Hello, North By



We were always surprised when we asked bands if they were playing at N-X-N-E and they gave us a blank look. Then we would clarify: "North by North East," and the light would dawn.

Well, it finally dawned on us. Nobody says S-X-S-W. They say "South by." Apparently, the same holds true for North by. Now if we can only get out of the habit of referring to it as N-X-N-E.

However you pronounce it, we have a special affinity for this music/film/interactive extravaganza in Toronto. N2DS2W was born on the drive home from NXNE 2010; we did this at NXNE in 2011. So we're looking forward to NXNE 2012, scheduled for Jun. 11-17: more music, more Radio 3 bloggers and this year, we're attending some of the interactive sessions.

While the schedule isn't up yet for the interactive sessions, NXNE has released an initial list of performers. Canadian indie bands include those listed below; Hollerado will definitely be at the top of our list. Other bands we know are performing, but not yet listed, that we're excited to see: Vancouver's Brasstronaut, Montreal's Parlovr and Windsor's The Unquiet Dead. Stay tuned as more details are released.

MATTHEW GOOD
PURITY RING
METZ
PLANTS AND ANIMALS
ANDRE WILLIAMS & THE SADIES
BRAN VAN 3000
WE WERE LOVERS
EIGHT AND A HALF
MAC DEMARCO
ODONIS ODONIS
YAMANTAKA//SONIC TITAN
PHEDRE
HOLLERADO
CATL 

Somebody Wasn't Nice To Michou.



Photo by Russ Gordon/N2D Images



We hate writing these posts. Another sickening story of musicians having their equipment stolen. This is sad and disturbing as these are the tools that people use to earn their living. This time it was Windsor's Michou.

From the band's Facebook page today:

"Last night we had the unfortunate luck of having our car broken 
into and gear stolen. We had some gear in the trunk that was not 
visible from the outside. We have reason to believe someone has 
been watching us come and go with gear and has been planning the 
sting for some time. Please share this post and keep an eye out 
for the following gear. Attached are the serial numbers. We've made 
a police report and every pawn shop has to check serial numbers with 
the police before putting an item to sell. To get this gear back in the 
next week is critical. These pieces are our livelihood. Thanks for your help."

UPDATE: The Windsor Star

ITEMS STOLEN


Stefan:


Iron Coba Kick Pedal - Serial number 004


Sabian AA Rock Crash - Serial number 002


Sabian Rock Ride 18" - No serial number


Ziljian Light K Hi-Hat - Serial number 64 2388299647


Mike:


Pedal Pad Case - Serial number 007


Boss DD7 Digital Delay Pedal - Serial number CX76639


Boss BD2 Blues Driver Pedal - Serial number ZY26562


Boss RE20 Roland Space Echo - Serial number OO8


Boss TU2 Chromatic Tuner Pedal - Serial number OO9


MXR Micro Amp - Serial number O11


Roland EV5 Expression Pedal - Serial number O12



Please keep your eyes and ears open. If you run across any of this equipment, contact the Windsor Police Dept. (519) 258-6111.



Show Alert: Whales sighted crossing the Detroit River

Tues., Apr. 17
PJ's Lager House, Detroit - $8
Said the Whale with Chains of Love and Sam Bradley



If for some reason you couldn't cross the border last night for their Capitol Theatre show, the Whales are coming to you. If you like your alt pop with strong hooks, harmonies and earnest, clever lyrics, then you'll love Vancouver's Said the Whale, as they return to the Detroit area, this time with a new album, Little Mountain in tow. See if you hear a nod to an 1980s Detroit favourite in one of Little Mountain's singles, "Heavy Ceiling."


You'll hear more than a nod to Detroit from fellow Vancouverites Chains of Love. Led by singer Nathalia Pizzaro, the sextet have perfected an authentic, yet contemporary take on the 1960s Motown sound. They've already had three tracks in rotation on CBC Radio 3, including "In Between," from their Dec. 2011 7-inch record.


Photo by Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Show Alert: A Whale of a Show

Mon., Apr. 16
Capitol Theatre, Windsor
Said the Whale with Chains of Love
Tickets available through the Phog Lounge; $15 advance, $20 at the door
Early show; doors at 7 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m.




Said The Whale      Photo by Russ Gordon

Juno award-winning Said the Whale return to the area after their October show in Pontiac. Touring in support of their new album, Little Mountain, the Vancouver band are known for immensely likeable harmony-driven alt pop.


Chains Of Love    Photo by Patrick Fraser

Chains of Love are at the forefront of the retro trend coming out of Vancouver with their 60s soul revival.


Working Blue: an N2DS2W special edition featuring Toronto's catl.

 Purchase catl.'s new full-length record, Soon This Will All Be Gone, and you'll get 39 minutes of vintage blues filtered through 21st century Detroit and Toronto. But just like their albums are the pilot flame that ignites the band's scorching live shows, those 39 minutes represent a fraction of the sweat and tears, trials and tribulations that brought Soon This Will All Be Gone to fruition.

In conjunction with its release, we are pleased to bring you Working Blue: lifting the lid on catl.'s new album. Many thanks to catl. for generously allowing us to attend one of their sessions at Detroit's Ghetto Recorders last May, so that we could experience the creative process and share it with you.

Photo by Russ Gordon

The 'Keet Tweets for the week of Apr. 9

Wondering what Bob the Budgie has been tweeting to lately? Molly Rankin's "Way Home" remains a favourite, but here are some other songs on CBC Radio 3 he's been enjoying. By the way, Bob now has his own press kit.

"Narcisse"-- Duchess Says

"Hallways"-- Islands

"Replace Me"-- Chad VanGaalen

"Stairway"-- Yukon Blonde

"I Won't Try To Break Your Heart"-- Crissi Cochrane

the unquiet dead CD Release Party wsg The Schomberg Fair & Pat Robitaille



On Saturday April 7th, the unquiet dead proudly release their full length debut album, Tales of the unquiet dead: Book One. Recorded in Windsor, Ontario and produced by Mark Plancke at Shark Tank Productions, the 11-song CD will be available publicly for the first time at this special showcase at Windsor's historic Capitol Theatre and Arts Centre, in the heart of downtown Windsor.

Doors are at 6 p.m. and the show will commence at 7 p.m. with a beautiful solo set by Windsor's own Pat Robitaille. Pat has been wowing audiences and music fans for years, all across North America, with his gorgeous songwriting.

the unquiet dead will take the stage at 8 p.m. and will play every song from Tales of the unquiet dead: Book One as well as a few fun covers and perhaps a few preview songs from Book Two.

Closing out the night at 10 p.m. will be the amazing Toronto trio The Schomberg Fair. These high octane folk-blues superstars have sold out shows all across Windsor and have played some of the country's finest venues and festivals, including 2012 Canadian Music Week with the unquiet dead.

Following the show, there will be a CD listening of Tales of the unquiet dead: Book One and after party at Phog Lounge, located next door to the Capitol Theatre. Merchandise from all three acts will also be available and entrance will be FREE for all ticket holders or $4 for non-ticket holders.

Pricing as follows:

Advance Ticket (Admission Only): $10
Advance Ticket (with CD Redemption): $20
Ticket at the Door: $12
CD at the Event: $15

This is an ALL-AGES show, but it is also licensed. If you are 19+, you can purchase alcoholic beverages at the venue, but you must have valid photo ID.

This is a joint presentation of Phog Lounge, Jam Space and Artcite.

Via the unquiet dead

















Photo: Russ Gordon/N2D Images





Winning America: CBC Radio 3's first documentary - National debut


What does it take for a Canadian indie band to make it in the States? That's the topic addressed by Winning America, the first documentary produced by CBC Radio 3. Airing Sat., Apr. 7 on CBC-TV (9 a.m. PST/noon EST), it follows the ups and downs of Vancouver band Said the Whale as they look for the elusive recipe to success in the U.S. Directed by Brent Hodge, the documentary is funny, poignant and has a message for any band, anywhere, hoping to beat the odds and make it big. If you missed them last October when they played Pontiac, it's also a great way to "meet" the band before they play Windsor's Capitol Theatre on Mon., Apr. 16 and PJ's Lager House on Tues., Apr. 17, with fellow Vancouverites Chains of Love.






Imaginary Cities Announce U.S. Tour + Show Review






If you're lucky-- and in the U.S.-- Imaginary Cities will soon be coming to a city near you.
















They stopped by Windsor last November for a show at the Phog Lounge, along with Windsor's Menos Mal, and improbably, Ferndale, Michigan's Child Bite. Not your average punk band, Child Bite's progressive, complex rock was an interesting segue to Imaginary Cities' alt pop.














"Motown" is an adjective frequently associated with the band's sound (read about their adventures at Detroit's Fox Theatre when they toured with The Pixies last year) but Winnipeg is a long way from Detroit. You'll hear some Motown inflections in lead singer Marti Sarbit's distinctive voice-- think of an oboe with chops-- and some R&B/soul influences in the music, yet it's a mistake to pigeonhole Imaginary Cities into the current retro trend. Teamed with the talented Rusty Matyas, and backed by Ryan Voth on drums and David Landreth on bass on tour, the past for Imaginary Cities isn't a crutch, but a creative launch. Their first album is called Temporary Resident; if their early success is any indication (and even if they never make another album), they'll be taking up permanent residency in Canadian indie.
















Dates for their upcoming, and first, U.S. tour. Lansing on Jun. 8 is their only Michigan stop:

5.15, 2012 New York – Mercury Lounge
5.16, 2012 Philadelphia – North Star Bar
5.17, 2012 Washington, DC – Black Cat*
5.18, 2012 Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend*
5.19, 2012 Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern*
5.21, 2012 Birmingham, AL – WorkPlay Theatre*
5.22, 2012 Nashville, TN    Rocketown*
5.24, 2012 Oklahoma City, OK – ACM@UCO*
5.25, 2012 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit *
5.26, 2012 Dallas, TX – The Door*
5.28, 2012 Little Rock, AR – Downtown Music Hall*
5.29, 2012 Springfield, MO – Outland Ballroom*
5.30, 2012 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room*

6.01, 2012 Columbia, MO – The Blue Note*
6.02, 2012 Iowa City, IA – Blue Moose Tap House*
6.04, 2012 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock*
6.05, 2012 Milwaukee, WI     – Turner Hall Ballroom*
6.06, 2012 Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe at Old National Centre*
6.07, 2012 Cincinnati, OH – 20th Century Theatre*
6.08, 2012 Lansing, MI – The Loft at Harem Urban Lounge*
6.09, 2012 Toronto, ON – The Mod Club    *
6.11, 2012 Rochester, NY – Water Street Music Hall*
6.12, 2012 So. Burlington, VT – Higher Ground*
6.13, 2012 Northampton, MA – Pearl Street*
6.14, 2012 Pawtucket, RI – The Met*
6.15, 2012 Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s*
6.16, 2012 Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony*

* w/ MewithoutYou & Buried Beds