Title: DJ Colette
Location: Reflections Cabaret, Halifax
Link out: Click here
Date: 2008-12-31

DJ Colette is super cute with a heartwarming demeanor. For the past ten years she’s been with the SuperJane troupe with fellow Chicagoan DJs Dayhota, Lady D. and Heather. On top of that, her independent tracks have been incredibly successful. Her album Hypnotized became the most downloaded dance album on iTunes (US). Other songs like “What Will She Do for Love” became Billboard’s No. 1 Dance Club Play Single as well as being licensed to The Devil Wears Prada soundtrack. You can check out her latest stuff when she plays Reflections Cabaret in Halifax on New Years Eve.

Title: Gypsophilia
Location: The Marquee Club, Halifax
Link out: Click here
Date: 2008-11-28

Gypsophillia are among the best jazz bands in Halifax. They take their inspiration from legendary French jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Their music is a combination of hot jazz and European gypsy music, adding their own modern edge and fusing elements of tango, klezmer, funk, and classical in their original music. So if you’re in the Halifax area, check out their live performance at The Marquee Club in Hells Kichen, Halifax, on November 28th.

Gypsophilia was initially inspired by the music of French jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, but soon found its own distinctive sound through unique original compositions and the melding of the band members’ varied backgrounds and influences, including tango, klezmer, funk, classical music, hard bop and post bop.

In the past year Gypsophilia has focused on promoting its debut album Minor Hope, which was released in June 2007, and was nominated for both a Nova Scotia Music Award and an ECMA for Jazz Recording of the Year (see the music page for more details). The band has played extensively throughout the Maritimes and recently completed a tour of Ontario and Quebec. Gypsophilia is currently engaged in planning a music/video collaboration with filmmaker Jasmine Oore, and an animation project with a Halifax-based animator. We also plan to tour throughout Canada in 2009 in support of both Minor Hope and an EP due for release in January. Plans are also in the works for a full length follow-up album, to be released later in 2009.

5 Oct 2008 20:00 Private Function Halifax, Nova Scotia
11 Oct 2008 20:00 Lane’s Liverpool, Nova Scotia
24 Oct 2008 15:00 Richmond Hill Centre Richmond Hill, Ontario
24 Oct 2008 22:00 Rancho Relaxo Toronto, Ontario
25 Oct 2008 19:30 OCFF Ottawa, Ontario
26 Oct 2008 17:00 The Black Sheep Inn Wakefield, Quebec
9 Nov 2008 20:00 Music Nova Scotia Gala Award Show Pictou, Nova Scotia
28 Nov 2008 21:00 Hell’s Kitchen w/ I See Rowboats Halifax, Nova Scotia

Brian Borcherdt’s newest album, Coyotes, was recorded by his long time friend (and one of my all-time personal favourite artist) Jose Contreras of the super mega awesome band By Divine Right. While on a break from Holy Fuck’s tour schedule Brian performed a handful of recently written songs in Jose’s living room. Little else was added to the guitar and vocal, maintaining the songs’ intimate and delicate atmosphere. The album’s textural paper sleeve features original artwork by James Mejia, perfectly complimenting the haunting tone of these seven songs.

1 Oct 2008 21:00 Phoenix Toronto, Ontario
3 Oct 2008 22:00 O Patro Vys Montreal, Quebec
25 Oct 2008 20:00 Halifax Pop Explosion Halifax, Nova Scotia

Part of Dove’s Campaign for beauty. Song: “The Lucky One” by Nick Zubeck

An inimitable stalwart of the Toronto music scene, Nick Zubeck is a versatile and accomplished guitarist, producer, and multi-intrumentalist whose talents have led him to play with Great Lake Swimmers (briefly, on bass), The Lavender Gloom (now defunct), Polmo Polpo (guitar and lap steel), and Barzin (currently). As a songwriter, he has released two albums under his own name (2002’s “A Meek Spectacle” and 2003’s “Hiding Out and Laying Low”), both of which were marked by his unequaled use of lush delicately-layered textures and unconventional song structures.

His clever, skillful lyrics explored subject matter ranging from the dark and introspective to the quirky and playful, and the discs were received by reviewers as “… (a) beautifully dreamy….blend of folksy and experimental beats,” and a “mellifluous acoustic album… a sunshiny wholesome listen.” Nick’s other current projects include The Book of Gnomes and Saul Karol. Tracker, Zubeck’s greatly anticipated third full-length disc, builds on the melodic and thematic elements of his previous two albums, while underscoring the decidedly more confident, single-minded, and mature musician that he has become in the past five years.

Engineer Jeremy Darby (Lou Reed, David Bowie, Johnny Cash) recorded the bed tracks for the album over two days in June 2007 at Canterbury Sound. The core band features Nick on guitars and vocals, Darren Wall (Harry Pickens, Wynton Marsalis) on bass, Marshall Bureau (Northern Chorus, Erika Werry) on drums, Robbie Grunwald (Everything All The Time, Spooky Ruben, Jill Barber) on various keyboards, and Justin Haynes (Barnyard Drama, Kim Barlow) on electric guitar, plus an array of special guests. Mixed and co-produced by Sandro Perri (Polmo Polpo, Glissandro 70), and mastered by Harris Newman (Constellation Records), the music is colourful and varied, completely void of stylistic pandering.

22 Oct 2008 21:00 HALIFAX POP EXPLOSION Halifax, Nova Scotia
8 Nov 2008 21:00 Tranzac w/Andy Swan, J.M. McNab Toronto, Ontario
13 Nov 2008 20:00 w/BARZIN in Spain@TANNED TIN FESTIVAL Castellon
12 Dec 2008 21:00 Casa Del Polpolo Montreal, Quebec
13 Dec 2008 21:00 Elmdale House Tavern w/The Essentials and Hot Damn Ottawa, Ontario

Garage soul rock ‘n roll from Toronto, Canada, Modernboys Moderngirls are a band to watch in the months to come. Led by vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Akira Alemany, the six member band’s blistering live sets are quickly earning the group a reputation as one of the most exciting up-and-coming rock ‘n roll acts to emerge from the Toronto music scene.

Modernboys Moderngirls proved their rock ‘n’ roll mettle after standout performances at the Canadian Music Week and North by Northeast (NXNE) festivals. The band was also booked to play Edgefest 2008 (in support of such acts as Stone Temple Pilots and Sam Roberts Band)—all before even releasing an album.

The wait is finally over for fans of the band’s electrifying live performances. Modernboys Moderngirls self-released their debut full-length,I Might As Well Break It on June 26, 2008 . Mixed by Ryan Mills (Born Ruffians, Most Serene Republic), the album is an exposed live wire, that mimics the energy of the band’s live set, burning through 60s soul and garage, ‘50s pop gems and 70s punk-funk influenced songs.

With a fresh album hot of the presses and one of the only independent band entries to make into the CBCRadio top 30 (currently at 8) MBMG is ready to hit the road this fall with a tour that will include Ontario, Quebec and select U.S. dates. The band will also be performing at the prestigious Halifax Pop Explosion Festival held Oct 21-25.

Upcoming shows:
27 Sep 2008 20:00 Club Absinthe Hamilton, Ontario
18 Oct 2008 20:00 Petit Cafe Campus Montreal, Quebec
21 Oct 2008 20:00 Halifax Pop Explosion Festival Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Just Barelys, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, began in 2000 as a recording project by Stephen Kelly. For the self titled debut, Kelly invited a host of collaborators to contribute to individual recorded songs. The resulting record was well received, reaching ..20 on Chartattack and ..23 on the Earshot (Campus/Community Radio) national charts. In 2005 Stephen paired with Eleanor King and recorded a new EP titled Top. The songs are simple yet musically peculiar. King plays drums, keyboards, and sings harmonies while Kelly plays banjo, guitars, accordion, air-organ, and a variety of original/home-made acoustic and electronic musical instruments.

Upcoming shows:
29 Aug 2008 22:00 The Seahorse w/ Memories Attack and Bloodsport Halifax, NS

Formed in 2002, and containing members of such noteworthy Maritime bands as Next To Red, Empty Handed and Not Funny Anymore, Hospital Grade’s sound is the sound of possibilities; the sound of plastic chairs being thrown out of the way to make room for movement; the bright, shining sound of the warm hull of a sturdy vessel breaking murky, restless seawater beneath a foggy Bay of Fundy sky. Under it all is a nervous twitch that could change everything in a heartbeat things could soar, plummet, or fall apart completely.

Hospital Grade released their first CD, Written Axe To Trigger, in 2004 on Kansas City, MO’s URININE Records, and followed it with a U.S. Tour. They just released their sophomore album, Secrets & Sawdust, on BBQ Records.

29 Aug 2008 22:00 The Seahorse Halifax NS
11 Sep 2008 19:00 Kent Theatre **ALL AGES** St. Johns NB

There was a time when music was a craft performed by artisans who rode the rails and played from the heart. A time when music was central to communities, bringing people together and inspiring change. If you have ever longed to go back to such a time, then Revival Dear will ride straight into your heart.

Revival Dear has found a way to pay homage to the past and herald in the future at the same time. Imagine a marriage between classic rock legends The Band and Fleetwood Mac, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of their sound. Yet Revival Dear’s music is fresh, totally alive, and very relevant in today’s music scene.

2 Oct 2008 9:00 PEPPER JACK Hamilton, Ontario
3 Oct 2008 9:00 CAMERON HOUSE Toronto, Ontario
4 Oct 2008 8:00 KING STREET THEATRE CENTRE Kitchener, Ontario
9 Oct 2008 9:00 THE RAINBOW Ottawa, Ontario
10 Oct 2008 8:00 CENTRE ST-AMBROISE Montreal, Quebec
11 Oct 2008 20:00 LA BAR SACRILEGE Quebec City, Ontario
15 Oct 2008 20:00 TRIBECA BISTRO BAR Halifax, Nova Scotia
18 Oct 2008 6:00 HOUSE CONCERT Breadalbane, Prince Edward
26 Oct 2008 20:00 FOLK FESTIVAL CONFERENCE (Thurs-Sat) Ottawa, Ontario
30 Oct 2008 9:00 LYDIA’S Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
31 Oct 2008 9:00 EGAN’S Fort St Johns, British Columbia
1 Nov 2008 9:00 CHANCES Fort St Johns, British Columbia
7 Nov 2008 9:00 IRONWOOD Calgary, Alberta
8 Nov 2008 9:00 THE SLICE Lethbridge, Alberta
14 Nov 2008 20:00 CAFE VOLTAIRE Prince George, British Columbia
15 Nov 2008 20:00 WHOLE WHEAT & HONEY Fort St Johns, British Columbia
16 Nov 2008 9:00 BETTER THAN FRED’S Grand Prairie, Alberta
19 Nov 2008 20:00 THE APOLLO Thunder Bay, Ontario
20 Nov 2008 9:00 LOP LOP’S Sault Ste Marie, Ontario

Olivier Jarda was born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1984 to Haitian immigrants. He began playing piano when he was five, and picked up a few more instruments before settling on the guitar.

After high school, Olivier moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia to attend Saint Mary’s University. There he co-hosted the student open mic for a few years with Jon Mckiel (of Jon Mckiel fame) and Matt Whiston, playing mostly originals but covering artists including Elliott Smith, Neil Young, Bob Marley, Feist, Wyclef, Ryan Adams, and Wilco.

Throughout university, the band released the first LP in 2006, Thirteen Telephone Towers. The band toured the country from coast to coast and has gone as far north as Whitehorse, Yukon, and can be heard on Canadian radio from time to time.

21 Aug 2008 20:00 Black Pirates Club Thunder Bay, Ontario
22 Aug 2008 18:30 Music Trader Winnipeg, Manitoba
22 Aug 2008 22:00 Mondragon Bookstore Winnipeg, Manitoba
23 Aug 2008 20:00 Remedy Cafe (all ages) Edmonton, Alberta
28 Aug 2008 22:00 New City Likwid Lounge w/ Doug Hoyer Edmonton, Alberta
30 Aug 2008 20:00 Bar Bar Kenosee Lake, Saskatchewan
2 Sept 2008 20:00 Mercury Lounge Ottawa JUST ADDED!