New Kara Keith Album March 4

Montreal via Calgary's Kara Keith is set to release her first full length CD "Vision's Fugitive's" is set to hit the world on March 4. The album was recorded at TheeMightyHotel2Tango in Montreal by Howard Bilerman. Billerman has previously recorded over 250 albums including titles by Arcade Fire, the Dears, Basia Bulat and Bell Orchestre.

Kara has previously enough to put some live tracks and songs from her self titled EP in the podsafe downloads, so if you don't know what she sounds like you might want to start here. The new album will be available via iTunes initially and hopefully on Zunior and other fine retailers (real and virtually) shortly after that.

You can sneak a listen to some stuff from the new CD at radio3.cbc.ca/bands/Kara-Keith/ and you can still grab the EP here.

Hey Ocean! Touring the West

Vancouver's Hey Ocean is hitting the road again. In a note they sent out today they've promised new tour dates and promised new videos are on the way. So if you're in BC, Calgary or Whitehorse - head's up!

15 Jan 2009 The Habitat Kelowna, British Columbia

16 Jan 2009 The Roadhouse Golden, BC

17 Jan 2009 ALL AGES - The Gateway @ SAIT (2pm) Calgary, Alberta

17 Jan 2009 The Gateway @ SAIT (18+) Calgary, Alberta

22 Jan 2009 Richards on Richards Vancouver, British Columbia

23 Jan 2009 Sugar Nightclub Victoria, BC, British Columbia

6 Feb 2009 Coaster’s Whitehorse, YK

Calgary from a Hip Hop Perspective

The folks in Dragon Fli Empire have launched a new blog promising "Calgary from a hip hop perspective". That's a promise I believe and something Canada could use. I've added it to the Music Blogs and Calgary.

Dragon Fli Empire ft. Cadence Weapon - Outside Inn

Sing Like a Dude

Calgary band the Dudes wants you to sing on a new song they are recording. Via their Myspace Blog:

"hey y'all. the dudes are recording a new song with a wee sing along at the end. it would sure be super nice to have your voices on that track. you want to? you can hear and download the sing along part right here on our myspace page! its just up there with the rest of the songs. 

a lot of people think that sing alongs are for sissies, but i say eff that junk. i say, tell it to the moustache 'cause my face is busy doing this sing along.

seriously. sing that part on your home studio er whatever, and send the file to:

istillbelieveinrock@hotmail.com

best format would be a wave file but mp3 style is cool. sing alone! sing with your pals! sing with your mom's boyfriend! this is going to be LEGENDARY! good luck!

LYRICS: if it hurts, when you bleed... if you need, you can terrify me."

I haven't been able to 'download' it myself but to hear the part they want you to sing just go to Myspace.com/wearethedudes and click on "sing this on our next album".

Suprise New Release From Woodpigeon

Apparently while Woodpigeon was in the studio making Die Stadt Muzikanten they were also quietly recording something else.

From their blog:

"14 songs completed during the recording of die stad, some of which date back to 2005, and others which were recorded the day they were written in 2008. every copy's been hand-built, and we've done up 200 special-special-editions with hand-stamped covers, and 800 special-editions with cover art by our grand designers sing statistics. the record features appearances by dillon whitfield (of raccoon and jane vain + the dark matter), mt. royal, the neighbourhood council, garrett mcclure (of the summerlad), and alberta's best-named pedal steel player, brooker buckingham.

we're releasing this one all official-like on 1 august 2008 with a release party at broken city with our pals kris ellestad and the neighbourhood council. you'll be able to pick it up at indie record shops in calgary, at all of our shows (well, until they're gone, natch), and via our website woodpigeon-songbook.com."

The band also reports that they are releasing the digital version of their new album as a "pay what you want". The full album can now be heard on last.fm and the lyrics to the new album can be found on MySpace.

Calgary MultiArts Variety Show #4 is coming on March 22nd

Passing this on from Laurie Fuhr

---

EVENT: Calgary MultiArts Variety Show #4

WHAT: Another fast-paced variety show including
bands, poets, theatre, comedy, and
independent short films brought together
for a cause; and, a celebration of Calgary's
imagination!

WHY: In support of Inn from the Cold Charity and
Single Onion Poetry

WHEN: March 22 2008, 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Soda, 211-12 Ave SW

COST: $8 at the door


FEATURING:

Bands:
Musk Cup (improv jazz feat. Chris Dadge & friends)
Gutterawl (rock)

Poetry:
Lara T, Kirk Miles, Bronwyn Haslam, Wakefield Brewster

Theatre:
Swallow a Bicycle Performance Troupe

Stand Up Comedy:
Col Cseke

Independent Short Films:
Created or Curated by Garth Whelan

MCs: J.J. Powell & Laurie Fuhr

Pine Tarts Downloads

So it turns out Laurie Fuhr from the Lonely Hunters is in another Calgary band that's been tearing up western Canada a bit of late. It also turns out that the other band the Pine Tarts is the latest addition to the podsafe download section and the latest addition to the Band Blogs ... quite the coincidence no?

From their Myspace page

A lust for all that is lovely and loamy and slippery and sun-licked coupled with the fervent desire to crawl all over peoples of this same persuasion, inspired these kids to attempt to make contact with kindred spirits through the mass-communication possibilities of a dusty little scrum of a rock n roll band. Too impatient to learn their instruments, they instead forced their instruments to learn what their fingers could already do, and immediately began recording demos. Too poor to afford proper gear, they were forced to use ghetto blasters as amps, and rather than replace strings as they broke on their no-name guitars they simply fiddled with the tuning. Finally one day they took the bottles back and bought a used rental 4-track. Pine Tarts are Mess, Jenny Pie, Jester Suzuki, Adam, and Laurie. They are ever searching for the sounds to fill joydrunken hearts with love and fire. They want small shows, not big ones, they want to drink wine in the parking lot with the audience after the gig and jump in lakes with all the beautiful boys and girls they meet. They have been spotted, on midsummers' eve, when the green aurora casts its claws above Cascade, on Banff Avenue with an elk skeleton.

Free Kara Keith Downloads

I know, I know three posts in three days, but I did tell you you'd be hearing more. Anyway, Kara Keith is the latest artist in the podsafe download section of this site. So grab a couple of tunes and you'll see what I've been going on about.

Coming in 08: Kara Keith

Great timing! Yesterday I posted a video from Calgary's Kara Keith and today I got a message from her:

She has just set up her New Music Canada page with a brand new song (Visions Fugitives) that she recorded at the Banff Centre.

Also her label Saved By Radio is going to release her self titled EP in January. In May she's headed into the Hotel2Tango studio in Montreal to record a new album with Howard Bilermen (who has also worked with groups like the Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade) and says she'll be taking the "pop orchestra" that she's assembled in Banff with her to Montreal.

Remember the name, I think you'll be hearing it alot by the time 08 is done.

RVT: Kara Keith - Olympia

Calgary's Kara Keith with her band Flaconhawk. You can find more from Kara (including some free downloads) at myspace.com/karacopsout

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.

Event: Calgary - CJSW Fund Drive Kickoff

This Friday, Oct. 19, at 8 PM CJSW in Calgary will kick off it's annual funding drive. The party starts at 8 pm ad Emmedia, 351 11th Ave SW and will feature the Neighborhood Council, the Konts and friends of publicbroadcasting.ca the Lonely Hunters. Apparently discounted admission is available for people who "dress like an ecosystem". For those of you not in Calgary, you can listen to CJSW here.

Kara Keith: The Next Houshold Name

You may know her as the lead singer of Falconhawk, if not it's high time you got to know her because if Alberta's Kara Keith was from Toronto or Montreal she would already be numbered amoung Canada's indie elite and if she isn't ultimately successful it will be due to fear on the part of the public and not lack of creative energy, talent or ambition.

Kara's first solo CD release appeared on Saturday, September 15 at a party at the Marquee Room. Each CD sold that night had a cover hand made by Kara. The sound has been described as "Melodramatic", and "Cabaret Art Pop" or as Keith puts it "[like] unicorns doin it" In the simplest terms it sounds a bit like Emily Haines if she wrote musical theatre. None of these descriptions alone really does it justice though and while all of them put together come pretty close that will only confuse most of you if you haven't actually heard it. Your best bet really will be to pop over to Kara's Myspace and download a few tracks.

Now, as I alluded to above the Kara Keith story isn't just about the music. It is about a personality that comes through the music. If you want a glimpse into that which is Kara Keith, the kind of personality that hand draws each individual album cover, you should read this Vue Weekly article and the "diary" on the Falconhawk web site.

"the only reason people join bands is because they are trying to fill a void of loneliness and/or are overcompensating for feelings of inadequateness. This applies to me, and to everyone I’ve met who plays in a band."

"That night, I split my lip on the mic and cute boy James was pointing to my lips to try and inform me I was bleeding but instead I thought he was pointing to his own lips which I grabbed and started kissing with. During our set. No matter how busy one can be on stage, there is always time to kiss young boys between songs. Apparently in the end, all he wanted was for me to dab the blood from my face. But I got a kiss out of it, so Hallalulah!"

"Then maybe you should spent 5 years in art school and then we can talk."


“I’m the voice of the opposite. Create friction, create progress.”


“For now we’re going with ‘Kara Keith’, because I’m creating the project and I got in so much shit when I said we were called the ‘Tight Niggaz’. I don’t have time to think about it.”


“But I’m still sexy as fuck.”

Calgary: Filling Station Blow Out Tonight and Tomorrow

Filling Station, "a literary magazine based in Calgary, Alberta, that is dedicated to showcasing innovative poetry, fiction, drama, film and visual art" is hosting it's 3rd Annual Calgary Blowout tonight and Saturday, September 14 and 15. The event, at the Carpenter's Union Hall (310 10th St. North West) will feature over 20 poets, playwrights and fiction writers including Emily Elder, Helen Hajnoczky, Mark Hopkins, Brea Burton, Shane Rhodes, Jaspreet Singh, Robert Majzels, Ian Kinney, Ross Priddle, Kevin McPherson-Eckhoff, Chris Ewart, Emily Carr, Bronwyn Haslam, Peter Norman, Laurie Fuhr, Aaron Giovannone, William Neil Scott, Sina Queyras and Weyman Chan as well as music by the Lonely Hunters and Heather Blush. Best of all, the whole thing is Free. So, if that's you're part of the country you can get further info at calgaryblowout.blogspot.com

Calgary MultiArts Variety Show #3

On Saturday September 22 at 7:30 p.m. bands, poets, DJs, filmmakers and others will converge at the Soda in Calgary for the third MultiArts Show.

Featured performers include Kara Keith & Your Dignity and the Pine Tarts as well as freestyle DJ Leif Olson, poets: Calgary Slam Team, Natalie Zina Walschots, William Neil Scott, Jill Hartman, and Brea Burton , solo musicians ryan fitzpatrick and michelle, drama by Swallow a Bicycle Performance Troupe and short films presented by Garth Whelan.

For more info see the Calgary MultiArts Myspace.

Calgary and the League of Poets

Members of the League of Poets from Calgary (and surrounding areas) are being sought to participate in a series of readings. If you are in, or will be in, Calgary in 08 and would like to participate, please contact lauriefuhr@yahoo.ca. If you are not familiar with 'the League' read on:

The League of Canadian Poets, a non-profit arts service organization, is the national association of professional publishing and spoken word poets in Canada. Its purpose is to enhance the status of poets and nurture a professional poetic community to facilitate the teaching of Canadian poetry at all levels of education and to develop the audience for poetry by encouraging publication, performance and recognition of Canadian poetry nationally and internationally.

As well as providing members and the public with many benefits and services, the League speaks for poets on many issues such as freedom of expression, Public Lending Right, CanCopy, contract advice and grievance. We are actively involved with other arts and literary organizations in discussion with government bodies on matters that affect writers. Through our bimonthly newsletter, we keep members informed of matters both political and professional and provide a common voice for collective response to important issues.

Founded in 1966 by a group of five poets, the League now serves almost 600 members whose work reflects the regional and cultural diversity of this country.

For more info visit poets.ca.

the Lonely Hunters Arrive

Calgary has been in the news frequently in the last few years: oil, money, jobs, environmental issues, oil and money. Sadly the city has largely taken a back seat to Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto (and even Halifax, Winnipeg and Edmonton) when people talk about the revolution in Canadian Indie Music. The Lonely Hunters, the newest Canadian band to watch, just may change all of that. After a few mail mishaps I've finally obtained and heard in it's entirity the Lonely Hunters new CD 'the Chaste are Chased'.

Appropriately "Dome Tower" the first track on their new CD begins with the lines

"Yet There is light in the oil man's heart
yet there is pain
and a candle lit with furrowed brow
in the acid rain"

The 9 song disc "The Chaste are Chased" is throughly listenable throughout. It is both great in the background when you're talking with friends and not thinking about it much and at the same time complex and lyrically poetic enough that you can sit and contemplate it when you're alone and it's pouring from your MP3 Player.

I wish it were possible to introduce a new band without making comparisons to others, but it certainly seems the easiest and most straightforward way to do it. So: Think Belle and Sebastian with the garage band rawness of mid-80's Throwing Muses ("Fat Skier" era). Then throw in the odd bit of Wilco or Niko Case, even a bit of New Pornos - little dashes of alt. country but not enough to throw them into this category.

You can hear and download a few Lonely Hunters tracks at their MySpace http://www.myspace.com/garethsband you can also go ahead and order the whole CD there for a whopping 13.99.

Upcoming Calgary Events

Laurie from Lonely Hunters has been invited to contribute to the blog, but she's a busy lady these days. So, in the mean time, she's asked me to let you know about the following events coming up in Calgary.

July 18: Broken Reels film night feat. bpNichol:
Pushing the Boundaries, a documentary about the poet
featuring jwcurry. 7:30 p.m., free. Broken City,
613-11th Ave SW

July 20: Holy Beep is a multi-genre benefit for a book
on Canadian poet bpNichol, plus a filling Station
Magazine launch! Feat. Axis of Conversation, Jon
McKiel (Halifax), Jagatha Christies, lonely hunters,
Charlie Hase, Chris Ewart & Travis Murphy, and poets
jwcurry, Christian Bok, Derek Beaulieu and Natalie
Walschots. $8 min donation. Broken City, 613-11th
Ave SW

Lonely Hunters CD Release Party

I was invited today to the Lonely Hunters CD Release Party. While the band is great, and I'd love to attend as I'm sure it would be a great time - my lack of being independently wealthy prevents me from flying to Calgary Tomorrow. If, like me, you can't be in Calgary tomorrow - check out Lonely Hunters on their myspace. If, on the other hand you are lucky enough to be in Calgary already (or are going to be tomorrow night) check out the info below: (since someone already went to the time and trouble to write it, I'll just present it as is)

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Calgary band lonely hunters release debut CD

On Saturday, July 7, Calgary pop/rock band lonely hunters release their debut CD on the new Grumpy Cloud Record Collective label. Joining them on the bill is Vancouver band Said the Whale. The Calgary CD release party will take place at the Marquee Room, located on the upper level of the Uptown Stage and Screen, 612 8th Avenue SW. Doors for the show are at 9:00 p.m.

Bio:

The Chaste are Chased (2007) is the debut release from rough-around-the-edges pop/roots four-piece lonely hunters. Gareth Williams (vocals, guitar) and Laurie Fuhr (vocals, bass) deliver sardonic musings on life, love and the state of the world with disarming, two-part harmonies. Drummer and British ex-pat Ben Rayner pounds away with grace and agility, while Calgary’s favourite lead guitarist Tynan Groves speeds magnetic sonic layers into the mix. Pop rock jangle as it was always meant to be!
While Gareth Williams hails from Winnipeg, familiar as frontman of The Horribly Awfuls and the Gareth and Shipley albums (collaborations with Consumer Goods’ Tyler Shipley), lonely hunters are currently based in Calgary, Alberta.

Label:

lonely hunters are part of Grumpy Cloud, a new independent record collective set to hand-deliver great independent albums to Canada’s major cities. Please see the Grumpy Cloud insert for more information! 2007’s The Chaste are Chased was professionally recorded by Grumpy Cloud member Ryan McVeigh at his home studio, Face Value. McVeigh is an audio engineer teaching at Winnipeg’s awesome Mid-Ocean School of the Recording Arts.

Contact:

Please visit our Myspace at www.myspace.com/garethsband to listen to sample tracks or to order the album. Also see www.myspace.com/grumpycloudrecords to find out about other bands on the new collective label.

For bookings or other inquiries, contact lonelyhunters@gmail.com or call Laurie and Gareth at (403) 999-2566