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Canada’s 2009 Juno award winners

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So another year has come and gone and it was that time to showcase Canada’s premier musicians for 2009 Juno Awards. The Canadian equivalent to the American Grammys, The 38th annual Juno Awards are growing stronger then ever. At least that is what people on the street and in my world say.

These are the award winners that I liked.

The big news was that Nickleback eclipsed everyone with walking away with both The Fan Choice and Group of the Year.

The runners up that I like is this real neat, quirky gypsy jazz outfit from Quebec called The Lost Fingers That night they had two Juno nominations for both fan choice and for album of the year but unfortunately came up empty handed. These guys are such a refreshing change of pace that it is not funny. Leon Redbone, eat your heart out!

My favorite modern Canadian Rocker to date, by a LONG SHOT, is City and Colour, better known as Dallas Green! This extraordinary guitarist, won the first award of the night, Songwriter of the Year with his latest project titled Bring me your Love. His best solo creation is called Sometimes and is a MUST for anyone’s collection. I know that I’m wearing that damn thing really thin.

Sam Roberts and the boys brought home the Artist of the Year award. He has this intangible feel to his creations. He is musically invigorating, with that raw edge that people in Quebec have, musically speaking, it’s a good thing trust me.

The most creative song he did on that album was Save Your Scissors. When I first heard that one I was in my car. It impressed me so much that I pulled over to get a pen and paper out of the glove box to write down the name of the artist and song. This guy impressed me that much.

The Alternative Album of the Year went to The Stills. The one song that I heard on the Juno’s website has the guitar style of the Edge of U2. I love the slide and anything that has to do with delays! Nice work boys. Also please check out the other bands on this link, they make me proud to be a Canadian musician!

So that is my short list of what went on at this years Juno Awards. I’ll comb over the other categories and see what comes up. So, what were your favorite acts that either played or were nominated for any Juno’s??

Keep on Jammin’




Heartbeats by Jose Gonzolez

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While my wife and I were watching the TV series Bones on our PVR the other night, I picked up on this tune that really stuck in my mind. The guitarist name is Jose Gonzolez and his breathtaking song called Heartbeats, is a thing of wonder.

It is one of those songs they play during a show that is playing in the background, at a low volume. Most people don’t give it a second thought but, it lingers in ones mind long after the show is over. After the show ended my wife found it, the women is a god on finding anything on the web, and sent me a Youtube link to it!

Most of you may recognize this fabulous piece of music from the Sony Bravia (bouncy balls) TV commercial. The song itself is just so graceful and pure to my mind and ears.

This guitar picking technique is my favorite style, Drone Picking! It’s very fluid approach to playing. You can implement this mode of performing to just about any song! It can make a listener hypnotized at the drop of a hat. The art Drone will also highlight your guitar playing versatility.

Heart Beats is very simple but, yet it contains layers of complexity that just allows the listener to float away quite easily. It is a song that when I close my eyes, grants me ability to see the song in colour. This is a phrase that I picked up from my God son.

He is completely blind in one eye and is 80% in the other. One day at my parents home in Brantford, he was there so I brought him into the piano room and played some songs and progressions on it for him to listen to. After playing a certain phrasing, I asked him what he saw in his mind and he said he saw particular colours! Wow, that made me think about music in a completely different train of thought from that moment onwards.

This song really does it for me and I hope you get the same effect from it as I did. Just listen to this video and close your eyes … does this song give you the same sensation as it does for me?

Keep on Jammin’

Bare Naked Ladies-less

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As you may or may not know, Steven Page, one of the founders of the Bare Naked Ladies has now left the band to pursue a solo career. The crazy boy band from Scarborough Ontario is saying good bye to one of the masterminds behind their great success for the past 20 years!

I for one, like his old band. They were lots of fun and full of unbridled enthusiasm on stage. They brought out the kid in you and that really is what makes them a stand out act in today’s copy cat music world.

Steven Page’s first solo attempt (while still with the Bare Naked Ladies) was called The Vanity Project.

I only started to listen to bits and pieces of The Vanity Project while writing this post and it’s not that bad. Hit and Run is played in an open tuning format that has a nice, full feel and sound to it. The one called These Wasted Words reminds me a Toronto band called Needy Fingers. So Young, So Wrong, So Long is the type of song that one takes on a long road trip and Here Today And Yesterday has that incredible Klautu aura about it! I think I might pick it up!

My wife and I always wanted to see BNL live, but never got the chance. I guess they’re another great Canadian act that we never get to experience. Don’t get me wrong, The band The Bare Naked Ladies will still exist without Steven Page and perhaps we’ll see them play someday, but it probably won’t quite be the same. At this time the remaining members of The Barenaked Ladies do not plan on adding a new singer – they’ll continue on as they are and in fact are in the process of getting ready to go on Tour later this year.

Steven and the boys were not there to blow you away playing speed music or had that in your face onstage persona.

Steven Page was the one guy in the band that everyone could relate to. He is the modern day resonance man, and that is what he is about to do again. His next venture will be in the theatrical arena. He is the musical composer for the Thomas Patterson Group, Bartholomew Fair at the Stratford Festival. This appears to be a natural progression for him to follow. I think that he will eventually gravitate towards the stage, not the orchestra pit.

Steven Page’s style of guitar playing is very simple and straight forward and very much to the point. Nothing fancy at all in his approach but, it does the trick. His rhythm guitar playing is his bread and butter while playing in the band, plus he has done the odd little guitar solo here and there.

While reading the Toronto Star at work the other day, I noticed an article about Steven Page. It was about his first public musical exposure to the world since leaving the Bare Naked Ladies (BNL). He will perform as a solo act in the Neil Young tribute show coming up Wednesday, June 10 at Massey Hall here in Toronto. It will be part of this years Luminato festival of arts and creativity. I wonder what he will try and pull off at this gig, it’s anybody’s guess really.

As for Stevens adventure into the world of theatre, I am not sure if it will involve him in front or behind the stage. I can envision him in serious roles, desperately attempting to shake off the type casting of his kid like antics on the musical stage with BNL. I think this will be good for him. It will be an adventure that we will all be watching closely. So best of luck to Steven Page in his future endeavors!

My question to you all is, will he reach the lofty heights in his new career as he did with the Bare Naked Ladies?

Keep on Jammin’

Ever hear of Roxy Music

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This is one of the best of the British Progressive Rock band that brings back the best from my memories of the 1980’s music scene.

The band had everything going for it. Great vocals, musicians and most importantly the music itself!

When ever I hear any of their fantastic compositions, I love all the memorable moments that I associate with them!

I never had the honour of playing this style of music with my old band Pylis but if I could turn back the hands of time, Same Old Song would be the one I would have played with them. This is the best in my mind. Which one is yours.

Keep on Jammin’

Is vinyl really making a come back?

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In some peoples eyes, Vinyl is a far superior musical medium then CD’s, period! I for one am one of those who do subscribe to this point of view. Being a musician, quality should always come first. Sure, CD’s might be easier to carrying around or they might be simpler to exchange from one user to another, but are they really better sounding then vinyl?

I got the idea for this post from another almost extinct form of communication – the newspaper. It was from an article in The Toronto Star in the Entertainment section called Have you Heard?. I’ve see this topic being thrown around in the media almost weekly now. Are people honestly trying to revive this former superior sound medium, vinyl, or are they just filling out space on a page?

It gets me thinking about vinyl’s more and more every time I see the word “Vinyl”. Am I the only one who has this effect when seen in print? Upon seeing this word, I can’t help but reminisce about going to a buddy’s home when I was younger with my favorite vinyl albums under my arm. It not only brings back great memories, but it makes me yearn for THAT GREAT SOUND! Do you know what I mean?

Going to Ken’s place, and putting on some YES on his impeccable turntable was the best! The control knobs were in the middle position, yet the sound, no matter what the album was on the turntable, was always incredible! I think he always used a “concord” stylus/cartridge on his table. He also had this Phase Linear TUBE amp that COULD NOT BE BEAT! As for his speakers, I think they were basically Cerwin Vega.

Our collection of vinyl is fairly modest, in comparison to some collectors out there. It covers many genre’s of music as well as some regional indie bands and the odd one hit wonder. Most are in good condition, but they are constantly calling out my name for attention! The stereo we have is an old Akai Stereo that is solid state, I got rid of my tube stereo ages ago, no room. When I have put on an album, it has a certain resonance in my mind. It just sounds more full and warmer then my CD player!

Our CD stockpile, that I’m looking at now, is quite vast! In our JVC XL-MC222 CD carousel we have 200 alone. We should have picked up that 500 one when we had the chance. The amp is a Panasonic SA TH400, that has this synthetic Quad sound that is not all that bad, but I’ve heard better. We also have a Pioneer DV 563A DVD player that plays SACD’s.

So what is your take on this subject? Do you think vinyl is really making a comeback? Do you still have your old turn table and if so, what is it!

Keep on Jammin’

The perfect present for that One Finger Wonder

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If you haven’t already found the ideal Christmas present for that one finger wonder (guitar player) on your list this season, then look no further!

Amp not included

Amp not included

Hey Dave W., here’s a instrument that you should pick up and give it a go! When you figure it out, can you give me a lesson?

Keep on Jammin’


The band called Klaatu

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The Canadian Progressive Rock band Klaatu certainly needs no introduction. The myth/rumor of “Klaatu are the Beatles” didn’t hurt the bands career either.

Some of Klaatu’s great compositions are Calling Occupants, Anus of Uranus, Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III and Doctor Marvello just to name a few. Bands just don’t make music like this any more. Where is the passion, ingenuity and originality?

They were so massively talented in so many ways, that I can not possibly begin to tackle all of their skills in just one post! I will try though to sum them up in a couple of simple areas. For the un-anointed, sit back and enjoy a terrestrial ride.

  • The Sentimental Factor
  • Myth/Mystic
  • Sound of the band

First of all there is the sentimental factor. Klaatu was CANADIAN! Their music resonates in Canadian minds of the good times that we, as a country, were experiencing! When I was around 9-10 years of age, I distinctly recall listening over and over to the song Sub Rosa Subway. I would be in my parents backyard, with that old silver Radio Shack AM radio, goofing around with the family doing whatever, just having good old family fun!

As for America’s first subway
The public scoffed, “It’s far too rude”
One station filled with Victoria’s age
From frescoed walls and goldfish fountains….
To Brahmsian tunes …

Next came the mystic of the band. Nearing the end of the Beatles era, a band was rumored to be the actual Beatles working in a clandestine project. Who were these members, where did they come from? It was a mystery and myth to most of us at the time. Everyone who thought that this group was in fact the Beatles, frantically searched through any and all of their past master pieces and for subtle clues. You can see how this would make the rabid fan lose many a nights sleep, looking for their lost heroes, just listen to Klaatu’s sound.

Let’s face it, even the electronic voice analyzer in Australia thought it was Paul McCartney singing Sub Rosa Subway. Dee Long Klaatu

Then came their distinctive sound! In some of their anthems, you could easily hear similarities in the voices.

Klaatu had many fans listening to the bands songs backwards looking for any hidden meanings. To decide for yourself, go to the Klaatu website and click on The MUSIC, in the top left of the site, look down towards the section and click BACKWARDS MESSAGES! You then have to go through a disclaimer that rightfully so, blasted some idiot who illegally took the bands hard work from their site, and created his/her own YouTube video, uploaded it to the site and then had the balls to take credit for it! Fucking idiots!!! It has since been removed by Youtube! They do have the backwards messages section nicely set up and it’s easy to use. It allows you to listen to some of the songs in question, forward and then backwards. The words show up when playing them backwards and it is quite astonishing!

So I hope that you enjoyed the trip! I just loved posting on this topic. I hope to keep the art of fine Canadian Progressive Rock music alive!

Keep on Jammin’

Total guitar pedal systems or individual guitar foot pedals

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I am getting to the point that I am contemplating either buying a dedicated/complete foot pedal system or just gathering individual ones to use together. As I’ve said before, I do not have an amp as of yet. I think that either plugging into my desktop to help me start in my development of a rough sound is a start in the right direction.

First there is a product that I am currently looking into buying. This company creates complete foot pedal systems called Line 6. This product came to my attention through a recording studio that I worked with for quite a while. They introduced me to the Line 6 Floor POD. It’s a great system when all you have to do is to go into a studio and just plug in through the main board or a snake cable. The type of sounds this produces is just mind boggling, but it’s impractical to use when playing live.

A close second is the Tonelab LE. I had the honor of playing with a Brantford musician Craig Peeler, at a birthday party in Paris, Ontario one night, and he was using this system. It looks both simple to use, but it has this hidden complexity that I will need while attempting to find THAT sound I am looking for. Both the LINE 6 and this one allows you to adjust the sound in them and then program them into the pre-set buttons for fast recall when using the system live or just practicing.

There are also endless products of single pedals that are designed specifically for one sound. The vintage Morley Power Wah/Fuzz/Volume pedal or any BOSS pedals and a wide range distortion pedal would be a good start.

I have ALWAYS been a firm believer that when you buy anything, you should get a product that is dedicated for one thing and one thing only! No bells and whistles please. This would be a slow and painful experience for me right now. It is the right way to go, but if CounterPoint comes to the conclusion that I am indeed worthy of playing with them, then I have to get my act in gear Chop, Chop!

So for all yo musicians out there, which way should I go!

Sing_cerly
Clearly confused in Canada!

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