I don't really write a lot about music, which is pretty crazy, considering I'm dating a musician, and my life is immersed in it. I guess maybe that's why - it's so engrained in my day to day, that I sort of forget about it.
*ok - lady gaga. But that's about the feminist banter, and less about the music. I'm just in love with a girl who likes to say 'sex' on radio!
Nevertheless, I'm constantly reminded of what I love. Independent bands who work their butts off for solid music, disc after disc.
My all time favs:
Our lady Peace - my first love in music came in grade 6. I was at a party for my friend, and he put on his clumsy cd - the rest is history. I was in love. I was a hardcore, northern getaway wearing gr. 6 punk out.
Sure, OLP promoted my rock lifestyle from gr. 6 to 11. but they also 'knew me'! Anyways… not much indroduction is required for this group… so I'll be breif.
The band formed in 1992, and have been raging ever since. Their like the socially responsible, and hipper (and cuter) tragically hip. They experiment with sound (which, although we may not enjoy the results, we can still respect growth in artists - without which, andy warhol would have not been a pop art phenomenon!), they promote canadian rock to the teeth, they work overseas and in their communities without flaunting it.
Plus - superman's dead was my first encounter with ambiguous gender… perhaps this paved the way for my future academic career?
*ok - lady gaga. But that's about the feminist banter, and less about the music. I'm just in love with a girl who likes to say 'sex' on radio!
Nevertheless, I'm constantly reminded of what I love. Independent bands who work their butts off for solid music, disc after disc.
My all time favs:
Our lady Peace - my first love in music came in grade 6. I was at a party for my friend, and he put on his clumsy cd - the rest is history. I was in love. I was a hardcore, northern getaway wearing gr. 6 punk out.
Sure, OLP promoted my rock lifestyle from gr. 6 to 11. but they also 'knew me'! Anyways… not much indroduction is required for this group… so I'll be breif.
The band formed in 1992, and have been raging ever since. Their like the socially responsible, and hipper (and cuter) tragically hip. They experiment with sound (which, although we may not enjoy the results, we can still respect growth in artists - without which, andy warhol would have not been a pop art phenomenon!), they promote canadian rock to the teeth, they work overseas and in their communities without flaunting it.
Plus - superman's dead was my first encounter with ambiguous gender… perhaps this paved the way for my future academic career?
Pilot Speed (formerly Pilate) - I first was introduced in my first year of university (2003), when they came to play at the turret - the on campus "nightclub" at Laurier. Todd Clarke, the lead singer, signed my ticket, after I left sick, and I was in love. The four guys, Ruby, Chris, Bill and of course, Todd, all come from strong musical background - Todd took a degree and was trained in opera (which is obvious in their music), and met up with Ruby through an internet posting for a bass player (*ahem - greig!!). Ruby introduced Todd to Chris and Bill, and the rest is history! They've been on the music scene for quite some time, and have a cult like following… though Todd still maintains that "the members of Pilot Speed {are} just four normal guys lucky enough to have found the same musical vision.
I've travelled near and far to see them - been in a music video, a private show filmed for US tv, followed them all over the place. And lo and behold, who shows up at the studio Greig is interning at? Pilot Speed. Both studios. First Cantebury Studios to record, and next Jaoa Carvhalo Studio to master. Now they're following me! I think my love for them grew even further when Greig confirmed that they are truly nice guys - Ruby remembered him when they bumped into eachother at the mastering studio, and Todd's a workaholic.
Incredible music. SUPER strong lead singer. Beautiful lyrics. All in all, deal breaker.
Check them out - they're wonderful and amazing.
Here's the video I'm in… in case you were wondering :)
Pat Robitaille - In fourth year university, I was an RA. One of my student's friends was coming to our on campus pub to perform, and my students asked me to join them… so I did. While the performer (Justin Nozuka) was fantastic, I was smitten with Pat Robitaille - his 'opener'.
Referred to as a folk rock singer, Pat truly embodies Canadian strength in music. At 15 yrs old, Pat was recording songs on a digital eight track machine, and those recordings ended up in the hands of a music producer in LA. At 16, Pat dropped out of high school for music, and spent his time between LA and Windsor, playing nightly gigs between Windsor and Detroit.
My fav part of this story… when almost every major music label in the US was seeking to sign, Pat realized that "having a real music career in this day and age isn’t about who you know, or what someone else can do for you. Rather, a real music career is about artistic integrity. To live with myself I just had to retain control over my work product...so my only option was to pursue my career as an unsigned, independent artist."
He's been indipendant ever since - bold move - and over the past two years of touring, he’s been asked to perform with the likes of… The Beach Boys, Ziggy Marley, The Tragically Hip, The Doors, The Payolas, Matthew Good, Our Lady Peace, Sam Roberts Band, Bad Company, 54 40, Bedouin Soundclash, The Doobie Brothers, Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, Jody Raffoul, The Counting Crows, Sloan, Blue Rodeo, Robinella, Collective Soul, etc. he books shows, writes, and records, all out of his van.
Props to the boy from Windsor ON.
Nothing compares to listening to Pat live, but I'll try with this
Finally, a new band. Just for kicks.
I was asked by a friend if I wanted to go see a show at the Drake hotel in Toronto - unfortunately I'll be away, so I can't make it. The band consists of a friend from university playing with his band. He left university to find music in Montreal when we were in third year… and I have only seen him once since.
Disappointed, I checked out their myspace. Incredible. I'm getting an album through a friend.
Watch their video. Beautiful. The videographer deserves mad props for the filtering in this.