Halifax Pop Explosion oh how I miss thee. I've made the long journey, sometimes with only a single showcase lined up. We would hop in the Diesel and away we would go.... drive for 22 hours play a show and be back in time for the guys to get back to work on Monday. Sometimes they would call in sick and we'd stay an party above the Propeller Brewery if only to make fun of Sebastien Grainger or whatever his name is.
This year is one of those years where I'm pretty sure it sucks to be anywhere but Halifax.
Halifax Pop, where I first met the hilarious Ryan Brown of then Glory Glory Man United. He handed me a copy of Friends of the Scene, their debut ep....
and the first song just blew my mind.
Now, after an arduous cold war battle with their lowly publisher we are finally able to re-release their critically acclaimed album ZOMBIES. Look for it on our Bandcamp now and ZUNIOR in the near future.
Well, tonight with new and abbreviated name in tow GLORY GLORY help kick off HPX at the illustrious Seahorse Tavern (10:30 PM). Now, tonight there is no shortage of amazing talent playing the finest of Halifax's dive bar scene. Stiff competition that I know these guys are up for. WHat I love about them is that they could really care less if they are "Friends of the Scene", Adam Warren is a new Dad revelling in the creation of a new life with his lovely wife Amelia. Meanwhile Ryan and Gaz are two of the nicest and funny guys I've met. That's probably why I've hit the road with these guys a half dozen times. Well, that and the fact that they are pretty much an incredibly talented crew. These guys are Out of Sound family. Direct, Honest and Real.
Regardless, it would be a shame not to mention some of the other insanely great bands and peeps playing shows tonight:
-Slam Dunk and Humans close out Gus' Pub @ 12am/1am respectively
-Astral Gunk and Crosss give Glory Glory a serious run for their money at Reflections @ 10:30
-Al Tuck is at the Carleton for 11:30
Halifax, you might have treated us like shit in the summer but I love you anyways.
tonight is a night to run around the city and make for the start of a seriously insane week of music.
There are a lot of happenings AND this weekend is no exception.
It jussst Screams "SO Austin TX, right now"?
Not that I get the analogy but somebody said it over and over about our bustling little arts community.
Anywhat...
This Saturday September 15th brings a Whole/hole lotta OUT of SOUND and Friends together for some post-summer hang-ons.
We are super excited to announce the first ep release on Out of Sound for Lonnie in the Garden. There is only one location and event fitting enough for this crew; A Psychedelic Cottage yard Sale and release show.
click on the picture above to learn more about the event
So maybe rummaging through hipsters' unwanted wardrobes and wine glasses isn't your thing.
or maybe you can try this (or both) on for size:
Say Domino w/ the Whoop Szo Gang (Credit: Sebastien Oullet)
SAY DOMINO Sturge Says Sounds Like: Ur lil bros band that just got better than U. A Teen Dream turned into a Twentysomething campaign of Rock n Roll excellence. Say Domino was always good, and then at some point they metElectric Jesus er a Psych-Head Producer holed up in the Royal City who said 'hey you guys are good, you should be great'. The brothers Lourenco and the 'Trocchodile Rock' took the advice and one better'd said Outtersounding Knuckleduster. Back from the East where they became a Beast and left 'Cold Bodies' in their path Say Domino prepares each time out for their best show yet. (Stay clear of the kit, that kid's intent on murder.)
BASEBALL FURIES
SSSL: Crust Bike Gang
From the dugout to the Streets of Warriors, they've been plotting their rise in Garages. These Punks are set to takeover, but they'll start by taking the show. Nuggets lovers and rediscoverers of first wave punk rejoice, they're here for you, but join them or be destroyed.
And know once you're a Baseball Fury yr a Baseball Fury 4 Life.
ESTHER GREY
SSSL: Scavenger Dust Collection
Romancing the Old West, these gunslingers are lovers not fighters, but do not piss them off, they've been holed up rocking in the Garage for far too long. Do not adjust your eyes, the music of Esther Grey makes everything sepia tone. It's really undetermined how long before everybody knows the beauty of this band. And when they do prepare to dish the big bucks as they ride the rails alongside Dylan, Cohen, Neil, Lightfoot and the Pre-'77 Guiness World Record songwriters (Tim Glasgow ref.). For now they'll happily offer you a song for your love.
BLEET
SSSL: The Sound a Goat makes... in Videogames
'Open up and Bleet for me'. Like a Trans Am (Thrill Jockey) rolling thru town with the windows down and a trio of mad scientists spraying you with Rock'n'Roll and whatever they can get their hands on. There is a commitment here to drive this funnycar into the future. If Phillip K Dick had set down his pen, and learned how to rock he would Bleet you senseless. Bring an extra pair of underwear!
TYSON AND HIS GAMEBOY
SSSL: Melodic Genius Overload
Kicking things off with flavourful Pop the likes we've not had since Lime Rickey made Pop Shoppe the brand to Bleet er beat. Tyson is a timeless Pop machine corrupted by the digital age and it's portable devices namely the Gameboy (or the argaubly better Sega Gamegear). There are no borders to withhold Tyson's intensity, and that's the way we like it. Come early and prepare to rock and roll and dance the afternoon away.
EXCITING NEWS!!! You've been waiting patiently! Now available for pre-order Lonnie in the Garden's exciting new album 'Psychedelic Cottage'! With this purchase you also get a copy of Lonnie in the Garden; Live and Carfree album that was released in June 2012! GO TO --->http://outofsoundrecords.bandcamp.com/releases to listen to a couple of the new tracks on the album!
it's been awhile....
first we were on the SAY-Szo tour ( and have lots of fun updates about that amazing time) and since we've been hiding and recuperating at the Cottage.
For those of you who don't know, the Cottage is the Out of SOund headquarters in London;
down by the river and we ain't shooting any babies!
It's a beautiful spot and has played host to some great recording sessions, house show, community dinners and more.
Tonight is one such night:
Sweet Magic London & Out of Sound Records present I SMELL BLOOD (LON), FAGO.SEPIA (FR), and THE BULLETPROOF TIGER (TO)
____________________________________ 9pm - THE BULLETPROOF TIGER (Toronto) "There is something of the ethic of Miles’ post-bebop era present in Bulletproof Tiger’s approach. Though the band’s music has a harder edge than those jazz pioneers, their twist on this music-first approach provides a welcome contrast in a world that often values headlines over content." Southern Souls You Wanna Kiss About it?, by The Bulletproof Tiger Rose City Sessions - The Bulletproof Tiger
live at Craven Cottage in London Ontario Canada (57 Evergreen - Corner of Riverview) http://goo.gl/maps/ZM9M6
Say
D are barely 20, their brand of uniquely peculiar-art rock meets
electric-grunge has been turning heads. They’re fresh off two well
received showcases during NXNE 2012 and are releasing the Cold Bodies
Cassette in anticipation of the tour.
WHOOP-Szo
have been hiding away for months … Guelph psyche/sludge folk crew
are guilty of psychedelic, drive by noise interruptions; a roll,
wallow and play in the shades of grey sound. Generally abhorrent to
definition, they do enjoy the inner ear.
SPLIT
RELEASE:
Both
bands were featured on Out of Sound Records’ May 2012 release: The
Tri-Pie Split 7” (Pie-001). The bands are touring behind the
limited, handcrafted release which was recorded onto tape and hand
silkscreened by Out of Sound Records.
“The
tireless efforts of OOS Records have yielded grand reciprocity …”
–Exclaim
OOS
humbles itself in the physical medium; silkscreened album covers,
coloured vinyl, hand crafted stamps and cassette aesthetic. Ten years
deep and Out of Sound records and remained under the radar, emerging
on occasion from Flint, MI to Guelph and London, ON, Nunavik even,
only to release some of Canada’s foremost DIY albums… often, long
before their time. Priding ourselves as documentarians of true art,
we put all of our efforts into making tangible and heartfelt
artifacts.
An Interview with Whoop-Szo's Adam Sturgeon (Big Sturge)
A little over a year ago I first witnessed the band WHOOP-Szo. They appeared to be transplanted from the darkest part of the woods. Where they'd been staying for as long as it would take them to be this great band. When they emerged the backwater sludge was still thick. They had the strength and chops of some great Metal band. And they were firing hooks. Frontman Adam Sturgeon looked like he was either there to play, hunt or fight. All in the name of Rock and Roll he did each with every song the band rolled through.
It's a year a few months and WHOOP-Szo sets to return to the APK for Round 2. This time around the band will be joined by local experimental rockers Exit 2012 and the dueling melody and 'bang bang boom' of rising National Champions (too bad the Polaris people don't consider all the great cassettes released this past year) Each Other.
I recently caught up with aforementioned frontman of WHOOP-Szo and Out of Sound head honcho Adam Sturgeon to discuss the topic of this big return.
Mike Bot: Sturge, brother, I'm stoked to see you guys return on Wednesday. Let's start out with the standard 'how did WHOOP-Szo all come to be'? Adam Sturgeon: WHOOP-Szo (sp) is an exploratory. mostly we talk to plants and pick wild edibles. The band I guess started as a reclusive winter of home recordings and not much else.
'Not much else'? Well, there was definitely a lot of coming together with love in those songs as well.
This Noisy Mountain serves as a symbol for what is and what could be, however dichotomous. Together and apart, quiet and loud. you know, the usual.
This Wednesday you're returning to the city. What are you thinking going in?
I suppose it is nice to come out of our boat cave and drive by noise to the masses. I wonder how many people will come and what they will be thinking about while we play? There is a lot for us to overcome on Wednesday, so together we will do that.
What's happening currently with your label 'Out of Sound'?
Out of Sound has always been this little thing that slowly drives itself forward. It's kinda like me, moving like a turtle, holing up in it's shell when the man throws a road up through my marsh. Right now we're racing this rabbit who seems to want everything to happen all at once. I see that he is getting tired and soon my painted shell will pop into the "lead".
You've got a strong line-up on Wednesday to stand alongside. Exit 2012 has had a banner year with their acclaimed performance alongside Damo Suzuki (formerly of Can). And Each Other, who everybody across the country that has been lucky to see them is in love with. What's yr take on (the former Long Long Long) Each Other? Every once in a while a band comes around and they have this oddly familiar sound. Each Other seem to have picked up where Women left off. Stretching time and conjuring the (as Tim Glasgow would say) "barbershop" melody that we all love about the Beach Boys. Today everything is so interpretive in music and it is nice that a little group from Canada can pop out of nowhere and gain some well deserved attention for skewing that reality just enough.
--
Usually I ask for tracks from the interviewee, but Sturgio is busy with things, so today I've decided to make a mix for buddy Sturge.
But first a video that Sturgio introduced me to from a mutual favourite Rick White (Elevator, Eric's Trip, etc.)
Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band-I'm Gonna Booglarize You Baby (TV Performance)
