Ticket/CD Giveaway: Brett Caswell @ Supermarket, 12 May.

Ontario roots rocker and piano pop crooner Brett Caswell and his band the Marquee Rose are releasing a debut album on 18 May called A New Balance. This will be Caswell's first offering since 2007's Love Waiting EP. Ahead of the release, the band is celebrating with a few Ontario shows, including 12 May's at Toronto's Supermarket.

Here's a taste of the new disc:

Download: "A New Balance" (A New Balance, 2010).

Download: "Needle In the Groove" (A New Balance, 2010).

Nice, eh?

Thanks to Audio Blood Media, I've got a pair of passes and a copy of the new disc to giveaway to one lucky reader! For you chance to win, email me by 11:59pm on 10 May, and put "Brett Caswell" in the subject line of your message. (I'll let you know the next day if you're a winner.) The CD release show also features Bass Lions, so should be a lovely event. Please don't enter unless you can actually attend the event, which is 19+; your CD will be at the merch table for you. And if you don't win, you can still go. Tickets, available at the door, will go for the inexpensive price of pay-what-you-can.

Fine Print: Brett Caswell & the Marquee Rose w/Half Full, Bass Lions, and Colin Moore @ Supermarket, Wednesday, 12 May, 9pm, pwyc.

Ticket/CD Giveaway: Ketch Harbour Wolves @ The Horseshoe, 8 May.

Ketch Harbour Wolves, crafter's of the no. 1 Canadian EP of 2008, are celebrating the release of a new album, Anachronisms, at the Horseshoe on Saturday, 8 May. Well, sort of: The album won't be released for real until June, but you can hear the new songs and pick up an advance copy of the new disc at this show.

Here's a track from their last EP, and you can head over to the band's website to download the whole thing for free (until 2 June). And one from the new album.

Download: Ketch Harbour Wolves, "Animals" (Dead Calm Horizon, 2008).

Download: Ketch Harbour Wolves, "Damascus" ( Anachronisms, 2010).

Thanks to the band, I've got a pair of tickets and a copy of their new CD to give away to one of you! For a chance at them, email me by 11:59pm on Thursday, 6 May. (I'll let you know the next day if you're a winner.) Please put "Ketch Harbour Wolves" in the subject line so I'm sure not to miss your entry. The only restrictions are that you must be 19+ to get into the show, and you must actually go to the show to pick up your CD!

Watch a video recorded in Kingston for the song "Body Without Organs":

Fine Print: Ketch Harbour Wolves (CD pre-release) w/ Clothes Make the Man, Sandman Viper Command, and Drink Up Buttercup @ The Horseshoe Tavern, Saturday, 8 May, 9pm, $7.

Q & A (and CD Giveaway) with Robert Gibson from Optical Sounds.

This is the fifth installment of my interview series with people in and about the Toronto music scene. Previous ones featured Mitch Fillion (Southern Souls), Mike Smith (Muskox, etc.), Randal Ball (WreckingBall Entertainment), and Ben Mueller-Heaslip (What's All This Then?! podcast).

Robert Gibson runs local record label Optical Sounds. The label's got four releases under it's belt, and some of those have garnered significant praise, raising the profile of OS and the company it keeps. It's no doubt been a big help, too, that Gibson and the musicians on his roster are fully behind each other's musical endeavours. "Part of what is making Optical Sounds such a powerful force on the local scene," according to music writer Joe Strutt, "is that they are a community of fans and friends as much as anything else. When they bring out a band, it's because it's a band that they want to hang out and listen to." To my mind, that kind of integrity is key to building a fanbase, ensuring the music the label puts out will get heard (and purchased) by the right people.

If you're into psychedelic, garagey rock and the like, keep reading for your chance to win copies of the label's last two releases on CD! (Giveaway details are after the interview.)

Jen: When did your start the label, and why? What were your intentions for it?

Robert: The label started mid July 2008. Long story short, I moved to Toronto and found myself in the middle of an unbelievable selection of bands. A bunch of bands that honestly seemed like the sweetest people ever. They all partied together and support each others artistic dreams. I just couldn't believe that bands like The Hoa Hoa's, The Disraelis and Action Makes did not have anyone in the business behind them.

I just thought - all these bands and this scene needs is a platform. A place where they can all unite and have someone do all the "business" stuff and shit bands shouldn't have to do themselves. They all seemed to fall loosely within the psych/garage genre, my favourite! So, it made sense.

We don't have any specific intentions for it. I mean, we wanted distro and we've managed that with the help of Outside Music. We want to continue to add artists have the same ideas as us an get the music heard by as many people as possible. That's about it.

If it gets bigger, we'll totally embrace it and if we just kind of maintain where we are now - well, that's fine we're quite proud of how far we've come in less than two years.

Jen: Yeah, for sure. The label and its bands seem to have a devoted and ever-growing group of supporters. How you do decide which bands you want to sign?

Robert: Again, there's no real formula here, I guess just a feeling. I've met with bands I've been keen on in the past but aren't stable or willing to put in the effort necessary for a working relationship. As if, "you're a label, doesn't this mean we made it?"

Without getting in to too much detail, I look for bands that a) have tremendous music that fits into the genre we've become known for and b) have some start up money of their own. As a label, I don't pay for a band's manufacturing. They do. And, together, we make it a priority to ensure that all money taken in is filtered to the band and paying off the debt from manufacturing costs first and foremost. After that, any profit made is split fairly. And by "fair" I mean, a large majority of it goes back to the bands.

In return, I offer them the advantages that the label has managed to amass: the name, studio space, distribution, media contacts, US and Canadian college radio contacts, industry contacts, booking, promotion, publicity, festival gigs and, of course, participation in any of our "unique venue" shows that we've become kinda synonymous with.

Jen: Your latest release is from an American band. Are there special challenges or rewards that comes from working with a group not located in your home city?

Robert: Magic Shoppe is Josiah Webb. We met him at a Hoa Hoa's and Disraelis gig in Buffalo, NY and he was just the biggest fan of what we had going on. We partied with him all night and when we woke up he was on the label. I swear that's how it went down . . . I think.

Regardless of where a band is from, like I said, if their music is what we're after - we're interested. He recorded, mixed, mastered and manufactured his debut Reverb EP a year or two prior to The Night In Buffalo and was just looking for the right place to release it. Optical Sounds was in and we couldn't be happier with it all. He even went as far as to suss out some USA colleges for us that we should be targetting. We're both in agreement that the label and the band are better off with the relationship in place.

Specifically, the distance is a bit of a challenge - he lives in Boston, MA now. So, getting together to chill and hash out ideas isn't convenient. BUT, we now have a place to crash in Boston and the label has made a small imprint in the States!

Jen: You guys were pretty busy recently, showcasing at CMW, in New York City, and then down in Austin. What's the value for your label and its bands of such trips?

Robert: Well, the value is in the experience. I said earlier (sorta) that there are no assholes in this scene. We won't tolerate it. So, it's like going on a great road trip with your besties. Epic parties and the best of laughs have accompanied us on all the trips we've taken. Obviously, the exposure we get from such gigs is a huge bonus and fan bases have expanded.

We hope our bands get the opportunity to do a lot more travelling in the future. You hear that, all you agencies and booking managers? ;)

Jen: Now that you've been at this for a bit, what are the major lessons you learned or misperceptions you had about running a record label?

Robert: Well, first and foremost I've learned too much to list here in detail. Basically, I knew absolutely nothing about the music business. I had a taste in music and people around me who were in great bands, that's it. Everything from managing band personalities, budgets, manufacturing, distro, publicity, booking, networking, etc., etc., etc. have all been learned on the fly. I'm learning every single day from everyone around me - the bands, industry friends and new people I seem to be meeting all the time. I must be getting old because I am consciously enjoying every bit of this new knowledge.

I think because I knew so little, I had very few expectations to begin with, so there are only so many glaring misperceptions. Because we're a DIY, startup label that is still relatively new, we all knew full well that we'd be learning everyday, sometimes taking a few steps back to take one giant leap forward.

The most glaring misperception I had at the beginning that we had to be a "professional" as possible. I assumed we needed this shiny, cutting edge website, publicity, someone to do pro photoshoots, a graphic designer, etc. Turns out, we don't need any of it. If the music is strong enough, fans will find it. And, if the personalities involved are engaged and helpful, these things find a way to get done.

Jen: That's good to hear. Still must be a ton of work, though! What's in the works for Optical Sounds for the rest of 2010?

Robert: So far this year, we've done CMW, SXSW, and released a Magic Shoppe EP amongst other shit . . .

We're excited for the rest of the year. I'm expecting new releases from Action Makes, Planet Creature, The Hoa Hoa's and (fingers crossed) Postcards. We're also close to confirming the addition of Revolvers to the label and we'll re-release their incredible debut (Apocolypse Surfin') that they released themselves last year. The Disraelis are in a bit of a crossroads right now and we'll know more about their plans soon. They're either going to re-group and record some of the best music this city has heard in a while or totally dis-band. Which would suck, but these things happen.

We'll be celebrating our 2 years of existence in mid-July and anyone who has taken in our "unique venue" parties in the church, legion, loft space, etc. will be happy to hear what we have planned. Stay tuned for that.

A website I've been trying to re-launch since forever will be ready this year too. Finally.

Lastly, while we're passing on NXNE this year, Halifax Pop Explosion is all set up, so, some of our bands should have their first gigs out East.

Jen: Thanks so much Robert, and good luck with all the upcoming happenings! And now . . . the giveaway details!

Thanks to Robert and Optical Sounds, you can win copies of the label's two more recent releases: CDs from Magic Shoppe and The Hoa Hoa's! For your chance at the discs, email me with "Optical Sounds" in the subject line, and do so by 11:59pm on 15 May. Make sure to include your physical mailing address in your message. I'll pick a winner at random.

Ticket/CD Giveaway: The Dress Whites @ The Piston, 22 Apr.

It's been a little while since I've put up one of these giveaways, but thankfully the Dress Whites have given me the chance to change that!

The Dress Whites have been on hiatus since the fall, and they've taken the time to write and record new material. The band's got a couple recent discs under their belt: 2008's album My God, The Shame, and last year's The No Fun EP. They've got a show coming up at the Piston a very new venue in the former space of the Concord Cafe out at Bloor near Ossington. On Thursday, 22 April, the band promises to perform almost all new material! A sneak peak at a new Dress Whites' album?

Have a listen to some of their older tunes:

Download: "The Mule" (The No Fun EP, 2009)
Download: "My Crooked Temper" (The No Fun EP, 2009)

Download: "Give Up the Ghost" (My God, The Shame, 2008).

Thanks to the band, I've got a couple tickets and copies of both their EP and My God, The Shame to give away to one lucky person. Want a chance at this super-sweet prize-package? Just email me. Put "Dress Whites" in the subject line, and your full name in the body of the message,a and do so by Tuesday, 20 April at 11:59pm. If you win, you're name with a +1 will be on the guestlist at the show, and you can pick up your other winnings at the merch table.

Fine Print: WreckingBall Entertainment presents The Dress Whites, Heartcore, and Whosarmy @ The Piston (937 Bloor St. W.), Thursday, 22 April, 9pm, $5. 19+ (Facebook event)

Ticket Giveaway: EATT, Lioness, Rich Aucoin @ the Horseshoe, 30 Jan.

Saturday night at the Horseshoe local music promoters No Shame are presenting electro-soul outfit Everything All the Time, electro-rockers Lioness, and Rich Aucoin. The first two bands feature great vocalists in Alanna Stuart (EATT) and Vanessa Fischer (Lioness). Not only can these women sing, but they've got stage presence and, well, attractiveness on their side. You can't go wrong. Alanna's also one half of Bonjay. Vanessa used to be in No Dynamics, and her backing men were in controller.controller. Rich isn't a woman, but that's ok. He can't help it.

You're in, right?

Download: Everything All the Time, "Lazy Days" (s/t EP, 2009).
Watch: Lioness, "You're My Heart" (s/t EP, 2008).
Download: Rich Aucoin, "10,342 Cuts for the US (An Exploding)" (Personal Publication EP, 2007).

Thanks to No Shame I've got a pair of tickets to the show to give away to one of you. For your chance at them, email me with "I want to EATT" in the subject line and your full name in the body of the message. Get this to my by noon on Friday, 29 January, and I'll let you know if you're a winner soon after. If you don't win, you can still get tickets at the door the night of the show.

Fine Print: No Shame presents Everything All Time, Lioness, and Rich Aucoin @ the Horseshoe Tavern, Saturday, 30 January, 9pm, $8.

[Photo credit: EATT by Laurie Kang.]

Ticket / CD Giveaway: Ketch Harbour Wolves, the Rest, and Chinese Food @ El Mocambo, 11 Dec.

We're now firmly in December, and I'm in a giving mood. So here's yet another musical giveaway!

Next Friday, 11 December, is a stacked bill at El Mocambo: Ketch Harbour Wolves, the Rest, and Chinese Food. Toronto / Cambridge, ON's Ketch Harbour Wolves stand out in my mind for working well as very much a rock band and in their stripped-down acoustic version. I've enjoyed them while sitting on the grass in a backyard and in a traditional rock club setting. If you've been around the Canadian music scene in recent years, you may have heard and loved them, too. After all, their last disc, Dead Calm Horizon, earned the no. 1 spot of Herohill's list of top Canadian EPs of 2008! (And those guys listen to a lot of Canadian music.) With strong vocals---including great harmonies---and an emphasis on lyrical content, KHW offer up catchy yet moody melodic rock. They also create awesome show posters, IMHO.

Download: Ketch Harbour Wolves, "Animals" (Dead Calm Horizon, 2008). Beautiful song.
Download: Ketch Harbour Wolves, "Words" (Dead Calm Horizon, 2008). Ditto... the whole album's great.

In the middle spot Friday night are the Rest from Hamilton. They've recently signed with UK record label Something In Construction, and were across the pond for a few shows in mid-October to spread the word about their gorgeous full-length, Everyone All At Once, released here in Canada earlier this year. They've just put out an EP, Walk On Water. The Rest remind me of Shearwater, a band I love but am not always in the mood for.

Download: The Rest, "Sheep In Wolves’ Clothing" (Everyone All At Once, 2009).
Download: The Rest, "Walk On Water" (Walk On Water, 2009).

Chinese Food round out the bill. Uh... why have I not heard this band before? Listening now and enjoying their pop sensibility. Guess this means I better be sure to hit up this show on time!

Download: Chinese Food, "Party At the Kennedy's" (When The Future Caught On Fire, 2008).

Why am I telling you all this? Oh, right: presents! Courtesy KHW, I've got a pair of tickets to the show plus a copy of their 2008 EP to give away. To get in on this, send me an email (historyjenATgmailDOTcom) with "KHW" in the subject line. Get it to me by Wednesday, 9 Dec, at 11:59pm. I'll let you know the next day if you're a winner. The show's 19+.

Fine Print: Ketch Harbour Wolves, the Rest, and Chinese Food @ El Mocambo (First Floor), Friday, 11 Dec., 9pm, $10 (door, or $8 adv, details here).

Giveaway: Audio Blood Xmas Show @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 12 Dec.

So last week I had quite the prizepack to giveaway... tickets to a stacked show plus four free CDs. Well, loyal readers, here's one that's even better. Hard to believe, but trust me.

Audio Blood Media's annual holiday bash is happening at the Horseshoe Tavern this year, and includes 4 of the bands on its roster: Oh No Forest Fires, Make Your Exit, Clothes Make the Man, and the Balconies. I can personally vouch for the live performance awesomeness of at least three of those bands. It's a great lineup if, well, Canadian indie rock is at all your thing.

Thanks to my friends at Audio Blood, I've got a screen printed show poster, Exclaim! merchandise courtesy of Third Estate, 2 tickets to the show, and CDs from all the artists playing to give away to one of you. To enter this giveaway send me an email (historyjenATgmailDOTcom). Put "Audio Blood bash" in the subject line so I don't get confused, and get this to me by 11:59 on Thursday, 10 Dec. And make sure you can make the show, 'cause that's where you'll be able to pick up all the other goodies!

Here's a taste of what you'll hear that night. You can bet that I will be there!

Download: Oh No Forest Fires, "It's Not Fun And Games Unless Someone Loses An Eye" (The War On Geometry, 2008).
Download: Make Your Exit, "Kids" (Remind Me the Reason I Came, 2009).
Download: Clothes Make the Man, "Air Loom" (Distance, 2010).
Download: The Balconies, "The Slo" (The Balconies, 2009).

Fine Print: Audio Blood & Third Estate Jingle Bell Rock feat. Oh No Forest Fires, Make Your Exit, Clothes Make the Man, and the Balconies @ The Horseshoe Tavern, Saturday, 12 Dec, 9pm, $7. 19+

Ticket / CD Giveaway: Racoon Wedding, Schomberg Fair, Black Hat Brigade @ The Garrison, 28 Nov.

Let me get right to the heart of the matter: this is your chance to get your hands on 4 CDs and 2 tickets to one heck of a local music showcase, all for the price of $0. Interested? Read on.

On 28 November the Garrison plays host to four local(ish) bands. Two Narratives favourites, Black Hat Brigade and the Schomberg Fair, kick things off, followed by Brantford's the Racoon Wedding---who will be celebrating their CD release, and ending up with Germans. The whole thing will cost you $7 at the door (or nothing, if you win tickets from me). Black Hat Brigade haven't played in a little bit, and I'm itching to see them perform in this venue. Should make for a good combination. The Schomberg Fair have been touring all month, letting people all over Canada know about their awesome "speed gospel" sound, and getting the word out about their great new disc, Gospel. (Exclaim was recently suitably impressed.) I've never seen the Racoon Wedding, and Germans---well, I'll be glad to see them perform in a proper venue where they won't have massive technical troubles.

Here's a taste of what you'll be in for.

Download: Black Hat Brigade, "Zombie City Shake" (Fathers, 2009).
Download: The Schomberg Fair, "Trouble Will Soon Be Over" (Gospel, 2009).
Download: The Racoon Wedding, "Basement or the Attic" (Gather Gather Bones Rattle Rattle Truth, 2009).
Download: Germans, "I Am the Teacher" (Cape Fear, 2006).

Courtesy Zygiella, Two Way Monologues, and the bands, I've got a pair of tickets to the show to give away to one of you. In addition, this is a mega prizepack, and includes a copy of the new Schomberg Fair full-length, the Racoon Wedding disc, and two Black Hat Brigade EPs. For a chance to win, send me an email (historyjenATgmailDOTcom) by 11:59pm on Thursday, 26 November. Please put "MEGA prizepack" in the subject line, and your full name in the body. 19+ only, of course.

Fine Print: Germans, The Racoon Wedding (CD release), The Schomberg Fair, and Black Hat Brigade @ The Garrison, Saturday, 28 November, 9pm, $7.

P.S. Germans' "I Am the Teacher" video is v. cute.

Ticket Giveaway: You Say Party! We Say Die! @ The Phoenix, 20 Nov.

My two favourite musical genres are folk and electro, or, more specifically, electro-pop and folk-rock. The last contest I brought you was folk and pop and quieter stuff, so it's only fitting that now I've got one that showcases my love of dancing (awkwardly).

Vancouver band You Say Party! We Say Die! are on tour, promoting their new album, XXXX. The first and only time I saw this band was during this year's NxNE festival at the El Mocambo. Though festival showcases aren't always the best measure of a band's performance prowess, YSP!WSD! didn't tone things down. Front-woman Becky Ninkovic is a serious presence on stage (and great vocalist), and the band's songs are catchy and danceable without being overly produced or all about the 80s.

YSP!WSD! are coming to Toronto on 20 November. They're bringing Montrealers Think About Life and Torontonians---and YSP!WSD! label-mates---Little Girls with them. (The inclusion of the Slim Twig-ish Little Girls means this is certainly not a standard dance band bill.)

Download: Little Girls, "Youth Tunes," (Concepts, 2009).
Download: Think About Life, "Set You On Fire" (Family, 2009).
Download: You Say Party! We Say Die!, "Laura Palmer's Prom" (XXXX, 2009).

Courtesy the MuseBox, I've got a pair of tickets to give away to this show! So, if you're 19+, going to be in Toronto that night, and want to party it up good, send me an email (historyjenATgmailDOTcom) with your full name in the body and "YSP!WSD!" in the subject line. Get that into me by 11:59pm on Monday, 16 November, and I'll let you know if you're a winner the next day.

Fine print: Steam Whistle presents You Say Party! We Say Die!, Think About Life, and Little Girls, w/ DJ Vaneska @ The Phoenix, Friday, 20 November, 9pm, $12 (adv).

Ticket / CD Giveaway: The Wooden Sky @ Lee's Palace, 13 Nov.

One of the country's top folk rock bands, the Wooden Sky, released their sophomore full-length album---If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone---this summer. (I liked it; still do.) To celebrate the release, the men went on the road, playing backyards, living rooms, rooftops, and other alternative spaces. Filmmaker Scott Cudmore went with them:

(Part 2 of the documentary is up here, and look for parts 3 and 4 later this month.)

Although the summer tour was fantastic for the bands and fans alike, and no doubt made every performance special in ways regular shows just can't be, it meant that fewer people could see the band perform than if they'd played in larger, more public venues. And that, I presume, is what this current tour is all about.

Torontonians can get their Wooden Sky fix on Friday, Nov 13 at Lee's Palace. They're bringing along local popsters Hooded Fang and the decidedly un-popy Brian Borcherdt, whose solo project bears little resemblance to his other musical endeavour, Holy Fuck. Each one of these acts alone would be enough to get me out of my pyjamas on a rainy night. In other words, good lineup. And now, thanks to me (read: not me), you can go to the show for free!

Courtesy the Musebox I've got two tickets and a copy of If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone on CD to give away to one lucky 19+, Toronto-residing reader. Want in on this? Email me your full name by 11:59pm on Tuesday, 10 Nov. I'll draw a random name and let you know if you're a winner the next day.

Download: The Wooden Sky, "Oh My God (It Still Means A Lot To Me)" (If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone, 2009).
Download: Hooded Fang, "Fall Leaves" (Hooded Fang, 2008).
Download: Brian Borcherdt, "Scout Leader" (Coyotes, 2008).

Fine print: The Wooden Sky, Hooded Fang, and Brian Borcherdt @ Lee's Palace, Friday, 13 November, 9pm, $12.50 (adv, $15 at the door).

-----

The Wooden Sky will be hitting up other towns in Ontario and Quebec this month. Be sure to go early for Evening Hymns' set. He---Jonas Bonnetta, that is---has a new record out himself. I think you'll like it, too.

7 Nov @ Phog Lounge (Windsor, ON) w/ Evening Hymns
13 Nov @ Lee’s Palace (Toronto) w/ Hooded Fang & Brian Borcherdt
14 Nov @ Absinthe (Hamilton, ON) w/ Evening Hymns
15 Nov @ Merchant Ale House (St. Catherines, ON) w/ Evening Hymns
20 Nov @ The Albion Hotel (Guelph, ON) w/ Evening Hymns
21 Nov @ The Montreal House (Peterborough, ON) w/ Evening Hymns
24 Nov @ Call The Office (London, ON) w/ Evening Hymns & Jenn Grant
26 Nov @ L’Agitee (Quebec City, QC) w/ Evening Hymns
27 Nov @ The Blacksheep Inn (Wakefield, QC) w/ Evening Hymns
28 Nov @ Club L’Ambi (Montreal, QC) w/ Evening Hymns & Jenn Grant

Book Giveaway: Canuck Rock.

Last week I told you about a new book that I really enjoyed and learned a great deal from: Ryan Edwardson's Canuck Rock: A History of Canadian Popular Music. Now I've got a few copies of the book to give away! Details and a Q & A below, plus download songs by some of Ryan's favourite Canadian artists.

The book deals with rock 'n' roll, folk, and other popular (read: commercially successful) forms of music in Canada from the 1950s to the present day. Although fairly broad in scope, the book is mostly interested in exploring the development of a domestic Canadian music industry and ruminating on the relationship between national identity and popular music. The first few chapters make clear that though there was lots of popular music being performed in this country, musicians were rarely able to make a career out of doing so unless they moved, recorded, and signed a record deal elsewhere, usually the United States. The Canadian content rules for radio implemented in the early 1970s allowed for the creation of a domestic music industry. In its heyday, MuchMusic played an important role, too. The last 20 years have seen serious challenges to Cancon, and— ironically—the success of that legislation has meant that it no longer functions as it once did: to support new and emerging Canadian artists, labels, and recording studios. The book ends by discussing the impact of the internet and how much the domestic industry is embedded in the international music marketplace. See my original review for more.

I went to the book launch at Soundscapes last Tuesday, where there was a fascinating discussion about the history and current state of the music industry in this country between Edwardson, Canadian music heavy-hitter Bernie Finkelstein, and music journalist and historian Nicholas Jennings. There were some good questions from audience members afterward, which inspired me to ask a few of my own questions of Ryan the next day:

Jen: In your remarks at the book launch, you said that there was very little writing on the history of Canadian music outside Nicholas Jennings’s Before the Gold Rush and some magazine articles. What is it like researching and writing about the history of popular music?

Ryan: Well, in the case of Canada, for better or worse it meant working largely with a blank slate, and as such I let the research material guide me through it rather than coming in strongly with a set idea of how things should be written. I had encountered a bunch of anecdotal accounts, and some journalistic decrees of essentialism in describing music in Canada, and just knew that there had to be something more substantial. So, I gathered up as much material from whatever sources I could—print, archival, interview, etc.—and let that inform me and in turn provide the foundation for the book. Consequently, the book approaches the topic from a number of angles, including the experiences of musicians, broadcasters, Canadian content legislation, and fans themselves. One can't simply talk about "musicians in Canada" when it comes to understanding the evolution of "Canadian music."

Jen: One of your main arguments is that the Canadian content rules for radio allowed for—and forced the—creation of a domestic music industry. Well now we've certainly got one, even if it’s highly integrated into the international marketplace. Is Cancon still relevant today?

Ryan: That of course is the big question that continues to divide the industry. It’s all the more complicated by the proliferation of the Internet and MP3 technologies that offer alternatives to traditional broadcasters. Yet these technologies have not made Cancon obsolete; if anything, they play off of each other. Rather, it is the abundance of internationally-acclaimed, multinationally-backed acts of Canadian citizenship being used to fill the Cancon quota (and whose music is bound to be aired anyways) that have complicated the situation. The original idea behind Cancon is still sound—providing opportunities for citizens of a country to access their publicly owned airwaves—but the challenges being faced by emerging artists, composers, recording studios, etc. have evolved and significant barriers still exist.

Jen: Your book is written in a way that makes it accessible to a broad audience. Was this a deliberate choice? Why?

Ryan: Most definitely. After all, if your goal is to share ideas with people, what’s the use of jargon-filled writing that can only be read by a select few? This is especially true when it does not have to be written as such, and all the more so when it comes to popular music, a topic with a massive audience outside of the academic world.

Jen: The book jacket says you’re a music fan. Do you follow current artists? Who are your favourites these days?

Ryan: Hmmm. Although the likes of Joel Plaskett and the Weakerthans ride high on my playlist, among the lesser known (and more recent) acts that deserve much more attention, I think, are Old Man Luedecke, NQ Arbuckle, and Elliott Brood. There’s definitely some amazing talent out there, and so much of it is available to be seen at smaller venues where you can actually hear the music coming from the instruments rather than just what the P.A. system has to offer.

Want to know more? (I hope you do!) To win a copy of the book, email me your name and mailing address. Put "Canuck Rock" in the subject line of your message, and get your entry to me by Sunday, 4 Oct, at 11:59pm. I'll let you know on Monday if you're a winner, and you should get your book soon thereafter! If you don't win a copy you can pick one up at bookstores and places like Soundscapes ($21.99) or order it online.

And now for some music from Ryan's favourites (we have similar taste in music, seems like) . . . .

Download: Joel Plaskett, "Safe In Your Arms" (Three, 2009).
Download: The Weakerthans, "Sun In An Empty Room" (Reunion Tour, 2007).
Download: Old Man Luedecke, "Proof of Love" (Proof of Love, 2008).
Download: NQ Arbuckle, "I Liked You Right From The Start" (X O K, 2008).
Download: Elliott Brood, "Write It All Down for You" (Mountain Meadows, 2008).

Ticket / CD Giveaway: Make Your Exit @ Sneaky Dee's, 25 Sep.

Toronto band Make Your Exit have a new EP, Remind Me the Reason I Came, coming out on 22 September. The band's sound is indie pop-rock with the expected xylophone and the rather less expected saxophone, plus good lead and backing vocals. Their instrumentation and vocal arrangements choices remind me of a poppier Paint Movement and sometimes a rockier Fleet Foxes. I like Make Your Exit's combination of folk and rock sensibilities. The first track off the album, "Kids," has all the ingredients in it. "Through the Winter" also showcases what the band's sound is all about. Have a listen for yourself . . .

Download: Make Your Exit, "Kids" (Remind Me the Reason I Came, 2009).
Download: Make Your Exit, "Through the Winter" (Remind Me the Reason I Came, 2009).

To celebrate the release, Make Your Exit are headlining a show at one of my favourite venues, Sneaky Dee's, on Friday the 25th. Also on the bill are a couple bands that will compliment MYE: The Paint Movement and Corduroy. And I can get you in for free! Thanks to the good, fine folks at Audio Blood Media I've got a couple prize packs for you to win. Each one includes 2 tickets to the show plus a copy of the new disc. Sounds great, yeah? For your change at a prize, email me your full name. Get your entry to me by 11:59pm on September 23. This is a 19+ show.

Ticket Giveaway: No Shame 100 @ The Horseshoe, 18 Sep.

People I meet occasionally ask me how I got into music and going to local shows. An important part of the answer is Lauren Schreiber's No Shame music series. Next Friday, 18 September, No Shame celebrates 100 shows with a blow-out at the Horseshoe Tavern. Keep reading for details on the show and how you can win tickets!

I first started going to No Shame semi-regularly in the fall of 2007, when it was a weekly happening at Tiger Bar. Now largely-defunct, this basement venue holds a maximum of 70 people and one has to walk through a nearly-empty bar to get to it. It was hardly an obvious place for me to hang out. I didn't go every week, but everytime I did I was greeted by Lauren's (or her partner's) smiling face. And good thing, too, since I was there all by my lonesome. In 2008 Lauren moved to the Drake Underground, and I followed. After a few months, she started booking regular nights at Rancho Relaxo, and then took No Shame to other venues, putting on special shows here and there. It never mattered much to me which specific bands were playing; Lauren's got a knack for pulling in great touring acts and picking out the top local bands. She's got a good ear for music ranging from folk to pop-rock to electro, which, as it happens, is what I like too.

The 100th show features some of No Shame's favourite bands. Headlining are Green Go, one of my favourite live bands, featuring some of the nicest people around the local(ish) scene. Before them we'll be treated to Ruby Coast, a band I first saw back at Tiger Bar when I'm pretty sure they weren't yet old enough to be allowed to play there. Although "saw" isn't quite the right word, since my view was blocked by their exuberant young fans. Since then Ruby Coast---at one time managed by Lauren---have toured with the likes of Ra Ra Riot and Tokyo Police Club. I'm looking forward to hearing what they've been up to lately. In the second spot are one of Lauren's more recent finds, the percussion-heavy Pick A Piper. Opening the night are The Skeletones Four, a band I don't think have graced a No Shame stage before, and one that really impressed me when I saw them a few months back. It would be difficult to think of a more fitting lineup for this celebration. (How about a folk-pop evening at a beautiful, big church for the 200th, Lauren?)

Thanks to the Muse Box I've got a prizepack consisting of a pair of tickets to the show on Friday the 18th and a copy of Green Go's full-length album, Borders, to giveaway to one lucky person. Email your full name to me by 11:59 on Wednesday, 16 September to enter the giveaway. If you don't win, all the bands will have merch for sale at the show, which is only $10 at the door. I predict you'll have a brilliant time. The show's +19, of course.

Download: Green Go, "Brains for Breakfast" (Borders, 2009).
Download: Ruby Coast, "Neighbourhood" (Projectable Collections, 2008).
Download: Pick A Piper, "Yellowknife" (Pick A Piper, 2009).

Now I'm feeling all nostalgic. And in a dancing mood.

Review / Giveaway: The Junction's "Another Link In the Chain."

The Junction, a Toronto-based three-piece (with suburban roots), released their second album last week. A great example of danceable Canadian indie pop-rock, Another Link In the Chain will appeal to indie kids as well as commercial radio stations programming for the broader music-listening audience.

This is a group clearly inspired by the rock they grew up with in the 90s and indie rock bands of the 2000s. By bringing these two influences together with a nod to classic Brit-pop, the Junction has crafted a strong rock album that should appeal to indie rock fans as well as audiences looking for something a little more accessible. Expect melodic guitar lines, heavy drumming, clear vocals, and so on. But just when you might think you’ve got the band’s sound pinned-down, screamo-vocals, handclaps, tambourine, and horns come in to shake things up. It all makes for a good outing with enough interest in to keep me from getting bored, but plenty of pop-rock hooks to keep the kids happy.

The first single is the happy, peppy, rock anthem “My Love Was There”—obviously so. It’s sure to get audience members jumping, clapping, and singing along. “And if you hear my song, sing along, sing along. A-La da da....” Fun! I don’t like the fade-out at the end, but that’s probably a wise radio-friendly decision on the band’s part. Other strong pop-rock tunes include “Pick Your Battles,” the slower Brit pop-inspired “Miles in Denial,” “Level with Me,” and “Lonely Road.” “No Road” showcases the band’s rockier side. Not all songs work as well, but nothing completely disappoints. The band has a sound that’s both a little interesting and totally accessible. Catchy and fun, it should translate well in a live setting (though maybe not all those horns).

Download: “My Love Was There” (Another Link In the Chain, 2009)
Video: “My Love Was There”
Download: “Miles in Denial” (Another Link In the Chain, 2009)

The Junction celebrate the album’s release in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern on Thursday, 13 August. Support acts include rockers The Reason and Songs From A Room. Thanks to Audio Blood Media, I’ve got a pair of passes to give away for the show, plus a copy of the new CD. Yipee! If you want in on this, send me an email with “The Junction” in the subject line and your full name in the body. If you win, your name + 1 will be on the guestlist; you’ll be able to pick up your CD at the merch table. This is +19 show. The deadline to enter is 11:59pm on 11 August.

I’m giving away a copy of the album over at NxEW.ca, so if can’t make the show feel free to enter that giveaway!

The Junction have a few shows in southern Ontario coming up:

Aug. 8 @ Rock the Mill, Cambridge
Aug. 13 @ Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto (CD release)
Aug. 15 @ Secret Sessions at TARA, Toronto (5pm, free, all ages)
Aug. 28 @ Call the Office, London
Aug. 29 @ MC/DC Festival, Toronto

[Top photo by David Waldman.]

Ticket/CD Giveaway: MBMG, The Balconies, EATT, Gentlemen Husbands @ The Horseshoe, Sat, 27 June.

This is gonna be a quick one. A few local(ish) bands, and one Ottawa band (that Toronto loves) are playing the Horseshoe on Saturday night. The headliners are Modernboys Moderngirls, a garage-y pop-rock group. I saw them play nearly two years ago when they were a large ensemble. They’ve trimmed their size and refined their sound since then, and I’ve heard only good things about their performances. Also on the bill are Everything All the Time, a band that produces chilled-out, groovy dance tracks that are impossible not to move to. Then there’s Ottawa’s The Balconies, another solid pop rock band that’s gotten some well-deserved buzz in this city and elsewhere. Their music is more interesting than I just made it sound, with elements of Britpop, psychedelia, and boy-girl vocals just to mix things up a bit. Finally, Gentleman Husbands, whom I have not yet seen, but—again—I hear good things about their countryish rock. All in all, this will be a night of solid local(ish) bands with some musical variety (including female band members).

Thanks to Audio Blood Media I’ve got two prize packs to give away, each one consisting of a pair of tickets to the show, a copy of the MBMG CD, and The Balconies’ demo disk. To enter send me an email at historyjenATgmailDOTcom with “MBMG” in the subject line, and your full name in the body. Make sure you (and your date) are 19+ and can actually make the Saturday show, of course. Deadline for entering is Friday, 26 June at 11:59pm. Not sure you want in? Have a listen:

Download: Modernboys Moderngirls, “My Baby Says Boy, Don't You Ever Go” (I Might As Well Break It, 2009).
Download: Everything All the Time, “Lazy Days” (Everything All the Time, 2008).
Download: The Balconies, “Battle Royale” (demo, 2008).
Download: Gentlemen Husbands, “Tapanga” (Something Along the Lines of “A Lesson in Unprofessionalism”, 2008).

If you don't win the tickets, you can get copies of the bands' merch at the show, which will cost you but $6. Not a bad way to spend a summer Saturday night.

Fine Print: Modernboys Moderngirls w/ Everything all the Time, The Balconies, and Gentlemen Husbands @ The Horseshoe, Saturday, 27 June, 8:30pm, $6.

CD Giveaway & Review: Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum's "Divorce Lawyers I Shaved My Head."

Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum have their debut full-length, Divorce Lawyers I Shaved My Head, ready to share with the world.

Jordaan Mason sees himself as a misfit in the local music scene. But as one of the hosts and organizers of the Oxford Hotel presents performance series, he's a misfit that's connected to a lot of local and touring acts who work better in backyards and inside homes than they do in bars or clubs. The musicians I most associate with Jordaan are ones he already collaborates with, including Guelph's Chris Yang (who helped out on the record) and the folk duo Sarah D. (whose members are in Jordaan's band). The more polished, accessible Ghost Bees come to mind, too.

Jordaan's backing band features an ever-changing lineup, and the songs on the new record benefit from inventive instrumentation from a dozen other musicians. Take "(S)mother" for example: voice predominates, with quite acoustic guitar, saw, and a sparse piano line rounding things out. He occasionally sings with urgency, and always feeling. The lone solo track on the album, "O Jarhead! O Wife!," sung with only an acoustic guitar as accompaniment, highlights Jordaan's poetic lyricism. The songs aren't rousing tunes like some other larger folk ensembles produce. The closest the band comes to this is the percussion-heavy "The Wrong Parts (Vivian Sisters Singing)." Instead, the songs on this album evoke more reflection, primarily about relationships and intimacy. The lyrics are obscure, yet still highly personal, honest, and occasionally difficult to hear. The opening line from the first song of the album ("Bird's Nest") is "My mouth is filled with his ovaries," and it gets no less vividly strange through the album's 14 tracks. Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum have created a record that can be listened to on different levels, both lyrical and musical.

Download: Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum, "Bird's Nest" (Divorce Lawyers I Shaved My Head, 2009).
Download: Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum, "Wild Dogs: Divorce" (Divorce Lawyers I Shaved My Head, 2009).

Courtesy of the band I've got a copy of Divorce Lawyers I Shaved My Head to give away. If you want it, send me an email at historyjenATgmailDOTcom with "Jordaan" in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body. Get this in to me by Friday, 5 June, at 11:59pm. If you're in Toronto, the band hopes you'll come to their CD release show to pick up your disk. Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum celebrate the release at the Music Gallery on Saturday, 6 June. (I am told that the band will appear as a 9-piece that night.) See you there?

Fine print: Jordaan Mason & the Horse Museum (CD release) w/ Nich Worby and Hamilton Trading Co. @ The Music Gallery, Saturday, 6 June, 7pm, $10 (or pwyc). The music starts at 8pm. At 7pm, in the church's Fellowship Room, there will be a reception featuring artwork by Tara Fillion and Josh Pogue, whose artwork decorates the album.

Ticket/CD Giveaway & Review: Flotilla @ Tranzac, Thursday, 4 June.

Montreal band Flotilla’s second full-length album, One Hundred Words for Water, is full of musical surprises of the best kind. Flotilla is hard to pin down, genre wise. Some tracks are solidly indie art-rock, but there’s a jazzy flavour underlying the whole album. Add a bit of cabaret, folk-rock elements, a dash of electronica, nonstandard time signatures, and occasional mid-song mood changes, and you’ve got Flotilla. Veronica Charnley’s vocals are the standout element, but the inclusion of harp lines throughout—a classical harpist is one of the band’s four regular members—also differentiate this band from others. Sonic surprises abound, but the intention is not to startle; rather, it is to delight. This beautiful, impressive album should find a place in the hearts of lovers of good music with a variety of musical tastes. [Full disclosure: Veronica was my best friend in grade 4 :-).]

Toronto audiences can hear Flotilla first-hand next Thursday, 4 June, when they release their album at the Tranzac with John Tielli's Metal Kites and Culture Reject. A great bill, at the right venue. Courtesy of Flotilla, I've got a pair of tickets to the show plus a copy of the new disk to giveaway to one lucky blog reader! To enter, email me at historyjenATgmailDOTcom. Please include your full name in the message, and "Flotilla" in the subject line. Get your entry in to me by 11:59pm on Tuesday, 2 June. If you don't win, tickets are available at the door for $8.

For a sense of what you're in for, here's a couple tracks from the new album, a couple from Flotilla's debut full-length, and a bonus track from Culture Reject. Enjoy!

Download: Flotilla, “Charlie, I’m Through” (One Hundred Words for Water, 2009).
Download: Flotilla, “A Thousand Jacobs” (One Hundred Words for Water, 2009).
Download: Flotilla, "Beneath the Snow" (Disaster Poetry, 2006).
Download: Flotilla, "Secret Love" (Disaster Poetry, 2006).
Download: Culture Reject, "Inside the Cinema" (Culture Reject, 2008).

Flotilla will be touring the new release in central and eastern Canada in June and July. Check their MySpace for details.

Ticket Giveaway: 9th Annual Bob Dylan Tribute Night, 24 May.

A couple Sundays from now, 24 May, is the anniversary of Bob Dylan's birth. An annual musical celebration's been happening in Toronto for the past 8 years, and the 9th is taking place on the date in question at C'est What (67 Front St. E). The night will feature "music from 5 decades of Bob Dylan." Hard to go wrong with that, eh? Local singer-songwriters and Dylan fans Dave Borins, Amy Campbell, Sarah Loucks, "Big Daddy Z" Noah Zacharin, and host Shawn Clarke are the night's Dylan interpreters. "This year is the best of the Dylan performers so far," says the event organizer, Ryan Ayukawa. Click through to the various MySpaces . . . I think you'll agree that the lineup does indeed seem stacked with talent.

For a taste of what you can expect, have a listen to Shawn Clarke's version of "One Too Many Mornings." (The photo to the left is of Shawn Clarke recording a Dylan cover.) And, although he's not performing that night, I thought I'd share with you Dog Is Blue's rendition of "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." And, 'cause I'm feeling like sharing, here are two more Dylan covers.

Download: Dog Is Blue, "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" (Bob Dylan cover; unreleased)
Download: Cat Power, "I Believe In You" (Bob Dylan cover; Jukebox, 2008)
Download: Johnny Cash, "It Ain't Me Babe" (Bob Dylan cover; Orange Blossom Special, 1965).

Thanks to Ryan Ayukawa, I've got a pair of tickets to give away to the show. These events have a tendency to sell out, so there will be a healthy crowd of Dylan lovers there that night. You too? Email me at historyjenATgmailDOTcom if you want a chance at winning! Please include your full name in the body of the email, and "Bob Dylan" in the subject line. Get this in to me by 11:59pm on Friday, 22 May.

Fine Print: Toronto 9th Annual Bob Dylan Tribute hosted by Shawn Clarke w/ Dave Borins, Amy Campbell, Sarah Loucks, and Noah Zacharin @ C'est What, Sunday, 24 May, 9pm, $8. 19+. Facebook event. For more information on the event, get in touch with Ryan at open.conceptATsympaticoDOTca.

Photo credit: Ryan Ayukawa.

Ticket/CD Giveaway & Review: Five Blank Pages.

After seven years and three albums—2004's Spaces to Occupy and Abandon, 2007's full-length Last Blush, and the new Young Glow EP—Toronto-by-way-of-Brampton band Five Blank Pages are calling it quits. The two remaining original members Noyan Hilmi and his wife Pinar Ozyetis reunite with their former drummer (Noyan’s sister Chelen, helping out on the kit but mostly singing backup; Michael Reles is the band's current drummer) and bassist (Rajiv Thavanathan) to play their final show on Saturday, 23 May, at the Mod Club. Also serving as a CD release party for Young Glow, the show will be opened by up-and-coming popsters Boys Who Say No, and Rajiv’s main band these days, Oh No Forest Fires. Five Blank Pages will be joined on stage by many special guest musicians who will no doubt give the band’s warm, melodic pop-rock tunes the treatment they deserve. I was at FBP’s last CD release show, and can attest to the specialness of the extra live instrumentation. This will be a great evening of local music, starting with the completely bop-able BWSN and the semi-spazzy pop of ONFF, and ending with a fitting celebration of a group of great musicians and wonderful people.

And what about that new record, you ask?

The EP opens with a slightly unsettling keyboard melody that right away signals that this new recording is a bit of a departure for the band. And, as it turns out, the melancholic mood on Last Blush’s standout track, "Marrow," is all over this album. In the full-length, "Marrow" seemed oddly placed among happier songs, but looking back—and now with Young Glow in my music player—I see where the mood fits.

The first track, “Stem Skin & Pit,” isn’t the Canadiana comfort rock-pop that I expected. (I guess I wasn’t paying attention to the title.) Fast-paced drumming, synced up boy-girl vocals, quick time signature changes, and a slow-but-rocking guitar part midway through builds on other musical layers. “To No One” shines the vocal spotlight once again equally on Pinar as it does Noyan, and the mood is subdued here, too. There’s a sense of urgency, apprehension, but finally comes acceptance. The song’s last minute and a bit is a stark change. We’ve moved forward, not having forgotten the earlier worries, but having come to terms with them. Noyan takes us back to more familiar ground on “Cardigan,” but the album’s mood remains consistent. This tune reminds me a little of the Rural Alberta Advantage’s calmer moments. In other words, strong vocal, keyboard, and drum lines combine for a somewhat melancholic air. The electric guitar takes centre stage later on, and when the backing vocals come in we’re back at hopeful acceptance. Pinar’s Rebekah Higgs / Megan Hamilton-esque vocals are one of the album’s strengths. This is something else I hadn’t expected from FBP, but it’s a happy treat for me. The juxtaposition between the sweet, sustained singing and the heavy rock instrumentation on “What an Ending” bring the EP to a close. What an ending, indeed.

Download: Five Blank Pages, “Marrow” (Last Blush, 2007).
Download: Five Blank Pages, “Stem Skin & Pit” (Young Glow, 2009).

Courtesy of Five Blank Pages and Over the Top Festival, I’ve got a pair of tickets to the show on 23 May and a copy of the new album to give away to one lucky person. In addition, the band’s letting me give away a digital download of the EP. If you want a chance to win the tickets/CD, email me at historyjenATgmailDOTcom with “FBP, ONFF, BWSN” in the subject line (ha! sorry), and get that to me by 11:59pm on Thursday, 21 May. The show’s all ages and relatively early, so anyone with plans to be in Toronto that evening can enter. For a chance to win the digital download, email me with “I want the Young Glow” in the subject line (ha! groan). Same deadline, but this time anyone, anywhere in the world can enter. In each case I’ll need your full name in the body of the email. Good luck!

Here’s to you, FBP! You were one of the first bands that I latched onto when I started going to shows a couple years ago. Thanks for the memories, and good luck with everything that comes next.

Fine Print: The Over the Top Festival presents Five Blank Pages (final show / CD release) w/Oh No Forest Fires and Boys Who Say No @ The Mod Club, 6:30pm, $12 ($10 in adv). All ages. (This one will be over by 10pm, so no straggling!)

Ticket/CD Giveaway: Green Go (CD release) @ Wrongbar, 30 Apr.

First, I review the new album. Scroll down further for a couple song downloads for contest details.

As a live music fan rather than an avid clubber, I prefer bands to DJs—no disrespect intended. But I do like dancing, and once in a while a really top-notch electro group can get me really moving. Woodhands, of course. But perhaps my second favourite is a young Guelph band called Green Go.

Up to now, to take a bit of the party home with me, I've had to do with a smattering of demo songs, a sampler/teaser given out at shows since the fall, and their more recent remixes of some of my favourite Canadian bands. But now---well, next Tuesday---Green Go's got their debut full-length ready. And, as expected, it's great.

Standout tracks on Borders include "You Know You Want It," "Ghosts of the Future," and "Fool Me Once." "You Know You Want It" is a fast-paced number with interesting, inventive synth lines, two drummers, and multiple vocal parts. "Fool Me Once" is the high point of the album for me. It starts out slow then gets fast, moving back and forth a couple times, highlighting the importance of the vocals and lyrics on the album. Impressive synth, bass, and guitar lines play off each other, backed up by drums. I would think it impossible not to dance to this one. There's also more standard electro pop like the uber catchy "Brains for Breakfast," and the fun, energetic songs I most associate with this band: "Put Your Specs On Boy," "Cash Money Gremlins," and "Watch Your Step."

The slow songs are some of the ones that really got me into this band, but Toronto crowds can be fickle, so the downtempo ones ("Set Me Free," "Danger Bay") aren't always performed. On the album, listeners can really appreciate the intricacies of good dance music: speed and freneticism are cool and all, but Green Go gives you a more varied workout.

Download: "You Know You Want It" (Borders, 2009).
Download: "Fool Me Once" (Borders, 2009).

Cleary, I'm a fan, and I'm thrilled the record so marvelously captures the qualities that impress me about the band's music. I last saw them at Sneaky Dee's a couple months back, and have been itching to get to their next show ever since. And now here's my chance. And yours.

To celebrate the long-anticipated release of their debut album, Borders, the band's playing next Thursday, 30 April, at Wrongbar. (This is the very venue Woodhands chose to release their album a year ago. Actually, I haven't been back since. But enough about me and Woodhands.) The party will go all night: in addition to Green Go, the bill features fellow Guelphites The Magic, Toronto synth-ers Everything All the Time, and the guys from OPOPO in the DJ booth. Stellar.

Courtesy No Shame I've got a pair of tickets to a show and a copy of the new CD to give away. For a chance at the prize, email me at historyjenATgmailDOTcom. Put "I want to dance with Green Go" in the subject line, and your full name in the body of the message. The winner will have to get him- or herself to the show, so Torontonians (at least for next Thursday night) only, please. Get your message to me by 11:59pm on Wednesday, 29 April. If you don't win, tickets at just $5 at the door.

Wee! Green Go!

Fine print: No Shame presents Green Go (CD release), The Magic, Everything All the Time, and OPOPO DJs @ Wrongbar, 9pm, $5. Facebook event.