Fridays with … Summers on Vacation

May 4th, 2012

Christopher Poirrier (Photo by Ramsay Drover)

About two years ago, on-and-off Sydney, N.S rock group Seek Out Ships joined us here at East Coast Noise to chat about their origins, what they were up to and so on.

Fast forward and Seek Out Ships is on indefinite hiatus, and drummer Christopher Poirrier is now performing solo as Summers on Vacation.

He joined us this week to chat about Seek Out Ships, Summers on Vacation and more …

1. Chris, it’s been nearly two years since we last did this, and I understand Seek Out Ships is on hiatus and you’re focusing on solo material. How did all this go down? Will we see SOS return in the future?

The problem with Seek Out Ships is that we were never all on the same level as to what we wanted to do. I want to be recording constantly and playing shows as often as I can. The other guys either physically can’t make the time or don’t want to. It’s unfortunate because I really miss playing drums in a band and I was very excited about our new material. I just can’t justify spending time Read the rest of this entry »

East Coast Music Awards are here!

April 11th, 2012

G’day folks,

Hope you’re all well. You might expect to find regular, ongoing coverage of the East Coast Music Week action here at EastCoastNoise.com, especially since they’re based this year in my home base of Moncton, N.B.

However, I actually have to provide ongoing coverage of the ECMAs for my real job. You gotta go where the bills are paid, right?

So while I won’t be providing any updates here, I hope to catch some of you at the shows this weekend. It’s going to be a blast!

Cheers,

Eric

Olivier Jarda releases sophomore album

March 28th, 2012

Olivier Jarda

Born in Ottawa to Haitian parents, Olivier Jarda grew up mostly in Moncton where he was a part of local bands Ted Neely Beard and The Turnstiles. He later moved to Washington, D.C. to work as a climate policy analyst and now he resides in Halifax where he’s pursuing his music and undergraduate science courses. Got all that?

On Tuesday, April 10, Jarda will release his second solo record, Good Luck Cartel.

Jarda’s upcoming album, Good Luck Cartel, echoes the years leading up to his decision to take a step back from the din of American politics, and to return home to the Maritimes. The result is a collection of modern folk songs, some dressed up, some pared down, whose stories look back, look forward and try to describe the view.

Jarda recorded the album in Halifax over the last two winters with Charles Austin at Echo Chamber, and with the help of some very talented friends, including former Turnstiles band mates Peter Gorman and Jesse Griffith along with Nick Wombolt. The album will be released independently in Canada on April 10 and will be released on the independent label Jam Jar Records in the UK in May.

Track list:

01. Speed of Light
02. Diving Bell
03. Ship of Fools
04. Skinny Grass
05. Fiddle
06. Tendencies
07. Uncle
08. Piece of Fiction
09. We Broke Before the Hail
10. Into the Lake
11. Burning Valley

Old Man Luedecke to tour Canada

Chester N.S.’s Old Man Luedecke is about to embark on an intimate Canadian tour, bringing fans a taste of some new songs

Having just returned from recording in Nashville with Tim O’Brien, the two-time Juno award winning songster will  embark on a cross country tour, playing intimate venues and giving fans a chance to experience some of his new songs along the way.

Tour dates:

04/06/12 – Toronto, ON – The Great Hall w/ Deep Dark Woods
04/27/12 – Cow Bay, NS – Cow Bay Hall
05/03/12 – Hampton, NB – Vintage Bistro*
05/04/12 – St. Andrews, NB – Paddlefest – Main Tent
05/05/12 – Fredericton, NB – Charlotte Street Arts Centre*
05/06/12 – New Glasgow, NS – Celtic Circle Performing Arts Centre*
05/09/12 – Montreal, QC – Petit Campus*
05/10/12 – Burnstown, ON – Neat Coffee Shop*
05/11/12 – Wakefield, QC – The Blacksheep Inn*
05/12/12 – Wakefield, QC – The Blacksheep Inn*
05/13/12 – Picton, ON – The Acoustic Grill*
05/15/12 – Guelph, ON – The Bookshelf E-Bar*
05/18/12 – London, ON – London Music Club*
05/19/12 – Hamilton, ON – Hamilton Place*
05/28/12 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre*
05/29/12 – Regina, SK – Artesian*
05/31/12 – Saskatoon, SK – Christ Church Anglican*
06/01/12 – Edmonton, AB – The ARTery*
06/02/12 – Calgary, AB – The Palamino*
06/03/12 – Penticton, BC – Dream Cafe*
06/04/12 – Nelson, BC – The Royal*
06/05/12 – Vancouver, BC – St. James Hall*
06/07/12 – Victoria, BC – Wood Hall*

*w/ Del Barber

Music is awesome: a love letter

March 9th, 2012

(NOTE: What you’re about to read is long, rambling and completely self-indulgent. While basically everything I’ve written on this blog is to help promote east coast Canadian bands, this one is purely me writing about me and my love for music — the good, the bad and the ugly. I originally wrote this last summer, fueled by a few beers, simply to throw on Facebook for some friends to read. But I still think it’s the best thing I’ve written in a long time, and that’s kind of sad considering I write stuff for a living. Here it is, unedited except for changing “my fiancée” to “my wife.” Some of you may get it, some may not – but if you love music right down to the core of your being, I think you’ll understand my inner crazy. Feel free to drop me a line at eastcoastnoise@gmail.com – Cheers, Eric.)

Music is awesome. I don’t know how else to describe it.

I thought of the ‘power of music’ last week when I was at the gym, doing chin-ups. Now, you should know, I suck at chin-ups. If I do a few sets of a half-dozen, I’m having a great day. So, AC/DC’s ‘Girl’s Got Rhythm’ comes on the radio, and I come to life. I have a burst of energy listening to the band’s driving little tune from ‘79, and pull out a good set of chin-ups, which felt great.

The next song comes on – I forget what it was, but it was wholly underwhelming – and drains the life from me. Have I mentioned that I suck at chin-ups?

I move on, probably just to think about anything but crappy chin-ups, and I think about how music is such an incredible force. A song can lift you up, drop you fast, give you energy and slow you down. It can bring back memories, those you wish to remember and those you don’t, and it can provide a backdrop for new ones to be created. It can even make you speed, if you don’t watch yourself.

When I was in high school, I could hardly tie my shoes in the morning without a song playing.

While in college, I walked to work all the time, and it was a fair hike. My Sony Discman (probably my third or fourth by this point) was my companion, and it finally died on me one day. I left work for 20 minutes and walked across the street to the only electronics store in town and plunked down a solid $200 I didn’t have on a new Discman. Beer, food and coffee be damned – I wasn’t going without music. (Truthfully, I don’t think I quit drinking beer for any length of time … maybe the length of my shift …)

Today, music still follows me wherever I go. I listen at work when I can, I’m constantly rotating CDs (yes, CDs) in the car, and if I’m washing dishes, working out or just sitting around, music is there.

My wife sometimes asks how the hell I can go from listening to the earliest, thrashiest Metallica to the honky tonk of Dwight Yoakam to the new wavish pop of The Sounds to the lush beauty of Sarah Slean, all in one sitting. Then, I’ll put on the dumbest horror rock you’ve never heard in Wednesday 13 (who offers such classics as Elect Death for President, Till Death Do Us Party and I Love To Say F*ck) . Truthfully, I have no idea how it all works, but I love it anyway. No one ever said it had to make sense.

Music started for me way early in life. There’s an old VHS my parents have from my brother and sister’s first birthday party. I can be spotted in this, dancing to Steve Earle’s ‘Sweet Little ’66.’ I grew up with a love for my father’s country music, mostly Alabama and Earle (who I’ve returned to in recent years and think is the greatest songwriter out there).

Somewhere along the way, I Read the rest of this entry »

Dale Murray plans new solo effort

March 6th, 2012

Dale Murray's next solo record comes out March 27.

Later this month, Nova Scotia’s Dale Murray — musician, producer and talented guy whose name pops up every time I turn around — will release his album Dream Mountain Dream. The album comes out Tuesday, March 27.

A former member of Cuff the Duke and The Guthries, this is Murray’s first solo release since 2005’s Brighter Lives, Darker Side. It was recorded in his rural home in Port Howe, N.S.

Murray has spent the last few years backing artists such as Hayden, Joel Plaskett, Buck 65, Blue Rodeo, Matt Mays and Christina Martin. He was a member of Cuff the Duke for the recording of their albums Sidelines of the City (2007) and the Juno Nominated Way Down Here (2009). Murray also played an important creative role in the recording of their 2011 release Morning Comes (2011).

Download the first single by right-clicking here.

Paper Beat Scissors’ self-titled album hits the street

Relocated Brit Tim Crabtree has been making waves performing as Paper Beat Scissors since 2008 following a move to Halifax. This week, he released first record which features a who’s who of folk and indie musicians — Tanya Davis and Rose Cousins appear alongside Pietro Amato (of the Luyas, and Bell Orchestre) on French horn and Sebastian Chow (of Islands) on violin. Mike Feuerstack (Snailhouse, Bell Orchestre, Land Of Talk) pulls everything together as instrumental accomplice and co-producer.

A press release for the 11-track record, from the fine folks at Forward Music Group, says, Read the rest of this entry »

Get an early dose of ECMA glory in Moncton

February 22nd, 2012

Gloryhound

Moncton will get a sort of sneak peak at East Coast Music Week this weekend when some fantastic musicians from each of the Atlantic provinces hits the stage at Moncton bar/music hub Plan B, on St. George Street.

ECMA and Spincount, along with Broken Chord Promotions, are presenting CRANK IT UP! Canadian Music, East Coast Style on Saturday night.

Featuring Halifax hard rockers Gloryhound, Moncton singer-songwriter Phil Flowers, PEI indie rockers Coyote and Newfoundland artist Chris Kirby, the concert will showcase a variety of sounds from the east. In addition to simply being a kick-ass night of great music, the night will celebrating new and emerging artists from the Atlantic provinces and get everyone warmed up for East Coast Music Week, which takes place in Moncton, April 11-15.

Doors open at 9 p.m., music starts at 10:30 p.m. Check out a sample from each artist here.

Moncton’s Joseph Edgar back with new album

Moncton singer-songwriter Joseph Edgar is launching his new album, Interstices, in Montreal Thursday night at the bar O Patro Vys, but he’ll be returning home next week for a release celebration at the Empress Theatre on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. Both events are free. He will also offer a show at the Igloo Bar and Grill (300 Elmwood Dr., Moncton) on the same evening at 10 p.m. The public will also have the opportunity to see him in performance at the taping of the show Radio-Canada’s tv show Luc et Luc, on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 8 p.m.

His fourth solo album in seven years, a press release for Interstices says Read the rest of this entry »

Eliza and The Strange drop teaser

February 15th, 2012

Halifax rockers Eliza and the Strange will release their debut, self-titled album on March 16 on vinyl and digital download. Check out the teaser trailer above.

The band — Eliza White, Jake Seaward, Kenny Myers, Alex MacAskill and Ian Bennet – will bring its brand of dark, heavy rock on tour throughout the east, to Ontario and back, through March and April. Tour dates are as follows:

3.16 – Dartmouth, NS @ CD Heaven (12″ release)
3.17 – Halifax, NS @ Gus’ Pub (12” release)
3.20 – Moncton, NB @ Plan B
3.21 – Fredericton, NB @ Gallery Connexion
3.22 – Montreal, QC @ L’Absynthe
3.23 – North Bay, ON @ Bull and Quench Pub
3.24 – Sudbury, ON @ Millards Garage
3.26 – Peterborough, ON @ Bluestreak Records
3.26 – Peterborough, ON @ The Spill
3.27 – Toronto, ON @ Rancho Relaxo
3.28 – Waterloo, ON @ The Mongolian Grill
3.29 – London, ON @ Grooves*
3.29 – London, ON @ The Black Shire Pub
3.30 – Bowmanville, ON @ Vinyl Alibi
3.30 – Oshawa, ON @ The Atria
3.31 – Ottawa, ON @ The Rochester Pub
4.01 – Montreal, QC @ L’Hemisphere Gauche
4.02 – Quebec, QC @ TBA
4.04 – Saint John, NB @ Pub Down Under
4.05 – Charlottetown, PEI @ Baba’s Lounge
4.07 – Amherst, NS @ Teazer’s
4.08 – Halifax, NS @ Gus’ Pub

Baby Eagle preps new record

Sackville, N.B.-based Baby Eagle & The Proud Mothers will release their new record, Bone Soldiers, on Tuesday, March 6, via You’ve Changed Records.

Following a series of tour dates in Ontario, the band recorded the album Read the rest of this entry »

East coasters nominated for Junos

February 8th, 2012

Hey all, a big congrats to the following east coasters who are nominated for Juno Awards, which will be presented on April 1 in Toronto:

Jenn Grant – Adult Alternative Album of the Year
Mia Martina – Dance Recording of the Year
JRDN – R&B/Soul recording and New Artist of the Year
Dave Gunning – Roots & Traditional album, solo
The Once – Roots & Traditional album, group
Hey Rosetta – New Group of the Year
Jimmy Rankin – Country Album of the Year
Sloan – Rock Album of The Year
Classified – Rap Recording of the Year
Kellie Loder – Contemporary Christian/Gospel album

If I missed anyone, please let me know!

Divorcees hope for fan support

Moncton country outlaws The Divorcees are taking a unique approach to releasing their next record, Four Chapters.

The album – the band’s third – is a concept album about adventure and redemption. A team of at least a dozen people are involved in the making of the album, and the band is hoping for Read the rest of this entry »

Fridays with … The Devil’s Half Acre

February 3rd, 2012

Halifax's The Devil's Half Acre.

Halifax-based The Devil’s Half Acre originally started out as a solo project for frontman Chase Ross, but turned into a full band project almost by accident in 2009.

Since then, the band has released two records. In December, The Devil’s Half Acre’s EP The Town was released, a concept album of sorts based on Ross’s home of Kentville, N.S.

He joins us this week via e-mail to fill us in on the group’s history and what’s coming next …

1. Tell us about how The Devil’s Half Acre formed … from a solo project to a band effort … was it a difficult transition?

The Devil’s Half Acre was at first a name that I used when I played solo. I was pretty inspired by Townes Van Zandt and Neil Young. In the late summer of 2009, my friends in a band called Action/Adventure asked me to play with them at Gus’ Pub for their EP release show. The line-up also included The Numbered Head. I felt like I wouldn’t fit at all, so I recruited a drummer and arranged some songs that I had so they could be played louder, amplified and electric. I also played half of the set on the acoustic guitar. Ultimately that has been the point of The Devil’s Half Acre, to showcase a louder, rock and roll, Neil Young and Crazy Horse type of sound along with my quieter acoustic songs.

2. You must have had clear ideas and goals for yourself when you started the project. Did you have to change anything to make your concept suit a band?

I feel like I’ve had to change more in my solo writing then with the band. With a band, songs seem easier to write, ideas come easier and our writing process has always been open. Nothing is set in stone Read the rest of this entry »

Boxer The Horse readies new album

February 2nd, 2012

P.E.I.'s Boxer The Horse is set to release its sophomore album.

Prince Edward Island’s Boxer the Horse will release its second album, French Residency, on March 13.

The band – Jeremy Gaudet (guitar/vocals), Andrew Woods (guitar/drums), Isaac Neily (keys/drums) and Christian Ledwell (bass) – released its debut full length, Would You Please, in 2010 to widespread critical acclaim.

They were named the Best New Band of 2010 by CBC Radio 3 — who shortlisted lead single Mary Meets the Pilot for 2010 Song of the Year — and were awarded the Music PEI’s 2011 Rock Recording of the Year. The band has appeared in support of such nationally heralded acts as The New Pornographers, Two Hours Traffic, In-Flight Safety, Dog Day and Hey Rosetta!.

Returning to the studio with producer Alec O’Hanley, Boxer the Horse recently completed their sophomore record French Residency.

The band will be taking French Residency on a national tour and dates will be announced soon.

Former Inbreds member back with solo record

Mike O’Neill, of long-defunct duo The Inbreds, has released Henry, the first single from his forthcoming album Wild Lines, available for free download (here).

Wild Lines is the follow-up to Read the rest of this entry »