Award-winning songwriter Robin Anne Ettles, who is based in Moncton, N.B., is taking a left turn on her latest release and going down a path I suspect few in the Atlantic provinces have ventured on.
The alt-rock and folk sounds Ettles is most known for take a back step on Social Latin Line Dancing, Ettles new album she wrote, performed and produced under the moniker ‘rae.’ She describes the music as techno-lounge, the kind of stuff you’d hear at Rouge in Moncton, Saloon in Montréal or The Blue Martini in Halifax.
Ettles is planning a release next Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Empress Room in the Capitol Theatre starting at 7 p.m.
“It seems like a left turn, but it really isn’t,” says Ettles in a press release. “I’ve loved and written this kind of music for over seven years now. I’ve always been drawn to its ephemeral and textural qualities. Even when sitting down to write ‘songs’ for performance with acoustic instruments, the electronica element shows up. It happens despite me. And now I have an entire record of it ready for release.”
Of the 10 songs on the album, eight were composed by Ettles. The other two remixes of songs she produced Moncton artists Melanie Keith and Barley & The Durt.
Originally from Edmonton, Alta., Ettles has been making music professionally in New Brunswick since 1997.
She has won songwriting awards and she’s been noticed as a producer as well. She also spends a fair bit of time as a freelance bassist in bands playing everything from traditional Celtic tunes to rock bands.
At the release next week, guest Paranerd will open the show. After Paranerd’s set, the new record will be played. Admission is free. For a preview of the record, check out Ettle’s website.
Moncton record label re-launches
The once mighty Superbob, a small Moncton-based independent record label relaunched officially this week. Founded in 1993 by Monoxides drummer and music enthusiast Ken Kelley, the label released material by The Monoxides, Thee Suddens, Supervillain, Hope, and Sour Grapes throughout the ‘90s
The label’s final release was The Monoxides’ last record, The Free Release of Energy, in 2000.
Well the label is back, this time with some help from audio engineer and fountain of all music knowledge in Moncton, Kyle McDonald, along with Monctonlocals.com admin and The Motorleague frontman Don Levandier.
The label will see some new releases and it will act as an archive for Moncton music from yesteryear.
First up, the label will release punk band Knife Party’s debut album Just Like You, Only Better. The band is hosting a CD release show Saturday, Nov. 22 at Doc Dylans in Moncton (more on those guys later). Following that, Moncton rock band Blood Royal will release its debut album, Ochenta, on Nov. 28 via Superbob.
In addition, the label has already prepped and released three albums from the 1990s Moncton scene. Albums by Disowned, Thee Suddens and The Villanovans are all available for free download online at www.superbob.ca
Rawlins Cross reunites, releases anthology
Seven-time East Coast Music Award winner and Juno Award nominee Rawlins Cross returns after a six-year hiatus with a collection of its fans’ favorite songs.
The Newfoundland band, once one of the most popular Celtic bands in Canada, recorded four new tracks for the album.
The group will support the new release with a tour starting early next year. Rawlins Cross: Anthology (Ground Swell/Warner) will be available Nov. 25.
Thom Swift nominated for Maple Blues Award
The Toronto Blues Society has announced the nominees for the 12th annual Canadian Maple Blues Awards. Among the nominees is New Brunswick-born, award-winning singer-songwriter Thom Swift.
Swift, best known for his work in folk-blues trio Hot Toddy, is nominated for his debut solo effort Into The Dirt in the Acoustic Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year categories.
Swift was previously awarded both New Artist of the Year and Galaxie Rising Star honours at the 2008 Maples Blues Awards along with Blues Recording of the Year honours at the 2008 East Coast Music Awards. He is currently nominated for two 2008 Music Nova Scotia Awards, including Musician of the Year and Blues Artist/Recording of the Year.
The winners of the Maple Blues Awards will be announced during the Gala Awards Ceremony in Toronto on Jan. 19, 2009.
Saint John artist releases new disc
The Adam Mowery Organization (Worldwide) Inc. (from here on out, I’ll just write “Mowery”) of Saint John, N.B. released its latest effort over Halloween.
Mowery has been recording and releasing lo-fi pop releases for the last eight years in Saint John as a solo performer and in bands. Up until three years ago, he was a part of the Port City Allstars.
Since that time, Mowery has been opening for artists like Julie Doiron, The Joel Plaskett Emergency, Matt Mays & El Torpedo and others.
The new release was recorded entirely analog on a four-track with his new band. While it has a unpolished feel, the tunes found on Mowery’s myspace are bursting with energy and melody. Well worth checking out.
El Torpedo extends New Brunswick tour
A while back, we had news on Matt Mays & El Torpedo performing with The Sam Roberts Band and In-Flight Safety in Fredericton. Well, Mays and the boys have extended their New Brunswick dates with shows in Saint John and Moncton.
In Moncton, the three bands will perform at the Oxygen Nightclub on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 9 p.m.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 day of show (including tax) and are on sale now. Tickets will be available at all Ticketpro outlets, including Reads on Main Street, by phone at 1-888-311-9090 and online at www.sonicconcerts.com.
Unfortunately, in Saint John, neither Roberts nor In-Flight Safety will be joining El Torpedo. Instead, acoustic-rock outfit Boxer the Horse from Charlottetown, P.E.I. will join El Torpedo for a show on Nov. 27. The band, which has been around for a little over two years, is made up of Jeremy Gaudet, Andrew Woods, Richard Macleod and Isaac Neily.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 day of show (including tax) and they’re on sale now. Tickets will be available at all Ticketpro outlets, including Reads Newsstand and Cafe on Charlotte Street or at the co-ordinates mentioned above.
