/vocals
Kirk Flanagan: bass
Steve Hadeka: drums

Recent accolades:
• Best Male Vocalist, Seven Days “Daisies” Readers Choice Award, 2010
• Top Albums of 2009, Burlington Free Press, 2010
• Top Ten Albums of 2009, Seven Days, 2010
• Best Shows of 2009, Burlington Free Press, 2010

I love this tune.. it smacks of Tom Petty, Gram Parsons and maybe even well-aged Stones.

Surface of Atlantic…A Land of Long Evenings

Posted by Hal Newman on Oct 10, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana, Pop/Rock

Surface of Atlantic is an indie alternative rock band from Montreal that has been serving up Eno-esque/Floyd-ish cinematic music since 2004. Dave Douville, Francois Graham, Francois Chabot, Marco Gervais and Marc-André Landry have developed a devoted following and are known for concerts featuring abstract visual projections.

A Land Of Long Evenings by Surface Of Atlantic

Four of their songs were featured in the movie “J’ai tue ma Mere (I killed my mother)” produced by Xavier Dolan, which won three awards at the prestigious Cannes film festival of 2009 and was selected as Canada’s submission at the 82nd academy awards ceremony.

Their latest LP ‘A Frame Per Season’ was released in 2010.

Surface of Atlantic ‘A Land of Long Evenings’ was recorded live at an abandoned cafe in St-Ferdinand on Oct 2, 2010.

http://www.surfaceofatlantic.com

Philippe B…Je n’irai pas a Bilbao

Posted by Hal Newman on Oct 9, 2011 in Folk/Roots/Americana

Three years after the release of his second CD ‘Taxidermie’, Philippe B is back with his 2011 CD ‘Variations fantômes’. The music is near the intersection of pop & folk – a bit reminiscent of Les Colocs – as Philippe B explores themes of faith, love and death.

Philippe B : voix, guitare, harmonica
(voice, guitar, harmonica)
Philippe Brault : contrebasse, basse, synth bass
(upright bass, bass. synth bass)
Josiane Hébert: voix, accordéon
(voice, accordion)
Guido del Fabbro: violon, alto

Dates:
Nov 5 P’tit Café de l’Auberge Petite-Nation, St-André-Avellin QC
Nov 11 L’Astral Coup de coeur francophone, Montreal QC
Nov 25 Agora des arts, Rouyn-Noranda QC
Nov 26 Chez Eugène, Ville-Marie QC
Dec 9 Maison de la Culture Waterloo, Waterloo QC