Everyone Pitch in For Library Voices

As I told you recently Library Voices recently had their gear stolen after a performance. Now they, and some of their friends, are having a fundraiser to try to help them get back to where they need to be.

"In the spirit of rock and roll, the group has rented/borrowed enough equipment to continue touring but the incident has proved to be a giant setback and are hoping the community pulls together to support an evening of live music - which in turn will help them replace a portion of what was stolen.

Library Voices has curated a diverse evening of music, pooling musicians from all over Saskatchewan to join the festivities. Estevan, Carlyle, Yorkton, Balgonie, Moose Jaw, Regina, and Saskatoon will be represented on stage.

The band prides itself on it's unique and diverse instrumentation - and so at this time they are also bowing their heads, with their tails between their legs and announcing that they will graciously accept any donations of old and unused instruments you may have cluttering up your garage or storage rooms. They solemnly swear that every donation will make an appearance on an upcoming recording. (contact: michael@youngsoulrecords.com)"

The actual show is Friday, March 27 at the Exchange (2431 8th ave, Regina, Sk) and will feature, in addition to Library Voices, Volcanoless in Canada, Andy Shauf
and Matt Goud.

So, whether you are in Regina or not lend a hand when you can, and pass this on to others.

The Facebook Event page is here.

Herohill Mixtapes Sask!

Herohill's Great Canadian Mixtape Project has reached Sask. The latest completely free mixtape contains 20 songs from Ultimate Power Duo, We Were Lovers, Volcanoless in Canada, Foam Lake, Library Voices, Maybe Smith, Rah Rah and more ... So Far Herohill's project has covered Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Alberta. For a run down of where to get em, visit this post or Herohill.com.

PEI is next on the Herohill list!

Library Voices at CIUT Song 4 - "Step Off The Map and Float"

Said the Whale and Hey Ocean Tour Video

Said the Whale and Hey Ocean! have been touring about together recently and put this little video together so you can get an idea of the grueling work that touring is.



You Can Catch Said the Whale at

The Slice in Lethbridge Alberta June 21

The Virgin Festival in Calgary June 22

the Canmore Hotel (with Hey Ocean) in Canmore, Alberta June 25

the Roadhouse Tavern (with Hey Ocean) in Golden, B.C. on June 26

Doc Willoughby's (with the Hermit) in Kelowna, B.C. June 27

Golden Spike Days (Mainstage) in Port Moody British Columbia on June 28

the Jericho Sailing Centre in Vancouver, BC on July 12

You Can Catch Hey Ocean! at

the Virgin Festival - Fort Calgary in Calgary on June 21

The Canmore Hotel (with Said the Whale) in Canmore, AB on June 25

The Roadhouse (with Said the Whale) in Golden, BC on June 26

The Silver Buckle in Medicine Hat, AB on June 27

The Saskatoon Jazz Festival @ Lydia’s in Saskatoon, SK on June 28

The Slice in Lethbridge, AB on June 30

Doc Willoughby’s in Kelowna, BC on July 1

Element in Victoria, BC on July 3

(ALL AGES) St. James Hall in Vancouver, British Columbia on July 6

Richards on Richards in Vancouver B.C. on July 11

GLC in Whistler B.C. on July 12

Also, as a reward for reading to the end - you can get a free download of the new Said the Whale single "This City's A Mess" on their Myspace right now.

Free Nicol Lischka Downloads

Though it's been 10 years since her critically acclaimed debut "Leaving For Omaha", Nicol Lischka is back with "Back Porch Light" - Produced by Juno-award winnter Jason Plumb. Nicol is also now in the Podsafe Download Section of publicbroadcasting.ca as well as Band Blogs Too. You can read Nicol's (really very interesting)story on her Myspace page or at SonicBids. But whatever you do, definitely give a listen!

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

Little Mosque: As Canadian as North Dakota?

Via TV-Eh?: The CBC sit-com Little Mosque on the Prairie is causing a bit of controversy. It is not because of it's subject matter, a group of muslims living in rural Saskatchewan, but because of it's location or lack thereof.

The first line of the CBC's mandate states that it should "be predominantly and distinctively Canadian". However, according to the Leader Post:

"Last Jan. 17, Zarqa Nawaz, a producer of CBC's Little Mosque on the Prairie, gave an interview on National Public Radio in the U.S.
In it, she tells the American interviewer the producers of the show deliberately never mention Saskatchewan as the series location because they hope an American audience will reference it as taking place in North Dakota and because "sales are important".
Apparently, they are also willing to accommodate American ignorance of Canada by often doing alternative takes to clarify or remove what they consider to be obscure Canadiana. (The budget for this must be enormous, given American ignorance of Canada.)"

Personally I feel that such practices should simply be legally banned - that no program that receives tax subsidies should be able to do alternate takes to disguise the fact that it is Canadian.

If a show like Little Mosque on the Prairie, which is about as mentally challenging as I Love Lucy is over the heads of Americans then I truly do feel sorry for them, however, this time they may just have to do some research and catch up. It should not be up to Canadian taxpayers to do an alternate version that they can grasp.

For American's reading this the show is set in Saskatchewan and if that word has left you scratching your heads, you can begin your research here. Although if you really find that concept confusing you should really just turn off the TV and read a book.

For anyone who hasn't seen the series:
Episode 1 Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

RVT: Captain Tractor - "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate"

Captain Tractor cover of an Arrogant Worms song.