Show Alert: A double dose of dreamy

Tue., Jun. 16
Bahamas with Hayden (opening)
The Ark ~ Ann Arbor

When we saw that Bahamas-- aka Afie Jurvanen-- was in the lineup for The 38th Ann Arbor Folk Festival this past January, we weren't at all surprised he turned up on the calendar with a show of his own. We knew they'd fall in love with him just like the CBC Radio 3 community has for years: he's the "Hey Girl" Ryan Gosling meme to R3 bloggers.

What did surprise us was Hayden showing up as an opener. There are some artists we thought would never come to Michigan, and Hayden is one of them. Plus, he can fill a room in Canada all on his own. We've been listening to Hayden even longer than Bahamas; we can remember when "Bad As They Seem" was getting airplay on 89X in Detroit.

We fully expect these two supremely talented musicians will deliver one of our top shows of the year.

Show Alert: Writing It All Down For You

Fri., Jan. 16
Elliott BROOD
The Ark, Ann Arbor

The Sadies w/Duende
The Loving Touch, Ferndale

It's not often, especially lately, we get two can't-miss Canadian indie shows on the same night. Happy New Year.

We've seen both these bands multiple times in a variety of venues and can say you're guaranteed a great show. We consider Elliott BROOD's Mountain Meadows (2008) one of the best Canadian indie albums ever made. It's perfect from start to finish. They've come a long way since we first saw them at the Majestic Cafe in 2009; so has their once literally brooding, edgy "death" country sound. They're all Work and Love (2014) now-- and Juno award-winning (Roots and Traditional Album of the Year, 2013). Listen: "Jigsaw Heart," from Work and Love.

Whether sharing the stage with Gord Downie-- and making our list of top shows last year-- or with family (Home County, 2013), The Sadies are Good. That would be Dallas and Travis Good, Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky. They should be: they celebrated 20 years in 2014 of superb Canadian indie. Listen: "What's Left Behind" from New Seasons (2007)

The Sadies. Yes, they're as bad-ass as they look.
(Photo credit: Don Pyle)

Show Alert: It's Banjo O'Clock!

Old Man Luedecke
The Ark ~ Ann Arbor
Tues., Sep. 10

Be careful what you wish for... and we wished for Old Man Luedecke (say loo-da-ka) to play the Ark, because it seemed like the perfect venue for his homey, endearing and smart songwriting accompanied and inspired by stellar banjo skills.

We got our wish. We drove all the way to London, Ontario to see him last year. Now he's come all the way from Nova Scotia, so you can bet we'll be there in Ann Arbor. We don't know what it is about the banjo. It's twangy, nasally and old-fashioned, and we love it. As Steve Martin, a banjo virtuoso himself, once said, "The banjo is such a happy instrument. You can't play a sad song on the banjo, it always comes out so cheerful."

Listen: "I'm Fine," from Old Man Luedecke's Polaris long list-nominated 2012 album, Tender Is The Night.

 If you happen to be Up North, Luedecke is also playing at Short's Brewing Co. in Bellaire on Thur., Sep. 12.

 

Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Show Alert: Mac DeMarco

Sat., Jun. 29
Blind Pig ~ Ann Arbor
w/ Radiant Marks

 The only thing for biographical info on his Radio 3 profile is Jizz Jazz. On his Facebook page, posts begin with "Hello Curly Wig," "Hello Pee Pee," and "Ah, wasserp." His music has been described as off-kilter pop. Target used one of his songs in a commercial. And his 2012 album Mac DeMarco 2 has been long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize.

And he's only 23.

Yes, Mac DeMarco will be "Freaking Out The Neighborhood" this Saturday, and we'll be there.

Show Review: King Khan and BBQ

Al Tuck's performance at Windsor's Phog Lounge last year was one of our favourites. So we were excited when we found out he was returning to Phog on Dec. 5. And had every intention of attending.

Until we learned that King Khan and BBQ were playing a Sailor Jerry-sponsored show the same night at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. We knew it was like choosing between a poetry reading given by an eccentric genius and going to a strip club. But we'd never seen King Khan (aka Blacksnake) and BBQ (aka Mark Sultan), who were closing out their reunion tour at the Pig. Journalistic duty won.

The wildest days of this alt-rock/punk/garage duo might be behind them, but we weren't disappointed. So what if they are a bit like two veteran pole dancers in predictably campy neo-Egyptian costumes and black eyeliner? We couldn't take our eyes off them: Sultan's hyperbolic facial expressions, Khan's bare nipple jiggling beneath the gold collar as he played the entire set on a Sailor Jerry-branded guitar with a broken string.















 We couldn't take our ears off radio-friendly (and safe) hits like "Invisible Girl" and "I'll Be Loving You" either. The packed floor of college students launched into the raunchier lyrics, sold hooker, line and fishing pole by Khan and Sultan's honest energy and middle finger attitude.

Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Show Review: D2D2A2

We expected a line out the door for Vancouver's Delhi 2 Dublin on Tues., Sep. 18. Instead, the door to the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor was locked.

When they say doors at 9, they mean it. Once they welcomed us in, we spent the next 20 minutes wondering if anyone else was going to show up. Like most of the Canadian indie musicians that tour the States, Tarun Nayar, or simply T, was philosophical. The $12 cover was probably too much (the price of two drinks at any non-dive bar in Ann Arbor). It was the band's first time performing in southeast Michigan (someone with a clue booked them for Blissfest in 2011).

We'll never understand the musical cultural divide between two countries that share thousands of miles of border and speak the same language. If anyone is the epitome of a cultural bridge, it's Delhi 2 Dublin, with their perfect fusion of Bhangra and Celtic and hip hop. They even made us Google "tabla" and "dhol"; we love that.

In the end, about 20 people were treated to easily one of our top shows of the year. Everyone danced, and there are few bands that we can say that about. It's impossible not to dance, propelled by Ravi Binning on the dhol, the kilted Andrew Kim on electric sitar and guitar, Sara Fitzpatrick on fiddle, the charismatic Sanjay Serin at the mic and T adding electronics, background vocals and the tabla.

Starting (Nov. 6) at Winnipeg's West End Cultural Centre, Delhi 2 Dublin are touring Western Canada, ending with a show at The Commodore in Vancouver on Nov. 30.

Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Show Alert: Delhi 2 Dublin

Tues., Sep. 18
Blind Pig - Ann Arbor
18+ - $12

Celtic music blends well with other genres. We loved the Celtic and jazz fusion of MAZ at London's Home County Folk Festival this summer. But one of the happiest collisions of Celtic with another culture would have to be Delhi 2 Dublin. They're touring in support of their latest album, Turn Up The Stereo. The hard copy is only available in Canada (the international release date is Jan. 2013). You can get the digital album until the end of September.
From their Radio 3 profile:

"The Vancouver-based band was born out of a live collaboration put together in 2006 for a one-off performance piece at a club night called Delhi to Dublin. The group was so well-received that requests for additional performances led to the official formation of Delhi 2 Dublin. 'Not being able to fit into any specific genre allows the band to create whatever we like and not be judged for it. Our audience expects nothing less.'"

Listen: "Tabla Boy," from Turn Up The Stereo

Show Alert: Great Lake Swimmers at the Ark

Weds., Jun. 20
The Ark, Ann Arbor
Doors at 7:30, show starts at 8:00 p.m. ~ tickets $15

On the heels of yet another Polaris nomination for their new album, New Wild Everywhere, the Great Lake Swimmers return to Ann Arbor, Mich. Here's our show review from last August. If you're still not convinced there's no better way to spend your Wednesday evening in the company of beautiful folk music, check out their video below for one of our favourite GLS songs.

Show Review: Great Lake Swimmers Fill The Ark

Pop quiz: What Canadian indie bands have drawn the biggest crowds out of all the shows we've attended in the Detroit area?

There's no prize for the correct answer, so we'll make it easy: the New Pornographers and Sam Roberts Band (at the Crofoot Ballroom and St. Andrews Hall, respectively; they have approximately the same capacity-- around 1,000-- so we'll call it a tie). Now, think you can guess which one of the following was the next most well-attended show (all were near sell-outs): Hot Hot Heat, Destroyer (both in the Crofoot's Pike Room, capacity 250) or Great Lake Swimmers?
















We wouldn't have guessed Great Lake Swimmers (GLS) either. But nearly 375 people (venue capacity) paid to see them at The Ark in Ann Arbor on Thurs., Aug. 25. Why the great turnout? The Toronto-based GLS is a perfect fit for The Ark's folk-centric programming and they've played there before, so Ann Arbor's musically cultured community shared our appreciation-- objectivity be damned-- for a band making some of the most beautiful folk music on the planet.
















It's a complete package lead singer/songwriter Tony Dekker has been refining for almost 10 years. Poetic lyrics full of evocative imagery set to gorgeous melodies, Dekker's floating tenor and a supporting score tuned to the great key from GLS' current lineup-- Eric Arnesen, Bret Higgins, Miranda Mulholland and Greg Millson. Within the 17-song set in a rare soft-seat setting for N2D, we were treated to a sampler from GLS' four LPs plus a generous preview of the follow-up, due sometime in 2012, to the Polaris short-listed Lost Channels (2009). In general we like to see bands put a little different spin on their established sound/catalog. In the case of GLS, we didn't hear any need for improvement.



















Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Show Alert: Great Lake Swimmers @ The Ark

Thurs., Aug. 25
The Ark /  Ann Arbor / 8:00 p.m.
Opening: The Pines

This show easily ranks as one of our most anticipated of the year, because Great Lake Swimmers (Toronto) are easily one of our favourite bands performing some of the most beautiful folk in Canadian indie. To say anything else just seems extraneous; we'll let lead singer/songwriter Tony Dekker and the rest of the band do the talking. Listen here, or below.




I was lost in the lakes
And the shapes that your body makes
That your body makes, that your body makes
That your body makes

The mountains said I could find you here
They whispered the snow and the leaves in my ear
I traced my finger along your trails
Your body was the map, I was lost in it

Floating over your rocky spine
The glaciers made you, and now youýre mine
Floating over your rocky spine
The glaciers made you, and now youýre mine

I was moving across your frozen veneer
The sky was dark but you were clear
Could you feel my footsteps
And would you shatter, would you shatter, would you

And with your soft fingers between my claws
Like purity against resolve
I could tell, then and there, that we were formed from the clay
And came from the rocks for the earth to display

They told me to be careful up there
Where the wind blows a venomous rage through your hair
They told me to be careful up there
Where the wind rages through your hair