Mechanical Forest Sound

Monday, November 4, 2024

Monday Roundup #199

Community notes:

Cheers to Audiopollination, celebrating their 12th anniversary at Friday's show! (I also note that the self-curation signup sheet for January to June is now open as well!)

Concert announcements:

Cheryl Duvall [world premiere performance of "The Plains", written by Linda Catlin Smith] / Canadian Music Centre 2024-11-13&14 (Wednesday & Thursday). $15/20. [FB event]

C'est la fête (Cellsync / bikebike / A.JFM) / Tapestry 2024-11-21 (Thursday). $10/pwyc+. [more info]

Jazz Piano Meets Kurdish Kamanche (feat. Diane Roblin & Shahriyar Jamshidi) / Canadian Music Centre 2024-12-06 (Friday). $27.96. [more info/tickets]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

Shows this week:

Mike DeiCont Trio [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty] / The Rex 2024-11-03&04 (Sunday & Monday). $20. [FB event]

Brittany Pitt's Reverie [Brittany Pitt/Colin Story/Caleb Klager/Jon Catanus] / The Rex 2024-11-05 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Track Could Bend #97 (feat. Marilyn + Apple / Darren Williams / Rebecca Bruton) / Wenona Lodge 2024-11-05 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Flora Yin-Wong / Colin Fisher) / Standard Time 2024-11-06 (Wednesday). $25.26, 19+. [more info]

undercommons collective 1.3 (feat. K2 (Kayla Milmine & Jonathan Kay) / Pigeon People (Kayla Milmine/Jonathan Kay/Germaine Liu/Mark Zurawinski]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-11-06 (Wednesday). $15 / pwyc. [FB event]

Sub-Sessions #7 (feat. Leona Hell / godsgreenearth / Shallow Waves / FORMING) / BSMT 254 2024-11-07 (Thursday). $14.64. [FB event]

Finom (meg elsier / Beams) / The Baby G 2024-11-07 (Thursday). $23.57, 19+. [FB event]

Ratboys (Ducks Ltd.) / Lee's Palace 2024-11-08 (Friday). $35.92, 19+. [FB event]

Audiopollination (feat. Mira Riselli/eric cinnsealach/marilyn yogarajah / Martin van de Ven/Arie vvdv/Grace Scheele / Ryan Kinney/Bill Gilliam/Sara constant / Shima/Mkl32/%%30%30) / Array Space 2024-11-08 (Friday). $10 (cash or card) or PWYC. [FB event]

Second Fridays (feat. Dan Fortin [Cannons album launch!] / Max Donaldson Trio [Max Donaldson/Ian Afif/Matteos Labbe-Phelan] / Stick Figures [Regan Mowery/Ezra Schell/Aidan McConnell]) / Canadian Music Centre 2024-11-08 (Friday). $15 / $10 (students). [more info]

Music Gallery presents (feat. Joëlle Léandre & Rémy Bélanger de Beauport / Masahiro Takahashi/Joseph Shabason/Bram Gielen) / Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory 2024-11-09 (Saturday). $15/$20/$25 PWYCA [pay what you can afford]. [more info]

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Extra Life / Oil Giant / Output 1:1:1) / The Baby G 2024-11-09 (Saturday). $19.78, 19+. [FB event]

Liquid Architecture (feat. Jamie Eriksen / Saba Yazdanpanah / Brian Abbott / Ryan Kinney) / Mischief Makers 2024-11-09 (Saturday). $10 adv. tickets/cash at door; $12 card at door. [FB event]

The Sarah Greene Preservation Society [Sarah Greene/Paul Kolinski/Tania Gill/Michael Herring/Conny Nowe] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-11-09 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / Marilyn Yogarajah / Nick Flanagan / Triple Bad Acid) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-11-10 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.). [FB event]

Paul Collins Beat (Dany Laj & The Looks) / The Garrison 2024-11-10 (Sunday). $30.74, 19+. – CANCELLED [FB event]

It happened this week...

...on November 5, 2009 at The Horseshoe Tavern.

Dog Day - Neighbours

...on November 6, 2009 at Rancho Relaxo.

Volcano - No Signal In the Valley

[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.]

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Recording: Swankey/Pitt/Pitt

Artist: Laura Swankey/Brittany Pitt/Dan Pitt

Song: [excerpt from first piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #96), October 1, 2024.

Laura Swankey/Brittany Pitt/Dan Pitt - [excerpt from first piece]

There were pedals all around for this trio, with Dann Pitt (electric guitar) flanked by Brittany Pitt (baritone sax) and Laura Swankey (vox). There were some nice swirling sounds here and some outward-pushing adventures that, with the addition of a rhythm section, could turn this into a particularly cosmic psych band.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday (November 5th) with solo sets from visitors Darren Williams and Rebecca Bruton and an introductory duo from Marilyn + Apple. Meanwhile, Brittany Pitt, with her Reverie ensemble, will be holding down a November residency at The Rex, with shows every Tuesday in November from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.]

Recording: Josh Cole & Mira Martin-Gray

Artist: Josh Cole & Mira Martin-Gray

Song: [first piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #96), October 1, 2024.

Josh Cole & Mira Martin-Gray - [first piece]

A fabulous blend of techniques and technology, with Josh Cole's double bass operating in acoustic space and triggering samplesplosions from Mira Martin-Gray's reactive laptop manipulations, resulting in some truly futuristic jazz.

I managed not to get video for this track posted here, but you can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday (November 5th) with solo sets from visitors Darren Williams and Rebecca Bruton and an introductory duo from Marilyn + Apple.]

Monday, October 28, 2024

Monday Roundup #198

Community notes:

Allison Cameron's monthly "Community Improvisation Workshop" continues at Array Space tonight (Monday, October 28th), open to musicians of any level, inclusive — and free! Truly recommended for anyone that wants to gain a more confident headspace around improvising musically, alone or with others.

Contest reminder:

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow (Tuesday, October 28th) at noon is the deadline to enter to win a pair of tickets to see the Labyrinth Ensemble in performance with Maliheh Moradi at the Aga Khan this Saturday. Full information right over here!

Concert announcements:

Brittany Pitt's Reverie [Brittany Pitt/Colin Story/Caleb Klager/Jon Catanus] / The Rex 2024-11-05 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Brittany Pitt's Reverie [Brittany Pitt/Dan Pitt/Tristan Schultz/Jon Catanus] / The Rex 2024-11-12 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Brittany Pitt's Reverie [Brittany Pitt/Dan Pitt/Tristan Schultz/Aaron Blewett] / The Rex 2024-11-19 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Brittany Pitt's Reverie [Brittany Pitt/Dan Pitt/Caleb Klager/Jon Catanus] / The Rex 2024-11-26 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Tibbs Eve Rager (feat. BA Johnston / Marty Topps / Whyte Wine / Young Rielsing) / Bovine Sex Club 2024-12-23 (Monday). $10 (early Bird) / $15 / $20 (door). [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

Shows this week:

Mira Martin-Gray and Niamh Girling present CLUE NOTE ["a new monthly series that's part trivia night and part creative music concert"] (feat. Allison Cameron/Niamh Girling/Mira Martin-Gray/Olivia Shortt [performing Mira Martin-Gray's freaky drone jazz composition "ii-V-I ∞"]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-10-29 (Tuesday – early). $10 suggested /pwyc. [FB event]

Carolyn Mark / Sellers & Newel 2024-10-29 (Tuesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Friends of Clue Note present: Trivial Musical Pursuits (feat. Sara Constant/Zoë Alexis-Abrams/Bea Labikova/Patrick O'Reilly/Victor O/Marilyn Yogarajah/Heraclitus Akimbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-10-29 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

No Octopus Dancing (Octopus [Germaine Liu & Mark Zurawinski] / Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-10-30 (Wednesday – early)

TRAITRS (Bonnie Trash / Dermabrasion) / The Garrison 2024-10-30 (Wednesday). $29.98, 19+. [FB event]

Hallow's Eve Eve (feat. So Tired / Secret Sign / Body Rot) / Houndstooth 2024-10-30 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin/Kayla Milmine] (Patrick O'Reilly & Friends) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-10-30 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Labyrinth Ensemble with Maliheh Moradi / Aga Khan Museum 2024-11-02 (Saturday). $40 ($36 Friends of Aga Khan Museum / $30 Students and Seniors). [FB event]

Ace Of Wands (Not A Band / Waxlimbs) / The Baby G 2024-11-02 (Saturday). $23.57, 19+. [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat.S.H.I.T. [For A Better World record release] / Slash Need / Stigmatism / Hogtied) / Cafeteria 2024-11-02 (Saturday). $21.41-$28.52, 19+. [more info]

The Atom Chasers [Michael Kaler/Loren Davie/Chris Cawthray] / The Emmet Ray 2024-11-03 (Sunday – 4:30 p.m.). $10 with reservation/$15 without. [FB event]

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Ava Mendoza / Fresh Snow / Not The Wind, Not The Flag) / Collective Arts 2024-11-03 (Sunday). $17.52, 19+. [FB event]

LAL [with special guests Ian de Souza and Vee Kee] / Buddies In Bad Times Theatre 2024-11-03 (Sunday). $20. [FB event]

Elastic Recordings presents (feat. Tommy Crane's Dance Music For All Occasions / Clock Radio [Michael Davidson/Dan Fortin]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-11-03 (Sunday). $20 suggested donation. [FB event]

Mike DeiCont Trio [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty] / The Rex 2024-11-03&04 (Sunday & Monday). $20. [FB event]

It happened this week...

...on October 28, 2018 at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (SynapicCircusSundays).

Murr - unknown

...on November 2, 2018 at Fatima in the Alley.

Juini Booth/Patrick Smith/Mark Hundevad - [unknown]

[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.]

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Recording: Cosmic Homeostasis XXV

Artist: Cosmic Homeostasis XXV

Songs: Geoff [excerpt] + A Partner for Geoff [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), September 29, 2024.

Cosmic Homeostasis XXV - Geoff [excerpt]

Cosmic Homeostasis XXV - A Partner for Geoff [excerpt]

In between more exotic engagements, the C.H. crew settled into the Southern Cross for a cozy fifth-Sunday-of-the-month gathering. A delightful wind section, this time out, as well as more fabulous underlying tanpura drones among some really nice sounds from new and old faces. It's always a treat to be in the middle of these sound-universes, but maybe this time a little more than usual.

The ensemble this time out was:

Philip Hamilton - pedals, namer-of-things
Ron Blake - apps, etc.
Jim Davis - bass, pedals
Dame Cook - haunted laptop
Mira Martin-Gray - synthesizers
Sterling McPhedran - banjo/ukulele
Ian McPhedran - guitar
Phil Johnston - oscillators, contact mic, voice
Eric Cinnesealach - clarinet, percussion
styrofoamNosebleedPrincess - tanpura
Paul Newman - tenor saxophone
Elliott Chapin - flute
Heraclitus Akimbo - Pluto synth, Zoia, chimes

And as usual, you can check out the afternoon's full proceedings on Bandcamp:

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Contest: Labyrinth Ensemble with Maliheh Moradi

Labyrinth Ensemble with Maliheh Moradi

Saturday, November 2, 2024 @ Aga Khan Museum

Regular readers here will know that I've been a fan of Labyrinth Ontario (and the Labyrinth Ensemble) since the group's launch back in 2017. Functioning simultaneously as a community hub, centre of learning and presenter of musical excellence, Labyrinth keeps busy weaving together the many varieties of maqam, the overlapping modal music traditions from across the world.

Combining their education and presentation strands, for the past few years Labyrinth has been bringing in top-level practitioners to join the ensemble in two-week intensives, at the end of which guest and group present their findings in concert form. This year, Labyrinth is hosting Maliheh Moradi, an Iranian vocalist and instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. "Trained by renowned Persian musicians Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, Fatemeh Vaezi (Parisa), and Ali Asghar Shahzeidi, she has garnered attention for her notable work with the Mowlavi Opera and participation with the Voices Unveiled project. Her new album, Our Sorrow, was released in April of this year and achieved 3rd place on the World Music European Chart."

Labyrinth Ensemble shows at the Aga Khan are also just a wonderful night out — taking place in one of the most beautiful venues in the city, the room itself is a treat, and the music is always filled with beautiful discoveries. (It's also a chance to see some of this blog's fave musicians in action, including ensemble co-founder Araz Salek as well as Naomi McCarroll-Butler and Yang Chen.)

TICKETS + MORE INFO

Tickets are $40 ($36 for Friends of the museum, $30 for students and seniors) and are available through the museum's website.

CONTEST

Thanks to Labyrinth, I have a pair of tickets to give away for this show, To enter, shoot me an email to mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com, with "contest" in the title and your full name in the body. I'll randomly draw a winner at noon on Tuesday, November 29th.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Recording: Brian Ruryk & %%30%30

Artist: Brian Ruryk & %%30%30

Song: [2nd piece]

Recorded at Bickford Park "Stadium" (Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip 2024), September 19, 2024.

Brian Ruryk & %%30%30 - [2nd piece]

Metaphor alert. Somewhere, out behind an urban schoolhouse abutting a park, there's a paved-over concrete pit with a mouldering, ancient basketball hoop against one wall. Back a bit, making it into a courtyard of sorts, there's a tree in a planter — a full grown, mature shade tree, a true miracle and rarity, given how much more often one sees planters with scraggly, barely-surviving sticks. Twenty feet below the surrounding "ground" level, with concrete walls on two sides and a tree up the embankment growing over it on the third, this tree has somehow managed to thrive in this weird, desolate corner.

Meanwhile, in various somewheres — in public spaces being taken over by corporate interests or in pocket forests or in little concrete valleys like these — the Ministry of Phonic Services has been putting down roots and building community with weird sonic experiments and placemaking celebrations. Somehow, in the dire context of this moment in the gyre of toxic unaffordability, erosion of common cause/common reason and the general enshittification of everything, younger folks are still refusing to take things as given and are using art and community to counter with a better vision of what our city could be. It's enough to make the sclerotic hearts of the formerly young and optimistic pump with a little more vitality.

This gig was one of a series of DIY public space takeovers from the MPS crew, the sites thoroughly scouted (and lovingly tidied up!) to create unique environments for some one-off gatherings. Friendly and embracing environments, even if the music hewed toward the discordant.

An inspired idea to pair up noise guitar legend Ruryk with junk percussionist %%30%30, the latter enhanced Ruryk's bricabrac-tossing sensibilities with some full-body, wall-pounding action moves.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

[Brian Ruryk will be playing the Tranzac's Living Room solo (but alongside Garlic Jr., Toller, and Lawngirl) on Saturday, November 16th.]

Recording: Louis Pino

Artist: Louis Pino

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Bickford Park "Stadium" (Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip 2024), September 19, 2024.

Louis Pino - [excerpt]

Starting with an array of bowls and other percussive implements, Pino added walkie talkies and other electromagnetic resonances to veer from meditative drones to buzzing, ticking glitched-out noise.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

[As half of Duo Cichorium, Pino will be providing music and sharing some curatorial sensibilities at Of dances and dreams, the first instalment of the new Playscape Emporium series at Array Music. Check it out on Thursday, December 19th.]

Recording: Em Wright

Artist: Em Wright

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Bickford Park "Stadium" (Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip 2024), September 19, 2024.

Em Wright - [excerpt]

Deploying poetry, radio, and some performative smoking, Em Wright's literary noise dug into the cracks of the surrounding concrete walls.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

Recording: Owen Kurtz

Artist: Owen Kurtz

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Bickford Park "Stadium" (Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip 2024), September 19, 2024.

Owen Kurtz - [excerpt]

MPS organizer Owen Kurtz opened the evening with some tape-based sonic collages, patiently willing to let the pauses stretch out between beat-locked syllaburusts.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

Monday, October 21, 2024

Monday Roundup #197

Concert announcements:

Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin/Kayla Milmine] (Patrick O'Reilly & Friends) 2024-10-30 (Wednesday) [FB event]

LAL [with special guests Ian de Souza and Vee Kee] / Buddies In Bad Times Theatre 2024-11-03 (Sunday). $20. [FB event]

Mike DeiCont Trio [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty] / The Rex 2024-11-03&04 (Sunday & Monday). $20. [FB event]

Finom (meg elsier / Beams) / The Baby G 2024-11-07 (Thursday). $23.57, 19+. [FB event]

Paul Collins Beat (Dany Laj & The Looks) / The Garrison 2024-11-10 (Sunday). $30.74, 19+. [FB event]

Brian Ruryk (Garlic Jr. / Toller / Lawngir) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-11-16 (Saturday). $PWYC. [more info]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

Shows this week:

John Millard's Hope Street [John Millard/Rob Clutton/Chris Pruden] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-10-21 (Monday) [FB event]

Solo Flights: A Night Of Solo-Instrumental Music (feat. Lennox Campbell-Berzins / Vixu / James Atin-Godden) / Burdock Music Hall 2024-10-23 (Wednesday). $15 adv/$20 at the door. [FB event]

Behaviours: Into (feat. Zerone Duo / Kristina Guison) / Array Space 2024-10-24 (Thursday). $20.00 (or Pay What You Wish) / Livestream: $10.00 (or Pay What You Wish). [more info]

people | places | records presents (feat. Kamra [Shift Circuit album release!] / Yaz Lancaster) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-10-24 (Thursday). $pwyc ($10-$20 suggested). [FB event]

All-Set presents (feat. Molehill [Mike Smith/Jake Oelrichs/Pete Johnston] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-10-25 (Friday – early). $pwyc

Exit Points #54 (feat. Chris Pruden/Yeonggi Baik/Nano Valverde/Belinda Corpus/Mania Moné Mania / Anda Zeng/Donald Quan/Yaz Lancaster/George Koller/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups!) / Array Space 2024-10-25 (Friday). $15-$25. [FB event]

BA Johnston (Wax Mannequin / Block Parent) / Bovine Sex Club 2024-10-25 (Friday). $17.31. [FB event]

Batuki Music Society presents: Acoustic Africa (feat. Mis Blandine / IZimba Arts / Kofi Ackah / Fethi Nadjem / Maryem Tollar / Melat Mengesha / Donné Roberts / Tichaona Maredza / Abu Gebre / Nii Osabu / Ruth Mathiang / David John / Fasika / Tofik) / It’s OK* Studios 2024-10-25 (Friday). $pwyc. [more info]

Odd Halloween ["a curated selection of indie horror films and video games scored live"] (feat. Grace Scheele / Render File) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-10-25 (Friday). $17.21 advance, $20/pwyc doors. [tickets/more info]

The Ryan Driver Sextet [with special guest Doug Tielli] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-10-25 (Friday). $pwyw. [FB event]

Death to T.O #12 [legendary Halloween weekend live covers show & party, a 2-stage gala featuring live covers of Aerosmith, Björk, Devo, Fleetwood Mac, Hall & Oates, Hole, Madonna, Nelly Furtado, Oasis, Sarah McLachlan, Sonic Youth, Type O Negative] (feat. Dilettante, Essie Watts, Kali Horse, Miserable Weekend, Palm Sander, Paste, Praises, Rapport, Robinson Kirby, Secret Sign/Shiv & The Carvers, Vallens/Breeze, Wild Black) / Lee's Palace + The Cave 2024-10-26 (Saturday). $23.50, 19+. [FB event]

coexisDance #106 (feat. Bri Clarke/Joe Sorbara/Nyda Kwasowsky/Vapour Vixen/Tristyn Murray/Yang Chen/Cotee Harper/James Atin-Godden) / Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre 2024-10-26 (Saturday). $15 (sliding)

Odd Shaped Rhythms: Macedonian Village Music (feat. Nicolo Ouroumov/Brenna MacCrimmon/Chris Aston/Ben Grossman) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-10-27 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.) [FB event]

It happened this week...

...on October 21, 2016 at Gerrard Art Space (Faster Presents: Odd Electronics).

Abbott-Clark-Phillips-Doell - [excerpt 1]

...on October 22, 2016 at Ratio (Off World LP 1 Release Weekend – Night 2).

Sicke - Chopping Wood

[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.]

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Recording: Cole/Clutton/Oswald/West

Artist: Josh Cole/Rob Clutton/John Oswald/Brodie West

Song: [set 1 excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Josh Cole presents), September 10, 2024.

Josh Cole/Rob Clutton/John Oswald/Brodie West - [set 1 excerpt]

Reflecting on what they might or might have been doing forty years ago to the day, this gathering nudged toward the long-held platonic desire to establish a quartet composed of two saxophones and two double basses. (One can argue whether Brodie West's additional deployment of clarinet muddied that purity of intention, though the sonic results were hard to argue with.)

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

Monday, October 14, 2024

Monday Roundup #196

Community notes:

The big event this week, of course, is the Music Gallery's annual X Avant festival. Shows are listed below, but you are urged to go to the MG website and get some deeper background on the newcomers and familiar faces that will be performing. Shows have pay-what-you-can-afford ticket options, so it's a friendly way to take a step into the unfamiliar.

Meanwhile, in other Music Gallery news, they have announced that applications are open for next year's residency program, which is very open-ended and approachable to performers of many styles/skill-sets. Claim your space!