Monday, May 31, 2021

Monday Roundup #20

In the absence of concert listings, my regular Monday dispatches have fallen off. After bringing some life to the blog with the "bumping into" series, I figure I should get back in the groove. I'm guessing that this will be a bit like what used to get shoved into the end of the post when I was doing listings — some bandcamp suggestions, nods to a few livestreams, and sundry community notes (email me if you have anything that needs broadcast in the latter category!). Plus maybe a look back through the MFS archives.


Community notes:

  • Was there any stuff that you saw coming up, and it was in June, and you thought to yourself, "pff, June is ages away! I'll worry about it then!" Well, this is your official heads-up that June is pretty much here.

It happened this week...

  • ... on June 3, 2011 at The Gladstone Hotel's Melody Bar.

Mansa Sissoko feat. Cheka Dioubate - Khaira (Good Luck)

  • ... on June 4, 2011 at Rivoli.

Doug Paisley - It's a Dream

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]


Bandcamp corner:

  • I first encountered Madeline Link a couple years back playing in Triples alongside her sister Eva. Back then, Pax was her solo-ish side project, but its since evolved, both name-wise and in terms of focus. The new Take The Cake still has a pleasingly rough-around-the-edges casualness to it, but bespeaks a more focused project worthy of the push its currently getting, whether you were around the first time slack 90's alternative rock was in vogue or not.
  • A bit of a conflict of interest here, as I played on and had a hand in convening this session, but the fact I got to play in a big circle with seventeen other humans (and one dog) that I like spending time in the same room with means I'll also advocate for it on their accounts. Ambisonically recorded, this drone ensemble even tackled our first-ever composition (the title track, created by Patrick O'Reilly to be approachable to sound-makers of all skill levels). Help us listen to whispers from space.

Monday, May 24, 2021

Monday Roundup #19

In the absence of concert listings, my regular Monday dispatches have fallen off. After bringing some life to the blog with the "bumping into" series, I figure I should get back in the groove. I'm guessing that this will be a bit like what used to get shoved into the end of the post when I was doing listings — some bandcamp suggestions, nods to a few livestreams, and sundry community notes (email me if you have anything that needs broadcast in the latter category!). Plus maybe a look back through the MFS archives.


Community notes:

  • Saturday is Drone Day, so feel free to make like a cicada and buzz at your favourite resonant frequency. The Drone Day website has a list with plenty of events, local and worldwide, that you can check into if you're not droning in your own way.

Livestream nation:

  • Soundstreams has given Robin Dann a chance to curate a concert, and for her Quiet Time event (coming in August) she's bring along Allison Cameron and Matthew Pencer to make some (presumably quiet) sounds. To explore the event's headspace, Soundstreams is presenting an online "town hall" to give a sneak peek that includes an exploration of mindfulness with Jeremy Finkelstein and a performance from ASMR artist Aayushi, along with Dann and Cameron being on hand for a chat. The event is this Wednesday (May 26th) and is free with registration.

It happened this week...

  • ... on May 24, 2016 at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge.

Craig Dunsmuir and Dun-Dun Band - unknown

  • ...on May 28, 2019 at Wenona Lodge for Furniture Music.

The Lady and The Tramp - Medley: Tea for Two/Fly Me to The Moon/Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)/I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Monday, May 17, 2021

Monday Roundup #18

In the absence of concert listings, my regular Monday dispatches have fallen off. After bringing some life to the blog with the "bumping into" series, I figure I should get back in the groove. I'm guessing that this will be a bit like what used to get shoved into the end of the post when I was doing listings — some bandcamp suggestions, nods to a few livestreams, and sundry community notes (email me if you have anything that needs broadcast in the latter category!). Plus maybe a look back through the MFS archives.


Bandcamp corner:

  • Some excellent songs in this long-gestating new album from Jessie Dara, perfect for languid springtime flowerings. This is squarely in the Tranzac-y tradition of singer-songwriters being backed by excellent musicians from the deep local pool of creative/improvising types, as a glance at the musician credits here would reveal: production by Sandro Perri, a rhythm section of Mike Smith and Blake Howard, plus instrumental touches from the likes of Ali Berkok, Christine Bougie, Lisa Bozikovic, Karen Ng and Ryan Brouwer.

In the Mix:

  • I just shared a new ambient mix, filled with resonant strings and other sounds, with music from local drone stars Anne Bourne, Clara Engel/Bradley Sean Alexander and Del Stephen as well as Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, David Casper, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Stray Ghost, Hirotaka Shirotsubaki and Brian Eno.

It happened this week...

  • ...on May 19, 2011 at The Horseshoe.

Jennifer Castle - Poor as Him

  • ...on May 22, 2015 at Handlebar

Twist - Calendar Girls

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Monday, May 10, 2021

Monday Roundup #17

In the absence of concert listings, my regular Monday dispatches have fallen off. After bringing some life to the blog with the "bumping into" series, I figure I should get back in the groove. I'm guessing that this will be a bit like what used to get shoved into the end of the post when I was doing listings — some bandcamp suggestions, nods to a few livestreams, and sundry community notes (email me if you have anything that needs broadcast in the latter category!). Plus maybe a look back through the MFS archives.


Livestream nation:

  • Audiopollination returns on Wednesday (May 12th) with a performance from Invisible Out. Xuan Ye and Jason Doell used to channel the spirit of the internet when they were on stage, so who knows what they'll be up to when actually resident in cyberspace?

Video Hits:

  • This eerily-evocative video by Charline Daily previews YlangYlang's forthcoming Cycles & Decay album.

It happened this week...

  • ...on May 16, 2010 at Teranga.

Svarte Greiner - excerpt from an improvisation

  • ...on May 16, 2018 at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge.

Josh Cole Quartet - [first set, second piece]

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]


Bandcamp corner:

  • Joseph Shabason's brand new album is enveloping and absorbing simply as a musical experience, but takes on some deeper resonances when you read about the personal struggles and journey reflected within.

Monday, May 3, 2021

Monday Roundup #16

In the absence of concert listings, my regular Monday dispatches have fallen off. After bringing some life to the blog with the "bumping into" series, I figure I should get back in the groove. I'm guessing that this will be a bit like what used to get shoved into the end of the post when I was doing listings — some bandcamp suggestions, nods to a few livestreams, and sundry community notes (email me if you have anything that needs broadcast in the latter category!). Plus maybe a look back through the MFS archives.


Video hits:

  • "In the pandemic year of 2020, saxophonist Colin Fisher and filmmaker Ilyse Krivel searched out enchanting and resonant spaces around Ontario. Colin Fisher plays the instrument in improvisational dialogue with the discovered spaces."

It happened this week...

  • ...on May 9, 2015 at Blocks Final Concert in The Tranzac's Main Hall.

The Phonemes - Pain Perdu

  • ... on May 7, 2016 at SHHHHH – Day 2, in the basement of the Toronto Public Library's Parkdale Branch.

Retired - Turncoat/Medical Jargon

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]


Bandcamp corner:

  • Oh, say — don't forget it's Bandcamp Friday this week, so get yourself ready! Here's a couple things on my list I'll be grabbing: