Petunia will perform all over the east the next few weeks.

(Yeah, it’s not Friday. Yes, I’m several days late … but hey, I warned you. But this is a treat. Some really great tunes can be found on Petunia’s website, and you can check him out over the next few weeks in these parts. Cheers – Eric.)

Sometimes based in the Fredericton area, Petunia has made a name for himself traveling around the globe spreading sounds of old that sound just as fresh today as they ever did.

The Peterborough Examiner said about Petunia,”…hillbilly-flavoured-swing inflected-ragtime-goodtime-thunderously rolling-one-of-a-kind-you-don’t-want-to-miss-this-sort-of-a-show.”

I don’t know how else to put it. An interesting guy performing timeless tunes, Petunia has a lot on the go – whether it’s recording an album or developing a music festival in California, or it’s performing dates here in the Atlantic Provinces (dates can be found below).

Read on …

1. I believe you’re originally from Quebec, but based out of Fredericton now and you’ve taken your music around the globe over the last decade. How would you describe the journey thus far?

Circuitous. I was raised in the backwoods of Laval in a small town called Ste.-Dorothee, a very French Quebecker kind of place right down to the tight, red Speedos. After that it was travel most of the time, mostly out of a bag.

… And music only much later. In other words, travel led me to music, not the other way around.

I traveled way more and at much greater ease before I started to formally play music and begin to “tour” and play scheduled venue bookings.

Now that this music thing has been going on, my traveling has been cut short and I’ve been forced to actually “settle down” in places. You know, pay rent. It took some getting used to. I’ve lived all over in places since then. Montreal, Toronto, Peterborough, St. Andrews, Fredericton, Saskatoon, southern cowboy country south of Calgary where they still rope and ride, Vancouver, some of the islands out there for bits and pieces of time, a few places in London (UK), Peru (South America)…other spots I’m forgetting should be included in the list.

2. I understand you keep your real name a secret … why is that important to you?

That’s a funny assumption that I keep it a secret. Or that it’s a big deal. It’s more like a trifling and a little boring to explain. A little mystery wins out over those things.

3. How does it impact what you’re doing musically?

I can’t say that it does. Call me Mike, Dan, Peter, Ray, Jay, Sam, John or Tunia or whatever you like and I don’t think it would change the songs or the music I write. I will never know though I suppose.

4. Your music clearly is rooted in older styles and sounds, but it’s a sound that never really seems outdated. Why do you think that is?

Pick your favorite musician. They learned from somewhere how to do what they do and that is the thing that turns you on. What is that “thing” though? When one is inspired to action, “things” happen. Musicians are born, revolutions begin, something new is born. In the book of Ecclesiastes it says that there is nothing “new” under the sun. There is a Muslim proverb that goes something like this – Everything that happens once will never happen again, but whatever happens twice will surely happen a third time.

I think, and I’ve been told before, that every action we make is new in the sense that we are here in a new moment every second and the circumstances are constantly changing in which the new action is born. Always a new equation. If you want to survive as an artist, remember that there is boldness and genius in your actions. Embrace them, for they’re your own. They are new under the sun.

They are like a signature that only one person can make.

On the other hand, it has also been said that the hardest thing to do is to do well what the ancients have done before you.

My sound is my sound inspired from the greats of the past like the greats of the past who were inspired by older greats who were inspired by older greats … etc. down to the beginning of things. I think what makes them great is their identity. No one sounds like John Coltrane although many try. No one makes movies like Herzog although many try. No one writes like the Minimalist Jugband but many will try.

5. Who would you say are your biggest influences musically?

Crazy question. You know, I’ve been spending a lot of time lately around young children. So much goes in to your soul at that age and I reckon it gets to go in without any security or border checks. Actually I think that’s part of the reason that so much can get in there so quickly.

William Burroughs says something like, “No one sees more clearly than the child who sees things uncensored and unfiltered.” Same can be said for all five senses I bet, hearing included.

My biggest musical influences? Sheila Gostick, whom most people will never really get to hear, see or know. Same can be said for Reg Hartt, almost the polar opposite of Sheila Gostick. Even though Reg is known for being a movie guy. These two people are living icons in Toronto. Reg’s place is within a few houses of Bathurst and College, look for the lapis lazuli blue and gold paint job. People from all over the world go there while so many people in Toronto are afraid to. Ray Condo is a Vancouver legend and recently passed away leaving behind his band whom I now play with. Lots of punk rock bands like S.C.U.M., the Subhumans, The Asexuals, My Dog Popper, mostly Montreal bands I guess cause that’s where I was or saw them. Classical giants like Wagner and Sibelius. The beebopper jazzer cats that blew crazy to all who could hear them at the time and say, “Crazy! Not music even.” Earlier David Bowie 1969 – 1980. Led Zepplin, Queen, K-Tel, Bony-M, early Genesis pre-Phil Collins flaky-ness that ruined the band. He should have stuck to drums only. Anyone who has ever made me a cool tape or music compilation has influenced me.

You know, if you want to run down the country-blues-rock-a-hillybilly-ragtime-street guys-jazz band-swing-to-jive to swing stuff, there’s just so many sources that you have to go there on your own. Start with Jimmy Rodgers (the 1920s one not the ‘50s one), The Carter Family and Louis Armstrong and keep running.

6. Tell me about the new album you’re working on. You worked at Sunset Studios in L.A.? How did that happen and what was the experience like?

Another “lucky” occurrence that happened to me.

I had a regular gig in Vancouver up until a few months ago. During that time a fellow named Phil came to see a few shows. He was a very enthusiastic fellow and bought all my albums that I had, he wanted the Petunia collection. He was such a nice, gentlemanly guy that he made an impression. After a few shows, he asked me a question that sort of ticked me off. I’m a musician operating independently, of my own wits and means. I have high standards that are getting higher. He asked, “When is your next CD coming out?” Boy, did I wish I had the money to do the recording I wanted to give this guy or anyone that was a fan. I knew it would take a few years and I told him so in not so many words and maybe a little abruptly. He ended up being the producer for the vinyl recording that we recently did in Los Angeles at the world famous Sunset Studios where Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Tom Waits have made records at.

If I were a grant applier for-er or signed to a record label, it could not have happened like it did, I would not have been in the right frame of mind.

Life IS ruled by coincidence, try it out, what you’ll discover is worth way more than what you’d get from a grant application.

The album is being mixed in Vancouver and due out this fall. From what I’ve been hearing in the rough mixes, I won’t ever have to re-record alot of the songs that are on there, that is, they are definitive versions of the songs in question.

7. Did the studio or LA in general influence the new recording, and if so, how?

Great gear. Vintage mics. Genuine plate reverb.

8. Who did you work with on the new album?

Petunia and the Vipers (out of Vancouver) are my current incarnation. Top notch veterans who are familiar with my roots.

9. You also mentioned putting together a festival in California. Can you share the details of the event?

Wow, you’re asking for another long-winded oddball tale.

Recently, our band toured through the Redwood forest in northern California on our way to L.A. We drove straight from Vancouver to Phillipsville, CA. We left at 8 a.m. and we arrived at 1 a.m., 17 hours later.

When we arrived at this out of the way bar – it’s a roadhouse in the middle of the Redwood forest, it’s freakin’ awesome! – there were three people waiting up for us. The bartender said, “What would you like to drink?”

The guy having a drink at the bar said, “I’d like to pay you guys $300 to play a few songs cause I won’t be here tomorrow night to see you.” The second guy at the bar handed out some special Redwood medicinal home grown vegetables and herbs.

We had arrived in the Redwood forest.

After the show the next night, I got to know the owner, a lovely individual. Built over 60 years ago, her bar was made for our sound, and we have never sounded better. She has hosted many now famous touring acts who deign her place no longer necessary to play at, and instead they play in nearby Arcata or Eureka. This broke my heart. If you knew this lady you’d understand. She salts the polished wood dance floor in between sets for heaven sakes! Her bar is way cool.

How could I somehow make up for some of this? What could I do?

There is another gal in this story.

She’s a risk taker and she likes to live in the fast lane. At the same time she’s a down to earth country fun lovin’ gal, she works hard and helps us. She makes great musical compilations and is a musical influence.

Foremost in her life – music and art.  She exists and I know her.

I talked to her and put her in touch with the bar owner, wonderful individual. As it turns out it has been her dream for years to have a music festival. Now we’re going to have a festival, partly in the bar, partly in the towns about, part indoors, part outdoors, very redweird Californian style … planning on 10+ bands for the first year plus all the fringe benefits of a redweird festival in the woods. Going to be high flying fun. Hope for the end of July 2011 or early August 2011.

This is a call out for a coast to coast hook up, a hobo party by the tracks maybe included. You’re all invited.

Check out Petunia at the following gigs:

July 29 – Woodstock – Farmer’s Market
Aug. 5 – Fredericton – Officer’s Square
Aug. 7 – Grand Manan – TBA
Aug. 15 – Alma – Bay of Loons Park
Aug. 17 – Portland, ME, USA – Venue Music Bar
Aug. 20 – Bellingham, WA – Green Frog Acoustic Tavern
Aug. 24 – The Grapevine – St. John’s, N.L.
Aug. 25 – The Ship Inn – St. John’s, N.L.
Aug. 27 – The Rose & Thistle – St. John’s, N.L.
Aug. 28 – CBTG’s – St. John’s, N.L.
Aug. 29 – CBTG’s – St. John’s, N.L.
Sept. 5 – Harvey Hall, Harvey. N.B.
Sept. 16-19 – Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival – Fredericton, N.B.

Come back tomorrow for some news and an interview with The Stanfields!

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Knife Party, a Moncton band we profiled here in late 2008, has been dormant for some time due to band members’ various obligations.

Tonight, they’ll get together to perform again at The Manhattan in Moncton with The Blackrats.

Drummer Eric Bourque says Knife Party never really split up, they’ve just been busy with other things.

“I don’t think we will ever really break up, rather, we go through periods we don’t play, but odds are you can count on another show down the road (specifically when we release our 2nd album, still tied up in post production),” he tells East Coast Noise. “We use the term reunion loosely. I moved away to Toronto to study audio engineering. Now I’ve graduated and am taking time for a vacation home. Figured, we’re going to jam out some tunes anyway, might as well throw a show together, too!”

While Knife Party might not be the most active band, most of the band members are active with other projects.

“Musically, Danny Whoremoan is keeping the dream alive with his new band, Impulse Items and I’ve got a post punk act in Toronto called Careers In Science. Davey Romance romanced his lady so much they had a beautiful baby daughter and Rudy, The Belgian Berzerker, fights crime via vigilante justice by night, while being a handsome truck mechanic by day,” Bourque explains.

Admission to tonight’s show is $7. Show is set to get underway 10 p.m.

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Things are a little nutty here right now, so I’m running behind this week. Stay tuned for Fridays with … Petunia and more news in the coming days. I would expect an update early next week.

Thanks for your continued support of the site. Join us on Facebook here. Tell your friends!

Cheers,

Eric

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A Widescreen Sunrise, from left: Jon Harquail, Chris Cowan, Sean Ryan.

Longtime school friends and musicians Sean Ryan (vocals/guitar), Chris Cowan (drums) and Jon Harquail (bass) of Riverview, N.B. have joined forces in recent months as a new trio, A Widescreen Sunrise.

A pop/rock band with a polished, radio-ready sound, the band has been rehearing non-stop and recording for an album they’re hoping to get out in the not-too-distant future.

The group sort of grew out of the ashes of Ryan’s previous band, Chapter Four, but the members of A Widescreen Sunrise have big plans, as they fill us in on today …

1. Tell me about the new band. How and when did you guys form?

Chris: The band started in the early months of 2010, right around the end of March. Sean and I had been talking about putting together a side project for months and we were very interested in having Jon be a part of the group as well. Right around this time Chapter Four, which was Sean’s last band, was going through a rough patch, they were heading for Cape Breton for the ECMAs, when two members (who will remain un-named) dropped out with only a few days remaining.

With that being said, this gave the three of us a large gap to start putting together this side project, which became A Widescreen Sunrise.

Jon: The band is a great fusion of an aggressive underground sound with a mainstream appeal. It was actually Chris’s idea to layer the rock sound with digital sampling and effects, similar to the likes of Lady Gaga or Kesha. All which will be performed live through electronic drum triggering and digital tracking.

2. What’s the status of Chapter Four these days?

Sean: Well to tell you the truth, this was a hard topic for me to touch on for awhile, with all the time and effort I had put into Chapter Four. To be frank about it, Chapter Four will always have a place in my heart, but it has been on the back burner for so long that it’s kind of lost its appeal and in reality, A Widescreen Sunrise blows my fucking mind! I love it.

3. As I understand it, the new band has been writing and rehearing. When are you guys hitting the stage?

Jon: We have been writing since day one, and rehearsing like mad men. We really haven’t stopped since the beginning. From day one the three of us had perfect chemistry and before we knew we were ready with a full roster of great tunes and immediately hit the studio. As for shows, we would like to hit Moncton hard sometime within the next month. Certainly no later than the end of August. We feel what we have is big … something unheard of, and with this new band we are focusing a lot on the entertainment aspect of things … we won’t hit the stage until we know we have a show that will tear the roof off of any venue in Moncton … or any city for that matter.

4. What are the plans for this band? Do you guys plan on sticking to the Moncton area or are you looking to tour outside the region as well? What about a record?

Sean: Obviously with any band, you have to start out in your home town… or nearby, to gather a fan base… it’s like any standing structure… it’s nothing without a strong foundation. We feel we have what it takes to build one, and quickly.

Jon: The one thing we have said from the start is that we cannot over expose ourselves, especially in our own city… by playing a lot we will just drown ourselves.

Chris: Yeah, we want to come into Moncton with a bang, and hit every other city in the Maritimes, and eventually work our way across Canada. Maybe even venture to the U.S. or Europe.

Sean: As for a record, we are currently fine tuning one right now. We are actually taking a break from mixing to do this interview. This album has become very hands on for all of us. We are doing a lot of it from the comfort of home. Chris especially is learning a lot from it.

5. What song(s) or album(s) have you been listening to most lately?

Sean: I think everyone in the band is extremely open-minded when it comes to music. Myself, when it comes to getting inspired for lyrics I will listen to anything from country to rap, R&B to screamo… right now in my truck I am listening to David Gray and Kings of Leon.

Chris: Right now I have been listening to a lot of pop/dance . Anything with big beats, synth, and crazy effects.

6. What are your thoughts on the music scene on the east coast?

Sean: I think I’ll take this one on. I know Jon and Chris have spoken their minds about the Moncton scene in the past and have stirred up a little shit with some people. But I think that’s the problem with a lot of people in the Moncton scene. No one is open-minded these days. Everyone is set in their ways and they will not step outside of the box. This is the exact opposite of what we are. We strongly believe in pushing boundaries. Being original. Taking things to the next level. We aren’t scared to just go with it and have fun. Don’t get us wrong. We have been playing in Moncton and the Maritimes for awhile now, and the cities are great, the people are great and we have always been accepted in one way or another. There is just always a few rotten apples that have to spoil it for everyone else.

7. Anything else you’d like to add about the new band or anything else?

Sean: We would just like to mention that we are actually launching our MYSPACE page today actually, and we encourage everyone to visit it, drop us a line, and let us know what you think. Let us know who you are. We would like to get to know our fans. We appreciate everything and anything they do to helps us make this happen. Our first single is called “Without Warning,” and is set to be on air sometime towards the end of summer. The song was actually strongly influenced by the unfortunate car crash the killed three young adults earlier this summer. We hope with this song you can take comfort knowing that our support is here for you in words whenever you need it!

Last week, we lied and said we’d have Petunia this week. Well, check back on EastCoastNoise.com for that very chat with Petunia!

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The Once has signed with Borealis Records. (Mark Bennett photo)

Borealis Records announced this week that Newfoundland trio The Once is joining its roster of artists with their self-titled debut.

The Once (Andrew Dale, Geraldine Hollett and Phil Churchill) is a band armed with bouzouki, banjo and guitar who deliver ballads, shanties and original songs stemming from the rich traditions of their Island home.

Winners of four Music Newfoundland and Labrador awards in 2009 and nominated for an East Coast Music Award in 2010, The Once appeared with Stuart McLean on CBC Radio’s Vinyl Café, and this summer the band will be appearing at a number of festivals across Canada before embarking on a fall tour of Ireland.

Tom Fun Orchestra makes big return

The renowned Tom Fun Orchestra is returning to the stage for a national tour this July and August. The band has also made “Miles Davis,” their first offering since 2008’s You Will Land With a Thud, available for free download.

Upcoming tour dates:

July 27 – Toronto, ON Sound Academy
July 29 – Midland, ON Atlantic Challenge Tent
July 31 – Sudbury, ON Townhouse Tavern
Aug. 05 – Winnipeg, MB Park Theatre
Aug. 06 – Saskatoon, SK Amigo’s Café
Aug. 07 – Calgary, AB Marquee Room
Aug. 08 – Lethbridge, AB The Slice Bar & Grill
Aug. 10 – Victoria, BC Hermann’s Jazz Club
Aug. 12 – Vancouver, BC The Shark Club
Aug. 13 – Salmon Arm, BC Salmon Arm Fairgrounds
Aug. 14 – Salmon Arm, BC Salmon Arm Fairgrounds
Aug. 15 – Salmon Arm, BC Salmon Arm Fairgrounds
Aug. 19 – Thunder Bay, ON Black Pirates Pub
Aug. 21 – Montreal, QC Il Motore

ECMA seeking music submissions

The East Coast Music Association announced a call for submissions for the third edition of the “Canadian Music. East Coast Style” compilation CDs. Distributed to 2,000 international and Canadian delegates, as well as sold exclusively at ECMA events and an online store, the two promotional CDs will be used to market and promote Atlantic Canadian artists at upcoming Canadian and international music industry.

ECMA will be producing two-genre themed promotional compilation CDs: “Canadian Music. East Coast Style Roots” and “Canadian Music. East Coast Style Rocks.”

Sonicbids has partnered with ECMA to reserve 30 slots for Sonicbids artists on the two compilations.

Criteria for inclusion:

- Artist (s) must be a member in good standing of the ECMA
- Artist (s) must have released at least one professionally manufactured CD (or single) released between June 1, 2009 – October 1, 2010
- Artist (s) must own and control master (track/song usage)
- Artist (s) must control publishing

Submissions are open to all genres including but not limited to: pop, rock, alternative, indie, urban, electronica, hip-hop Roots, folk, traditional, country, jazz, blues, Celtic, bluegrass, instrumental, world, singer-songwriter.

For more information and to submit, click here. The deadline is July 30.

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Glory Glory Man United are performing in Moncton tonight.

Glory Glory Man United finds itself in Moncton at Plan B tonight playing a CD release show for the Halifax band’s full-length debut, ZOMBIES!! Tomorrow night, they play The Capital bar in Fredericton and on July 16, they’re in Dartmouth at CD Heaven.

Comprised of music school friends Adam Warren (vocals, guitar), Gavin Maclean (bass, vocals) and Ryan Brown (drums, vocals), GGMU recorded and produced the album themselves, but leaned on friend and sometimes bandmate Andrew Watt (of The Heavy Blinkers fame). GGMU acted as Watt’s backing band for his solo debut, First Day Of Summer Life, recently.

This week, Adam Warren joins us to talk about the new album, working with Watt and more …

1. Tell me about Glory Glory Man United. You formed in 2006 … but how did it happen?

We formed after the three of us moved to Halifax. Ryan and I had played together in a semi-terrible but really fun punk band while we were in the music program at St. FX, so upon graduation had sort of tentative plans to continue playing together but couldn’t make it work for almost a year, as he lived on P.E.I. and long-distance is tough. We knew Gavin through the music department at St. FX as well, and we were working together so we started jamming and it just clicked. It’s the first band that I think any of us have been in where it seemed like from the beginning we all had the same sort of idea about how it should sound, or at least didn’t constantly argue about what things should sound like, and just had fun playing the tunes.

2. You guys recently worked with Andrew Watt on his solo project as Andrew Watt & The Glory Glory. Apparently he hired you as complete strangers? How did that happen and why did you decide to work with him?

Andrew’s studio was across from the Rock Garden, which is where we do most of our rehearsing, and the owner Rob is a good friend of ours (he actually put out our EP Friends of the Seen on his label, From Here to There). I believe he and Andrew became friends due to proximity and the fact they both worked in the same field, and I think Andrew must have heard of us that way. We hung out once or twice, and he asked us about playing on his album in exchange for mixing/studio time in Common Ground. For us, it was pretty much a no-brainer, as he’s worked with SO MANY people around that we like and respect, and besides that, it sounded like it would be a challenge musically as what he does is very different from what we do.

3. Watt went on to mix Zombies! so obviously the working relationship panned out. How has your relationship with Watt impacted the band?

Very positively! Andrew Watt is one of the best people we have ever met in the music industry — he basically started pushing our band on everyone he knew as soon as we started hanging out, and Andrew knows everybody, so that helped us get to know more people in town. Because none of us grew up here, or went to school here, it was tough at first to meet people and Andrew helped to change that.

4. It’s been two years since your last release. How has the band or band’s sound changed in that time?

I tend to think we sound like a very different band now — the music is more layered, more “pop,” more danceable (less weird rhythmically, at least) and more sonically ambitious. We rehearse a lot, so having played together for a few more years makes a difference as well as to the overall tightness of the band, the performance.

5. Now that Zombies! is in the can and out there for folks to hear, how do you feel about the record?

Pretty good! We’ve been getting really good responses, which is exciting. We’ve been sitting on it for months and months, as we tried to figure out how/when to release it etc., and I have to admit that I would throw it on every once in awhile and just freak out inwardly that people would think it was amateur, generally crappy and we would look foolish … but so far that hasn’t happened and we’re happy to finally have some people outside of our friends and family to hear it. We recorded it ourselves for almost no money, so I think what we ended up with is pretty cool — tone-wise it can stand up to recordings that cost well into the tens of thousands of dollars and we’re proud of that.

6. You’ve just completed a quick tour of Ontario. How did that go, and has it been difficult to take the band outside of the Maritimes?

This last tour was easily our best — got to see some old friends, and family, which is always nice, and played with some great bands (our Out of Sound friends, for example) to some of our largest and most enthusiastic audiences! It has been somewhat difficult to take the band outside of the Maritimes, financially, and otherwise. As an example, on this last tour we were on a rural highway in between Guelph and Hamilton when our muffler exploded because of a misfire in the engine of our minivan, and we had to bend the muffler back together using a jack and drive to the gig that way. The next day we had it fixed, but what we thought was something minor of course wasn’t and all of a sudden you’re out a thousand dollars.

There’s also the struggle of convincing people who’ve never heard of you to come out to a show, stay at a show when their friends are all leaving, book you for a show, etc… Our first tour outside of the Maritimes consisted of a show in Montreal and Toronto, and a stop in Fredericton on the way home. However, we have made a lot of new friends over the last year and a half, going to Ontario every few months or so and hitting Montreal if we can, and it is gradually getting easier and better.

7. Now that the album is out … what’s next for you guys?

Writing new songs! We’ve been playing a lot of the material on ZOMBIES!! for what feels like a while, so it will be good to be able to focus on being more creative again. Also, lots of touring — we plan on returning to Ontario and Quebec at the end of October.

8. What song(s) or album(s) have you been listening to most lately?

Wilco — Wilco. Blank, Blank, Blank — Contrived.

9. If you weren’t in the music industry in some capacity, what would you be doing today?

I often ask myself the same question when I’m frustrated with the various difficulties (lack of money being a big one, ha….) with being a musician, but can never think of anything I’d rather be doing, or could do instead. This has been what I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

Check back to EastCoastNoise.com next Friday for a chat with: Petunia

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Lovestorm will release its debut album next week.

Introducing … Lovestorm. The two-piece is a collaboration between acclaimed longtime Moncton-based musicians Nina Khosla (The Great Balancing Act) and Tim Isaac (Isaac & Blewett).

The duo recorded its debut album, Great Ocean, at home in recent months, and will unveil the album next Friday, July 9 at the Aberdeen Cultural Centre in Moncton. Another show the night before takes place at Harvey Hall deep in the beautiful land of Harvey, N.B. near Fundy Park. Other Maritime shows are scheduled throughout the summer and all dates are available on the band’s site.

Recently, Tim took time to share his thoughts on the new collaboration:

1. Tell me about Lovestorm. When did you guys form and how did you guys come together to make music?

We’ve bounced off each other for more than 10 years, been fans of one another’s bands as well. Being in the close-knit music community of N.B., we also had many opportunities to jam together and even had the two bands play shows together a few times. Five years ago Nina and I recorded an EP, ambient and experimental. I found she was creative and expressive in a way that really complemented my musical tastes. About a year ago we decided to re visit the possibilities of a musical collaboration with more focus and vision. This has resulted in the recording Great Ocean.

2. You both have extensive careers on the east coast with Isaac & Blewett and The Great Balancing Act. Based on those experiences, what do you think you each bring to Lovestorm?

I feel we both have an ease on stage that our experiences brings. This makes it easier to focus on the performance, the music, the presentation. I think that I provide a solid musical footing, allowing Nina to put more of her attention on the lyrics, singing, connecting with the audience as a front-woman. The music I conjure is cello-based. The orchestral sound brings a touch of class, a richness and depth with the loops that I feel complements Nina’s vocals.

3. What does Lovestorm allow you to do that is different from your other projects?

I enjoy the fresh sound that comes from mixing it up with Nina. Every combination of creative forces will result in different results, and this is a good one!  I like the role of accompanist, as opposed to being the main tormented singer/songwriter in I&B. While I have lots on my plate with the music in Lovestorm, I also find myself watching Nina, and admire her songs, performance, and the embellishments she flavours the music with on harmonium, flute, marimba and ukulele. I also like being able to delve into cello- based loops deeper in Lovestorm, which is possible because I’m creating the main sound track. For Nina, this band provides an opportunity to showcase her own original songs and express herself on a more personal level than GBA in which she provides a more supportive role.

4. Tell me about the new album. What can people expect?

It is lush and pulsing with life, it is both a personal and spiritual journey through themes of love, appreciation for nature’s beauty and bounty, and a statement of gratitude for the blessings in our lives. These sentiments are expressed in both the lyrics and the music. The lyrics ride on trancy beats, multi-layered cello tracks, some wild and distorted leads, and the rich and organic sounds of harmonium blending into the mix. It is a truly unique sound, filled with both nuance and energy.

5. Is it just the two of you on the album or are there other musicians performing with you?

Just the two of us….. We recorded this at home over time, and you can feel the comfortable organic vibe in the music. We had it mixed by our friend Howard England who really took it to another level and squeezed everything he could out of our recorded tracks.

6. How will you be presenting the songs live? As a duo or with guests?

As a duo. I loop the cello live, and sometimes build cello tracks on top of pre-recorded beats. The cello has a great range from bass to high harmonics, so there are all kinds of sonic possibilities to make some cool music. Nina is highly expressive as she lays her heart on the line, and provides some really nice parts on her instruments as well.

7. What are the long-term plans for the band? Plenty of touring, or are you sticking close to home?

Right now we are taking gigs in the Maritimes, but sending our CD everywhere, looking for attention, finding a niche for our unique sound. Nina has some great new songs as well that we will want to record before too long. She spends winters in Mexico, where she finds her main inspiration for songs. Some she composes on the Uke, others she lays on top of music and ideas I send her by e-mail from the frozen north.

8. What song(s) or album(s) have you been listening to most lately?

Gotan Project, Olympic Symphonium, Memphis

Big fan of CBC Laurie Brown’s “the Signal.” She plays all kinds of obscure and wonderfully creative music that is on the fringe…… I really feed on anything I haven’t already “heard.”

9. What’s the next thing you want to accomplish, musically or otherwise?

We know we have something special. We want to share it with as many people as we can. It can take a lot of effort and time for any new musical entity to find its audience. We want to find those people, share our music with them, and enrich their lives with something beautiful and provocative.

Check back to EastCoastNoise.com next Friday for a chat with: Glory Glory Man United

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Brockway Biggs will perform at a hip hop show in Fredericton on July 2.

News from my old pal Brockway Biggs …

“From 2003-2006, Fredericton rappers and DJs developed their skill in front of friends and fans every Wednesday at Hip-Hop Night. The weekly night started out at The Capital, and later moved to Nicky Zees.

“There were cyphers, out-of-town performers, $2.25 drink cards for emcees (I still have mine) and a whole lot of good times & memories. Seven years later, Black Ice Entertainment brings you the Freddy Beach Hip Hop Reunion Show …”

The show takes place Friday, July 2 at 9 p.m. at Nicky Zees, 375 King St, Fredericton, N.B.

There will be music by DJ Scout, Loc Dog, STV and Baby Grand and performances by Mick D, Phakt, Monark, First Words, Socially Exceptable, Brockway Biggs aka Pimp Tea, Jed Nice, Al Boogie, Miracle and KNO.

For more on the event, visit the Facebook page.

Wintersleep announces summer/fall tour dates

Halifax indie rockers Wintersleep are on the road right now and will be touring non-stop through November. Dates are as follows:

July 9 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Bluesfest @ Pop Life Stage (York Street)
July 10 – Montreal, QC @ Live From Montreal @ The Apple Store
Aug. 6 – Saint John, NB @ Fort La Tour
Aug. 28 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Sept. 4 – Edmonton, AB @ SONiC BOOM Festival @ Northlands Grounds
Sept. 6 – Koln, Germany @ Luxor
Sept. 7 – Utrecht, Netherlands @ Ekko
Sept. 8 – London, United Kingdom @ Cargo
Sept. 9 – Glasgow, SL (United Kingdom) @ Stereo
Sept. 10 – Dublin, Ireland @ Academy 2
Sept. 11 – North Dorset, United Kingdom @ End of The Road Festival @ Larmer Tree Gardens
Sept. 12 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Trix
Sept. 14 – Heidelberg, Germany @ Kulturhaus Kastorbahnhof
Sept. 15 – Munich, Germany @ 59 to 1
Sept. 16 – Berlin, Germany @ Lido
Sept. 17 – Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow
Sept. 18 – Aarau Switzerland @ Kiff
Oct. 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Oct. 7 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
Oct. 19 – Waterloo, ON @ Starlight
Oct. 20 – Hamilton, ON @ Studio Theatre
Oct. 23 – London, ON @ The London Music Hall
Oct. 30 – Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Mile End
Nov. 3 – Fredericton, NB @ The Market
Nov. 4 – Halifax, NS @ The New Palace
Nov. 12 – Victoria, BC @ Alix Goolden Hall
Nov. 13 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Nov. 17 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall
Nov. 19 – Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’ Pub
Nov. 20 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick

Celebrate beer, art and music

FeelsGood.ca, in partnership with North Hampton Brewing Company (Picaroons) and Bullfrog Renewable Energy are taking over the Village of Gagetown FairGrounds on July 9 and 10.

Over 30 acts will grace two stages this year over the two days, including All of Green, Grand Theft Bus, Jimmy Swift Band and Tom Fun Orchestra.

Other notable acts include Isaac & Blewett, Thom Swift, The Olympic Symphonium, Gordon Gets Lost, Weak Size Fish, Owen Steel, Babette Hayward, Andy Brown, Sleepy Driver and many, many more.

For a complete schedule of performances here.

Folly Fest is striving to be a “green” festival using only Picaroon’s 100 per cent compostable beer cups, locally sourced food and a “green team” that will be on guard all weekend to ensure that everything gets put in the correct refuse barrel.

The original Folly Fest, held last year on Crabbe Mountain, was a celebration of the collaboration between FeelsGood.ca and Picaroons. The end result was the FeelsGood Imperial Pilsner, Picaroons first and only contract brew. This year will not only celebrate the FeelsGood Pilsner, but all of Picaroon’s award-winning traditional ales.

D5R announces A Weekend of Noise

Diminished Fifth Records and Morbid Entertainment have announced that they have partnered to present ‘A Weekend Of Noise: The Halifax Metal Festival’ set to take place July 30-31.

The festival is set to include the likes of Ottawa Grindcore band Fuck the Facts, Necronomicon, local stars Iron Giant and The.Daisy.Anthesis with various other local acts, including Napalm Raid and Orchids Curse.

The festival is set to include door prizes which include T-shirts from Pro-Skates, a CD give away by Diminished Fifth Records, free tickets to the upcoming Black Label Society concert by Sonic Concerts and various other prizes.

Tickets can be purchased in advance from CD Heaven and Random Play in Halifax. The cost is $20 in advance and $15 at the door for the first night and $10 for the second night.

The festival is set to take place at The Paragon Theatre for the first night and Gus’ Pub for the second night.

For more details about the show and a full line up, go here.

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The Light Brights will release its debut this fall. (Scott Blackburn photo)

Coming from the Halifax/Dartmouth area, The Light Brights are Bethany Fulde (vocals/guitar), Chad Harrington (bass) and Andrew Dahms (percussion). The trio met in music school and has since created its own funky, bluesy, dancey rock sound.

The Light Brights have made a name for themselves in recent months, releasing a self-titled EP last fall and playing shows non-stop in the Halifax area.

The band is taking a break for the summer while readying its full-length release, The World’s A Changin’, which Fulde says “shines with musical-growth, and sings of the frustrations and wonders of both love and the Earth.”

Fulde and Harrington join us this week …

1. Tell us about The Light Brights. When and how you did you guys form?

Bethany Fulde: We met through the NSCC Music Arts program.  After the first six months, and after playing in both rock and latin/R&B ensembles together, I asked Chad and Andrew if they wanted to play in a band with me. They were like YEAHHHH! They were more of a rhythm section to my old singer/songwriter stuff, but once school was finished we felt a little more free with our creativity.  We started to mesh together and write together and really bring some soul to our new stuff — we’re not the same band you may have heard when we first started.

Chad Harrington: It was a music school thing, we met playing music together at NSCC. Originally me and Andrew were just Bethany’s rhythm section for her more folky sounding music. Then we realized we wanted to be a BAND. The new music is so much different, you can hear everyone’s influences. Very groove-based stuff … but also improvisational elements are in there too. We actually wrote most of the music together at band rehearsals. Bethany writes the most of the lyrics, but Andrew, our drummer, wrote a lot of them for a song Shine a Little Light, and I wrote all the lyrics for The Worlds a Changin.’

2. How did you get into performing/recording your own music, and what was the first major lesson you learned once you got your feet wet in the ‘business’?

BF: We started performing and recording as The Light Brights about a year and a half ago, though we’ve all done both with other bands and projects in previous years. We recorded our first EP through school, though a lot of it was re-mixed and re-recorded at Sound Shelter Studio, which is Chad’s recording studio.  By the time we released it (Sept. ‘09), we were already writing new songs and knew that we were starting to go in a different direction… that’s about the time I switched to electric guitar. We spent a lot of long days in the studio in the past six months, hashing out songs and getting the forms and lyrics and layers and tones the way we wanted them.

I think one major lesson we’ve learned is that things always take longer than you expect. I think it’s because we get so excited to do things like perform and record and tour that we hope to get it all done at once… but with all the marketing/promotion/networking to be done too, plus unexpected bumps along the way, it’s impossible, and it’s not worth rushing it.  It’s all about working hard and prioritizing… which can also mean playing the waiting game.

CH: It’s a lot of work…. you can’t just play a few shows and expect people will notice you. You need to make sure you promote every show. No sense wasting a gig, you need to let as many people know about it as possible. Sometimes it’s hard to do it all, but we try and we’re getting better.

3. As I understand it, you guys are on a “show hiatus” for the summer so you can concentrate on preparing the new album. How is the recording and all that going?

BF: Well, our album is almost finished (it just has to be mastered!!), and we are really excited to share it with everyone! We want to really let people know about our new music, so we’re taking the summer to promote through album reviews, radio play, a music video (which we recorded in May) for our single, Do They Know, and a making-of documentary about the music video which includes interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

CH: The recordings sound GREAT, Andew Watt did a wonderful job mixing them here at my home studio (where we recorded the entire album) and were just waiting on mastering! Very exciting.

4. The album release and tour is planned for September. Are you still on target for that?

BF: Yes!  We’ll be having a CD release party in Halifax in September, and a Maritime tour to follow shortly after.  Dates will be released mid-July!

5. How extensive will the tour be?

CH: For fall, every inch of the Maritimes we can get to… eventually spreading to more of central Canada.

6. If you weren’t in the music industry in some capacity, what would you be doing today?

BF: Working on a music therapy degree…I know that’s still music but I can’t imagine it not being directly related to my life — I’d be so sad! It’d be great to incorporate music therapy and working in a third world country like Ghana or Peru. I plan to go down there and volunteer in the next 10 years anyways… actually, if I wasn’t doing music at all I would already be doing that.

CH: Something creative… I used to get my creativity out by customizing old Volkswagens. I guess I still do… but not to the extent that I used to. I’m still always dabbling in anything I can. My cousin and I are planning on filming a short nine-minute thriller in August to be released in 2011 sometime.

7. What song or album have you been listening to most lately?

BF: Black Keys — Brothers, Rheostatics — Introducing Happiness, Bonnie Raitt – Live at The Rainbow Room. Oh, and I haven’t listened to it lately, but if you’re reading this and want some poetry and live jazzy jazz you should really listen to Tom Waits – Nighthawks at the Diner.

CH: I’ve been listening to ours. I’ve put so much time into recording and helping with mixing and such.   A little overdosed at the moment, but (I’m) still enjoying the songs, so that’s good! Other than that…  I’ve taken a liking to Zeus and Dan Mangan.

8. Other than the new album, what’s the next thing you want to accomplish, musically or otherwise?

BF: I can’t wait to really get touring! Maritimes in September, Quebec/Ontario soon to follow. More Maritimes in the late spring. There will definitely be a new album within the next two years, as we’ve already started working on a couple of songs together, and I’ve been writing a lot of bluesy stuff on my own lately (which I know the guys will funnnk up even more!). There’s so much we have planned, it’s just a matter of time!

CH: Albums, more. Record a few bands I’m not actually in. I’ve got some solo music I would like to spend some time on, folk /dance, sort of an organic electronic fusion possibly, that short film …  I want to build a custom electric bike. Too many ideas, not enough time.  So main focus is on The Light Brights.

Check back to EastCoastNoise.com next Friday for a chat with: Tim Isaac of Lovestorm and Isaac & Blewett

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It Kills will release its debut on July 20. (Mat Dunlap photo)

It Kills is the latest project from Halifax-based musicians Lisa Lipton, William Robinson and Solomon Vromans, the longtime collaborators behind the acclaimed I See Rowboats. The album will be released on July 20.

Track list for It Kills:

01. Dragons
02. No Ice
03. Le Coup
04. Jump Kid
05. Sinners
06. Sailors
07. Night Mayor
08. Vamps
09. Salt
10. Smoker
11. Old Song

Check out a track from the album here: Sailors by It Kills

Glory Glory Man United to release Zombies!!!

Comprised of music school friends Adam Warren (vocals, guitar), Gavin Maclean (bass, vocals) and Ryan Brown (drums, vocals), Glory Glory Man United (GGMU) released their self-titled demo in 2007.

The release caught the attention of Jon Epworth (The Dean Malenkos, The Improvements), who went on to produce the band’s 2008 EP, Friends of the Seen (From Here to There Records).

The Coast described it as, “what would happen if Q and Not U, circa 1999, covered Thrush Hermit’s Smart Bomb EP.”  Herohill said the EP, “Strikes the right balance between heavy and melodic to have me listening to it repeatedly for days.”

GGMU recently finished recording its upcoming full-length debut, Zombies!!! (July 13, Out Of Sound Records). While the band produced and recorded the LP themselves, it was mixed by renowned producer and Heavy Blinkers frontman, Andrew Watt (who the group acted as a backing band for on his solo debut, First Day of Summer Life).

Below is the track list for the upcoming album and tour dates. The band will be joining us for a Fridays with … feature in the coming weeks.

Zombies!!! track list:
01. Pop Song Automaton
02. Zombies
03. First Monkey Shot Into Space
04. Sun Don’t Come Out
05. Loud, Quiet, Loud
06. Mountain Town
07. Maintain Your Composure
08. Congratulations On Your Latest Engagement
09. Repeat, Dull
10. Fish in the Water

Upcoming tour dates:
June 29 – Peterborough, Ont. @ The Spill
June 30 – Toronto, Ont. @ Rancho Relaxo
July 01 – Guelph, Ont. @ Jimmy Jazz
July 02 – Hamilton, Ont. @ The Casbah Lounge
July 03 – London, Ont. @ East Village Arts Co-op
July 08 – Halifax, N.S. @ Gus’ Pub
July 09 – Moncton, N.B. @ Plan B
July 10 – Fredericton, N.B. @ The Capital Bar

Check out the first track on the album here:

Pop Song Automation by Glory Glory Man United

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