Monday Roundup #155

Community notes:

• Some media coverage of the Horseshoe Tavern's cowardly last-minute cancellation a couple weeks back of a solidarity fundraiser for Palestinian activists and the disgraceful behavior of Horseshoe co-owner Jeff Cohen (though there's some interesting tea spilled in the article about deeper rancour behind the scenes involving J.C.). No word in the article or otherwise that I've heard of the 'Shoe/Collective Concerts apologizing or making amends, so they've made the shitlist.

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Concert announcements:

Class of 2024 (feat. Life In Vacuum / Dermabrasion / Slug / Silks) / Monarch Tavern 2024-01-12 (Friday). $17.50, 19+. [FB event]

Musica Universalis (feat. Blue Moss [Dave Nardi & Connor Bennett wsg Colin Fisher] / Pablo Jimenez [solo upright bass]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-01-12 (Friday). $pwyc, suggested donation $10

today I have thought about carmine red ["composers take the concept of the graphic score as a starting point for works that explore colour, gesture, and light," feat. works by Esthir Lemi, R.E. Smith, and Camille Kiku Belair] (feat. Jana Luksts & Sara Constant) / 2104 Dundas Street West 2024-01-13 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Michael Palumbo's Friends #1 (feat. Rudy Ray/Nirvana Sagar/Xina Gilani/aniqa dear/Yun Young Lee/None/Michael Palumbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-01-13 (Saturday). $pwyc

Spruce Needles [I Do Not Sing About Other People's Lives album release] (Surer Qaly / Kurt Newman / Meg Mackay) / Bar Orwell 2024-01-14 (Sunday). $15 with tape, PWYC otherwise. [FB event]

Class of 2024 (feat. Sunnsetter / The Royal Family / Westelaken / Burs) / Monarch Tavern 2024-01-19 (Friday). $17.50, 19+. [FB event]

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

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Shows this week:

Track Could Bend #87 (feat. battle milk / SOUP) / Wenona Lodge 2024-01-02 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Tania Gill Presents (feat. Phil Albert/Max Donaldson/Mateos Labbe-Phelan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-01-05 (Friday – early). $pwyc. [more info]

Double Album Release Show (feat. Sing Leaf / Fortunato Durutti Marinetti) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-01-05 (Friday). $10/pwyc. [more info]

Biblical (USA out of Vietnam / Cigar Club) / Bovine Sex Club 2024-01-06 (Saturday). $16.95, 19+. [FB event]

The Titillators [Ryan Driver/Thom Gill/Tania Gill/Nick Fraser/Blake Howard/Colin Cudmore] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-01-06 (Saturday). $pwyw. [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on January 3, 2015 at Jam Factory (Feast in the East 44).

ZONES - Sandglow

• ...on January 4, 2015 at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge).

No Angels Dancing - [excerpt from start of second set]

[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 Roundup #115

Concert announcements:

Track Could Bend #78 (feat. Density Creep / Flip Side [Allison Cameron/Fahmid Nibesh] / James Bailey & %%30%30) / Wenona Lodge 2023-03-04 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior/Kurt Newman/Andrew Furlong / David Sait / Nick Flanagan / Jaz Tsui) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-04-09 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.) [FB event]

Sundays in April Residency (feat. Eucalyptus) / Hirut Cafe and Restaurant 2023-04-09 (Sunday). Suggested $15 per person.

Labyrinth Ensemble with Evgenios Voulgaris / Aga Khan Museum 2023-04-15 (Saturday). $40 Regular, $36 Friends, $30 Students and Seniors [tickets include same-day Museum admission]. [FB event]

Sundays in April Residency (feat. Eucalyptus) / Hirut Cafe and Restaurant 2023-04-16 (Sunday). Suggested $15 per person.

Cola (Nutrients) / The Baby G 2023-04-19 (Wednesday). $24.73, 19+. [FB event]

Sundays in April Residency (feat. Eucalyptus) / Hirut Cafe and Restaurant 2023-04-23 (Sunday). Suggested $15 per person.

Sundays in April Residency (feat. Eucalyptus) / Hirut Cafe and Restaurant 2023-04-30 (Sunday). Suggested $15 per person.

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Shows this week:

Nick Fraser Presents (feat. Rob Clutton Trio [Karen Ng/Nick Fraser/Rob Clutton] with special guest Jim Lewis) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-03-28 (Tuesday)

A Josh Cole Trio + Strings [John Oswald/Blake Howard/Josh Cole/Aline Homzy/Nick Storring] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-03-29 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Madeleine Ertel presents: Reunion (feat. Alex Samaras/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Aline Homzy/Madeleine Kay/Andrew Chung/Jill Sauerteig/Steven Noronha/Dan Fortin/Joe Sorbara/Madeleine Ertel) / 918 Bathurst 2023-03-30 (Thursday). $15 advance/$20 door. [FB event]

Séance Centre presents: You Can Can LP Release (feat. You Can Can [Felicity Williams/Andrew Zukerman with Brodie West/Thom Gill/Josh Cole/Phillipe Melanson] / Tenderness & Fahmid Nibesh) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2023-03-30 (Thursday). $20.

CCMC [Paul Dutton/John Oswald/Casey Sokol with special guest Rob Clutton] / Array Space 2023-03-30 (Thursday). $free admission, donations welcome.

Ace of Wands [Desiring album release!] (Mad Ones / Zinnia) / Velvet Underground 2023-03-30 (Thursday). $23 advance. [FB event]

You In Mind presents (feat. Jasmyn / Camille Léon / Shn Shn) / The Music Gallery 2023-03-31 (Friday). $17.03, all ages. [FB event]

Exit Points #36 (feat. Michelle Breslin/Tegan Dietsch/Owen Kurtz/%%30%30 / Rudy Ray/Sina “Xina” Gilani/Nilan Perera/Adrian Russuow/Michael Palumbo / “Switchemups”) / Array Space 2023-03-31 (Friday). $20. [FB event]

Queermunity 6 (feat. Regina Gently / Fern Sully / Geordie Gordon / Ms Taken) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2023-03-31 (Friday). $15 in advance, $20 at the door, 19+. [more info]

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-03-31 (Friday) [FB event]

Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin/Kayla Milmine] / The Emmet Ray 2023-04-01 (Saturday – 6 to 8 p.m.). $10. [FB event]

Nico Paulo [album release!] (Steve Lambke) / Tibet Street Records 2023-04-01 (Saturday). $23.86. [FB event]

Bitstance [improvised semi-noisy modular computer music – live debut!] (William Brent/David Cecchetto/Colin Clark/Adam Tindale) / Array Space 2023-04-01 (Saturday). $free.

B.A. Johnston (Sons of Butcher / Marty Topps) / The Baby G 2023-04-01 (Saturday). $13.85 (early bird) / $20.05, 19+. [FB event]

Sundays in April Residency (feat. Eucalyptus) / Hirut Cafe and Restaurant 2023-04-02 (Sunday). Suggested $15 per person.

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It happened this week...

• ...on March 27, 2016 at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge).

No Angels Dancing - [excerpt from second piece]

• ...on March 31, 2016 at Burdock Music Hall.

Made to Break - E(8)

[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 Roundup #3

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.

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Community notes:

• The big news of the week was the announcement of this year's Women From Space Festival. Last year's edition remains vivid in my mind, not only for being the last "regular" shows I went to in the before-time, but even more for its excellent vibe and programming. Organizers Bea Labikova and Kayla Milmine are attending to both of those things, with another intruigingly-mixed lineup including Denise Solleza & Madeleine Ertel, Britta B & Pursuit Grooves, Thanya Iyer featuring Anh Phung, Laura Barrett/ SlowPitchSound/Mairi Greig, Eve Egoyan, Fides Krucker & Tania Gill and plenty more. But they're also fostering a vibe as well, this time as purveyors of the Holobox Theatre, a "miniature tabletop stage where performances come to life as holograms". The whole thing is being streamed (in standard two dimesions as well) on March 6 to 8.

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Livestream nation:

• Keep your receptors tuned to TURNONANDBENOTALONE on Wednesday and Thursday this week for the Music Gallery's presentation of a "multi-channel audio and visual installation, activated by a series of four solo instrumental performances" (by Amahl Arulanandam, Yang Chen, Sara Constant, and Émilie Fortin) assembled/curated/composed by Jason Doell. I don't entirely know what that means either, but as part of the MG's efforts to make livestreams into more than just a filmed performance, it seems intruiging. And in the meantime, there's a cool lava lamp effect bloobering away on the event's homepage.

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It happened this week...

• ... on February 5, 2016 as part of Nite Comfort 41 at Handlebar.

Tenderness - unknown

• ...on February 2, 2014 in the Southern Cross Lounge.

Allison Cameron and D. Alex Meeks - [end of first set]

[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.]

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Bandcamp corner:

Don't forget it's bandcamp Friday this week, from midnight to midnight Pacific time on the 5th. That gives you a few days to share recommendations with your pals! Here's a couple things that I've been waiting to grab...

Recording: No Angels Dancing

Artist: No Angels Dancing

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #57), December 3, 2019.

No Angels Dancing - [excerpt 1]

No Angels Dancing - [excerpt 2]

This band name might not redound through the annals of local music history, but it was important to me. Although No Angels Dancing mostly existed as a few seasons of a Sunday afternoon Tranzac residency, issued no official recordings and garnered some scattered blog coverage, watching Allison Cameron and D. Alex Meeks (later joined by Stephen Parkinson) perform taught me some things 'bout friendship and experimentalism. The project lost steam when Meeks headed out of town for school, but I was delighted when Cameron pitched this reunion when I asked her to bring something to TCB.

Always engaged with the continuous process of musical invention, it was no surprise that this set didn't look back to any sort of "core sound", offering something that was unlike any other set from the pair. Taking advantage of the venue's piano, Cameron doubled up on ukulele and also brought along a Tenori-on, while Meeks contributed his clockwork percussion as well as some cracklebox interludes. Getting the band back together was a good idea; hopefully there will be more to follow.

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday, February 4th, featuring sets from Claire Yunjin Lee, Tidal Pool and the Pete Johnston 4.]

Recording: No Angels Dancing

Artist: No Angels Dancing

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), March 27, 2016.

No Angels Dancing - [excerpt from first piece]

No Angels Dancing - [excerpt from second piece]

There was a goodly handful of folks out to chill with this on Easter Sunday, though the Annex streets, far from chill, offered an unholiday-y streetscape, including a crowd outside the Brunny. I keep forgetting that Easter isn't Easter like it used to be, with the city locked up tighter than a drum. (Of course, within a couple weeks, the Brunny wouldn't be the Brunny like it used to be either.) The occasion was a now-rare visit to the city from drummer D. Alex Meeks, giving him a chance to reunite with a couple of his formerly-frequent improvising partners. Kicking things off with Allison Cameron and Stephen Parkinson was a bit like putting on an old pair of shoes — immediately comfortable and ready to lope around in. As soon as that familiar watchmaker's ratapat drumbeat started ticking it was as if no time had passed since I last saw the group in action. It was also interesting to contrast Meeks' free-but-tightly-controlled style with the percussion work that Germaine Liu has been bringing to the group's reformulation.

Recording: No Octopus Dances

Artist: No Octopus Dances

Song: [set 1 excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), December 6, 2015.

No Octopus Dances - [set 1 excerpt]

After a seasonal break to regroup following the departure of drummer D. Alex Meeks, the remaining No Angels Dancing (Allison Cameron and Stephen Parkinson) returned in this reformulation that joins them with Octopus, the eight-limbed co-drumming duo of Germaine Liu and Mark Zurawinski. The percussion is in stereo here (Liu on the right and Zurawinski on the left) giving a newly-unsteady foundation for Cameron's synth-bobbing/sound-making and Parkinson's guitar skinning. You'll now be able to find this quartet in action at The Tranzac on the first Sunday afternoon of the month.

Recording: No Angels Dancing

Artist: No Angels Dancing

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), August 2, 2015.

No Angels Dancing - [set 1 excerpt]

No Angels Dancing - [set 2 excerpt]

Another No Angels Dancing duo, this time from Stephen Parkinson (guitar) and D. Alex Meeks (percussion). While the latter has been spotted at some of these sessions with just the most modest of implements (sometimes just a snare and various noisemaking bricabrac), this time out he had a full kit, including a bonus second bass drum, set on its side. That left open many paths for exploration, from hi-hat stand squeaks to clockwork taps and beyond. This set was recorded close-in with some nice stereo separation between the two players, so plug in those headphones and enjoy.

[With Allison Cameron back in the fold and D. Alex Meeks heading out of town, No Angels Dancing will make its final stand ("for now") in its full-fledged trio format on Saturday, August 29th in the Tranzac's early timeslot. Not to be missed, obvs — but keep an ear to the ground for whisperings of new adventures to come.]

Recording: No Angels Dancing

Artist: No Angels Dancing

Songs: No Angels Dancing - Ode to Johnny Jackson [first section] + [excerpt from Set 2, first piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), June 7, 2015.

No Angels Dancing - Ode to Johnny Jackson [first section]

No Angels Dancing - [excerpt from Set 2, first piece]

Duo mode this time out, with Allison Cameron and Stephen Parkinson scraping together some sonic styles without drummer D. Alex Meeks. With its insistent ukulele and guitar plucking, the first piece sounds like soft-fleshed cyborgs trying to claw their way out of a thick cardboard box, while the second — a treat for fans of buzzing and scratching noises — sounds like the mewlings of robot kittens waiting for the robot mama cat to return. A baby (though not a robot baby) can be heard crying briefly at about the one-minute mark; it fits in quite nicely.

Recording: No Angels Dancing

Artist: No Angels Dancing

Songs: [excerpts from two improvisations]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall), April 5, 2015.

No Angels Dancing - [set 1 excerpt]

No Angels Dancing - [set 2 excerpt]

With the carpet in the Southern Cross Lounge getting pulled up and ready for a replacement, the day's sets were shifted back into the Main Hall. Allison Cameron, Stephen Parkinson and D. Alex Meeks decided to spread themselves out in one corner, giving themselves an extra bit of elbow room and an expanded stereophonic field. There were a few new variations in the trio's improvised mix this time round, including (as heard in the first recording here) an appearance by Cameron's chromatic bass harmonica — a giant, double-decker thing that requires a vertigo-inducing lungful of wind to play. The second set led off with the languid funk jam in the second extract and then settled into a trancelike groove for a spell.

[No Angels Dancing returns to the Southern Cross — and, presumably a comfy new carpet — on Sunday, May 3rd, from 1 to 3 p.m. as always.]

Six years/Six pack: Allison Cameron

MFS has turned six! My introductory thoughts on this landmark can be found here, but long story short: I asked some folks to pick some of their favourites to help me celebrate. Thought we were done? Not quite yet!

Today's list is from Allison Cameron — composer, improviser and sound-maker with "small amplified objects". She is the ringleader of "No Angels Dancing", one my favourite monthly shows. Come hang out at the Tranzac 1 to 3 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month.

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When Joe Strutt asked me to contribute to the six-packs I had no idea how difficult it was going to be. I mean choosing only six. There could be six hundred! Joe's blog is an incredible testament to Toronto's creative music scene. Thank you Joe for MFS! Hope you have sixty more years... ;)

Nick Kuepfer - unknown [excerpt]

Nick is a super good musician/composer probably a bit too under the radar at the moment. This Wavelength performance is one of the best live compositions period. Features some awesome work with old fashioned reel to reel tape players. Kudos to Joe for picking this one up (I had to miss the show unfortunately).

Thin Edge New Music Collective - Doors

Also couldn't make this one but what a nice collaboration with lots of good young musician-composers involved, including Nick Storring who curated it.

Doug Tielli - Riversea

This live in-store was great. I love Doug's singing and gnarly guitar solos. One of the great singer-songwriters we are lucky to have in Toronto. Great band too with Ryan Driver, Nick Fraser and Scott Peterson.

A Ryan Driver Quintet - I Never Knew

And speaking of Ryan Driver here is the exceptional RD xtet with the music of Toronto's one and only Stephen Parkinson (who also contributed to the evening with swooning wah-wah melodica solos). Lots of fave musicians in this band: Brodie West and Martin Arnold (not present this night), Michael Davison, Rob Clutton, and Blake Howard.

Brass Knuckle Sandwich - [excerpt from first piece]

Holy smokes this was a good duo! Brilliant idea from the folks at the Somewhere There Festival to put together Nicole Rampersaud (trumpet) and Marilyn Lerner (piano) for a wonderful improvised music set. Great musicians! Great Festival!

Cluttertones - Webbed

Can't say enough about the recent music of Rob Clutton! Excellent compositions for the Cluttertones and more recently with Randi Helmers (Rob's partner) giving us some stunning new songs for soprano and banjo. (I hope these will get posted!) Webbed is a slightly more ethereal tune from Rob in this offering also featuring the talents of Lina Allemano, Tim Postgate and Ryan Driver a.k.a. Cluttertones.

plus bonus baseball cap and glove:

THOMAS - unknown

Joe was right on about this one - a nice chance to see (and hear) Thom flashing his guitar skills!

No Angels Dancing - [excerpt from start of second set]

Crazy No Angels Dancing surrogate band with Germaine Liu, Chris Banks and Stephen Parkinson!

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You can always click on the tags below to look for more stuff from these artists. Has there been a half-dozen songs posted here that made an impact on you? If you'd like to get in on the action and make a list, feel free to send me an email: mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.

Recording: No Angels Dancing

Artist: No Angels Dancing

Song: [first set, third piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), February 1, 2015.

No Angels Dancing - [first set, third piece]

After a few months of intriguing variations, this Sunday afternoon saw a return to the "classic" No Angels lineup of Allison Cameron, Stephen Parkinson and D. Alex Meeks. Their base elements include, respectively, woozy toy synth warbles, genteel guitar spatter and irregular heartbeat drumpatter but there were, as there thends to be, no shortage of little variations along the way — some samples from a Cantopop tape, say, or some pickin' on the house acoustic guitar by Meeks. This bit, closing out the first set, starts out with a little siren effect and slowly builds up from there.

[No Angels Dancing will return at the start of next month, Sunday, March 1st at 1 to 3 p.m. in the Tranzac's Southern Cross.]

Recording: No Angels Dancing

Artist: No Angels Dancing

Song: [excerpt from start of second set]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), January 4, 2015.

No Angels Dancing - [excerpt from start of second set]

Call it a surrogate band, if you will, given that NAD founder Allison Cameron and #1 sidekick D. Alex Meeks were both absent, leaving guitarist Stephen Parkinson to mind the store. But with percussionist Germaine Liu and bassist Chris Banks on hand as guests, the spirit of this early-afternoon Sunday monthly was definitely being observed. Sputtering stop/start (but not unduly astringent) vibe wrangulation was the order of the day here, with the guests adding in plucks, ticks and synthesized belltones to two sets of unsteady momentum. One year in, this remains an excellent alternative to brunch.

[The next instalment will be Sunday, February 1st, 1 to 3 p.m. in the Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge.]

Recording: No Angels Dancing

Artist: No Angels Dancing

Songs: [set 1 excerpt] + [set 2 excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), November 2, 2014.

No Angels Dancing - [set 1 excerpt]

No Angels Dancing - [set 2 excerpt]

With drummer D. Alex Meeks taking the month off, No Angels Dancing had a slightly different sonic hue this time around. Ringleader Allison Cameron spent some time behind the kit ("I only know how to play rock'n'roll drums," she commented) while also turning to the piano and her mini-keyboard. Stephen Parkinson, meanwhile, added his usual crafty guitar scritch-scratches. That hashed out to, at least in the early going, a refusal to fall into familiar groove patterns, and the excerpt from the first set here has a bit of an uneasy tension that refuses to unknot itself. The second selection (complete with snatches of an overheard phone conversation from the back of the room) still wouldn't encourage any angels to dance but has a more welcoming sense of momentum to it. This remains an excellent way to spend the early part of a Sunday afternoon — your next chance will be on January 4th of the new year.

Recording: No Angels Dancing

Artist: No Angels Dancing

Song: [Second Set, First Piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), August 3, 2014.

No Angels Dancing - [Second Set, First Piece, Part I]

No Angels Dancing - [Second Set, First Piece, Part II]

No Angels Dancing - [Second Set, First Piece, Part III]

Full review to follow. The "No Angels Dancing" residency was founded by Allison Cameron as a laboratory to explore her musical ideas. Drummer D. Alex Meeks was on board right from the start, and soon guitarist Stephen Parkinson was joining in regularly as well. With Cameron out of town for the long weekend, her co-conspirators held down the fort for an afternoon of highly pleasing creations. Parkinson is an economical and crafty improviser on the guitar, while Meeks plays with a watchmaker's precision — albeit in a manner suggesting that springs might start bursting forth at any instant, kicking things into a new time signature. Together, they were captivating throughout, whether partaking of polite shredfests, neck-squeezing lockgrooves or finger-rolling folkjams. What a delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. [N.B.: The next instalment of the series, with Cameron back in attendance, will be on Sunday, September 7th, from 1 to 3 p.m.]

Bonus! Here's a quick video of the proceedings:

Recording: Allison Cameron and D. Alex Meeks

Artist: Allison Cameron and D. Alex Meeks

Song: [end of first set]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), February 2, 2014.

Allison Cameron and D. Alex Meeks - [end of first set]

Full review to follow. If you ever twisted the dial back and forth between radio stations and thought you were composing your own symphony, you weren't wrong. And if you ever plucked at the strings of a ukulele or banjo and thought you were creating your own tune, you weren't wrong. Practice does make a difference though, as Allison Cameron proves. I'll have a bit more to say about this show in another forum, but for the moment it suffices to say that you should drop into The Tranzac, 1 to 3 p.m., on the first Sunday of every month and join Cameron in her sonic adventures.