Reginald Joseph Leach

What I love the most about John Samson, frontman for The Weakerthans is not his catchy anti-establishment songwriting, his soothing voice, or his charming good looks; it is his blatant, unapologetic love for my home.  Samson has long been a champion of the Keystone province and amid massive pressure to move to more popular, commercially viable cities, he has resisted the urge and stayed in his hometown of Winnipeg, MB.

With songs like One Great City! many people assume The Weakerthans really hate where they are from.  However, as any good toban knows... living in Manitoba comes with a certain love-hate relationship.  The Guess Who did suck at times... but they're the best we've got.  The Jets were lousy, but we love them anyway.  Winnipeg is a dirty, crime laden city, but it's our dirty city.  Samson knows that Manitoba can be a tough place to call home, but that is part of what makes us Manitoban.  Suffering through -40 winters and +40 summers, swatting off mosquitos in swarms that look like dust clouds and living off an economy that relies on a slowly failing farm industry makes us unique, makes us strong, and brings us together.

So, I once again tip my hat to Mr. Samson, who has yet again brought forth another piece of Manitoban history by writing a song, nay a Petition, to get Reggie Leach into the Hockey Hall of Fame.  Leach was a Manitoban born First Nations man who is one of the few players (and the only non-goaltender) to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) while playing for the losing Stanley Cup finalist.


-Trouble don't seem to know my name no more

A Dark BC Interior

Odds are, if you haven't had your head wrapped round your body and inserted firmly up your anus, you've heard of Black Mountain.  Their psychedelic, classic rock revival lead by Jesus-look-alike Steve McBean took the music industry by storm a couple years ago with their 2008 release, In the Future.

While being a going concern since 2004, its taken years and a lot of hard work to push this riff heavy beast to the forefront of the music industry.  Now, after proving they have what it takes in 2008, BM is poised to release Wilderness Heart, their latest dig into the rock n roll world.  While I've only heard a couple tracks so far, Black Mountain seems to have brought out even more of what made me love them; that grindy, groovy, 70s rock feel.

In short... expect no sufferings of sophomore syndrome here... especially since this is their 4th or 5th album.



-Stonewall all the love you've left in your path

You want me to *what* the decks?

Say what you will about my musical taste and my sources for finding new music, but at the end of the day... it works. Finding myself knee-deep in a business degree, I have started to learn, and actually admit to myself, the value of marketing as a tool for providing people with information. In my case, today at least, marketing showed me a fantastic new band.

I believe it was a Ford commercial which, upon hearing it for the first time, sent me into a state of elation. SchwaB is a fuzzed out, hoppy, electro-analogue acid trip based in my old stomping grounds of London (ok... I was in Oxford... but close enough). The best word I can use to describe these guys is simply 'weird', which to me is one of the greatest compliments I could give a band. Their music is infectious, strange, danceable, and incredibly original. It combines elements of 60-70s psych-rock with modern garage rock, all the while keeping a groovy feel which makes one want to.... SchwaB?

In addition to being picked up by Ford to sell one of their latest attempts at corporate survival, their song 'DJs In a Row' was featured on the It's all gone Pete Tong soundtrack.  I highly encourage you to check out both tracks below, strip naked, smother yourself in raspberry jelly and join the air force.  If you're not feeling the air force, just concentrate until you become a lemon.




-Easy come and easy go ain't how I'm living anymore

Strike Twice

Well, in my foolishness, I decided that today would be a good day to host a BBQ. Don't get me wrong; it's a great day. It's around 30 degrees and contrary to that lying bastard of a weatherman, it's not raining and actually quite sunny. Still... the day is not without regret.

My regret is that tonight, I will be missing Flash Lightin's CD release party at the Horseshoe.  In addition to featuring one of my favorite local bands, Huron, the night will likely be filled with a bluesy swill of loud guitars, southern stompin beats and enough sexy rock and roll to take your pants clean off.  This TO power trio eats other rock bands for breakfast and I for one, would be a little intimidated by them on stage.  I'd say a little more, but I think their website sums it up nicely:

"This music isn't looking to your new haircut for its cues; it just wants your hips and hearts to do what comes naturally – preferably with a shot of good bourbon to ease things along."

If you're anywhere in the vicinity of the shoe tonight, I don't even need to tell you to go, because odds are, that thumpin beat will drag you right on in.



-Pick yourself up off the floor, that light can't hurt you anymore

Give it a Spin

Never would I have thought it would be so difficult to fill a roster when booking a venue. As I prep for The Noble Rogues' August 21 farewell gig at Rivoli for our bassist, Ian, I have tried, with great difficulty to offer a number of local bands a no-strings-attached stage to play and possibly even a bit of beer money.  The one positive that's come out of all this is that, in scouring the TO music scene for descent bands to check with, I'm coming up with a lot of solid sounds coming out of Hog town.

Today, I got in touch with a band called Revolvers.  They're a fantastic throwback to when rock and roll was more raw, and in my opinion, more real.  They've drawn a little attention from local rags, Now & Eye, but have managed to fly under my radar for quite some time.  I wish I could tell you more, but for now, all I can say is that I like what I hear.

You wanna know a bit about these boys? Brother, you ain't alone.



-We're all lost and found so try to pick me up when I'm trying to settle down