(Tireless Sedans)

Moncton’s Tireless Sedans released its latest effort, Score One For The Underdog, this week. The full-length sophomore release follows up on the band’s 2009 EP Parts & Labour.

The album is released on indie label Superbob Records.

Featuring singer/guitarist Dave Rahmer, drummer Mark McGinnis, bassist Chad Lifford and keyboardist Jenna Gallant, the band blends alt-country, folk and rock sounds.

Check them out over the next few weeks at the following shows:

Friday, Feb. 12 – Moncton @ The Manhattan
Friday, Feb. 19 – Fredericton @ The Capital
Saturday, Feb. 20 – Sussex, N.B. @ The Mason Jar

Swift tours for new record

Multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Thom Swift is touring throughout the winter and spring in support of his new sophomore recording Blue Sky Day (GroundSwell/Warner), in stores Feb. 16.

Swift, a member of ECMA-award-winning trio Hot Toddy, released his debut solo recording Into the Dirt in 2007.  It won an East Coast Music Award, a Maple Blues Award, a Galaxie Rising Star prize and two Music Nova Scotia Awards in 2008.  Swift was also selected by CBC’s Song Quest in 2009 as one of Canada’s top songwriters.

Like his first recording, Blue Sky Day was produced by Swift and Halifax-based engineer/producer Charles Austin (Joel Plaskett, Buck 65, Matt Mays). The album features 11 original songs and a cover of No Depression In Heaven.

Dates include:

Feb. 8 - Halifax, NS - Metro Centre (Halifax for Haiti Benefit)
Mar. 4 - Sydney, NS - Cruise Pavilion/ECMA Concert Series*
Mar. 6 - Sydney, NS - Delta Sydney Crown & Moose
Mar. 19 - Fredericton, NB - The Playhouse*
Mar. 20 - New Glasgow, NS - Glasgow Square*
Mar. 25 - Riverview, NB - Riverview Arts Centre*
Mar. 26 - Saint John, NB - The Blue Olive*
Mar. 27 - Charlottetown, PEI - The Mack*
Mar. 31 - Halifax, NS - Casino Nova Scotia’s Compass Room*
May 7 - East Margaretsville, NS - Evergreen Theatre

*Album release concerts with full band

Songwriters’ Circle tours Nova Scotia

In addition to his upcoming solo tour, Thom Swift will join award-winning singer-songwriters Dave Gunning, Lennie Gallant and Steven Bowers for the Music From The Heart Songwriters’ Circle, which will hit five Nova Scotia communities over the next week leading up to Valentine’s Day.

Hosted by Gallant, Music From The Heart will visit:

Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Mabou @ Strathspey Place
Wednesday, Feb. 10 – Port Hawkesbury @ Shannon Studio, Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
Thursday, Feb. 11 – New Glasgow @ Glasgow Square
Friday, Feb. 12 – Liverpool @ Astor Theatre
Saturday, Feb. 13 – Yarmouth @ Th’YARC Playhouse and Arts Centre

Spend Valentine’s Day with the blues

New Brunswick blues singer Theresa Malenfant, a three-time Female Artist of the Year winner at the East Coast Music Awards, will perform on Valentine’s Day at the Riverview Arts Centre in Riverview, N.B.

Tickets are $15 advance or $18 at the door and they are available at the Sobeys smoke shop in Riverview, Jean Coutu in Riverview, Frank’s Music in Moncton and online here.

Malenfant has several more gigs lined up for the coming months, including:

Feb. 19 - Moncton @ The Old Cosmo
Feb. 26 - Halifax @ Bearly’s
Feb. 27 - Truro @ Roadside Willie’s
March 5 - Fredericton @ Gordie’s Pub
March 12 - Moncton @ The Old Cosmo
March 18 - Moncton @ Millenium Lounge in Colonial Inn
March 19 - Saint John @ Blue Olive
April 16 - Moncton @ The Old Cosmo
April 23 - Saint John @ Blue Olive
April 24 - Petite Riviere @ The Firehall
April 25 - Truro @ Marigold Theatre
April 30 - Sussex @ Broadway Café
May 1 - Sussex @ Broadway Café

The Motorleague preps second video, tour

The video for The Motorleague’s You Wear Me Down is nearing completion and should be released late this month. The band will be playing a series of loud showcase shows leading up to ECMA 2010 in Sydney, N.S. alongside Big Game Hunt, Black Moor, Shelter With Thieves, Uncooperative Death and We, The Undersigned.

The tour is organized by Hogan Media Relations and MIMEfest 2010.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 – Fredericton @ Nicky Zees
Thursday, Feb. 25 – Halifax @ Gus’ Pub
Friday, Feb. 26 – Moncton @ The Manhattan
Saturday, Feb. 27 – Saint John @ Sun Star Lounge
Friday, March 5 – Sydney @ Maxwells

D5R plans another compilation

Halifax-based metal label Diminished Fifth Records has opened submissions for the third compilation album in The Music of Artisanship & War series.  In addition to accepting submissions for bands to appear on the compilation album, for the first time ever the label will be opening up submissions to graphic designers giving them an opportunity to submit a piece of art to be used for the album’s cover.

“We really wanted to further the ‘Art & War’ premise with the third compilation,” says D5R mainman Josh Hogan in a press release. “With the previous two compilations we’ve helped unearth so much unknown and up-and-coming talent in Atlantic Canada and I expect this compilation to not only continue to pave the way for east coast metal but also enable some graphic designers in the region to help gain some extra exposure as well.”

The Music of Artisanship & War series began in March 2007 as a way to help expose the seedy underbelly of the east coast music scene. The albums feature tracks from artists on the Diminished Fifth roster as well as a variety of heavy bands in the region.

The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume III is tentatively planned for a May 2010 release.  Submissions will be open until Saturday, Feb. 13 at 11:59pm EST. Visit the label’s website for more information.

The Pinecones release Sage

About this time last year, Halifax’s Brent Randall & his Pinecones released their debut album, We Were Strangers in Paddington Green. The acclaimed piano-based orchestral pop of the album brought the group attention and accolades. Now, they’re back with a new name, a new lineup and a new album, Sage.

Following a move from Halifax to Toronto, and a new line-up consisting of Brent Randall, Brian O’Reilly (Their Majesties, Meligrove Band), Joel Goguen (Laura Peek & The Winning Hearts) and Paul Linklater (Bidiniband) the band reformed simply as The Pinecones. With all members contributing and singing their own songs, Sage is a fully collaborative effort produced and recorded by Paul Linklater.

The band’s only dates at this point are in Toronto, but check out their myspace page for more information.

New Art Records release Juvenalia

New Art Records released Juvenalia this week, a compilation of recordings from students of the Shambala School.

New Art Records started in 2009 in the attempt to aid developing artists. The label has since built a collective of young talent from the Maritimes who are creating original music with the help of the label’s production team. The label’s first release, Juvenalia, was helmed by Dave Christensen (Jenn Grant, The Heavy Blinkers) and features the students contributing songs in a vast array of styles and genres. This ranges from the hushed folk of Olivia Fader to the off-beat rock delivery of Lampshades and Offlights.

During the sessions for Juvenalia, the New Art artists received support and guidance from several renowned acts, such as Stars’ Amy Milan and Evan Cranley, Juno-award winner Serena Ryder and Joel Plaskett. Each artist visited the New Art studio and gave the students guidance on their recordings.

For more information, visit their website.

(Jill Barber. Photo by Matt Barnes.)

The last time we spoke with singer-songwriter Jill Barber, she had just released her latest album, the sultry, jazzy Chances. Since that time, Jill has continued to tour to promote the album, which was recently named one of Spinner.ca’s top 10 Canadian albums of the decade.

The multi-time East Coast Music Award winner and Juno nominee was born in Ontario and now lives in Vancouver, but it was on the east coast that her artistic talents were first noticed and Jill will tell you the east coast still holds a special place in her heart.

Jill was gracious enough to join us for our Fridays with … series in advance of her upcoming Maritime tour dates (see dates below).

1. What are you up to these days, musically or otherwise? (Feel free to plug whatever you’ve got coming up.)

I am shooting a new video for a song that I recorded in French, Tous Mes Reves, in Montreal … then I am doing a tour of Quebec and the Maritimes with dates in Saint John, Truro, Lunenburg and Halifax. On Valentine’s Day I am playing The Confederation Centre with Symphony PEI. I’m also writing for my next album which is due out at the end of 2010.

2. How did you get into the music business and what was the first major lesson you learned once you got your feet wet?

My older brother (Matthew Barber) played guitar. I taught myself a few chords, wrote some songs and started putting on basement shows back when I was in high school. Before long I graduated to club gigs. In my twenties I decided that I wanted to devote my life and career to music and haven’t looked back. The lesson I learned is that making it in the music business takes a lot more than just talent; it takes a lot of energy and ambition.

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

My two favourite albums of late are Bahamas Pink Strat and Melody Gardot’s My One and Only Thrill.

4. What’s your favourite way to waste time or relax?

Sitting by the fire with a glass of wine and good conversation.

5. The Internet and social media are allowing artists to get closer to their fans than they ever were in some respects. What are your thoughts on this?

I think it’s a great way for people to connect with their fans and for fans to “follow” their favourite artists. I’m not a fan of Facebook really, it’s too complicated and I came into it too late. I missed the boat. But I am a Twitter girl. I like being forced to be concise.

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

If I spent my days imagining plan Bs then I would get much done, would I?

7. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?

That there are more pyramids in Peru than Egypt.

8. If you could hit the “delete” button on anything related to music (a song, artist, trend, whatever), what would you delete?

That’s a bit harsh don’t you think?  I admire everyone who makes music and stands behind it. That said, I will hit the mute button from time to time

9. What’s your favourite thing to drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?

A really lovely pinot noir from California or an Australian shiraz.

10. Finish the sentence below and please elaborate on what you mean: 

The east coast music scene… will always hold a special place in my heart because it’s where I found a musical community to be a part of.

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

A new record.

Check out Jill at any of the following Maritime dates:

Feb. 7 - Saint John, N.B. @ The Imperial Theatre
Feb. 10 - Truro, N.S. @ The Marigold Cultural Centre
Feb. 11 - Lunenburg, N.S. @The Pearl Theatre
Feb. 12 - Halifax, N.S. @ St. Matthew’s Church
Feb. 14 - Charlottetown, P.E.I. @ The Confederation Centre

Check back to EastCoastNoise.com next Friday for a chat with: We, The Undersigned’s Jai Sadler

(Static in Action are, from left, Hector Smith, Harry Doyle, Alicia Penney.)

Welcome to a new feature here on East Coast Noise, Fridays with … . This will be updated every Friday, and I already have a handful of them banked, so count on visiting us each Friday for some news and chatter from the east coast.

My hope is that I can help introduce you all to many of the players in the east coast music scene – not only musicians (though they will be featured in the bulk of these), but also other journalists, record label folks, photographers, promoters and so on. The idea is to shine a spotlight on someone new every week. Some you’ll have heard of, while others maybe you haven’t.

I’ve e-mailed dozens of folks in the industry the same 11 questions – some music related, others not – and they can simply fire back their answers at their leisure. I’m happy to report that this feature has been supported already by several fine folks, so I expect this to continue for some time.

Anyway … kicking off this little feature is none other than Cape Breton singer-songwriter-musician Alicia Penney. You may know Penney from the now-defunct (and greatly missed) rock group Yellow. The band toured the east coast for a time and put out a few releases along the way. Penney also served a stint in The Tom Fun Orchestra and she’s now playing bass with punk rockers Static In Action.

Links to Penney’s various projects are below. But enough from us … here’s Alicia:

1. What are you up to these days, musically or otherwise? (Feel free to plug whatever you’ve got coming up.

I am playing bass in a punk rock act called Static in Action. We recently released our self-titled debut double album! It has the same 9 songs on each disc, the B-side is all-acoustic alternate versions of the regular songs. We are currently in the process of  booking a tour to southern Ontario and Quebec for the spring.

I play solo sets in Sydney every once in a while too. Oh, and I play in a Decemberists cover band called The Novemberists, which is incredibly fun to do.

2. How did you get into the music business and what was the first major lesson you learned once you got your feet wet?

Phewf. That is a big question. I guess I started with playing in bands when I was in junior high / high school; I don’t know if that’s considered “the biz” or what. But I guess my first real band I was in was a rock band called Yellow. We recorded an EP and a demo, did a bit of touring, and suffered through lots of lineup changes until half the band moved away and I gave up.

Then I played in the Tom Fun Orchestra for a while, also did a bit of touring, recorded a fancy album and then the band and I parted ways a little more than a year ago.

All the while I was playing either solo or with my Responsibility band - I put out a little demo myself and tried hard to record a real album but it never panned out. Still have my fingers crossed with that one.

I’d say the most important lesson I ever learned about music and the music business is when it starts to feel like work - RUN! Continuing to play in a band when you’re not having fun is a really bad idea. And I mean, it’s not like you’re gonna make enough money to make it worthwhile as a touring musician - oh wait that’s two lessons.

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

Lately I have been listening to All of Our Names by Sarah Harmer a lot, Bear Music by Mark Bragg and The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists because I am trying to learn it.

4. What’s your favourite way to waste time or relax?

I read a lot of books. I’ve even been getting into graphic novels lately. I also really enjoy National Geographic magazine. I like to just chill out by myself and watch TV shows on my computer (Do you know House M.D. is based on Sherlock Holmes?), and I also like to bake. Last night I made a killer baklava.

5. The Internet and social media are allowing artists to get closer to their fans than they ever were in some respects. What are your thoughts on this?

I love it. I absolutely love the fact that I can follow my favourite artists on twitter and feel like I know something about their personality. I find that feeling kind of enhances the way I feel about music much of the time.

As an artist it’s a little daunting because there are so many tools available to you at any time that you can get overwhelmed and worry you’re not using them to their full potential. And if you have access to these then all of the other bands out there do too. But it works the other way too; I mean, some guy from England found my band’s myspace and asked if he could mail order a CD, which was incredibly cool.

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

I would probably be a scientist.

7. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?

I learned in National Geographic that doctors in the states are making these prostheses now that sense your nerve impulses and move accordingly. Before they can fit you with one they do surgery and rearrange your nerves into bundles so that they are in the right spots for the impulse receptors. The next step is to make the prostheses so that they can sense heat and pressure and figuring out a way to send that info back into your nerves. They think that soon they will just be able to put a remote transmitter in the brain stem or something like that and it’ll wirelessly tell the prosthesis to move, and receive sensory information which it then relays to the brain. That is freakin’ interesting.

8. If you could hit the “delete” button on anything related to music (a song, artist, trend, whatever), what would you delete?

Indie rock bands making music videos featuring people dressed in animal suits. What is up with that?

9. What’s your favourite thing to drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?

I enjoy a “cold one” now and again, preferably of the Oland’s variety. For non-alcoholic, I would have to say, I do like to drink not-from-concentrate grapefruit juice. Zingy.

10. Finish the sentence below and please elaborate on what you mean:

The east coast music scene … is a pretty special thing, if you get into it from the right angle.  There are a lot of really awesome, dedicated people who play in bands and put on shows. I think the feeling of being outside of central Canada and having smaller populations makes people feel more camaraderie with each other.

The other side of that coin is that it can be pretty clique-y and exclusive if you’re from outside of it or are trying to break into certain circles.

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

So many things. I want to do a lot of touring with Static in Action. I want to record a real solo CD. I want to write a lot of really awesome songs.

Non-musically, I want to go back to school. Get started on that scientist thing.

Catch up with Alicia’s many projects here:

Static in Action: www.staticinaction.com or www.myspace.com/staticinaction
Solo stuff: www.myspace.com/aliciapenney
Yellow: www.myspace.com/yellowmusic

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

(Jenocide, Photo by kelly clark fotography, typicalgirl.com)

Jen Clarke says she doesn’t want to appear preachy, but if you listen to what her alter-ego, Jenocide, is saying in her danceable, hook-filled songs, there is undoubtedly a feminist point of view coming through.

“I do have political ideologies about feminism as an undercurrent to all that I do, but I never want to alienate people,” Clarke says. “It’s more about inclusiveness and empowerment than alienating (anyone). I want everyone, you know, guys and girls, to dance and have a good time above anything political. I just want to have fun songs with fun hooks that people want to dance to.”

Jenocide, also featuring beatmaker Ed “Erenzi” Renzi, is bringing its dance party to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia over the coming few days (dates listed below) with Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees and A/V.

Jenocide, which is touring in support of the full-length album Machines That Make Us Wet, was born out of Clarke’s five years of being the only girl in otherwise all-guy bands like HOTSHOTROBOT and Windom Earle.

“When I started going to shows and got involved in the indie scene probably like five or six years ago, there were no girls in rock bands, really; maybe a couple. There were no girls doing their own thing in terms of something that was more aggressive. There’s always been hordes of girls with guitars and stuff like that. I never identified with stuff like that.

“I would go out to punk shows and other kinds of shows, and there were no girls and it was so depressing.”

Finding no one she could relate to, Clarke says she was inspired to create a strong female character, taking elements from some of her role models like Madonna, Blondie’s Debbie Harry, Le Tigre and Peaches.

Her aim was to create “strong voice for women, something that women can identify with” while ensuring that the music was still fun. She says women are bombarded on the street, in magazines and other media with images of what they’re supposed to look or act like. She wanted to cut to the heart of those issues.

When asked about another current strong female musician and character, Lady Gaga, Clarke admits it’s not the first time she’s heard the comparison.

“I think like six months ago I would have told you that you were an idiot, because my initial, knee-jerk reaction to her was like, ‘Oh great, another one of these bullshit popstars that’s like content-less.’ But she’s a very smart woman, and I think she surrounds herself with very smart people. I’m intrigued as well with her image, and she definitely is a good woman, pop-culture figure right now. I don’t take offense to that, I think she has awesome style. And certainly she’s a performer just as much a musician.”

Clarke says “there’s a lot of bullshit” to deal with as a woman trying to do something different, particularly on the east coast, which has a wealth of more traditional folk, rock, metal and country acts, but a smaller scene of pop or dance music.

Clarke says she hasn’t met any resistance to the Jenocide project, but it has been a challenge to find peers to perform with.

Since debuting with her EP bikerides. barrettes. bruises. last summer, Jenocide has performed mostly in the Halifax area, bringing out men and woman alike to dance. She says women seem to really connect with what she’s doing, and she has no doubt she’s alienated a few men along the way.

“Jenocide has some strong opinions about girl power and getting rid of guys if they’re not good for you,” she says. “I’ve alienated a lot of guys, I’m sure, at shows because some people feel threatened by it because it’s a pretty aggressive, in-your-face mentality when I’m up on stage saying, ‘If your boyfriend sucks, then fucking dump him.’ I mean, it’s tongue-in-cheek, right? It’s not militant, but it can be interpreted that way I’m sure by some people who maybe feel defensive about who they are and they feel that they’re being pointed out.”

Clarke has two releases out now under the Jenocide banner. Her debut, she says, was a little more thrash while the follow-up LP was more dancey. Next, she’s aiming for a bit of a hip-hop feel. Expect another release from Jenocide in the not too distant future.

In the meantime, she wants everyone to come out and dance their asses off. Here’s when and where you can do just that:

Jan. 23 in Saint John @ Blue Olive
Jan. 24 in Fredericton @ The Capital
Jan. 27 in Charlottetown @ Hunter’s
Jan. 28 in Moncton @ The Paramount
Jan. 29 in Sackville @ George’s Roadhouse

Jenocide’s albums can be bought online, at her shows or on iTunes.

Cape Breton’s Slowcoaster recently took a break from criss-crossing the country to record its first live album. Acoustic Live takes a look back at the last nine years of the band, delivering an acoustic slant on some of the group’s earliest work including tracks like Moth Caught, Washing Machine, Violent Sister and 420/421.

Acoustic Live was recorded in November at Riverview Rural High School in Coxheath, N.S. The performance was recorded by Jamie Foulds and Albert Lionais and mastered at Soundpark Studios.

Acoustic Live is available for digital purchase in a variety of formats here.

Jon Mullane releases new video

Halifax rock singer Jon Mullane recently released his new music video for upcoming single Sin City. The single and video are included on his new album Shift, due for release this month.

Haligonians are sure to recognize many of the downtown locales in the video. The video can be seen here.

Last Call Chernobyl join Warped Tour

Halifax-based metal band Last Call Chernobyl recently announced the tour dates they will be playing for the 2010 Vans Warped Tour.

After having won the Warped Tour Battle of the Bands at Nova Scotia Music Week in November, the band initially believed they would be performing at four dates in the northeast with the Warped Tour, but have recently found out they will be playing 12 dates all across the U.S. and Canada with such established acts as Every Time I Die, The All-American Rejects, Reel Big Fish, and Andrew W.K. throughout June and July.

Set to release its debut album in time for the tour, Last Call Chernobyl will be taking to the stage with some of the loudest and heaviest acts from across the continent and intend to prove that they can stand alongside of the best of them this summer.

Formed in late 2007, Last Call Chernobyl has shared the stage with such acts as Means, Orchidʼs Curse, We The Undersigned and others.

D5R keeps on growing

Ever-growing heavy music label Diminished Fifth Records out of Nova Scotia (which is nominated for an East Coast Music Award for Record Label of the Year) has signed two more acts to its roster of bands. Late in 2009, the label signed New Brunswick thrash band Rusted Dawn. Just this week, the label announced the signing of The.Daisy.Anthesis.

Rusted Dawn emerged in 2004, releasing two independent EPs and touring Canada since. The band’s debut full-length The Black Tides of War is scheduled for a spring release via D5R.

Meanwhile, The.Daisy.Anthesis is also planning a spring album release. The band released a free download of the track Quietness to Pacify, a tune from the upcoming album Surface and the Sky, due in March.

Scott “Stooly” Miller from the band issued the following statement in a press release: “We’re really excited to be working with D5R for our debut album. It’s nice to work with someone who believes in us as much as we do. Surface and the Sky was recorded at The Recordio Studium and was done 100 per cent on our own, so we feel very strongly about our final product and we’re pumped that we have D5R to get it the attention it deserves.”

Atlantic rappers featured on compilation

This news comes out of Ottawa, but it features five east coast acts. Brockway Entertainment (run by east coaster Troy “Brockway Biggs” Neilson) has compiled its 23 favourite Canadian rap tracks of 2009 and packed them all onto one album. The ‘2010 Canadian Rap Future Superstars’ compilation is non-profit initiative aimed at providing exposure for up-and-coming Canadian rap artists.

The album can be downloaded for free here.

It features the following artists and tunes from the east coast:

Monark (Fredericton & Saint John) - Playground feat. Phakt
Hellafactz (Halifax) - Thought Of U feat Yvette Jarvis & Michael Beals
Ricca Razor Sharp (Calgary & Clarks Harbour, N.S.) - Rampage
Joe Buck (Halifax) - Who We Are feat Jay Bizzy
Ghettosocks (Halifax) - R. Kelly’s Ghostwriter Skit feat. Jordan Croucher

The diverse 2010 compilation features 34 Canadian artists and 24 Canadian beatmakers, spanning 11 Canadian cities.

The compilation idea began in 2003 as a handful of burnt CDs made by executive producer Troy Neilson for friends and family during the winter holidays. In 2005, Neilson made extra copies, which were sent to campus radio and other media outlets. Since then, the success of the compilation has continued to grow, while annually topping the campus radio rap charts.

Anyone interested in getting involved with next year’s compilation is encouraged to contact troy@brockwayent.com Artists wishing to be considered for next year’s compilation are encouraged to submit their music via SonicBids ( SonicBids.com/CanadianRapFutureSuperstars ) or by sending full CD to Brockway Ent., PO Box 90014, Ottawa, ON, K1V 1J8.

Hey all,

Merry Christmas, happy holidays and all that!

I know it’s been a little slow around here the last month or so, but I’ve got an interview with Halifax’s Jenocide coming up and a ton of news.

Eric

(Gloryhound, left-right, Shaun Hanlon, Evan Meisner,  Jeremy MacPherson and David Casey.)

Recording its sophomore album Leave It Alone was a learning experience for the members of Halifax-based Gloryhound.

A year in the making, Leave It Alone was produced by former Matt Mays & El Torpedo member Robbie Crowell, who guided the band as it changed its sound from a roots-rock sound to more of a straight ahead, “four-on-the-floor” rock sound, as singer/guitarist Evan Meisner describes it.

Meisner spoke with EastCoastNoise recently around the same time the band  was launching the album with a show at The Seahorse in Halifax.

“It was a huge learning experience, more so than the (the band’s debut album),” he explains. “The other one we actually learned about recording and stuff, but this one was just about actually making a product that we really believed in, that we weren’t going to look back on and want to change anything.

“We actually learned to play a lot better, we learned to play together a lot better and we learned what kind of music we can make as a group a lot better.”

It was a year in the making, and while Meisner is happy to have it off the band’s shoulders, he describes the making of Leave It Alone as the best experience he’s ever had.

Gloryhound, also featuring David Casey on guitar and vocals, Shaun Hanton on drums and Jeremy MacPherson on bass, formed when the members were still in high school. Initially named Gloryhound & The Skyhawks, the band also featured Adam Baldwin (now a member of El Torpedo).

Once Baldwin left the group, they dropped the second half of the band’s name and set out to tweak their sound.

Meisner says they wanted to develop a more focused rock sound.

“I think for us it was more finding where we had to be,” he explains. “I think we were always a rock band, it just took a while for us to all work out in the band all our different parts. We all listen to rock music, and it kind of coincided with what we were listening to at the time. It’s the funnest kind of music to play, really.”

Crowell, producer of Leave It Alone, had a big hand in helping Gloryhound fine tune its music.

“He brought a very similar viewpoint, he just knew how to put everything into action,” Meisner says. “His ears are incredible. And his experience in music is far beyond ours. He was kind of like a mentor, really.”

The album was recorded in The Sonic Temple and Echo Chamber, both in Halifax, and it was engineered by Charles Austin, Dave Ewenson and Darren Van Niekerk and mixed by Lil Thomas.

The album was released late last month and track Best I Can is the single currently at radio.

The band is planning a Maritime tour in January, before it heads back to Toronto in spring.

MNB holds membership drive Thursday

Music New Brunswick will hold its first ever membership drive this week. In the spirit of this campaign, MNB will present a night of local music with the goal of educating New Brunswick-based musicians about the role the organization plays, as well as its 2010 educational component line-up.

Since May, the association, under the leadership of executive director Jean Surette, has developed an educational component that offers free seminars on music industry related topics. For the past year, MNB has also helped artists showcase at the 2009’s East Coast Music Awards & Festival, as well as Contact East and Francofête.

MNB is a non-profit association that works to foster and support the New Brunswick music industry and relies on the support of its membership to run these programs and events.

The membership drive and concert featuring Escola de Samba Acadia, Fayo, Phil Flowers, Morse Code Alphabet and Les Païens takes place this Thursday at The Manhattan Bar & Grill, 125 Westmorland St., Moncton.

People interested in the association will have the opportunity to sign up as members or simply receive information regarding its events and activities. Admission to the event is $8.

My buddy Ken Kelley recently spoke with Surette regarding this event and more for his own website, so check that out here.

Hey all,

I know there’s been a long delay since the last update. It’s been a crazy month, but I promise more news is coming soon, plus I have an interview with Halifax rockers Gloryhound in the bank, so stay tuned over the next week or so.

In the meantime, the East Coast Music Association announced the 2010 nominees for the ECMAs, which take place in Sydney, N.S., March 4-7, 2010.

Below is the complete list. Congrats to all nominees!

Cheers,

Eric

ECMA 2010 MUSIC & INDUSTRY AWARD NOMINEES

MUSIC AWARDS:

Entertainer of the Year

Classified (NS)
Dave Carroll (NS)
David Myles (NB)
Gypsophilia (NS)
In-Flight Safety (NS)
Joel Plaskett (NS)
The Divorcees (NB)

Female Solo Recording of the Year

Amelia Curran (NL) - Hunter, Hunter
Catherine MacLellan (PE) - Water In The Ground
Coco Love Alcorn (NS) - Joyful
Erin Costelo (NS) – Fire and Fuss
Jenn Grant (NS) - Echoes
Jessica Rhaye (NB) – Good Things
Kim Wempe (NS) – Where I Need to Be

Group Recording of the Year

Caledonia (NS) - We Are America
In-Flight Safety (NS) - we are an empire, my dear
Madison Violet (CB) – No Fool for Trying
The Motorleague (NB) – Black Noise
The Novaks (NL) - Things Fall Apart
Two Hours Traffic (PE) – Territory

Konica Minolta Male Solo Recording of the Year

Chris Kirby (NL) – Vampire Hotel
Classified (NS) – Self-Explanatory
Dave Gunning (NS) – We’re All Leaving
Dave Marsh (NS) – The True Love Rules
Joel Plaskett (NS) - Three
Lennie Gallant (PE) – If We Had A Fire
Pascal Lejeune (NB) - Adélaïde

FACTOR Recording of the Year

Amelia Curran (NL) – Hunter, Hunter
Classified (NS) – Self-Explanatory
Chris Kirby (NL) – Vampire Hotel
Dave Gunning (NS) – We’re All Leaving
Duane Andrews (NL) - Raindrops
Jenn Grant (NS) - Echoes
Joel Plaskett (NS) - Three

Rising Star Recording of the Year

Caledonia (NS) – We Are America
Haunted Hearts (PE) – Thank You, Goodnight
Kim Wempe (NS) – Where I Need To Be
Share (NS) – Slumping in Your Murals
Sleepy Driver (NB) – Steady Now
The Danks (PE) – Are You Afraid Of The Danks

Vibe Creative Group Single of the Year

Alert the Medic (NS) – Atlas
Caledonia (NS) – Scott’s House
Classified (NS) - Anybody Listening
In-Flight Safety (NS) – Model Homes
Joel Plaskett (NS) - Through & Through & Through
Joel Plaskett (NS) - You Let Me Down

SOCAN Songwriter of the Year

Amelia Curran (NL) – “The Mistress”
(Performed by: Amelia Curran)
Brenley MacEachern & Lisa MacIsaac (CB) – “Small of My Heart”
(Performed by: Madison Violet)
Catherine MacLellan (PE) – “Take A Break”
(Performed by: Catherine MacLellan)
Coco Love Alcorn/Chris Hockey (NS) – “Revolution”
(Performed by: Coco Love Alcorn)
Dave Gunning/Jamie Robinson (NS) – “Made On A Monday”
(Performed by: Dave Gunning)
Joel Plaskett (NS) – “Through & Through & Through”
(Performed by: Joel Plaskett)
Mullane, Goodsell, Nicholson, Ledwell (NS) –“Model Homes”
(Performed by: In-Flight Safety)

Video of the Year

Classified (NS) – Anybody Listening
(Directed by: Harv)
Down with the Butterfly (NS) – Tanks
(Directed by: Aram Kouyoumdjian)
George Canyon (NS) - Just Like You
(Directed by: Colin Minihan)
In-Flight Safety (NS) – Model Homes
(Directed by: Drew Lightfoot)
Joel Plaskett (NS) – Through & Through & Through
(Directed by: RT!)
The Motorleague (NB) – Hymn For the Newly Departed
(Directed by: Marc Savoie)
The Tom Fun Orchestra (CB) – Throw Me to the Rats
(Directed by: Alasdair Brotherston & Jock Mooney)

Alternative Recording of the Year

Caledonia (NS) – We Are America
In-Flight Safety (NS) – we are an empire, my dear
Sleepy Driver (NB) – Steady Now
The Danks (PE) – Are You Afraid Of The Danks
The Easy Bleeders (CB) – The Easy Bleeders
The Slate Pacific (NB) – Safe Passage

Bluegrass Recording of the Year

Catherine Lawrence (NS) – Sweet Memories
Cousin Cletus and the Six-Fingered Stringband (PE) - DISCOGRASS
Ryan Roberts (NS) – Ryan Roberts
Smokin’ Contra Band (NS) – Slim Pickins
The Grass Mountain Hobos (PE) – ZOOT!
The Spinney Brothers (NS) - When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall

Blues Recording of the Year

Chris Kirby (NL) – Vampire Hotel
Easley Stevenson Arsenault (NS) – Nine Steps
Rick Jeffery (NS) – 13 Vultures
The Hupman Brothers (NS) - Countin’ Quarters
The Terry Whalen Band (NB) – A Wicked Driving Rain

Country Recording of the Year

George Canyon (NS) – What I Do
JD Clarke (NS) – Satisfied
Karla Pilgrim (NL) – I’ll Think of You
Melanie Morgan (NB) – Goodbye Birmingham
Rik Reese & Neon Highway (NB) – Mama Raised a Good Boy
The Divorcees (NB) – Last of the Free Men
The Keats (NL) - Good to be Home

Folk Recording of the Year

Amelia Curran (NL) – Hunter, Hunter
Andrew White (NS) – Walk in Light
Catherine MacLellan (PE) – Water In The Ground
Jessica Rhaye (NB) – Good Things
Joey Kitson (PE) - STAN
JP Cormier (CB) – The Messenger

Instrumental Recording of the Year

Andrea Beaton (CB) – Branches
Curtis Andrews (NL) – The Offering of Curtis Andrews
Darren McMullen (NS) - Decade
Ian Foster (NL) – Found: Music from the Unmade Film
Spanner (NL) – Dark Boat
The Dardanelles (NL) – The Dardanelles

Jazz Recording of the Year

Bill Brennan (NL) – After Hours
Gypsophilia (NS) - Sa-ba-da-OW!
Jeff Torbert (NS) – This Weather Honest
Les Paiens (NB) – PYRAMYD
Paul Tynan (NS) - BiCoastal Collective: Chapter One
Swingology (NS) – Swingology

Loud Recording of the Year

Big Game Hunt (NS) – Goliath
Black Moor (NS) – The Conquering
Shelter with Thieves (NS) - Confessions of a Toxic Generation
The Motorleague (NB) – Black Noise
Uncooperative Death (NS) – Uncooperative Death
We, the Undersigned (NB) - Bleed the Constants

Pop Recording of the Year

Jenn Grant (NS) – Echoes
Joel Plaskett (NS) - Three
Mel Keith & The Strombachs (NB) – Mel Keith & The Strombachs
Stephanie Mainville (NB) - Out of Nowhere
Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold (PE) - Broken Hearted Beat
Two Hours Traffic (PE) – Territory

Sirius Satellite Radio Rock Recording of the Year

Alert the Medic (NS) – We, The Weapon
Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers (NS) – Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers
Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel (CB) – Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel
Dave Marsh (NS) – The True Loves Rules
Smothered in Hugs (PE) - The Healing Power Of Injury
The Novaks (NL) – Things Fall Apart

Roots / Traditional Solo Recording of the Year

Allan Ricketts (NL) - Rivers
Anna Ludlow (NS) – Reel To Reel
Colette Cheverie (PE) – Hours Before Dawn
Gillian Boucher (CB) – Elemental
Lennie Gallant (PE) – If We Had a Fire
Samantha Robichaud (NB) – Collected

Roots / Traditional Group Recording of the Year

Dawn and Margie Beaton (CB) – Taste of Gaelic
Lazy Jacks (PE) – East Coast Live
Shanneyganock (NL) – Volume VII
The Navigators (NL) – Sea Miner
The Once (NL) – The Once

Aboriginal Recording of the Year

Forever (CB) - Reborn
Gary Sappier Experience (NB) – Project III
Lone Cloud (NS) – Live at North Street Church
Richard Poulette (CB) – Let Go, Let God

Francophone Recording of the Year

BLOU (NS) - Noël Blou
George Belliveau (NB) - Prise 2
Joseph Edgar (NS) - Y’a un train qui s’en vient…
Nathalie Renault (NB) - La chance
Pascal Lejeune (NB) - Adélaïde
Soleil (NS) – Soleil

Gospel Recording of the Year

David John Hensman (NL) – Find Me
Elizabeth and Scott Rhyno (NS) – Something Beautiful
Evangeline Inman & Women Who Worship (NB) - Evangeline Inman and Women Who Worship
Matt Brouwer (NS) – Where’s Our Revolution
The Ascensions (NB) – No Greater Love
Tim Milner (NS) – Kiss the Son

Rap / Hip-Hop Single Track Recording of the Year

Classified (NS) - Anybody Listening
Hotbox (NB) - Knowledge is Wealth feat. Radar
Mischif (CB) - C.B. Summer
Mista Mack (CB) - Gone with the Breeze feat. Mischif
Shiest (NL) - Nuttin New
Three Sheet (NS) - How it Goes

R&B/Soul Single Track Recoding of the Year

Chris Kirby (NL) - Come Clean
Gary Beals (NS) - Jump Off feat. Blessed
Jamie Sparks (NS) - All I Need – Remix
Mark Duggan (NS) – Sambaiosis

INDUSTRY AWARDS:

Broadcast of the Year

Atlantic Airwaves
Cape Breton Christmas Daddies
East Coast Countdown
East Coast Music Show
East Coast Road Trip
That East Coast Show

Event of the Year

24th Annual Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival
Celtic Colours International Festival
Festival acadien de Caraquet
Halifax Pop Explosion
Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival
New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee

Independent Company of the Year

Malkin Music
Marcato Digital Solutions
Music Marketing International
SpinCount
Sonic Entertainment Group
The Joseph Scott Entertainment Agency

Industry Professional of the Year

Bruce Morel
Darren Gallop
Eirinn Fraser
John Poirier
Lyle Drake
Tony Murray

Manager of the Year

Bruce Morel
Christopher K Daw
Heather Gibson
Jeff Liberty

Media Person of the Year

Doug Gallant
Kurt Fawthrop
Jeff Liberty
Jimmie Inch
Marc Xavier LeBlanc
Tom Bedell

Record Company/Distributor/Independent Label of the Year

Avondale Music
Diminished Fifth Records
Forward Music Group
Sonic Records
Sound of Pop Records
Warner Music Canada

Studio of the Year

Big Grey Sound Studio
Denmark Productions
Ferguson Music Productions
Lakewind Sound Studios
Soundpark Studios
The Sonic Temple

Studio Engineer of the Year

Dennis G. Field
Jamie Foulds
Jon Matthews
Mike “Sheppy” Shepherd
Scott Ferguson
Tim Feswick

Venue of the Year

Fredericton Playhouse
Harmony House Theatre
Membertou Trade & Convention Centre
St. Mary’s Church, Indian River
The Company House
The Oxygen Complex

Visual Artist of the Year

Cheryl Smith
Chr!s Sm!th
Jessica Rhaye Design
Jocelyne Vautour
Kelly Clark
Mat Dunlap

We try to keep up with all the news happening along the east coast, but we’re bound to miss some things. In the last few months, a handful of albums have been released by east coast artists we’ve yet to talk about on East Coast Noise, so here’s some updates on some new tunes for your listening pleasure.

ENNIS celebrate Lessons Learned CD release

Popular Newfoundland-based duo ENNIS will celebrate the release of its new album Lessons Learned CD with a concert tour through the Maritimes beginning this week. The eight-stop tour will be a double-bill with The MacKenzie Project, featuring fiddler Rosie MacKenzie (formerly of The Cottars).

The Juno-Award winning ENNIS, which features Maureen and Karen Ennis, have seven albums out to date and they’ve shared the stage with everyone from The Chieftains and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to Jann Arden and Colin Linden.

The MacKenzie Project grew out of Rosie MacKenzie’s desire to continue her career, following her departure from The Cottars in the summer of 2006. A dynamic fiddler, stepdancer, and harmony vocalist, Rosie has recruited singer Pauline Scanlon (former vocalist for Ireland’s Sharon Shannon Band), Pauline’s frequent producer, arranger and guitarist Donogh Hennessy, formerly of Irish band Lúnasa, and young piano/fiddle/stepdance wiz Robbie Fraser.

ENNIS and The MacKenzie Project will take the stage at the following venues:

Nov. 6 - deCoste Centre, Pictou, NS
Nov. 7 - Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay, NS
Nov. 8 - Strathspey Place, Mabou, NS
Nov. 10 - The Carleton, Halifax, NS
Nov. 11 - The MacKay Room, St. FX U, Antigonish, NS
Nov. 13 - The Playhouse, Fredericton, NB
Nov. 14 - Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre, Summerside, PEI
Nov. 15 - Kings Theatre, Annapolis Royal, NS

11 Afternoons Early release album

Fredericton, N.B.’s 11 Afternoons Early might be a new name for most of us, but the band has been around for a few years.

Led by James Tanner, the group has recorded six full-length albums since 2001, and it released its most recent – Lysithea – this past summer.

Tanner, originally from Nova Scotia, grew up playing drums in a variety of bands. During his tenure in these bands, Tanner learned to play guitar and bass from his fellow musicians, which set him on the path he’s on now.

In 2007, he graduated from The Centre of Arts and Technology for Audio Engineering, which has given him the knowledge to not only play every instrument on his band’s albums, but he’s also engineered everything himself.

“I love having the option of being on both sides of the glass,” he tells East Coast Noise. “Having the idea for a song, and then having the knowledge to experiment with recording techniques and sounds in the studio. And it’s an asset to the band to record anytime we desire and the cost is zero. We aren’t staring at the clock, we are just having fun … which seems the way it should be!”

Live, Tanner is joined by Sean Keenan (Buried Beside Her) on drums and new bassist Matt McDonald.

Currently, the band is rehearsing for a spring tour. A new website is set to be launched in the next few weeks. The band’s latest album is available in Fredericton at Backstreet Records, but you can sample it on their myspace page.

Grassmarket release debut album

Halifax folk act Grassmarket released its debut album Port City earlier this month. The trio of singer/songwriters created a collection of 10 songs that capture the group intimately exploring their love of songwriting.

The band features Penelope Jackon on clawhammer banjo, guitar and vocals, Dan MacCormack on three-finger banjo, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, standup bass and vocals and David Bradshaw on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, harmonica and vocals.

Grassmarket’s first release Waiting, a seven song EP, was nominated for a 2008 Nova Scotia Music Award for Best Country/Bluegrass Album.

Cousins release debut record

Another debut from Halifax was recently launched by quartet Cousins. Formed by singer/guitarist Aaron Mangle (A Helpful Diagram), the band features Andy March (Museum Pieces/Ghost Bees) on drums, Dallin Ursenbach on guitar and Pat Ryan (Room Doom) on bass.

After self-producing his debut Out On Town, Mangle formed Cousins, and penned a joint deal with Halifax imprints Youth Club Records and Musical Chair Music.

The band will perform at Gus’s Pub in Halifax on Nov. 11.

Corbett releases new solo record

Known for performing with an eclectic group of musicians in Halifax, including Old Man Luedecke, Steven Bowers and Norma MacDonald, Kev Corbett recently released his latest solo effort, Son of a Rudderless Boat.

The album features a who’s who of east coasters, including: Luedecke, Don Brownrigg, Thom Swift, Christina Martin, Meaghan Smith, Erin Costelo and others.

Corbett is currently on tour in Germany with Jennifer Roland’s band. You can follow Corbett on Twitter.

Samantha Robichaud releases another

Riverview, N.B. fiddler Samantha Robichaud is releasing her sixth album in the next few weeks. Collected is a traditional album featuring several new tunes including one French vocal.

The album also features the tune A Song For Daniel, composed and performed by Robichaud, and originally released on the CD This is My America which also included artists Dolly Parton, Mark O’Connor, Charlie Pride, Billy Dean and others.

Collected was produced and engineered by Paul Mills.

Robichaud also recently launched a new website.

To order CDs you can email Samantha at sam@samantharobichaud.ca The album will be in stores sometime in the next few weeks.

Gravel Chewer working on new album

Fredericton metal band Gravel Chewer is working on its next album to be released in December.

The band has been hard at work since its inception in mid-2008. Featuring Gregg “Shawz” O’Donnell, Jonny “Twothumbs” Malley and Bruce LeGrow, the band jumped right into the scene and started playing shows without a bass player or full-time vocalist. The band self-produced its first EP, Eating The Earth.

This past summer, Gravel Chewer completed its lineup, adding PJ Jacques on 8-string bass and Conor Doyle on vocals. The group is in the process of recording a new 5-song EP, which will serve as a teaser for its first full-length album, to be released next year.

The band plans to tour in support of the upcoming EP and hopes to line up label support in the near future.

Open mic in Moncton goes tomorrow

The next monthly edition of Songwriters Association of Canada Moncton Songstage, Moncton’s open mic night for original music by singer-songwriters, will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 9:30 – 11:30 p.m. at St. James’ Gate on Church Street.

Performers already registered include Robin Anne Ettles, Sarah Cormier,  Andre Saulnier,  Anna-Marie Weir,  Ian Lawrence  and Jason LeBlanc. Each performer showcases four songs in an environment that is friendly to original music.

Open mic organizers are currently seeking talent for the Dec. 1 event. Pre-registration is required via e-mail to monctonsong@gmail.com, with demo or link to a site where your music can be auditioned. Participants must bring their own instrument. All languages of performance are welcome.

St. James’ Gate is located at 14 Church St. There is no cover charge.

(Dave Gunning recently released his seventh album, We’re All Leaving.)

We’re All Leaving is folk singer Dave Gunning’s seventh album and the first he can honestly say he enjoys from start to finish.

The Pictou County, N.S. native says he’s never a fan of his records once they’re finished, but We’re All Leaving is the exception.

“I usually only hear the mistakes,” he tells EastCoastNoise, adding that his latest record, released a few weeks ago, features better writing and production than his earlier work.

Gunning worked once again with producer Jamie Robinson, and the singer-songwriter is happy with the result.

“We’re done that first-date awkwardness,” Gunning says with a laugh.

Robinson also co-wrote some of the 11 tunes on We’re All Leaving. Other writing partners this time around included David Francey, Matt Andersen and Rose Cousins.

It’s a star-studded affair, but at the centre of it all is Gunning with his sparse folk sound and crystal clear lyrics that have made him a popular name along the east coast and into the U.S. and Europe over the last few years.

While most of the record features Gunning’s familiar storytelling and folk sound, the first single is a country rocker called Made on a Monday. Inspired by the idea that cars produced midweek are likely to be better than cars made just before or after a weekend, it describes how we all feel at different times in our lives.

With the economy still trying to rebound from a recession, the tune really hits home.

“It’s certainly how I feel sometimes,” Gunning says, “when nothing’s going right, and the pieces just don’t fit. Writing the song was a lot of fun, coming up with different ways to describe that disjointed feeling.”

Gunning got his start in 1994 playing pubs and soon he was gigging with other musicians. His first album was released in 1997, but it wasn’t until 2003 that he really began focusing on his original material.

“Otherwise, I’d be 50 years old and still playing ‘The Gambler,’” he says with a laugh

Since releasing his debut album, Gunning has had a steady stream of success, garnering six Music Nova Scotia Awards and three East Coast Music Awards along the way.

This week finds Gunning still in the midst of his Atlantic Canadian tour for We’re All Leaving (see remaining dates below), and he has plans to tour western Canada as well as the United Kingdom once again.

In the midst of it all, the busy musician is already looking ahead to his next project, sort of a side project to his original work - a tribute to legendary east coast musician John Allan Cameron. Gunning performed on a recent tribute album to the artist, but he plans to release his own CD tribute to his musical hero.

Gunning, who says the first concert he attended featured Cameron and Stan Rogers, honoured both musicians on his latest album’s tune Big Shoes.

And while he’s in the middle of touring, Gunning is keeping a close eye on what’s happening back at home. His wife Sara is expecting the couple’s third child anytime now. While Gunning himself is on the road, other family members are on call in case baby decides to show up before Dad can get home.

For more on Dave Gunning, check out his website.

Here are Gunning’s remaining east coast tour dates:
Oct. 20 - Corner Brook, NL - Arts & Cultural Centre
Oct. 21 - Labrador West - Arts & Cultural Centre
Oct. 22 - Goose Bay, NL - Arts & Cultural Centre
Oct. 23 - Grand Falls, NL - Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts
Oct. 24 - Gander, NL - Joseph R Smallwood Centre for the Arts
Oct. 25 - Carbonear, NL - Princess Sheila Theatre
Oct. 26 - St. John’s, NL - Arts & Cultural Centre