The Blood Lines Diversify

Ok, technically the band has split up, but it's hard to see it that way. All four members are already busy with new projects. Maygen and SJ Kardash are currently about 2/3's done with their first album as Violent Kin (the first two songs are up on their Myspace myspace.com/violentkin. Barrett Ross is drumming for the Peacoats a Saskatoon collective which also includs members of Ultimate Power Duo and We Were Lovers and according to their Myspace (though which Beatle isn't exactly clear.) The Peacots also have crossover members with Foam Lake which is Paul Douglass Ross' new band. (The first Foam Lake demo is on their Myspace now.

So, while the Blood Lines will be missed, everyone is moving on quickly and there are now three bands to check out.

R3TV Episode #30 - "The Blood Lines Take China"

The Peacoats: Saskatoon Gets a Collective!

Vancouver has The New Pornographers, Toronto has Broken Social Scene and now Saskatoon has it's own indie music collective.

The Peacoats are Mike Velonas, Michael Eva, Shelby Gaudet, Amber Kraft and Barrett Ross and they are from (collectively) the Blood Lines Ultimate Power Duo, Foam Lake and We Were Lovers.

They will be playing their very first gig ever January 17 at 10:00 pm at Amigo's (632 10th Street East) in Saskatoon, with the Fjords! Stay tuned more info on the Peacoats at Myspace.com/thepeacoats

The Facebook Event is at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=45679676303.

Chart Attack gushes over the Blood Lines

I've rarely read a more positive piece in ChartAttack than this one:

Saskatoon melodic rock whippersnappers The Blood Lines have no time for your clock-killing shenanigans. While other bands lollygag and goof around, this bunch have racked up a resume in their less-than-two-year existence that would make veteran rockers green with envy. These accomplishments include a conquering set at indie-tastemaker festival CMJ in New York City, being hand-picked to open for The Dears, and stealing hearts in the People's Republic Of China.

It goes on. The occasion is South By South West which will have no less than 6 Saskatchewan bands in attendance. Check out the full thing at http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2008/02/2610.cfm

Blood Lines: Rough Cuts and Behind the Scenes

The Blood Lines have been posting a new rough cut of a song every week. They are putting together a new album and would like to know what you think of the rought cuts before they sit down to mix the final version. So, stop by their Myspace, have a listen and let them know - like it, don't like it, have a suggestion?

Their sixth (I think) song is up today - a tune called "Radio Beacon." The video below is a little 'behind the scenes' for you.

Check out this video: The Blood Lines Recording "Radio Beacon (Smiles Away)"

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RVT: Volcanoless in Canada - Invincible

Volcanoless in Canada perform "Invincible" at Lydia's Pub in Saskatoon.

Volcanoless in Canada will be playing a New Year's show with the Blood Lines at Amigos in Saskatoon, so if you don't have plans yet...well now you do.

Help Mix the Blood Lines New Album

The Blood Lines are, without a doubt, one of the smartest bands out there. In keeping with the philosophy of their Facebook group "the Blood Lines Love Me" they would now like your help in making their new album.

No, they don't want you to play an instrument, and they don't need backup singers, but they will be posting a new song every Wednesday on their Myspace and they want your input and feedback before they go back into the studio to finish the album.

We're planning on recording the real album early in the new year and we're looking for help choosing which songs will make the grade and which will be dragged into the recycle bin never to be mentioned again.

So, every Wednesday we'll be choosing a new recording - nearly finished, partially finished or completely raw - for your ears only, and I suppose for anyone who has access to the internet.

The message from the band is and has been pretty loud, clear and consistent. You may not be on stage (or on tour) with them, but this is your band and you have a say in what directions they take.

A few other notes. SJ Kardash has an interview in the VueWeekly about last summer's trip to the Beijing pop festival and their upcoming visit to Edmonton.

They will be playing in

Edmonton's Velvet Underground (right under The Starlite) on December 14

December 15 at The Marquee Room in Calgary.

On December 21 they will be in Moose Jaw at the Mae Wilson Theatre

and of course they are playing at Amigos in Saskatoon with Volcanoless in Canada on New Year's eve. Oh and one more gig in the near future: According to Maygen, she and S.J. are organizing a UNICEF fundraiser that will see local artists carol the halls of Saskatoon's high schools on Wednesday the 19th ... that would be an all ages show.

RVT: In Session With the Blood Lines

If you are lucky enough to get Country Canada, the Blood Lines will be on Sessions next Wednesday, December 5th at 6, 10, and midnight ET

Blood Lines Head for Alberta:

From Maygen:

December 14: Edmonton's Velvet Underground (I really hope we have time to go to Cafe Mosaic during the day. That place is fantastic.)

December 15: Calgary's Marquee Room (Can someone point me in the direction of a decedent but vegetarian-friendly place for brunch? One that will please me AND my 6'4'' bandmates?)

If you know of such a veggie friendly brunch place in Calgary, please leave it in the comments.

Blood Lines Updates

This band seriously never, ever stops moving. It seems like just a couple of weeks ago that they were taking home the Western Canadian Music Award for Best Rock Album - wait...it was just a couple of weeks ago. They've just announced that they will be attending this year's SXSW: Rumour has it they may even have some new material by then. Now if I can just get them to commit to this year's NXNE (hint, hint...hello?).

Moving on...if you don't want to wait until March, or just don't want to go to Texas, they are playing a New Years show in Saskatoon:

Event Info
Name: The Blood Lines + Volcanoless + You = New Year's Eve in Saskatoon
Tagline: It's the end of the year... the end of the year... It's the end of the year... the end of the year...
Host: The Blood Lines love me!!
Type: Music/Arts - Concert
Time and Place
Start Time: Monday, December 31, 2007 at 10:00pm
End Time: Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 3:30am
Location: Amigos Cantina
Street: 632 10th St.E
City/Town: Saskatoon, SK

Now, if you're not going to Texas or Saskatoon, wait - I still have stuff for you!

First: The Blood Lines want your ideas - for merch, tour stops , whatever - if you have an idea for the Blood Lines, operators are standing by!

Second: You can still vote for Maygen every day until November 29 or more than once a day if you do it from different computers) in the "Sexiest Canadian Musician" category at the CBC Radio 3 Bucky Awards.

Third: This is just getting started and barely makes the list at all right now, but: In response to the Blood Lines Facebook group The Blood Lines Love Me I've created a google group called "I Love The Blood Lines More". The advantage of Google Groups being it doesn't matter if you have a Facebook account, a Myspace account, neither or both...as long as you have an email address. So, if you'd like to help build that please go ahead and jump aboard.

Finally - Go Take This Quiz and find out Which member of the Blood Lines you are most like.

Which member of The Blood Lines are you? Your Result: You are a Maygen.   Energetic and outgoing, you jump at the chance to explore. You think a lot of yourself and some may think you selfish, but it is often other people who really make you tick.
You are a Barrett.
You are a Paul.
You are an S.J..
Which member of The Blood Lines are you? Quizzes for MySpace

The Blood Lines Take China

Cast of the new Shrek movie? Nope, guess again! Remember when, a long time ago, when I said the Blood Lines were going to China to play the Beijing Pop Festival? Well they did, and they came back and they brought video and on R3TV #30 you can see what happened. Which is awesome for those of us who couldn't make this years Beijing Pop Fest!



You can find more from the Blood Lines on their home page http://www.thebloodlines.com/, their myspace http://www.myspace.com/thebloodlines, at New Music Canada http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/THE-BLOOD-LINES/ or...if you want you can find out how the Blood Lines really feel about you, personally on their Facebook Group The Blood Lines Love Me.

Breaking Links: The First One

These are busy days for me, and even on less busy days there is always so much more that I want to comment on than I really have time to, so sometimes I'm just going to post a bunch of stuff together without much commentary - news, blogs, and whatever else I decide to add...

Telefilm Funding Frozen - Canadian box office receipts down in 2006

R3TV Episode 28 - Episode 28 of what should be a TV show: The Halifax Pop Explosion with a video from Pride Tiger.

The Blood Lines are giving away CDs in celebration of their WCMA win.

Junior Pantherz Go Old School With Vinyl Release - Saskatoon Star Phoenix

Natalia Yanchak of the Dears on the Environment and Big Brother

Jason Collett is getting ready to take up a three week residency at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto with undisclosed "suprise guests"

Torontoist on when historic churches go condo - people say the west has no moral compass but we most certainly do, it's currently trading at $1.04 against the US dollar!

Saskboy on why Ottawa doesn't want you to have a made in Canada Electric Car - we're already making them, they are selling in the US and Mexico and cost about $14k Canadian but Transport Canada says you can't have one.

If you love Toronto you'll love this shot from daily dose of imagery

Have a free MP3 from the Diableros

Alberta increases oil royalties - wealthy oil men everywhere cry, then decide they still want the oil.

Blood Lines take Outstanding Rock Recording!

While I'm congratulating people, a huge shout out is in order for Saskatoon's the Blood Lines who picked up Outstanding Rock Recording at the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA) for their self titled album.

Maygen Kardash's note on the Blood Lines Facebook Group today was brief

Ak! We won! Our name is on the Outstanding Rock Recording award and the news has been inked and delivered to the doorsteps of five provinces, so there's no take-backs *now*. I'll write of the Western Canadian Music Award and Festival highlights in a bit, but I'm in rough shape and plan on a few hours of sleep as to be able to write cohesively.
I will say, though, that we are indescribably grateful to our families, our growing team of great people who are working to make The Blood Lines accessible to all, and that we never take the support of our community for granted.
Okay, now sleep.

After the whirlwind tour of China and the WCMA's Maygen should have plenty of time to rest up. Her other band's CD release party isn't for 5 days.

More on the WCMA's at The Saskatoon Star Phoenix and CBC Radio 3.

Blood Lines Getting Noticed, just a bit

Things are happening fast for the Blood Lines - just back from the Beijing Pop Festival the band has now been nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award. Stay Tuned, as rumor has it some video from the Blood Lines tour of China will be appearing on the R3TV Videocast in the not too distant furure. If you are already sold on the Blood Lines, you might also want to check out Maygen Kardash's other band the Junior Pantherz.

Edit: The Junior Pantherz have been added to the Band Blogs

the Blood Lines in China Update

I mentioned the Blood Lines visit to China previously. They are there to play the Beijing Pop Festival (as well as a few clubs). While we have to wait for them to get back with a full report and (reportedly) some video - Lisa Christiansen of Radio 3 caught up with keyboard player and singer Maygen Kardash at the hotel. Listen to the full interview here

Some Quick Notes: Toronto, Montreal, Guelph, Saskatoon and China

I'm off to do some volunteer work at the TIFF here shortly, so I don't have alot of time to devote to any of these subjects but quickly..

Montreal is getting reading for the launch of Spacing Montreal. It is a free/pwyc event so if you're available this Sunday, definitely worth checking out.

Guelph's Hillside festival has been over for awhile, but when there's recording equipment around nothing is really completely over (ask Richard Nixon)!
Radio 3 has just released a Special Edition Hillside Podcast featuring The Dears, Angela Desveaux, Shad, Emily Haines and Do Make Say Think so if you were there, have another souvenir, if you weren't - now you can be, kinda.

China is where Saskatoon's The Blood Lines are and while Maygen Kardash reports some trouble getting regular computer/internet time, they will have some tales to tell when they get home.

Toronto ... is still TIFFland - off to plug FWC!