Show Alerts: The best of Canadian indie comes to Detroit

Fri., May 15
Great Lake Swimmers ~ Majestic Cafe
Hey Rosetta! ~ The Shelter

If you love beautifully crafted indie folk/folk rock, it doesn't get any better than Friday in Detroit. Our choice was a little easier than our last show conflict, as we saw Hey Rosetta! at The Ark in February. We last saw Great Lake Swimmers at a nearly sold-out show at The Ark as well-- in 2011. To help you make yours, here's how these two seminal and incredibly talented bands compare.

	Great Lake Swimmers	Hey Rosetta!
Home base	Toronto	St. John's, Newfoundland
New album	A Forest of Arms	Kintsukuroi
On our top 10 albums of all time list	Lost Channels	Into Your Lungs
Our favorite song	"Your Rocky Spine"	N2D: "New Goodbye" S2W: "Black Heart"
Lead singer	Tony Dekker	Tim Baker
Violinist extra- ordinaire	Miranda Mulholland	Kinley Dowling

Our take: It's absolutely impossible to choose a favorite here. Both bands are equally remarkable in all the right ways: voices you won't forget, melodies and poetic lyrics that take up permanent residence in your head and heart, musicianship that sets the standard for Canadian indie.

Show Alert: Hey Rosetta! play Detroit Friday

Fri., Jun. 22
Magic Stick Lounge, Detroit
With Boy Wonders ~ tickets $10

When we found out an acquaintance from Minneapolis was attending this year's Bonnaroo in Nashville, Tenn., we of course told her to be sure to see Hey Rosetta! from St. John's, Newfoundland, and to tell them we said hi. "In college I worked at the campus radio station and I remember getting a promo copy of their first full-length," she said. "I'm excited to see how they've changed since then."

We were excited she had heard of Hey Rosetta!, and even more excited they're back in Detroit at the Magic Stick. The only thing that's changed since is that first album they've only gotten better with time, as last year's Seeds was every bit as impressive as Into Your Lungs. Give this great alt rock band as warm a welcome as this one.

Show Review: 1, 2, 3, 4

One fair in Michigan, U.S.A. and one Phest in Windsor, O.N.T. equaled a satisfying serving of music in two countries for N2D back on Sat., Sept. 17-- even if our work schedule did cut the buffet short.

We're still not sure how Hey Rosetta! from St. John's, NL, ended up playing at the bustling DIY Street Fair in Ferndale, Mich. We were just happy to see one of our favourite bands twice in one year, meet fellow R3 blogger michelka (we are big fans of her artwork; check it out) and sip a little mead. With the sunset for a backdrop, Hey Rosetta! delivered a show every bit as good as the one in June and to a wider audience. Overheard: "Who are these guys? They're really good."

While Ferndale was showcasing more than 50 Detroit area bands and one band from NL, Phog Phest 3 was showcasing one Detroit band-- the High Strung-- one band from Winnipeg-- Grand Analog-- and some of the best of Windsor's indie music scene, including hometown hero headliners, Elliott BROOD.














We arrived in time for a chat with Grand Analog's personable and articulate Odario Williams before his set, who entertained us with a great story about sneaking into a Pink Floyd concert in Winnipeg when he was in his early teens. His skills as a raconteur carried over on the stage and established a solid rapport with the enthusiastic crowd, despite the fact Grand Analog hasn't had a new release since 2009's Metropolis is Burning. We'd love to hear more of the band's dub/R&B-inflected hip hop like "Electric City," which Williams turned into a group sing-along. Yes, music makes the world go 'round.

Phog Phest 3 marks the fourth time we've seen Elliott BROOD, and every time they've delivered 100 percent. You never get the feeling that they've written it all down for the audience one too many times, and the Phog Phest audience sure didn't appear to be tired of banging pots, pans and cookie sheets. The BROOD's newest album, Days Into Years, is folkier than their previous efforts but has resonated with listeners in a big way. The band is up for two CBC Radio 3 Bucky Awards-- Most Canadian Song for "Northern Air," and Best Vocals for "When I Get Old." Winners will be announced this Weds., Dec. 7 beginning at 2 p.m. EST.

Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Show Review: Hey Rosetta! @ the Magic Stick

"With summer tour dates starting today at the Magic Stick in the magical land of Detroit..."-- from Hey Rosetta! on their blog.

"Magical" isn't usually an adjective associated with Detroit, but Newfoundland's Hey Rosetta!-- singer/guitarist/keyboardist Tim Baker, guitarist Adam Hogan, bassist Jon Hynes (filling in very ably for Josh Ward), drummer Phil Maloney, violinist Kinley Dowling and cellist Romesh Thavanathan-- and their exquisite, soaring alt rock made it that way for N2D and a small but fervent group of fans at the Magic Stick on Tues., Jun. 28. This time taking the stage as the headliner, they opened with "Seeds" from their latest album of the same name, which includes the sound of two pieces of wood clacked together by Thavanathan. It's a fitting metaphor for the two-time Polaris short-listers because they excel at taking the ordinary from germination to emotionally percussive and poignant blooms.

"We've put together a new set list for this tour, and we're trying it out for the first time tonight," lead singer and guitarist/keyboardist Tim Baker announced. We have a set list from the show for you to win if you answer the question at the end of this blog correctly. But the band didn't get a chance to put it to the test: Detroit had a little magic of its own in store for Hey Rosetta! Obviously surprised by the level of adoration from the audience-- and count us among them-- they departed from the set list to satisfy requests, delivering characteristically stirring renditions of "I've Been Asleep For A Long, Long Time" and "Red Heart" (from their 2008 release, Into Your Lungs) and "Lions for Scottie" (from their debut EP, Plan Your Escape).

If you weren't able to make the show, or are a Hey Rosetta! fan, they're returning to the Detroit area on Sat., Sep. 17, playing the DIY Street Fair in Ferndale. Set time is 7:30 p.m. You can also hear them on Mon., Sep. 19 when they perform for the Polaris Prize Gala (when winners are announced) along with other nominees. CBC Radio 3 will be broadcasting the event live; you can also listen on SiriusXM channel 152.

Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Much of the inspiration for Seeds came from Hey Rosetta!'s travels through a certain part of Canada. Email us with either the province or a town they visited on that tour in 2009 and the set list from their show in Detroit on Jun. 28 is yours.

Show Alert: Hey Rosetta! @ the Magic Stick

Tues., Jun. 28
w/ the Prime Ministers (Detroit)

One of our favourite bands return, this time as the headliner at the Magic Stick in Detroit, after a too-short set last September opening for Hot Hot Heat (really, we're over it now). In our humble opinion, Hey Rosetta!, from St. John's, Newfoundland, make some of the most beautiful music around. Polaris voters seem to agree. Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart, and on through your blood) was on the 2009 short list; this year's Seeds is already on the 2011 long list. But don't take our word for it:



Can't make it to Detroit? Here are more upcoming tour dates.

June 29 - BEACHLAND BALLROOM & TAVERN, Cleveland, OH - 8:00 pm - ALL AGES
June 30 - LAFAYETTE SQUARE, Buffalo, NY - 5:00 pm - ALL AGES & FREE PERFORMANCE
July 1 – DOWNSVIEW PARK, Toronto, ON – 4:45 pm *CANADA DAY^
July 7 – SHAW PARK, Winnipeg, MB – 7:00 pm^
July 8 – LEBRETON FLATS, Ottawa, ON – 9:00 pm *BLUESFEST
July 14 – NORTHLANDS GROUNDS, Edmonton, AB – 6:00 pm^
July 15 – DEER LAKE PARK, Vancouver BC – 6:00 pm w/The Tragically Hip
July 16 - MAIN STREET STATION, Breckenridge, CO - 8:00 pm
July 29 – NORTH BAY WATERFRONT, North Bay, ON – 9:00 pm w/City & Colour
July 30 – PARC JEAN DRAPEAU, Montreal, PQ – *OSHEAGA
July 31 – GLASGOW SQUARE THEATRE – New Glasgow, NS – 10:25 pm
August 2 – PRINCE EDWARD PLAZA, St. John’s NF – 9:30 pm w/Plants and Animals
August 6 – CREDIT UNION PLACE, Summerside, PEI – 9:00 pm
August 7 – ALDERNEY LANDING, Dartmouth, NS – *MFEST
August 15 – WOODY POINT HERITAGE THEATRE, Woody Point, NF – 8:00 pm
August 16 – WOODY POINT HERITAGE THEATRE, Woody Point, NF – 8:00 pm
August 17 – WOODY POINT HERITAGE THEATRE, Woody Point, NF – 8:00 pm

^ w/Broken Social Scene and The Tragically Hip

We're in the Searchlight

You may have noticed that we are a nominee for CBC Radio 3's Searchlight for Canada's Best Music Website. In fact, that may be why you're visiting us for the first time. If so, welcome and we hope you'll take a minute to look at what we do, which is:

Set list from one of our
favorite bands, Hey Rosetta!,
who have a new album out Feb. 15.

To promote independent Canadian artists and music in the Detroit/Windsor area and beyond; to serve as a social networking site for CBC Radio 3 bloggers in the Metro Detroit/Windsor area and beyond; and to foster awareness of and goodwill toward independent Canadian artists and musicians between the cities of Detroit and Windsor.

We also happen to have a whole lot of fun doing it.

We are on the Searchlight long list because a few of our Radio 3 friends, some of who have their own great music websites, nominated us. Full disclosure: everyone nominated who met the criteria made the first long list. The next cut will whittle the 104 nominees down to 50. Voting ends today Tue., Feb. 8, then the next round begins.

As we mentioned on Facebook, we are honoured and excited to even be nominated. Sure we'd like to make the next round, but not for the reason you may think (okay, yes, we'd like to win a little bit). If by making the long list more people discover our site, and other nominees' sites, and thereby discover more about Canadian indie music, and end up supporting the bands we love by listening to their music, going to shows and buying their CDs and merch, everyone wins. Passion over profit. It's all about the music. Canadian indie music.

Hey Band Agents!

Sometimes the decision making process that results in a tour lineup seems inscrutable to fans. Just days before the Hot Hot Heat/Hey Rosetta! Show last Saturday in the Crofoot’s Pike Room, we discovered that the 22-20s had been added to the bill. What? Who?

Waiting to see Hey Rosetta! for the very first time was like walking into a classroom in the fall knowing that a professor you admire will be teaching it. Every step closer to the door in the long line and every step up the stairs brought us closer to the realization.

Then, as we were getting IDed and banded, the first notes hit us. “Hey Rosetta! are the opener? How can this be?”

Luckily there were a few spots at the front side of the stage waiting for us, as the Pike Room was packed. It seemed like we’d been there for only minutes when we heard Tim announce “This is our last song.” Once again, disbelief: “How can this be?” Only six songs by one of the best indie bands in Canada?

This is not a 22-20s review nor a Hot Hot Heat review. Both these bands were outstanding and rocked their asses off. It is a review of the agent who, in our eyes, had the opening acts in the wrong order.

Tim waxed poetic on the HR! tour blog the following day.

The fields are beautiful and on a day that finally feels like September should (warm and cool all at once) it’s a perfect sight. Much like the packed Pike Room at the Crofoot in Pontiac last night. What a time. Maybe it’s the proximity to the border, but it felt kinda like home; full and friendly, drunk, unafraid, brimming and lit. We made all sorts of friends and played all sorts of excellent rooms. I told people we’d be back soon and I don’t know if that’s true but I hope it is. We shall let you know.

We sure would love you to be the headlining act next time, because in our world, you are.

Based in St. John's, NL, the six-piece group is comprised of Tim Baker (vocals/piano/guitar), Adam Hogan (guitar), Josh Ward (bass), Phil Maloney (drums), Romesh Thavanathan (cello) and Erin Aurich (violin).

http://www.heyrosetta.com/

http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/Hey-Rosetta

@HeyRosetta on Twitter

Triple Play!

With a trip to LOLA scheduled for Saturday (Benn Gunning! Minotaurs! Land of Talk! Caribou!), plus the Pack A.D. and Young Rival at Windsor's Phog Lounge on Sept. 23 followed by Holy Fuck at the Magic Stick in Detroit three days later, we tried to talk ourselves out of Bend Sinister with Will Currie and The Country French at Phog this Thurs., Sept. 16. Heck, we're still working on getting a post up about last Saturday's Hot Hot Heat/Hey Rosetta! show.

Until we saw that The Zolas had been added. So much for resisting the allure of Canadian indie music. See you there.

Meet us in the middle

Hey Rosetta! hails from St. John's, Newfoundland, the most easterly point of Canada. Hot Hot Heat are based in Vancouver, British Columbia-- the opposite end of the country. Beyond geography, there is a lot that separates these two bands, but this Saturday they meet in the middle of North America to play the Pike Room of the Crofoot in Pontiac.

The scene is somewhat reminiscent of the Dan Mangan/The Wooden Birds bill last month: darlings of the Canadian indie scene gaining exposure in the U.S. thanks to vets with an established American audience. Formed in 2005, Hey Rosetta! released their first album, Plan Your Escape, in 2007 to much acclaim, followed by the stunningly beautiful, award-winning and 2009 Polaris Music Prize short-listed Into Your Lungs. Like Mangan, they deserve to be discovered here.

Hot Hot Heat has paid their dues and won a few awards themselves over 11 years of recording and touring. Hits from 2002's Make Up the Breakdown ("Bandages"), 2005's Elevator ("Middle of Nowhere," "Goodnight Goodnight") and Happiness Ltd.-- which will have been released exactly two years from Saturday's concert date-- have received regular airplay on Detroit/Windsor radio stations like 89X and 93.9 The River. Lead singer Steve Bays might describe the inspiration for their latest album, Future Breeds, as “Basically, if it sounded like something we’d done before, then it was like we were cheating," but their brash sound is as popular as ever. (Photo by Darren Ankeman)

Venue Spotlight: the Crofoot

Where: 1 South Saginaw, Pontiac, Mich.

What: four different venues for shows--the Crofoot Ballroom and Balcony, (capacity 1100); the Eagle Theater (capacity 600); the second floor Pike Room (capacity 250); and the Vernors Room (capacity 75).

We've seen: You Say Party! We Say Die! (now known as You Say Party!) in the Pike Room (two weeks before the untimely death of drummer Devon Clifford); the New Pornographers (Crofoot Ballroom); Dan Mangan (Pike Room).

The Crofoot's talent buyer Greg Baise was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule for a short Q&A with N2DS2W. We wanted to know:

N2DS2W: How long has the Crofoot been bringing independent Canadian bands to Pontiac?

Baise: Since we opened almost three years ago.

N2DS2W: List some of the bands you first brought in. How were they received?

Baise: Some highlights have been our two New Pornographers shows, Neko Case solo, Destroyer, AC Newman, and Stars. Stars was one of our biggest shows when we first opened up. I think this show was huge for a variety of reasons. First of all, right away we earned the reputation for being the best club in the area, for both bands and fans. Our sound system is unmatchable, and the amenities that bands get here are comparable to what one would find in the top European clubs. Another factor is definitely proximity to Canada and Windsor in particular, as well as the commercial alternative stations that originate in Windsor and actually play most of these artists.

N2DS2W: Who are some of your favorite Canadian indie artists?

Baise: I'm a huge fan of the Sadies, Toronto's cosmic country kings, which played here the other night.

N2DS2W: Do you have a “dream” Canadian indie band/performer you’d like to book?

Baise: A surprise Leonard Cohen show would be pretty cool.

Many thanks to the Crofoot for supporting Canadian indie artists. Our next show at the Crofoot is Hey Rosetta!/Hot Hot Heat on Sat., Sept. 11 in the Pike Room.